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truly say with the apostle, "The love of Christ constraineth.

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A few hours after, he conversed with his brother in the language of joyful expectation. No one,' says he, who has tasted of the joys of Heaven, would wish to come back again to earth,' adopting, as expressive of his own experience, these animated lines in Dr. Watts's Miscellanies:

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Has seiz'd, and holds me in Almighty arms.
Here's my salvation, my eternal hope,

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Amidst the wreck of worlds and dying nature
I am the Lord's, and he for ever mine!'

During the remainder of the day, though he suffered much from a fresh hemorrhage, he discovered singular patience, not uttering a murmur or complaint, but calmly acquiescing in the sovereign pleasure of God.

Complaining one morning to his friends that his communion with God had, during the past night, been suspended, they en deavoured to comfort him, by ascribing it to the effect of hist disorder. Ah!' said he, do not talk so. Is not that an evil to be lamented, which has occasioned my heavenly Father to withdraw the sensible assurances of his love? Is not that an evil, to remain without communion with my God?-but,' added? he, though he may have withdrawn the full assurance of his love for a time, my Saviour will return again! I know that he will return; and though weeping may endure for a night, joy will come in the morning. Then, lifting up his eyes, he said, 'O, my heavenly Father! can such an unworthy sinner as I, hope for thy favour? Never, but for thy unchangeable love!

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never, but for thy boundless mercy! Though our feelings vary, thou changest not! Thou wilt never leave those who have felt so much of thy gracious presence!' Throughout this day he continued in a very devotional temper; and, finding that it was the Sabbath, he said, If this be my last Sabbath on earth, I shall spend an eternal Sabbath in Heaven.' When his father and sister were moving the bed-chair for him, he said, 'These bones, which are now moved in this chair, will shortly be mouldering in the tomb' He then enlarged on the superior happiness which the soul woukl experience when dismissed from this state of infirmity, and repeated an expression similar to what he had before uttered, that he had wished to honour God by some signal service in life; but if he choose,' he added, to take me from this state of pain and sickness, to serve him in perfection above, it will be infinitely better, and I am sure I shall not repine.'

He frequently spoke, in the course of the day, in the same pleasing manner; but when he awoke, about 11 at night, he expressed, with perfect composure and clearness, such emotions of jay for more than an hour, that he appeared to be like one on the

confines of glory; and, it is to be regretted, that the fealings of his friends were so overpowered; as to prevent their retaining his rapturous expressions. No part of his dying testimony was more impressive. His appeals to Heaven, as a test of his past experience, were particularly solemn and affecting. In the full and triumphant hope of future blessedness; he repeated, with a small alteration, the following verses from a hymn of Dr. Dod dridge :

'Jesus, my soul's eternal theme,

My transport and my trust;
Jewels to thee are gaudy toys,
And gold is sordid dust.

I'll speak the honours of thy name
With my last lab'ring breath;

Then, speechless, clasp thee in my arms;

The Antidote of death.'

While uttering these words, he clasped his hands and raised his eyes, with a countenance expressive of his heavenly transport.

The next morning, seeing his sisters by his bed-side, he said, Through the goodness of God, we live to behold each other again! this is a mercy! but, if it had pleased him, I should have been glad to have been taken the past night.' His sisters replied, That God would take him in his own time, which is tha best. It is,' said he; and, in the mean time, I hope to enjoy communications of his grace, by continual intercourse with Heaven; for, in proportion as we maintain habitual intercourse with God, we shall taste the consolations of his Spirit.' Late in the evening he called them to his bed-side, saying, 'My time is now come.' He then took each of their hands, and committed them most affectionately to the care of their heavenly Father.

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On Tuesday afternoon, feeling the approaches of death, he broke out in these rapturous expressions: I find now it is no delusion! My hopes are well founded! I shall soon join the blissful company around the throne! Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive the glory I shall shortly partake of! Read your Bible! I shall read mine no more! - no more need it!' When his brother said to him, "You seem to enjoy foretastes of Heaven,' O!' replied he, this is no longer a foretaste! this is Heaven! I not only feel the climate, but I breathe the fine ambrosial air of Heaven, and soon shall enjoy the company! Can this be dying? This body seems no longer to belong to the soul! It appears only as a curtain that covers it; and soon I shall drop this curtain, and be set at liberty!' Then, putting his hand to his breast, he exclaimed, 'I rejoice to feel these bones give way!' repeating it, I rejoice to feel these bones give way, as it tells me I shall shortly be with my God in glory!”

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Notwithstanding these supports and enjoyments, our young friend was not permitted to pass through the valley of the shadow of death' undisturbed. The powers of darkness molested

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him, and, for a short season, almost overwhelmed him with despair. Let not the reader suppose that we ascribe all the dis tress which is felt on a death-bed, to the influence or suggestions of Satan. It is sometimes to be imputed to the just reproofs of an enlightened and guilty conscience, and frequently to imperfect views of religion, or to the mere effect of bodily infirmity; -but let it not be imagined, on the other hand, that we are to discard all ideas of the agency of evil spirits on these affecting occasions. If Satan was permitted to infest the Captain of our salvation in his dying agonies, can we wonder that his followers are exposed to las attacks in similar circumstances? If he prac tised his devices on the primitive Christians, we have no rea son to expect an exemption from his malicious assaults. consequence, therefore, we presume, of such temptations, our friend experienced a sudden transition from the highest joy to the very deepest distress. His countenance suddenly changed, and he exclaimed, What a cloud has come over me! What can this be? I am lost! I am lost! I was taken,' says he, to the portals of Heaven, and was about to enter it, when the door was shut against me; and now I shall never, never see that glorious place! When he was reminded of his past cajoyments, Yes,' said he, 'I have been favoured with the manifestations of his love; but I have grieved his Spirit, and he is withdrawn from me for ever;' repeating these words, "If thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever." Then, turning to his friends, he said to them, in a most pathetic caanner, Take warning by me!' He then addressed himself to God, lamenting the misery of his absence, and dreading an eternal separation from him; saying, O, my Father! shali I never see thy face?- Shall I be banished for ever from thy smiles, from those smiles which make the bliss of Heaven? How can I bear the thought? Have I not, at times, experienced such joys in thy ways, as to make me esteem all things here as dung and dross, as unworthy my regard? and shall I never realize those delightful anticipations?' His father then said to him," But could you enjoy the company of the wicked in the regions of despair?"-O, no!' said he, their company here is my abhorrence!" What is it then, which gives you so much distress?"- Because I have tempted his Spirit, and he is withdrawn from me for ever.'"But are you not grieved for his departure? and do you not wish for his return "I would give all the world, if I possessed it, to obtain one hope of it."Do you think then your past experience a delusion ?" No, I know it was not a delusion; I have had such joys in the ways of God, as the wicked know not of; such delightful anticipations of the bliss of Heaven, that I thought I should certainly arrive there.' He continued in this state for a considerable time; and neither the prayers not conversation of his friends afforded him any relief. In these aflicting circumstances he addressed the Lord, with such an impor

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tunity and awful solemnity as his attendants had never seen on any occasion. Have 1 not,' says he, given myself up to thee? Have I not chosen thee for my portion? Hast thou not assured me of thy love? And wilt thou now cast me off for ever?". After uttering these, and other expressions, to the same purpose, a divine light irradiated the gloom; and he was enabled to triumph over the delusions of the tempter.

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After this, as much as his illness permitted, he was generally cmployed in devotion or in religious conversation, which indicated the happy state of his mind. At one time he said, I have always considered that religion was not to be made a by-concern, but the supreme object of life.' On another occasion, he said to his father, I desire to be thankful for the restraints of a good education. At another time he said, This bed has been witness to many sweet seasons of communion with my God.'

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On the Friday morning preceding his death, being asked if Christ was precious to him, he replied, in an extacy of joy, "O yes, he is precious indeed! very precious! I am very confident of this very thing, that he who hath begun the good work will perform it.' He spoke much more to the same purpose; but part of what he said, his friends could not fully understand.

On the Lord's Day morning, shortly before he died, having called his father and sisters to his bed-side, he addressed each of them for some time; and afterwards offered up a fervent prayer for them. But his voice failing, little could be understood. But after this he lay perfectly composed, with a heavenly serenity of countenance. His breath became gradually shorter, till at length, without a sigh cr a struggle, he fell asleep in Jesus. The last worls which he was heard to utter were, Glory, glory, glory!' He died on the Lord's Day, April 17th, 1808, in the 24th year of his age.

The preceding Memoir has been probably read by some young persons who have devoted much of their time to literary pursuits.: It is possible, that in consequence of their connexions, or the course of their reading and study, they have been accustomed to associate all that is ignoraut and grovelling with their ideas of what is denominated Vital Religion. But let them here contemplate a youth of distinguished abilities, who gloried in the truths which they have learnt to despise. It deserves too their serious consideration, whether the principles which they have substituted for them, can inspire such a superiority to worldly attractions, or make them equally willing to quit all that is dear and lovely in life, and enter on the scene of an untried eternity.

We hope that this narrative may serve to obviate an objection, which the young often feel against serious religion. if they think that it is adapted to make them unhappy, let them consider its effect on the subject of this memoir. Possessing all the ardent feelings of youth, he made light of present pleasures, and the most flattering prospects of honour and interest; in consequence

of the superior comfort which he derived from religion. It is surely then the want, not the possession of piety, which at any time renders men wretched or gloomy:

What an affecting proof has been here exhibited of the uncer, tainty of worldly hopes and enjoyments! The youthful eye, that may be now moving over this page, may also before the end of another short year, be mouldered to dust; and the immortal spirit by which it is animated, be fixed in a state of happiness or misery. How dreadful will the consequence be, if lime shall, have been presumptuously trifled away, and a preparation for eternity have been entirely neglected!

We hope that pious parents will be encouraged by this memoir, to attend to the most important concerns of their children. The best education indeed cannot produce real religion; and whether a Timothy or a Zaccheus be converted to God, the change must be ascribed to the operation of the Spirit, But prudent, pious, persevering endeavours have seldom failed of ultimately obtaining a blessing.

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REFLECTIONS ON JOB XXIX. 18.

"Then I said I shall die in my nest: I shall multiply my days as the sand."

THERE are no events so uncertain to man as the changes of his future life. No foresight can determine what these shall be, nor how, and when they shall fall out. All beyond the present moment is wrapt up in impenetrable darkness; and the expectations that are formed of the future, are often founded on the most uncertain conjectures, which events, as they fall out, will demonstrate to have been foolish and vain. The times and the seasons God hath kept in his own power; and what a day may bring forth, no man can tell. To foresee future events, experience affords no aid; nay, it is often apt to deceive, and to tempt men, from what the changes they have seen, to indulge hopes that will never be realized. Learning, whose researches have been extensive and useful, cannot direct the views of men, with certainty, to the events of future times; and revelation too, is silent on the subject; "for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?" But man's ignorance excites his curiosity, expectation, and hope. He paints to himself, in imagination, scenes of usefulness, of honour, and of happiness, beyond what he has yet seen, and in which he hopes to bear a part; he stretches beyond the bounds by which the experience of past ages has been limited, and hopes for more sure and more undisturbed felicity than has yet fallen to the lot of man. What learning, what experi ence, what revelation do not afford him, conjecture readily sup plies; and he fills up in his own faney the remaining period of

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