lasts, talk of earth, of its joys, or of its sorrows; but bring me not near the spot where Mercy died for man." The fever, which had remained stationary for several days, now raged with uncontrolled violence, without imparing the vigour of his intellect, and all expected that a few hours would terminate his mortal career. His dear mother hung over him breathing the purest and most ardent affection; but she was not permitted to distil the consolations of religion, which at length so overpowered her feelings that she could remain no longer, and was obliged to retire, leaving her only son the victim of despair. His eye followed her as she passed through the room; and when the door was closed, he burst into a flood of tears, exclaiming ; "The doom that awaits me would be less terrible if I could have concealed it from my mother. I have destroyed myself, and plunged the fatal dagger into her breast. O thou holy, thou righteous God, thou art clear when thou judgest, and just when thou condemnest!-Have pity on my dear mother, and support her mind under this most awful visitation of thy vengeance!" He now became more composed; but, on hearing the clock strike eleven, he started up in his bed, asked for a large draught of cold water, and expressed an ardent wish to see his mother once more, as he was apprehensive that life was just on the eve of departing. A female attendant went to call her, but she was asleep; and she returned to ask him if she should awake her. After a long pause, he said, "No;-let her sleep on, and take her rest, and I will die alone, and spare her the agony of hearing the last tremendous groan which is to announce my entrance into hell." He then requested that another pillow might be placed under his head; and, turning himself on his left side, he laid himself down to expire. In about a quarter of an hour, his nurse, who was standing by his side, gently whispered, "I think he is gone:" but, on feeling his pulse, she soon ascertained that he was fallen into a profound sleep. He slept for several hours, during which time the fever left him; and when he awoke, he said, with a firm tone, "The bitterness of death is passed." "Yes, my child," replied Mrs. Lewellin, "The Lord has answered my prayer by sparing your life, and I have no doubt but he will answer my prayer, by sanctifying this affliction as the means of bringing you to repentance, and the enjoyment of his blissful presence. This appropriate remark produced a powerful effect, but he cautiously avoided making any references to religion. His recovery was as rapid, as his relapse had been dangerous, and though his strength was greatly impaired, yet he was able to leave his room the early part of the ensuing week. Being now rescued from the brink of woe, and animated with the hope of returning health, as he sat alone musing over the awful scene through which he had so recently passed, he laid his hand on a hymn-book, which was placed on the table, and the following verses struck him with peculiar force: "When with my mind devoutly press'd, Who could believe such lips could praise, "Those eyes that once abus'd their sight, These hands ascend in ceaseless pray'r, "These ears that pleased could entertain "Thus art thou serv'd in ev'ry part; Oh! would'st thou more transform my heart, This drossy thing refine : That grace might nature's strength control, And a new creature, body, soul, Be, Lord, for ever thine." While reading these verses, the determination which he had formed, to live and die without hope, was sha ken; and when he had finished, he involuntarily exclaimed, "I also may feel the power of changing grace." The entrance of his mother into the parlour broke off the train of thought which he was pursuing; but, availing herself of the opportunity, which the hymn-book, still held in his hand, supplied, she said, "I hope, my dear George, as you are now able to visit your friends, that you will accompany me in the evening to chapel, where you will hear a most excellent minister." "I will go to oblige you, but I can anticipate no other pleasure." "But you may derive some profit, for there the Lord condescends to make the truth effectual to the salvation of them that believe." "But I cannot believe, and my heart is so hard, that neither mercy nor judgment can make any impression!" "But faith, my dear child, comes by hearing; and who can tell, but this night you may feel the power of changing grace." After tea, Mrs. Lewellin and her son walked to the house of God in company; and though there were no splendid decorations to allure the devotee of superstition, nor any sculptured forms to attract the attention of the sentimental worshipper, yet it was invested with unrivalled charms in her estimation, as the place, where The Father sits supreme, As King Eternal to receive, The homage which his subjects give," The reading, the singing, and the prayer accorded with the general tone of feeling which a select congregation usually discovers; and though young Lewellin conducted himself with the greatest degree of decorum, yet it was not till after the text was announced, that he appeared interested in the service. The preacher was a young man, of a correct taste, strong intellectual powers, bold and animated address; but the subject which he had chosen for discussion was more adapted to establish the Christian in his faith, than reclaim the sinner. The text was taken from the 1st of Corinthians, vi. 17. He that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. There were no flights of a lofty imagination in the composition of the discourse; no powerful appeals to the conscience; no master strokes of argument levelled against either the root or branches of infidelity; no terrific enunciations of the Divine displeasure; but a calm, methodical, and spiritual amplification of the doctrine of our union with Jesus Christ. The service was concluded without having produced any visible effects on Lewellin, who walked away with his mother, and the only remark he made, was, "I never heard such a sermon before." As she knew not how to interpret the meaning of this ambiguous expression, she thought it most prudent to make no reply, lest by coming into direct contact with his deistical opinions, she should be incapable of persuading him to accompany her at a future time. On entering the parlour, he took a candle, and retired to his own room, which gave his mother an opportunity of imploring the blessing of Heaven on the service of the evening. After waiting a considerable length of time, she began to feel uneasy, and went to the bottom of the stairs to listen: but on hearing the footsteps of her son as he paced backwards and forwards in his chamber, she resumed her seat, and read the 15th chapter of the Gospel of Luke. An hour had now elapsed since she had seen him: the ambulating motion was no longer heard, her fears were strongly excited, and being unable to suppress them, she stole up softly to his door: she heard, or thought she heard, an indistinct sound: she then looked through the key hole, and lo! he was on his knees in prayer. Had she seen visions of God, she might have been more awed, but she could not have been more delighted. She wept as she descended the stairs, but they were such tears as sorrow never sheds. Her heart was full, and she gave vent to her enraptured feeling at the footstool of his throne, who had caused grace to abound where sin had been reigning nigh unto death. At supper he appeared very sedate,-absorbed in deep thought; yet there was a serenity in his countenance, and an ease in his manners, which bespoke the composure of his mind. "I think," said his mother, "that the discourse we heard this evening, placed the happiness and security of the Christian on such a firm basis, that we might have concluded the service by singing the beautiful lines of Toplady: 'Yes, I to the end shall endure, "You might have sung these words, because you are a Christian, but how could I have responsed to them?" "I hope, my dear George, you liked the sermon." "I never heard such a sermon: at least I never heard sermon which produced such an effect on my mind. I could have listened till midnight. I felt what I never felt before. I felt, I hope, the power of changing grace; and now I can say, Who could believe such lips could praise, Or think my dark and winding ways The change produced in the opinions, and taste, and habits of Lewellin, soon became conspicuous in the circle in which he moved; and while it excited the ridicule of some, the gratitude of others, and the astonishment of all, it was as a witness raised from the dead, to give a fresh testimony to the divine origin of the truth, which had been the means of effecting it. He who had been a bold blasphemer, now became a man of prayer; the intoxicating cup was exchanged for the wine of the kingdom; the sabbath was hallowed as a day of rest; and the amusements and dissipations of the world were forsaken for the more refined enjoyments of devotion. As his health was nearly re-established, he began to prepare for his return to his situation: and though he started back with horror, in prospect of being compelled to associate with his former companions, yet he indulged the hope of being able to reclaim them by the force of reason and example from the destructive paths of sin. He wrote to his friend Mr. Jn, with whom he lodged when he first entered London, to inform him of the change which had taken place, and to request permission to become once more an inmate in his pious family. To this letter he received a very satisfactory reply; and the following week was fixed on for his departure. But he would not consent to leave the place where he had passed from death to life; from the miseries of one world, to the sublime |