Just as we are going to press, we learn that our friends at the Paddock are engaged in the opening services of their new chapel. It argues well for this enterprise that about 300 sittings are taken before the place is opened for worship, realizing at once an income which may in a short time extinguish the entire debt on the premises. We hope to be furnished with an account of the opening services for our next number. At Hanging Heaton, and at Hunslet, our friends have done well. These spirited efforts reflect honour on their liberality and enterprise.

The question proposed in our last number as to How we may preserve the precious souls which God has graciously added to our number? has elicited the attention of many friends, and induced several to furnish us with valuable suggestions. We commend them to the serious consideration of our readers. The selection of earnest, spiritually minded men as leaders-a diligent looking after the lambs of the flock-an early restoration

of

the wanderers to the fold of Christ -the training of these new born souls to habits of activity and labourand the impartation of useful knowledge by means of lending libraries and bible classes, are the means suggested for the stability of new converts, and their growth in grace.

We know of no means more scriptural or better adapted to the important end, and if they be faithfully used in humble dependence upon God's blessing, these hundreds of precious souls will be preserved in the narrow way, will become ornaments to the church, and many of them pillars in the temple of God, to abide there for ever more. Oh! how desirable this result! How worthy of a little anxiety, labour, care! Soon the ministers who have toiled in this revival must be removed to other spheres of labour, and the work to be perpetuated must greatly depend on the brethren who permanently reside on the spot. Leaders, stewards, praying men of Israel, help in this great cause! Let not one soul wander away whom your holy and self-denying efforts can preserve or reclaim.

Seeing our brethren have answered one question so satisfactorily, we have another of equal importance to propose; namely,- -"How SHALL WE GET THIS

PLACES, TO EVERY PART OF THE CONNEXION? Surely the good doings in the Potteries would be equally important, equally blessed, if extended to every circuit. And here we must reiterate our former statement,—that it is not necessary to wait for the arrival of any special agent to accomplish this. Is not God in every place? Is he a respecter of persons? Is not his promise faithful and unchangeable? There is but one answer for each interrogative. Then let us believe, and do honour to our faith. Let us at once ponder the means, and resolve upon them. Then God, even our own God, will bless us, and refresh us with showers of blessing. Let us aim at nothing else but being a soul-saving people.

HOW ARE WE TO RETAIN THE PRECIOUS SOULS NOW GRACIOUSLY ADDED TO OUR CHURCHES?

REV. C. BOOTMAN TO THE EDITOR.

March 9, 1855.

MY DEAR SIR,-I have been much interested in the accounts furnished by the letters of your correspondents, in reference to the ingathering of precious souls, in various circuits of the Connexion; and the more I read, and think, and pray, the more settled is the conviction that has penetrated my mind for the last twenty-eight years, that whenever the church of Jesus Christ will pay the price; or, in other words, whenever its members will use the means, they may be favoured with an outpouring of the Holy Spirit's influence, and many sinners will be plucked as brands from the burning. Indeed, such is the accumulation of means and evidences in the present day, in reference to the truth and power of the Christian religion, that it is matter of surprise and humiliation that we do not live in the constant experience of such a delightful state of things. These subjects should be more seriously studied than what they are; and before the world is converted they must be taken up and examined, with as much care and anxiety as the man of commerce examines any commercial project that is put before him, as likely to improve his temporal position. When the church of Jesus Christ deals intelligently, sys

tematically, and prayerfully, as this subject demands, the glory of God will be more fully developed in human sal

vation.

You inquire, in your remarks upon this interesting subject, "How are we to retain the precious souls now added to our churches?" I have no doubt you will have many suggestions presented to view by such as have for years taken a leading part in the movements of our interesting community. But though I believe this, I feel impelled to say, let them by all means be instantly commended to the care of judicious leaders; men that will care for their interests both temporal and spiritual, and who if they neglect the class will inquire the reason of their absence. I have ever found, too, that the cultivation of the mind is closely identified with a growth in grace; and would suggest that, where practicable, Bible classes should be formed for them; and further, that by all means they should be put to work in the Lord's vineyard without delay. Methodism finds work for all that have a heart to do it; and if any have a heart to work, it is such as have been born in a revival. I have in my mind's eye, now, many who have been suddenly converted some years ago, and who have been amongst the most active and efficient members of the church. Sunday-schools, tract distribution, sick visitation, prayer-leading, &c., will in a working church find abundant employment for their talents. May God direct and save them, and make them all decided helpers in the Master's

cause.

I am thankful to say that the interests of religion in this circuit are improving. In some places, we have been favoured with a pleasing improvement in the tone of piety, and an accession of members. We are now striving, as far as an extensive boundary admits, to hold special services in several of the villages; and the benefit of these meetings is visible in the quickening of the labourers, and the arousing of the congregations and societies. Our bazaar continues to excite an interest; and we really feel very thankful for the solid expression of sympathy we have been favoured with from several friends in the form of cash and books. Hoping that the smile of our heavenly Father will be granted us by a still larger accession to our

ranks, I am, my dear sir, yours in Christ Jesus,

C. BOOTMAN.

M. R. TO THE EDITOR,

MY DEAR SIR,-In our magazine for the present month, you ask the important question, "How are we to retain the precious souls so graciously added to our churches?" No doubt, sir, hundreds of lovers of our Zion feel deeply interested in this question. And probably, before the time specified, many answers will be in your possession. And I, for one, feeling grateful to God for answering the prayers of his people in giving them the desire of their hearts-the salvation of souls, feel anxious also, that the souls he has given should be kept by his mighty power, through faith, unto eternal salvation. I believe, sir, it requires as much prayer, attention, and labour to keep these precious souls in the knowledge and love of Christ, as it required to bring them out of darkness into his marvellous light. In the first place, as special prayer was made to God imploring him to save souls, so now, he must be specially implored to keep those he has so graciously saved.

The leaders (to whose care these immortals have been committed, and to whom the Lord says "Feed my lambs") must keep their own souls alive to God, constantly obeying the divine commands,-"Be ye filled with the Spirit," "Be ye perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect," "Wash you, and make you clean," "Let your eye be single, and your whole body shall be full of light," "Let that mind which was in Christ Jesus be also in you." Obeying the first, second, and third of these commands, they will have power with God in prayer; for, having consciences that condemn them not, they will have confidence towards God, believing that whatsoever they ask of Him they receive, because they keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. Obeying the fourth, doing all with a single eye to the glory of God, their whole body being full of light, they will have that spiritual discernment which is so needful in order to lead the followers of Jesus from being "babes in Christ" to "fathers and mothers in Israel." They will be able also rightly to distribute

the word of life, giving milk to babes and strong meat to those of riper years. And obeying the fifth, having the mind that was in Christ, love, the crowning grace of all, the love of God shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Ghost given unto them, will lead them ardently to love their precious souls, and, like the Apostle of the Gentiles, they will yearn over them until Christ be formed in their hearts the hope of glory, and they become stablished, strengthened, settled, and made perfect before him in love.

Such leaders, my dear sir, will feel as much their need of the Holy Ghost as he who seeks to turn the sinner from the error of his ways, especially will they feel their need of his presence when they meet for the purpose of relating their Christian experience; and feeling their need, they will find time to ask of him who has promised to give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him. Being afresh baptized with the Holy Ghost, they will go to meet their charge, not with cold and frozen affections, and a mind filled with the cares and anxieties of life. No! but saying to all these things, "Stay ye here, while I go and worship yonder,' they will go strong in faith and full of the Holy Ghost. And those that are met together will experience such times to be truly "times of refreshing coming forth from the presence of the Lord.' And at the close they will say, "Did not our hearts burn within us whilst he talked with us by the way."

Then, sir, early attention must be given to such as are absent from the class. The shepherd who misses his lamb from his fold, aware of the dangers that are without, does not wait till weeks or months have passed away ere he goes in search of it; he goes immediately, before it gets too far away, and doing so, should it be entangled by briers, or fallen into a ditch, or even should a ravenous wolf have laid hold of it, he will often be able to extricate it before fatal injury is done. Just so must the overseers of the flock of Christ do; if they would retain the precious lambs committed to their care, they must go immediately, before the world with its pleasures or cares, the flesh with its enticements and cravings, the devil with his temptations and suggestions, gain too great a dominion over them, and they will

find they neither labour in vain nor spend their strength for nought.

For our encouragement I would repeat the words of our Lord: "Who, then, is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season. Blessed is that servant, whom his lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you that he will make him ruler over all he that hath." Hanley.

M. R.

REV. W. BERESFORD TO THE EDITOR.

DEAR SIR,-How glorious the intelligence communicated in your last magazine, of 1,200 souls gathered into the church at Longton, Newcastle, Burslem, and Hanley! It is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes. Surely now we may take our harps from off the willows, and joyfully praise God for his mercy! Again I say, How glorious the tidings! Upwards of TWELVE HUNDRED SOULS determined to forsake sin, and lead a life of piety and true devotion to God, and to the best -sublimest of causes! Heaven aid their determination! Beloved sir, what scenes have been witnessed in the pottery district-scenes for gratitude and joy-for connexional thought, conversation, and praise-scenes for saints to look up with more than earthly rapture-for "angels to rejoice over." There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over every sinner that repenteth. Loyal to their God-intent on the extension of his spiritual kingdom, which blesses, elevates, and ennobles all its subjects, and comprehending to a high degree-immensely above mere human comprehension-all that is included in a soul's salvation, both for time and the eternal future. What deep-deep-fathomless abysses of carnality, debasement, and woe it is saved from, and what lofty heights of knowledge, of spiritualism, of high devotion, transport, and glory, it is raised to! Well may holy angels rejoice! Well may they rapturously strike their harps! Well, these twelve hundred souls have been brought on the Lord's side. Are they to be kept there? Human corruption. worldly influences and seductions, powers of darkness, and every power in league against truth, and goodness, and heaven, say, No; and energetically

You

will they attempt to draw them back to their own ranks. But, sir, having gathered these souls, we must keep them; and most significant and opportune is the question you present, which must send a thrill of intense solicitude through the Christian's breast. ask, "How are we to retain the precious souls graciously added to our churches?" I hope, my dear sir, you will have many answers, and answers approved by the infinite Mind himself. Suffer me, with brevity, to answer,-How are we to retain them?-Not by falling into the old error and crime of a comparative indifference to them now they are gathered, nor by the use of the mere ordinary means. This must be obvious. They are souls born in a particular element-in a special climate of the Holy Spirit's wonderful operations; they therefore require a particular-a special treatment. Your sagacity and experience saw this; hence your question of mightiest importance. But for this particular-this special treatment, many of them will relapse to their former position. It is nothing new for great ingatherings to be followed by great outflowings; the circuit return one quarter large the following quarter small; and the question has frequently been asked, and with an unbecoming spirit, too, "Where are all your converts now?" Gone; and perhaps we shall find at the judgment their departure is charged, to some extent, to the scepticism, coldness, and indifference to revivals, manifested by those who applied the taunting question. Past experience presents us with the distressing fact of many, gathered during a special revival, having gone back into the world. But this is not necessary; there is no law of God it should be so. It is purely the result of circumstances. Let common sense, wisdom, judgment, be manifested by the church in the avoidance of the injurious, and in the adoption of the beneficial, and comparatively few will be lost. Souls born in the warm temperature of a special and great revival, must be retained in a warm temperature ;-if not, as is frequently the case, they spiritually die-just as a plant dies when exposed to an atmosphere colder than where it has been reared. Two things strike me as essential to retain these converts; your correspondents, doubtless, will favour us with other helps to secure the great deside

ratum.

First, there must be a spiritual correspondence betwixt the gathered and those who are as leaders to take charge of them, an affinity of soul and religious temperament, a similarity of pious fervour. Leaders who allow their classes to go down are not the men to take charge of these revival-born converts. Suitable leaders must be found. Don't send these tender plants to a frigid atmosphere; don't place them in the locality of an iceberg. Rather than place these converts under the charge of men whose religious temperament is so unsuitable to theirs ; better-infinitely better to appoint some of the new disciples-present converts, who are full of pious zeal and fervour, and possessing common sense to take charge of some of their brethren, born in the same glorious day of heavenly visitation. In the former there is little sympathy in religious nature, however good that nature may be ; in the latter you have. Care must be taken, therefore, as to whose charge the converts are given.

Reli

Another means to retain them is to set them at once to do something for God; give them some religious employment for their minds, and hearts, and talents-some work to do. gious employment has a conservative influence; like manual labour in the open air, it braces and nerves our piety. But I must trespass no further upon your space;-room must be left for others for their views on your important question. May you, my dear brother, and I, and the twelve hundred gathered souls, be the Redeemer's on that day, when he gathers up his blood-bought, Spirit-polished jewels; and everlastingly, like gems, stud his mediatorial crown, flashing with light and purity, with every celestial splendour and glory.-Yours most affectionately,

W. BERESFORD.

MR. J. RIDGWAY TO THE
EDITOR.

THIS is a very important question, and no doubt abler pens than mine will be employed to answer it; nevertheless, I will give you my plain homely thoughts on the subject, and shall not be offended if they do not appear.

I. Then, where that is not already done, let the new converts without delay be introduced to suitable fellowship, to classes where they will be