fore behoves all who love the Saviour to unite in one grand effort to arrest this formidable evil. If we cannot entirely prevent the practice of Sabbath-breaking, we may prevent our nation from the guilt and degradation of legalizing the iniquity, and giving men a patent to insult their Maker to his face. All Christian congregations, and all Sabbath

schools, should take action in this matter. We have in our Connexion in England and Ireland 401 congregations, and about 300 Sunday schools; then let a petition to Parliament be sent from each congregation and each school throughout the length and breadth of the Connexion, and let this important work be done at once; the danger is pressing, and a short delay on our part may give the victory to the enemies of the Sabbath.

We are glad to find that our Committee of Privileges have taken action, and sent out to every circuit circulars on the Sabbath question, and a form of petition for adoption. We furnish our readers with a reprint for their use.

"To our Superintendent Ministers, Sabbath School Teachers, and other Friends.

"Hanley, Feb. 4th, 1856.

"MY DEAR BROTHER,-The Committee nominated in the 17th printed resolution of the late Conference have directed me to forward the accompanying copies of a Form of Petition to the House of Commons; and they earnestly hope that, assisted by your colleagues in the ministry and local friends, you will promptly and effectively carry out the object proposed. The form may be exactly copied, or received as suggestive of such other mode of address as by yourself and parties concerned may be deemed best.

"Each congregation, taking in Sabbath-school teachers and elder scholars, with any other persons willing to sign, should have its respective Petition; and the completed document should be committed to some member of the House, upon whose service dependence can be placed; or, should any of our friends prefer entrusting their Petitions to the Committee, if timely sent to the

Secretary, Charles-street, Hanley, Staffordshire, care will be taken that they be duly presented. Rolls or bundles marked as Petitions to Parliament, open at the ends, and not measuring more than two feet in length, width, and depth, may be sent direct to Members of Parliament free from postage charge; or, if the parcels exceed 1lb., being also open at the ends, and kept within the above measurement, they may be sent to other individuals at the rate of twopence for each lb., or fraction thereof.

"The Petition should be drawn out on stiff paper, and in the blank space immediately following of this first sheet should be written some of the signatures, and additional sheets of names to any extent may then be attached.

"Parliament having just assembled, and there being every probability of an early Motion on the matters referred to, you are requested to urge on the Petitions and transmit them without delay.

"The Committee also respectfully advise that, in their several localities, our ministers and friends cordially unite with other Christian denominations in promoting General Petitions on the subject herein brought under your notice. I am, my dear Brother,

"Yours very sincerely, "W. FORD, Secretary of the Committee of "Privileges."

lative sanction for opening to visitors on the Sabbath the British Museum, the National Gallery, and the Crystal Palace at Sydenham. And your Petitioners not only regard the practices referred to as in themselves a desecration of the Sabbath; but are persuaded that, if rendered lawful by Act of Parliament, they will certainly be attended with the concomitant evils of increasing the already too prevalent neglect of divine worship, and of inducing to a much greater extent the demoralizing Sabbath resort to taverns, beer houses, and places for sale of intoxicating drinks; thus occasioning an incalculable amount of individual and social crime and misery.

"Your Petitioners also consider that any parliamentary consent to such Sunday recreations, will become the precedent for other and multiplied instances of Sabbath-breaking. In their opinion, it will inevitably follow that the claims of secular business will be so urged as still further to infringe on the sacredness of the Sabbath, and eventually to deprive the labouring man of his security for this weekly day of rest.

66

Having these convictions, your Petitioners earnestly pray that your Honourable House will not concur in any enactment which may tend to relax existing legal obligations to the religious observance of the Sabbath.

66 And your Petitioners shall ever pray, &c."

REVIVAL AT LEEDS.

DEAR MR. EDITOR,-At the request of our worthy superintendent, I forward to you an account of the special services we have just held in connection with the Ebenezer Society of the Leeds Circuit, which services have been honoured of God in the quickening of his people, and the salvation of many precious souls. Our dear brother, the Rev. W. Booth, commenced his labours amongst us on Sunday, the 13th of January last; in anticipation of which services, a prayer meeting was held at seven o'clock in the morning of that day to supplicate the Throne of the Heavenly Grace for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on God's servant, the church, and the people at large. To those who assembled it was a time of refreshing coming forth from the presence of the Lord. At half-past ten we met in the sanc

tuary, where a good congregation listened with marked attention to the word of life-which word, being accompanied with the rich influences of the Holy Ghost, fell with power on the hearts of the people, and many were the cheerful responses heard, and the earnest prayers offered. In the afternoon we held a prayer meeting, which was well attended; and the evening service was one of great power and effect. Notwithstanding the unfavourable state of the weather, the chapel was crowded in every part, and numbers were obliged to return, not being able to gain admittance. The word delivered made a powerful impression on the people, and at the close of the prayer meeting it was found, as the result of the first day's labours, that twenty-three souls had found mercy through the blood of the Lamb.

Mr. Booth preached also on the Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings, and from the commencement those services increased in numbers and interest, even to the close. On Monday we had seven; on Tuesday, twelve; on Wednesday, nineteen; and on Thursday, eleven; making a total for the week of seventy-two persons who professed to find peace with God. To God be all the praise.

Sunday, January the 20th, was a gracious day. In the morning the chapel was well filled, every seat was occupied, and numbers were glad in having the privilege of standing to hear the word, and feel the hallowing influence which pervaded the house of prayer. The word was a reviving and comforting word, and many were heard to exclaim, "Lord, it is good to be here." In the afternoon we held a public lovefeast; the chapel was crowded long before the hour arrived to commence the service, and, oh, it was a rich banquet. The house was filled with the glory of God, and we were led to say

"It comes in floods, we cannot contain, We drink, and drink, and drink again, And yet we thirst for more." Many were the witnesses for Jesus who, with great delight, bore testimony to the power of God to forgive sins; and such was the desire to speak, that it was found necessary to adjourn the lovefeast to the following Sabbath. In the evening we had an overflowing congregation, and hundreds were un

able to gain an entrance.

The word

was again delivered with power, and found a lodgment in many hearts. The prayer meeting was one of great interest, and many were the slain of the Lord. At the close of the service we found that thirty-nine individuals had given themselves to the Lord. During the week the chapel was well filled, and the results were:Monday, twenty; Tuesday, eleven; Wednesday, fourteen; and Thursday, eighteen; making a total for the fortnight of one hundred and seventy-four. Again we say, all glory be to His name, who is rich in mercy and boundless in compassion.

Sunday, January the 27th, as on the previous Sabbath morning, we had a large congregation, and a heavenly influence filled the place. In the afternoon we recommenced our lovefeast, and, such was the desire to attend, that long before the hour for commencement the chapel was completely packed, and it was found necessary to hold an additional service for the accommodation of the hundreds who remained without. Our schoolroom adjoining was soon filled, and an excellent lovefeast was held, conducted by the Rev. J. Maughan. As on the previous Sabbath evenings, we had an overflowing congregation, and the school-room was again filled, where a lovefeast was held. At the close of the service we held prayer meetings in both places, which were well sustained for some hours, and concluded with adding thirty-five souls to our previous numbers.

We now enter upon the last four evenings of our dear brother's labours amongst us for the present. They were seasons that will be remembered through time, and the blessed effect will be fully realized in the eternal world above. Every evening the chapel was crowded to excess, and the Holy Ghost came with great power, and in the prayer meetings Christ Jesus was eminently present to bless and to save. At times the communion rail was surrounded with broken-hearted penitents, and many, very many, were enabled to cast their guilty souls on the atonement made for the sins of the world; and having been made new creatures in Christ Jesus, were heard to rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

The results of the four evenings were highly gratifying; on Monday our

.

numbers were thirty-one, on Tuesday twenty-nine, on Wednesday forty-five, and on Thursday thirty-five; making in all for the three weeks 349 souls. It is our earnest prayer that their hearts may be established with abiding grace. It is the opinion of our friends in general that could we have been favoured with the labours of our brother a few weeks longer, our numbers would have been considerably augmented. We might here enumerate many cases of special interest; but suffice it to say, that the work has been most glorious. Many of our most influential and long attached families have been graciously visited from on high. Some who have sat under the sound of the gospel for many years have, with broken spirits and contrite hearts, gone bending at the footstool of mercy, and now by faith in the blood of the Lamb can say, "Abba Father, my Lord and my God." Children, for whose spiritual welfare hundreds of prayers have been offered by their pious parents; wives, for whose safety their partners have often mourned and wept between the porch and the altar; husbands, for whose happiness devoted wives have spent many a restless night, have been seen to leave their pews, and with the deepest penitence cry for mercy, until they prevailed with God. Sinners of almost every class and age have been soundly converted, and O, what delightful scenes we often witnessed in the vestry! Parents embracing their children, and, with hearts full of gratitude, giving thanks to God for the salvation of their offspring. Husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, rejoicing in each others' happiness, and uniting their voices in praise of redeeming love; and we feel happy to state that the work is still progressing. On the first Sabbath evening after the close of this special effort, the Rev. W. Butterworth, of Wakefield, preached, when we had four additional conversions; and last Sabbath, after a faithful appeal from our worthy superintendent (the Rev. James Henshaw), five more professed to find mercy, and others are entering our classes, whose names have not been previously registered.

I am sure, Mr. Editor, you will join with us in praying that this gracious work may continue to spread, so that we shall be under the necessity of enlarging our tent to make room for the faithful of the Lord. In drawing out a summary of the whole, we find there

L

are for the Wesleyans 26; Wesleyan Association 23; Wesleyan Reformers 25; Wesleyan Primitives 11; Independents 14; Baptists 9; Established Church 5; our own societies in other parts of the circuits, namely, Hunslet 43; Bethesda 12; Zion 10, making in all, 178; and leaving 171 to be gathered up by our society at Ebenezer.

We feel pleasure in stating that a goodly number of these are already meeting in class, and we trust we shall succeed with the majority of the remainder. There is one fact we think worthy of notice, that out of the 349 names we have but 42 who are under sixteen years of age, and these chiefly are children in our Sabbath-schools, and children of our friends. It is our earnest prayer that the life of dear brother Booth may be long spared, and that he may be even much more abundantly useful to the Connexion and the world at large. -Believe me, Mr. Editor, yours respectfully,

FREDERICK NETTLETON.

Leeds, Feb. 15, 1856.

SPECIAL SERVICES, DUDLEY WEST CIRCUIT.

THERE are many things belonging exclusively to the life that now is, which are of great weight and real value, and which no Christian man can consistently neglect; but there are far more momentous and enduring realities relating to the life which is to come, and these are loudly calling for the exercise of the noblest powers we possess, and the putting forth of the most vigorous efforts of which we are capable. To one who experimentally knows something of "the love of Christ that passeth knowledge,” and whose soul glows with the ardour of holy love to Jesus, nothing will appear of so much importance as the extension of his kingdom. He feels it his highest happiness, and his greatest honour to be a "co-worker with God" in saving immortal souls. And oh, how his heart rejoices when he hears or reads the delightful intelligence that copious and refreshing showers of divine influence have fallen upon any portion of the Lord's vineyard. With a glad and grateful heart he exclaims, "What hath God wrought." It has been the happiness of the writer to realize such

emotions of gratitude and joy, whilst witnessing and taking some humble part in the special services which have just been held at Wesley Chapel, Dudley.

Our much esteemed minister, the Rev. W. Cocker and other leading friends, thought that a series of revival services would be productive of good to the church; and they were right, for happy indeed have been the results. It was arranged to commence them on Sunday the 27th of January, and so continue them for a fortnight. Many earnest petitions were breathed to the great Head of the Church some time previous to the holding of these meetings by those who were longing for the prosperity of our Zion, and in witnessing the gracious answers vouchsafed to those prayers our souls have thrilled with a holy rapture which language must fail to describe. On the first Sabbath, our worthy superintendent preached a most appropriate sermon from the words, "O Lord, revive thy work;" and long shall we remember the pathos and earnestness with which he discoursed on the nature and importance of religious revivals, on the means by which they are to be secured, and on the encouragements and inducements which we have to pray and labour for them. A gracious influence attended the word, and the souls of believers were quickened, and prepared to engage in the following services with renewed ardour. In the afternoon two very earnest and suitable addresses were delivered by Messrs. J. Lewis and J. A. Baker, and а hallowed excitement pervaded the service. In the evening Mr. Cocker preached again from a subject previously announced as "The great question and the glorious answer." After the service there was a prayer meeting, at which a great number remained, and which was characterized by a deep and solemn feeling. The services during the week were well attended, and crowned with the divine blessing.

On the second Sabbath, as on the first, a prayer meeting was held at seven o'clock in the morning. In the forenoon Mr. H. Siviter preached, and the Rev. G. Haigh in the evening; and the Lord gave his blessing with the word. In the afternoon a lovefeast was held, and was conducted by Messrs. Round, Rogers, and Willetts.

This was indeed a feast of love; the Divine presence was unmistakably

manifested in the midst of us. I am quite sure many of my Christian friends could say with me

"My willing soul would stay

In such a frame as this," &c. During the second week the congregations were good, and though nothing was done to excite or call forth mere feeling, yet the interest increased, and we were all sorry when the meetings drew to a close.

Thank God that we have again had the unspeakable pleasure of listening to the cries of penitents, and the songs of new-born souls. About twenty sinners have professed to find peace with God, through believing in Jesus. How can we sufficiently magnify the grace by which these twenty redeemed and deathless spirits have been constituted members of the household of faith, and heirs of glory! The hearts of parents have burst forth in songs of grateful praise over the conversion of their children. There was one very affecting scene: a mother, who does not attend our place of worship, but whose son had found mercy, thought it her duty to come to the same spot, and openly return thanks to God for having thus answered the prayers of thirty-two years. The hearts of our Sabbath-school teachers have been made glad. Several of our elder scholars, we do believe, have been soundly converted to God. Some of the happy results of these services were seen at the fellowship meeting, with which they were concluded on the Friday evening. The school-room was crowded, and a most precious season it was, many hearts being too full for utterance. Our beloved minister seemed as though he could not close the meeting. His whole soul has been in the work, and when his faithful labours have ceased amongst us, our hearts will ever beat with grateful love towards him on the recollection of these services, and breathe forth the earnest prayer that he may often have the happiness of witnessing such gracious and glorious "times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord." The writer of these lines would close them by expressing a firm conviction that our church is on the eve of still better things, and praying that it may be speedily blest with more

MONKWEARMOUTH, SUNDERLAND CIRCUIT.

ON Shrove Tuesday, a public teameeting was held in Providence Chapel, Monkwearmouth, Sunderland Circuit, in behalf of the trust fund. 231 persons sat down to a very excellent tea, provided gratuitously by the ladies. The arrangement and provisions were such as gave perfect satisfaction to all present.

After tea, Mr. W. Renney was called to the chair, and expressed the pleasure which he felt at being present at such a large and well conducted meeting. He then introduced to the company the Rev. T. Clarke, the agent of the Sailors' Mission, who exhorted the people to support their ministers by their prayers and earnest co-operation. The Rev. J. Matheson (Presbyterian) next addressed the meeting. He expressed his gratification on witnessing the progress of the cause of God, in connection with the place in which they were assembled, and encouraged the friends to labour on, and expect still greater things.

Mr. Wm. Parkinson was the next speaker. He stated, that when he looked back to the commencement of our cause at Monkwearmouth, and then looked at the chapel in which they were assembled, and considered the privileges of those who worshipped within its walls, he was led to exclaim, "What hath God wrought ?" He further stated, that with distinguished privileges, there was connected a great amount of responsibility, and exhorted all present to labour and pray for the salvation of those who dwell in the locality in which the chapel is situated. He dwelt at considerable length on the signs of prosperity which were visible, and urged the members of the church by all the means in their power to aid their ministers, who were praying, studying, and preaching for the salvation of souls.

The Rev. J. Wright was next called upon, and observed that when he attended meetings like the one he was then addressing, he could not help thanking God that he lived in England in the nineteenth century. He contrasted the proceedings of the meeting