must become new." Without ho- |sical nor intellectual, any farther liness no man can be at one with than it is under the control of God. Destitute of a holy disposi- moral and spiritual power. Nor tion, men cannot possibly hate and is it the moral and spiritual power renounce sin; or know, or turn to, which is exercised by the regeneor love, or serve the Lord. Light rate, for which they plead; but it and darkness, fire and water, may is the moral and spiritual power be as easily united, as a cor- of unregenerate and ungodly, of rupt and unrenewed heart, with wicked and depraved men to reHim "who is of purer eyes than pent and turn to God, which they to behold iniquity; in whose sight so earnestly maintain, as affording the heavens are not clean, and considerations of the first importwho chargeth his angels with ance in our religious affairs. folly."

When we speak of the physical But have men power of them-powers of men, our attention is selves to effect this change, to re-directed to the construction of pent and turn to God? their animal frames; when of their

It is worthy of particular re-intellectual powers, to the capacity mark, that with our brethren who and cultivation of their minds; but maintain the affirmative of this, when we treat of morals, religion, the question is not, do men by their and spirituality, we uniformly reown independent exertions repent fer to the disposition of their and turn to God? So far are they hearts. It is this that gives the from asserting that men do this of moral and religious character to themselves, they acknowledge, that persons, to thoughts, desires, in every instance of real repent- words, and actions. A good man, ance and conversion, the change out of the good treasure of his in the sinner's heart and life is heart, bringeth forth good things; effected solely by the spirit and and an evil man, out of the evil gracious dispensations of God, treasure of his heart, bringeth that "without the operations of forth evil things." the spirit, no man ever did repent, The term power, which primarily or ever will." They argue, of and generally conveys the idea of course, for a power that is inert; superiority and authority, and frea latent power, that is never quently even of dominion, is, in brought into action and never my estimation, both improperly effects its purpose. But a power and unhappily adopted by on. that is not known by its effects, brethren in this controversy. It is in its existence of an extremely is by repentance and turnir, gto doubtful nature. Power in its God, that we participate of ospel effects is like a tree known by its blessings; were this participation fruits. A power that never ope- obtained by the performance of rates to the accomplishment of its ritual services, I cou.d more professed end, certainly possesses easily understand them. But as no claims to our most respectful the whole transaction is purely regard, especially when there is mental, in which we feel and conanother acknowledged power that fess sins, sorrows, necessities, and in all instances" is absolutely ne- unworthiness; and every blessing cessary, and certainly effectual." of which we partake is received by us on the footing of sovereign mercy, it appears to me, that shame and confusion of face only

But of what class or nature is the power in man for which our brethren contend? Not phy

belong to us, and that every |tion attach to indisposition to comthing, which with any propriety ply with obligations.

can be designated power, belongs If, however exceptionable, the to God alone. We are not accus- term power must be employed, tomed to ascribe power to crimi-and that be power without which nals under the sentence of con- a certain end cannot by any posdemnation; nor to culprits, in their sibility be accomplished, and with feelings of remorse and solicita- which its accomplishment is absotions for pardon; nor to beggars, lutely certain, I hesitate not to who are ready to perish; nor to affirm, that men, whilst in a state the diseased, who are pining away of carnality, which is a state of under their maladies; yet these enmity to God, have not power to circumstances of guilt, destitution, repent of their sins, and turn and wretchedness, are in strict themselves to him. They have accordance with the state and feel- no disposition of heart even to inings of repenting sinners when cline them to it; they are in love returning to their offended and with iniquity, and are haters of just, yet merciful and gracious,God. God. A heart rightly disposed Power does not, like obligation, towards the God of holiness, is the invariably involve duties; and only thing wanting to men's re. were the obligations of men in pentance and conversion; and this question, there is not any one to is of such absolute necessity, that whom I would give place, as it the end cannot possibly be accomrelates to either number or extent. plished in its absence, and in But in my estimate of obligation, whomsoever it exists, repentance most certainly, I should not join and turning to God is invariably those who would erect its standard produced. If I may so express on the ability or power of a dissi- myself, the intellectual faculties pated and fraudulent debtor. I are the material, and the disposhould raise it on the rights and sition of the heart is the impetus claims of his injured and just or power, by which the whole creditor. By his crimes the machinery is put and kept in debtor might ruin his health, motion to moral good or evil. waste his property, and debase The means of repentance and his mind, so as to render himself conversion are either neglected, both unable and indisposed to make restitution. But would his obligations be annihilated also by bis crimes? Would not these abide in all their force, aggravated by wicked violations? Ability is generally destroyed by crime, but obligations are never cancelled by transgression, and they are always increased by the manifestations of mercy.

There are instances, in which a want of power exists so far apart from criminality, that it excites only our sympathy and pity; but in the estimation of God and man guilt and censure without excep

abused, or improved, according to the frame of the mind: as are the dispositions of the heart, such will be the tendencies of the life. We do not gather grapes of thorns, nor figs of thistles; evil trees do not bring forth good fruit, nor do corrupt fountains send forth pure water. Darkness does not produce light, nor does water kindle fire, but these things may as well occur in nature, as in morals and religion for those whose hearts are under a sinful bias, to repent and turn to God. "The wicked will do wickedly, for the fruit of the wicked tendeth to sin." In

both instances, the cause and the by their own confession never has

been, is not, and never will be, successfully exerted. It is a power that never demonstrates itself in the lives of men, nor is once directly stated in the Word of God. An inferential and metaphysical power, a mere hypothesis, may afford very suitable ground for the display of reasoning talent; but it is not human might or power, but that of the Spirit of God alone, which in this instance is known in experience, and that claims our regards in revelation. If, in repentance and conversion, God does no more for guilty and depraved men, than they have power to do for themselves, the work must necessarily be of a very inferior order, and by no means in accordance with the Apostle's representations, who speaks of it as the quickening the dead, as a new creation, and as effected by

effect are of equal certainty. The Ethiopian will change his skin and the leopard his spots, when those, whose hearts are deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, shall, by their own independent power, repent and turn to God. The corrupt heart produces that only which is evil. "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, co. vetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness; all these things come from within and defile the man. Can any human power purify such hearts as these, or can hearts so vile purify themselves? It is the prerogative of the Almighty alone," to bring a clean thing out of an unclean." In either nature or morals, the effect will invariably be in accord. ance with the cause. The tree 66 the exceeding greatness of the must be first made good, in order power of God, according to the to its bearing good fruit. The working of his mighty power which heart must be renewed by the he wrought in Christ when he Holy Spirit before the sinner will raised him from the dead." And enter upon godly consideration, who says, in reference to this work, and genuine repentance. The that 66 God, who commanded Lord opened the heart of Lydia, the light to shine out of darkness, and then she attended to, or con-hath shined in our hearts, to give sidered, the things which were spoken of Paul.

Both the nature of the case, and divine authority assure us, that except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God, and that the good work is both begun, and perfected in us, by God himself. The effects of an evil, or a well-disposed mind, are generally perceived; and the state of the heart, whence they proceed, is as generally condemned or approved: but it requires no ordinary degree of discrimination even to conceive of the power for which our brethren contend, a power consisting in means, a power which

the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." In contemplating these and many other scriptural statements of the same character, I am overwhelmed with a sense of divine favour, and of human obligation; and in the presence of such exhibitions of almighty and gracious energies, I should be really both ashamed and afraid to assert, that sinful and feeble men possess power of themselves to repent and turn to God, independent of the operations of the Holy Spirit. Indeed, I could as readily conceive of the guilty making an atonement for their transgressions, as for the

corrupt in heart creating them- fraternity have rising families, selves after the divine image, in whom they would fain instruct in righteousness and true holiness. sacred knowledge. Both these are of equal obligation and necessity in order to our restoration; and both are effected by the wisdom and power of God, "according to the exceeding riches of his grace towards us in Christ Jesus our Lord. For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things, to whom be glory for ever. Amen." Yours respectfully,

SHEWETH, That the employment in which your petitioner is engaged, is one of great bodily labour and fatigue through the week, requiring many hours of exertion, at a time when persons in general are enjoying the sweets of repose, and that, consequently, your petitioner stands in especial need of the merciful provision of the sabbath.

That your petitioner conceives he possesses an immortal soul, of equal value with those of his fellow. creatures, and which stands in equal need of the instructions and consolations of religion.

That from all these privileges he is in a great measure excluded, by the prevalent practice of families sending their dinners to the baker's oven on the sabbath, by which he is necessarily employed during the whole of the morning, and leaves his work hot and weary, at an hour almost too late for him to prepare for attending an afternoon service; consequently,his privileges are restricted to the evening, at which time there is not in all places, an opportunity of attending public worship.

N. B. No remonstrance is here offered on the subject of baking rolls or muffins on a Sunday, as that is not practised by master bakers who profess any regard for that day of sacredrest; nor are customers for these articles to be found among the class of persons to whom this remonstrance is addressed, viz. Christian heads of families.

Your petitioner humbly requests that the premises may be taken into your serious and benevolent consideration, and that you will adopt such measures for his relief, and that of his brethren, as to your wisdom and equity may seem fit and practicable.

Your petitioner is well aware of the pleas urged on behalf of this practice. Such as (1), through the That having, as he trusts, been various engagements of families made a partaker of divine grace during the week, and in many through the gospel, he conceives cases through inability to procure it his duty, as it would be his de- it, Sunday is the only day in light, according to his humble which the whole family can sit ability, to extend the knowledge down to the enjoyment of a comof that blessed gospel, by assisting fortable meal : (2), that by the emin the work of Sunday-school in-ployment of two or three persons struction, and other suitable means in attending to a baker's oven and that might present themselves: in carrying out dinners, the servants, addition to this, he would remark, or other active persons of thirty that though himself, but an uncon- or forty families, may be set at nected individual, many of his liberty to attend public worship:

(3), that if some families abstain | himself and family; and, more.

over, that every dinner withheld from the baker's oven on a sabbath, as it reduces his profit, reduces also his temptation to violate the law that enjoins him to cease " from all manner of work, himself, and his man-servant and his maid-servant.”

(Signed)

A JOURNEYMAN BAKER.

HINTS

from employing the baker on the sabbath, others will not, and he will therefore, nevertheless, be employed: (4), that it is the baker's voluntary act to open his oven on that day, and that if he choose to make the sacrifice of gain, and hazard the offending his customers, he is at liberty to do so. To these Should your kind consideration your petitioner begs to reply, (1), restore your Petitioner and bis that most of the arguments bere brethren, to the full exercise and adduced will, with equal force, enjoyment of their sabbath duties apply to the slave trade, and other and privileges, they will ever pray pursuits of acknowledged impro- that you also may be made joyful priety; and that not one of them in the house of prayer, and be can stand the test of the universal richly satisfied with the goodness law of Christian morality," What- of the Lord's house, even of his soever ye would that men should holy temple. do unto you, do ye even so unto them." (2), That those families who conscientiously abstain from employing the baker, will be clear of the guilt of those who do not; and that it is possible they may influence others by their ex. ample: (3), that it is worth while to attempt the lessening of an evil which cannot be wholly suppressed -if the number of dinners sent to a baker's oven be reduced onehalf or one.third, it is possible, that of three or four individuals hitherto employed, one may be dispensed with, and thus at least, once in three or four sabbaths, each may enjoy the privilege of keeping holy the whole day: (4), that though master bakers can choose whether or not they will pursue their calling on the sabbath, that option can scarcely be considered as extending to journey men, and certainly not to apprentices; also that the sacrifice required from the consumer, of a small gratification of the palate, bears a very inadequate proportion to that required of the baker, who, if his customers insist on employing him on the sabbath, and he refuse to comply with their demands, hazards the support of

To those who wish not to exclude
their servants, or public bakers,
from the full benefit of the
fourth commandment.
THOSE who sincerely wish to ob.
serve the sabbath day, must not
fail to bear in mind throughout
the Saturday, that "to-morrow is
the rest of the holy sabbath of the
Lord their God." By this pros-
pective remembrance,many trifling
matters will be attended to, which
would otherwise very unsuitably
burthen those sacred hours. By
those accustomed to disregard
little things, it will scarcely be
credited, how much hurry and
confusion on that hallowed day
may be avoided, if every thing is
prepared that can be, and laid just
at hand for use.

2. It is desirable to rise on the sabbath early; perhaps rather earlier than on other mornings, that even though there is less to be done, that little may be done calmly and quietly, without hurry and confusion, and the mind kept in a tranquil frame even during the few necessary occupations in