of civil and religious liberty, who will not bless God for the glorious Reformation, notwithstanding the excesses of Carlstadt, and the fanaticism of the Anabaptists of Germany?"But can sinners be converted so suddenly?" In every case, perhaps without exception, they go the round to work out their own righteousness before they submit to Christ; but after all, is not regeneration instantaneous? Is not this doctrine recognized in all our standard works? Is it not the doctrine of the Bible? "But are there no spurious conversions?" There may be; and are we not taught to expect such things in the 13th chapter of Matthew? Spurious conversions! And are all pure gold who come into the church when there is no special excitement? Spurious conversions! A friend makes me a present of a bundle of bank bills in the hour of my necessity. On examining them, I find one or two counterfeit. Shall I send back the bundle and despise the gift? "But does not the excitement soon cease?" There is no necessity for it. I have heard of a revival which lasted two years, another which lasted six years, and I think the Bible tells me of one which is to last a thousand years! It is our privilege to have not merely a shower, but a whole day's setrain. Suppose, however, the positive excitement is not lasting, may not much good fruit nevertheless remain? A refreshing shower comes in time of drought, and vegetation takes a start. A few days after, the soil is dry again. Did the shower therefore do no good? "But do not some of the converts, so called, fall away?" Be it so. Go into your orchard; your trees are in full bloom. Some of those blossoms are going to fall away without fruit. What then? Would you have no blossoms at all; or would you have only two or

three blossoms this year, and two or three the next? According to a calculation which I have made, only about one in fifteen or twenty of those hopefully converted, fall away. And what then? Here is a revival, and one hundred profess conversion, but only one half are really converted and saved from the damnation of hell, and brought home to God and to glory! Is that nothing? I think I have somewhere read that there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. But you know how frivolous are the objections so frequently urged, so I need say

nomore.

Your Brother in Christ,

DANIEL BAKER.

INTERESTING RECOLLECTIONS.

FACTS are beautiful things, and not unfrequently they furnish fine illustrations of sentiments and doctrines, known and believed by all who respect the sacred volume. In the Pastor's Journal, I have noticed a variety of cases related by those who were eye-witnesses of what they communicated; and I verily believe that the publication of them has proved to be exceedingly useful. Having myself during many revivals of religion, witnessed a number of very interesting things, I thought it proper to make a record of them, some of which are now laid before the public, as a suitable appendage to the foregoing sermons, and illustrative of certain passages of Scripture often quoted.

ASK AND YE SHALL RECEIVE.

1. In a certain town in Georgia, lived Mrs. M. a pious widow lady. She had two sons in a distant State, whom she had not seen for many years. They were thoughtless young men, and avowedly infidel in their sentiments. She received a letter from her sons promising an early visit. About this period an arrangement was made with myself, to hold a protracted meeting in the place of Mrs. M's residence,

so soon as it would suit my convenience. The pious mother, exceedingly anxious for the conversion of her long absent and beloved sons, made it a matter of special prayer, that the Providence of God wouldso order matters that the visit of her sons, and the contemplated meeting, might take place at the same time. The young men came; remained several days, and then said they must return. They fixed on Friday night, when they must go without fail, in the stage. Poor mother! the meeting to which she looked forward with so much anxiety, had not commenced. The minister had not arrived. It seemed as if her prayers had availed nothing. On the morning of the day fixed for their departure she was told that the minister was come, and the first sermon would be preached that very night. How tantalizing! But mark the ingenuity of a pious mother! Having ascertained that the stage would not go that evening until 9 or 10 o'clock, she entreated her sons to go to church, and there remain until the sounding of the stage horn should summon them away. I believe that most mothers would have said, I have not seen my sons for a long time; I may never see them any I believe I will not go to church myself, this evening. I will enjoy their company, as long as I can. But no! Had she not offered special prayer that they might be present and receive a blessing at that meeting? "Come, my sons, go with me to church this evening, and hear what you can." They yielded. They went; and that night God answered the mother's prayers. Both were brought under powerful conviction. Near the closing of the services of the sanctuary, the sounding of the stage horn was heard, sure enough. According to arrangement

more.

they hurried away to the office-but, behold! the stage was full! They were obliged to remain until Monday following. On the Sabbath we had a most solemn time. When the anxious were invited to come forward, or kneel at their seat, if they desired the prayers of God's people, (according to the custom of that place,) several immediately knelt at their seats. Two young men came forward and kneeled near the desk and only two. I saw an elderly lady at some distance, rise, and leaning forward, she fastened her tearful eyes upon them. It was the mother, and these young men were her sons! Many eyes were fixed upon her, but nobody said, Madam, sit down.-No! It was a sacred sight. Heaven bless the mother! Let her stand. Let her look on. O! it was worth an angel's visit from the skies! That day both of these young men obtained a joyful hope. Verily, it would have touched a heart of rock to have seen the sons, both of them throwing their arms around the neck of their beloved mother-now a thousand times dearer than ever-and telling her that the Lord had heard her prayers, and blessed them, as they hoped, with his forgiving love! Verily, the name of Jesus, in that moment uttered by them, came over her with all the sweetness and the power of a charm.

I saw the happy mother. She grasped my hand. She wept. The tears which rolled down her cheeks. were tears of religious joy. For a few moments she was silent. When she spoke she blessed God, and said, in the very words of Mary, "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour, for he hath regarded the low estate of his hand-maiden." Verily, there is a God in the hea