beauty and usefulness which characterize organized nature. The nearest approach we are able to make towards the solution of this mystery, is, to regard all instrumentalities as drawing some element of efficiency directly from God himself, who, as inhabiting his own dwelling place of eternity and immensity, keeps its vast material and furniture from falling into disuse and going to decay.

He covers himself, however, with a light which no man can approach unto, because no one can detect that element of efficiency which God supplies in all causation. In the power that converts and saves us, there seems to be a nearer approach to it, than in any thing else; because it has to do directly with our consciousThe sinner who is convicted by the word and Spirit, and the saint who is filled with all the fulness of God, is each conscious of a power working within him, which is independent of all instrumentalities.

ness.

But they would doubtless be sensible of the same, in all the forces of nature, if they could, in an equal degree, subject those forces to the test of their own consciousness. The Bible certainly represents God as alike present in them all, except that by comparing the effects of spiritual influence to a new creation, a resurrection from the dead, and the original production

of light when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy, it takes pains to set forth the greatness of the change in a light so conspicuous, that all might recognize the hand of God in it. The application of such figures to the working of spiritual influence in the soul, may have reference, also, to its being, not more directly an emanation from God, than the other powers, but to the fact of its being the last to take its place in the family, or to the extraordinary facts, truths and instrumentalities which are its appointed organs to the human mind.

CHAPTER IV.

CAUSES THAT TEND TO DIVERT ATTENTION FROM INCREASE OF MORAL POWER IN THE

THE

CHURCH.

As the influence of man with man, the word of truth and the Holy Spirit united, embody the saving efficiency, it follows that the real point at issue, is, not as to the coincidence of human and divine agency, nor how it accomplishes its ends, whether it be wholly through the medium of motive or partly otherwise; but simply what are the most efficient modes of its exercise? Are the conditions of union between our influence, the divine word and the Holy Spirit, such as to afford the same encouragement to increased efficiency, in saving men from endless death, that we anticipate in medical practice, in husbandry and in other departments?

On this point no doubt seems to be entertained, so far as individual cases are concerned. For we know that this power is not alike pos sessed by all, nor does the same person possess it at all times in the same degree. Institutions of theological education are founded, with the hope

of increasing it in the ministry. And what is more common, than for Christians to pray that God would give them greater power of turning conviction in favor of truth and holiness, that the weak may be as David, and the house of David as the angel of the Lord?

But the question is, may not this power be increased in the principles of its exercise, as well as in the aptitudes of individual actors? It is one thing to make old principles subservient to somewhat better results, and quite another to exchange them for those which are better. One ship may have enjoyed advantages over another, . from its construction and the skill of its crew, before the magnetic needle was discovered; but that discovery imparted to the whole science of navigation, new facilities for accomplishing its useful purposes.

So, may we not anticipate the time, when, through the introduction of better principles into the art of Christian persuasion, or through the infusion of a better spirit into the church at large, or through the explosion of existing errors in the practices of mankind, or through the discovery of facilities in doing good, at present unknown, the enterprise of Christian philanthropy will receive a fresh impulse, and will go forward with increased power and momentum? May we not look for energies and results in pious labor, incal

culably greater than any at present known; that the progress of conversions to holiness will be inconceivably more rapid, and that truth charged with lightning from heaven, will rive its way through the solid fabrics of error and wickedness, prostrating them in its course, and establishing the empire of righteousness over the human character and condition?

Powerful as are the influences leading to this result, with which we begin the race of ho liness, a thousand obstructions intervene to deter us from it, and to give retrogression rather than advancement, as the general rule in the actual experience of the great mass of converts. Hence, what is a subject of more common remark, than that none are so skilled in touching the sympathies of the impenitent, as a young Christian, in the ardor of his first love? All his feelings are nicely adjusted to the impressions of the spiritual world; his soul is melted by considerations which are inaccessible to the more carnal and grovelling. God is with him, in him, around him, and he speaks that unsophisticated language of the new heart, which has the greatest power both with God and with man. Not only so, his earnest and continual prayer is, Lord, what will thou have me to do? how shall i I bring most honor to thy name and most good to a suffering world? a prayer that was never