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66 many kinds of voices in the world, but none of them are without signification," and all are intelligible to the ear of mercy.

The association for prayer, of which I wish to give a minute detail, without the help of anything except the strong impression on memory, was held in the city of Boston, in the lecture-room of the Old South Church.

That "Old South "-hallowed as the only lighthouse which at one period held up the true lamp of salvation to that city! The "Old South"where so many pilgrims have been guided, and so many new-born souls have made their first dedication to Christ! My heart was glad, when a lady to whom I carried a letter of introduction, told me of her morning engagement, and most kindly offered to introduce us to that little quiet assembly.

Eight was the hour of meeting, and three quarters of an hour the time allowed, as the numerous merchants and clerks who were present must be in their offices at nine. More than once we enjoyed the privilege of attending, but it is the incidents of one morning which are presented as a specimen of true simplicity and mingling of sympathy. The gentleman who occupied the chair was a layman, who we heard was then only present for the second time. He selected for singing two or three stanzas of a hymn, and then prayed with fervour and fluency for the great and leading object of this meeting, viz., the renewing and refreshing influences of the Holy

Spirit on the churches in Boston, and on the city in general. He then read a portion of a chapter in the Acts. At the close of reading, he made some sensible remarks on the minute guidings of Providence, which we often follow without perceiving them, in consequence of our unwatchfulness; and which, when perceived, can never be neglected with impunity. His reason for choosing the passage he had read was, that he awoke that morning with the last verses on his mind; and that, some thirty, or it might be forty, years since, when in the city of Portland, he heard the sermon on those verses which was the means of awakening spiritual life in him. He had not heard the clergyman before or since, nor seen him with his bodily eye again till this morning, but had good reason to remember him and the time with gratitude. He then stated, as another reason for addressing them, that he had good news in which all would rejoice. He had heard a report four months since of the conversion of an eminent lawyer of that same city; but when he considered that the man was a keen politician, occupied in party warfare, writing pamphlets on his favourite questions, and mingled up with all the elections, he dared not credit the good news, and had kept silence. Now, however, he could, on undoubted anthority, invite the sympathetic congratulations of the meeting on the sound conversion to God of Mr John, whose standing in society, whose noble mental powers, and whose extensive interest,

were now all enlisted in the cause nearest our hearts.

You should have felt the sentiment that throbbed from breast to breast as the true-hearted man sat down. There was no articulate sound, but the tear drawn quietly from the cheek, the little movement like the rustling among the leaves in autumn, indicating that the breeze is there, and then the long breath like an exhalation of thanksgiving, betrayed the universal sentiment. After a brief pause, an aged man arose, whose trembling hand had carefully turned his ear-trumpet to the chairman during his address.

He expressed gratitude and joy that he had been permitted to hear what he had just listened to. He was the clergyman who remembered well having preached on that passage at Portland all those long years ago, and here was one rich fruit of that sermon, which he joyfully gave thanks for, for the first time, to-day. Again the little sympathetic rustle breathed through the community, and we feasted our eyes on the tall, thin, bending-over pastor, and the glad, grateful, spiritual son, who gazed on the venerable man through tears. He went on to set his seal to what had been already said of the wisdom of following small indications of Providence; saying, that if his friend had not awaked with that passage on his mind, he might never have heard the news so calculated to cheer him towards the close of his pilgrimage. He had, however, still another coincidence to point out, as he had borrowed

a letter from a friend for the purpose of reading an extract from it to this meeting this very morning.

It was from the lawyer of Portland, Mr John

-, and entirely corroborated what we had already heard. In it the writer stated that he and his wife had lived in all harmony, and, as they thought, wisdom, trying to do good to their country after their fashion, but entirely without God. Nor had they discovered any defect in their scheme, till their own cherished and highly educated son—" our poor boy," as he was called-had disappointed their hopes and grieved their hearts. Then they asked each other what could have been omitted in his training that could leave him a prey to evil pursuits, and suddenly they remembered that they had, in the midst of many accomplishments, failed to teach him anything of his spiritual relations to God. They opened the Scriptures for themselves, and their hearts were opened by the Holy Spirit, so that they made a thousand discoveries.

It was joyful to hear the outflowing upon new objects, new motives, new influences, new purposes; "Behold, I make all things new," seemed written on his capacious heart; and if he had served his country zealously as a politician and lawyer, his plan and purpose now was to serve it as a Christian. One felt sorry, as a stranger, to have no familiar hand to take, as many did, in fervent and thankful gratulation. Another gentleman was requested to offer prayer and thanksgiving, which it was most

pleasant cordially to join in. We then sung a few more stanzas—and presently arose a little, thin, threadbare, tidy, sweet-looking, but evidently simple man-who said he had something to say to his brethren and sisters-and one might notice ladies tightening their shawls, and gentlemen clearing their throats, as if preparing for the exercise of endurance. Here, thought the interested observer, is a specimen of the effect of a popularly constructed meeting. He has a right to speak, and the chairman has no right to prevent him—and why should he? If he is one of the Lord's simple ones, one would like to hear what he has got to say.

And then the mild man, in a silver tone, told us how he had been perplexed by Christ's command to "love his enemies "-for if they were wicked, he ought not to love them. "Do not I hate them who hate thee? yea, I hate them with a perfect hatred." But at last he discovered that he was to hate the wicked who were Christ's enemies, but he was to love and pray for those who were his own. "And so," said the innocent, modest man, "fearing that any of you, my brethren and sisters, might be perplexed by the same passage, I am happy to help you with my explanation of it." And now, the time being exhausted, we parted with a closing prayer.

In a far country I long to hear of the answer which we expect, even a refreshing time from the presence of the Lord, on the churches and city of Boston.

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