You ask me, how then do I account for the facts of the case, seeing I deny the revival of the gifts of the Spirit?

The

What are the facts of the case? apostle Paul, under the title of spiritual gifts, enumerates nine particulars, or diversities of operations, by which the Holy Spirit manifested his presence and power in the infant christian church. 1. The word of wisdom: 2. The word of knowledge: 3. Faith: 4. Gifts of healing: 5. Working of miracles: 6. Prophecy: 7. Discerning of spirits: 8. Diverse kinds of languages: 9. The interpretation of languages.

Now, first of all, you tell us that God

has once more raised his voice and put forth his power, to build up a church after the apostolical model, and thereby to seal the doom of all existing churches, which do, in fact, from the commencement of what you call the spiritual ministry, become synagogues of Satan. On this ground, you think you are doing God service, when you denounce me and my brethren in the church of England who oppose your pretensions, and hold us up to the reprobation of your followers, as ministers of antichrist. You call differing in opinion with you, opposing the Holy Ghost. You proclaim and reiterate, that beyond the pale of your spiritual church there is, and can be, no salvation. And many such things say ye. *

Hearing such things, what was naturally to be expected, but that, upon inquiry, we

* It is very possible that such things are not so flagrantly said elsewhere as at Albury; but here they are insisted on, in the most revolting manner. And the (supposed) spirits, here and elsewhere, are so identified by mutual testimony, that they must stand or fall together. Indeed, incomparably the most attractive of the party, has been a resident here nearly two years.

N

should find you arrayed in all the divine panoply of apostolical powers? Can you

wonder then, my friend, at our lamentable disappointment, for what are the facts of the case? Words of wisdom and knowledge! Some of you spoke words of excellent wisdom, communicating useful knowledge, some years ago, before your present fancies had made you impatient of laborious study; but now such speaking is given up as carnal, as philosophy falsely so called, as man's wisdom, and mountebank oratory. And you now deal in trite common-place appeals, making up in sound, and other artificial stimulants, for the lack of substantial instruction.

Faith! Healing! Miracles! These were indeed, claimed at first, and confidently expected in attestation of the truth of the voice which had promised, among other things, "the signs of apostleship." But this claim seems now given up, (apostles indeed they have in name, but without signs, that is, men who say they are apostles and are not,) and given up, not without cause, after the signal and disgraceful failures which have attended certain attempts. Witness the poor gentle

man who was carried from his death-bed to a prayer-meeting, in order to be healed, and carried back again to die. I had an instance in one of my parishioners, who was taught by certain gifted visitors, that her sickness was sinful, entirely occasioned by her want of faith; and that if she had faith, she would be well. One of these visitors prayed by her, in the spirit, as they told her, for her recovery on the instant. When next I saw her, she said to me, without any previous explanation, "Sir, does not the Spirit make intercession for us, according to the will of God?" I said, "Certainly, the words you use are the words of St. Paul." "Then, sir,” she replied, "it cannot be the Holy Spirit in that lady, for she prayed for me that I might recover immediately, and I am no better." About a month afterwards, the poor woman died, as she had for some years lived, in the true faith and love of Jesus Christ her Lord.

Prophecy! This gift is claimed; at least, so far as it is understood to mean extatic utterances in the power of the Spirit, for the edification of the church. In its simpler

meaning of prediction of future events (confessedly more dangerous to be tampered with) it is not claimed; or if claimed, it is under conditions which divest it of the miraculous. The seeming predictions are said not to be decrees, not declarations of the purpose of God concerning things which shall come to pass, but only warnings to faith. If any event occur, answering at all to the prediction, prophecy in full force is claimed; if not, the failure is attributed to want of faith, and the credit of the predicting spirit is saved.

Upon the subject of prophecy unto the edification of the church, as now claimed, I have already written to you: and in reply to your question, how I account for the extraordinary utterances, I beg now to remind you, of the history of one individual who was hailed as a gifted person, whose utterances were boasted of, as in the highest degree powerful and searching, and who, in common with the others assembled in London, stood the test as applied by the letter of 1 John iv. 1, 2. I had a most animated description of this scene, at the time, from an eye and ear witness, who