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saved me. After removing all, as we imagined, from his reach. One-commenced prayer a second time: and oh! He screamed curses upon us! -He blasphemed the name of God! Hé gnawed, as it were, his tongue for pain! Some fruit laying near, he began dashing it, with the utmost venom, at my face; and seeing I would not desist, he threw himself, his length, upon the floor-which, with the length of his chain, enabled him to reach a heavy chair,that, he was, likewise, thrusting at me, when we were obliged to retreat. Some of our company began singing in his presence; to learn also, what effect that might produce;-when truly, his agony was inexpressible! His eyes darted fury-he hissed, as some fiery serpent-he gnashed upon the walls, with his teeth,-and smote them, with his rugged fists, till they were bathed with gore! When, in pity to the wretched object, we ceased. But he still cried after us, "Begone! begone! I'll not have you here!" "What are you? What are you, here, for?" Replied one, “We are good as we trust,-and have come to see, how it is with you." "If you are good,” cried he, “I don't want you here! Away, away with you all out of the house!" And he flew, and tore again-seemingly, like the one of whom we read, possessed of a legion of Devils.-He, undoubtedly, was one of that very same description that cried after the Saviour "What have we to do with thee; Jesus, thou son of God? art thou come hither to torment us, before the time?"

From this circumstance, I drew the inference, That the wicked--if admitted to Heaven, would find the same but as the hottest Hell.

And

they would be glad to fly from thence, to the regions of damnation,--best suited to their malicious, infernal natures:--As those sacred anthems of praise to God, would but augment, even the se

verest torment of their souls.

A CERTAIN preacher of Old England, I heard relate the incident as follows: "A young man of my acquaintance, of very dissolute habits, was dangerously ill-when he began to make many promises to the Lord, of amendment of life, in case of being restored to health. A pious minister, hard by was sent for to pray by his sick-bed,-for his recovery:--and it pleased God to hear prayer, and raise him up. But he went on, in his former sinful course,--and straightway forgot all that he had yowed. He was, eventually, the second time arrested, and brought to the gate of death. When he began again to cry to the Lord for help, and to renew his vows,—of devoting himself to the duties of holiness, provided he were raised again. The godly minister was a second time sent for;-whose supplication, with that of his own, the Lord was pleased, once more, to accept:-and the day of probation was yet lengthened out. But Oh! what base ingratitude!-He hurried on, still, in his licentious practices, and became seven-fold more a child of wrath. than ever before. Hence, he was taken in hand, for the last time,-and the rod to be spared him no more. As he drew nigh the dead, a third time,- his friends, (though apprehensive of his danger) – forbore to ask the good man's aid again, seeing he had witnessed no better fruits, of all his former exertions. Whereas, when they

saw him, actually, in the last struggle, with the grim messenger,-"death," they ventured to ask, once more the prayers of his godly neighbours.". The preacher was accordingly sent for:-but, what farther encouragement he could give, he knew not. He withdrew, a moment, in painful suspense: when "the Heavens were as brass, over his head; and Jehovah had shut His ear, that He would no more hear." All the reply he could gain, was, "I will laugh at his calamity, and mock while his fears come, as desolation upon him!" With awful sensations, he entered the apartment of the dying youth: who raised his fainting head, and claimed, "Oh! Sir, you have now come too late!. Heaven is lost, and my soul is gone for ever! Jehovah now, justly, laughs at my calamity, and mocks while my fears come, -as a whirlwind, – upon me!” And thus, the once bold, but hapless youth, expired!

ex

Fellow Sinners, who read these lines,--remember,--your vows to God,-yet unfulfilled,—are all registered against you, in the book of His accounts: and they will surely assail you again, as so many barbed arrows, without remission, when times for amendment, are forever past and gone!

A Sea-Captain of my acquaintance, (that was a class-leader among the Methodists) gave this interesting account:-"I once had a companion, of whom I was very fond. That companion died;-and I was exceedingly anxious to know what was his future destiny. One night,-upon the wide ocean, as I was lying in my birth,--the cabin, of a sudden was filled with light, as bright as day:-and

he appeared, standing erect before my face. I fixed mine eye steadfastly upon him; and beheld, that his countenance bespoke great terror. He gazed, likewise, upon myself,-with much apparent agitation:--when, after some pause,---he threw open his bosom: and there poured fourth, a stream of fire!--(But, what was most mysterious to me,' continued he, "From the fire, there proceeded a sulpherous stench:- for a considerable space after, as perceptible to me as any thing I had ever witnessed!) From thence, I questioned no more the sad fate of my once engaging, and much esteemed associate."

The person from whom I had this narrative; was a man of no common degree, of skill and firmness: And whom I should have judged, the very last to countenance any thing of the kind; had he not been himself an eye witness to the fact.

While labouring near the boundary of the United States in 1827,-with no little encouragement from the salvation of souls;;-on a certain occasion, I requested, That all present, who felt a need of Christ, and desired an interest in the prayers ot christians, would signify it, by rising up. Of the number that arose, I espied one, who appeared a new-comer altogether, iuto our congregation;-and after uniting in prayer-I moved towards him, to offer some encouragement, for his perseverance &c.-When, by way of compliment, I chanced to reach him my hand-which, to my suprise, he refused, by drawing back. Whereupon I a glance, more fully in his face; and truly-the pale, self-condemning, horrible look, he discovered, caused my flesh to run cold! And I

cast

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thrust myself backward,-with a loud, mental cry, "A murderer," "A pirate!"

The next day he made an excuse to the house where I was lodging-and I told him my worst conception of his character:-Even, that he was a Pirate and a Murderer. And, added I, “You appeared like the worst man, as I met you the last evening, that I ever beheld; and I was really, frightened from your presence." He returned, "When you requested those to arise, who desired the prayers of christians, I thought that if any one needed them, I did-although I hardly believe in the existence of Deity;-and when you approached me, and offered your hand, you looked like an angel,—and I turned from you. I have, madam, been a Pirate:-but I always lifted my hand against murder. Though I am guilty of every sin that was ever committed on the footstool:-and I confess to you, That I am the worst man, to be found upon the face of the whole earth." This acknowledg ment of his own guiltiness, was in the presence of two or more witnesses:---which, I think, the remorse of his conscience, constrained him to make, He was a young man, of about thirty;-a stranger-but a few days in the place. And from that time, it seemed, he crept off slyly—and so was heard from no more.-"A guilly conscience, needs no accuser!"

*In the eighteenth year of my age, I commenced school-keeping in N. Hampton.-It being the

*This, (with the preceding short histories,) was ta ken from my Journal,