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discriminating tenets of each subdivision of Chris- | their interests, it is worth while to conciliate Ireland, tians may be fixed upon this general basis. To say to avert the hostility, and to employ the strength of this is not enough, that a child should be made an An- the Catholic population. We plead the question as tisocinian, or au Antipelagian, in his tenderest years, the sincerest friends to the Establishment-as wishmay be very just; but what prevents you from making to it all the prosperity and duration its warmest ing him so? Mr. Lancaster, purposely and intention-advocates can desire,--but remembering always, what ally, to allay all jealousy, leaves him in a state as well these advocates seem to forget, that the Establishadapted for one creed as another. Begin; make your ment cannot be threatened by any danger so great as pupil a firm advocate for the peculiar doctrines of the the perdition of the kingdom in which it is estabEnglish church; dig round about him, on every side, lished. trench that shall guard him from every species of We are truly glad to agree so entirely with Mr. heresy. In spite of all this clamour you do nothing; Parnell upon this great question; we admire his way you do not stir a single step; you educate alike the of thinking; and most cordially recommend his work swineherd and his hog-and then, when a man of real to the attention of the public. The general conclugenius and enterprise rises up, and says, Let me dedi- sion which he attempts to prove is this-that relicate my life to this object; I will do every thing but gious sentiment, however perverted to bigotry or that which must necessarily devolve upon you alone; fanaticism, has always a tendency to moderation; you refuse to do your little, and compel him, by the that it seldom assumes any great portion of activity cry of Infidel and Atheist, to leave you to your an- or enthusiasm, except from novelty of opinion, or from cient repose, and not to drive you, by insidious com- opposition, contumely, and persecution, when novelty parisons, to any system of active utility. We deny, ceases; that a govemment has little to fear from any again and again, that Mr. Lancaster's instruction is religious sect, except while that sect is new. any kind of impediment to the propagation of the doc-government only time, and, provided it has the good trines of the church; and if Mr. Lancaster was to per- sense to treat foliy with forbearance, it must ultiish with his system to-morrow, these boys would pos- mately prevail. When, therefore, a sect is found, itively be taught nothing; the doctrines which Mrs. after a lapse of years, to be ill disposed to the govern Trimmer considers to be prohibited would not rush in, ment, we may be certain that government has widenbut there would be an absolute vacuum. We will, ed its separation by marked distinctions, roused its however, say this in favour of Mrs. Trimmer, that if resentment by contumely, or supported its enthusiasm every one who has joined in her clamour, had la- by persecution. bored one-hundredth part as much as she has done in The particular conclusion Mr. Parnell attempts to the cause of national education, the clamour would be prove is, that the Catholic religion in Ireland had much more rational, and much more consistent, than sunk into torpor and inactivity, till government roused it now is. By living with a few people as active as it with the lash: that even then, from the respect and herself, she is perhaps somehow or another persuaded attachment, which men are always inclined to show that there is a national education going on in this coun- towards government, there still remained a large try. But our principal argument is, that Mr. Lancas-body of loyal Catholics; that these only decreased in ter's plan is at least better than the nothing which preceded it. The authoress herself seems to be a lady of respectable opinions, and very ordinary talents; defending what is right without judgment, and believing what is holy without charity.

PARNELL AND IRELAND.*
VIEW, 1807.)
Historical Apology for the Irish Catholics. By William Par-
nell, Esquire. Fitzpatrick, Dublin, 1807.

Give a

number from the rapid increase of persecution; and that, after all, the effects which the resentment of the Roman Catholics had in creating rebellions had been very much exaggerated.

In support of these two conclusions, Mr. Parnell takes a survey of the history of Ireland, from the conquest under Henry, to the rebellion under Charles the First, passing very rapidly over the period which pre(EDINBURGH RE. ceded the Reformation, and dwelling principally upon the various rebellions which broke out in Ireland between the Reformation and the grand rebellion in the reign of Charles the First. The celebrated conquest of Ireland by Henry the Second, extended only to a Ir ever a nation exhibited symptoms of downright very few counties in Leinster; nine-tenths of the whole madness, or utter stupidity, we conceive these symp-kingdom were left, as he found them, under the domitoms may be easily recognized in the conduct of this nion of their native princes. The influence of example was as strong in this, as in most other instances; country upon the Catholic question. A man has a wound in his great toe, and a violent and perilous and great numbers of the English settlers who came fever at the same time; and he refuses to take the over under various adventurers, resigned their premedicines for the fever, because it will disconcert his tensions to superior civilization, cast off their lower toe! The mournful and folly-stricken blockhead for- garments, and lapsed into the nudity and barbargets that his toe cannot survive him ;-that if he dies, ism of the Irish. The limit which divided the posthere can be no digital life apart from him; yet he sessions of the English settler from those of the lingers and fondles over this last part of his body, native Irish, was called the pale; and the expressions soothing it madly with little plasters, and anile fo- of inhabitants within pale, and without the pale, were mentations, while the neglected fever rages in his the terms by which the two nations were distinguishentrails, and burns away his whole life. If the com-ed. It is almost superfluous to state, that the most paratively little questions of Establishment are all that this country is capable of discussing or regarding, for God's sake let us remember, that the foreign conquest, which destroys all, destroys this beloved toe also. Pass over freedom, industry, and science and look upon this great empire, by which we are about to be swallowed up, only as it affects the manner of collecting tithes, and of reading the liturgy still, if all goes, these must go too; and even, for

bloody and pernicious warfare was carried on upon
the borders-sometimes for something-sometimes
The Irish,
for nothing--most commonly for cows.
over whom the sovereigns of England affected a sort
of nominal dominion, were entirely governed by their
own laws; and so very little connection had they
with the justice of the invading country, that it was
as lawful to kill an Irishman, as it was to kill a
badger or a fox. The instances are innumerable,
where the defendant has pleaded that the deceased
was an Irishman, and that therefore defendant bad a
right to kill him ;-and upon the proof of Hibernicism
acquittal followed of course.

*I do not retract one syllable (or one iota) of what I have said or written upon the Catholic question. What was wanted for Ireland was emancipation, time and justice, abolition of present wrongs; time for forgetting past When the English army mustered in any great wrongs, and that continued and even justice which would strength, the Irish chieftains would do exterior homake such oblivion wise. It is now only difficult to tranquilize Ireland, before emancipation it was impossible. As mage to the English Crown; and they very frequentto the danger from Catholic doctrines, I must leave such ly, by this artifice, averted from their country the apprehensions to the respectable anility of these realms, I miseries of invasion: but they remained completely Junsubdued, until the rebellion which took place in

will not meddle with it.

In the early history of Ireland, we find several instances of chieftains discountenancing tillage; and so late as Elizabeth's reign, Moryson says, that "Sir Neal Garve restrained his people from ploughing, that they might assist him to do any mischief." (p. 98-102.)

the reign of Queen Elizabeth, of which that politic | armies; for, where there was no improvement or tillage, woman availed herself to the complete subjugation of war was pursued as an occupation. Ireland. In speaking of the Irish about the reign of Elizabeth, or James the First, we must not draw our comparisons from England, but from New Zealand; they were not civilized men, but savages; and if we reason about their conduct, we must reason of them as savages.

After reading every account of Irish history,' (says Mr. Parnell,) one great perplexity appears to remain: How does it happen, that, from the first invasion of the English, till the reign of James I., Ireland seems not to have made the smallest progress in civilization or wealth?

I.

These quotations and observations will enable us to state a few plain facts for the recollection of our English readers. 1st, Ireland was never subdued till the rebellion in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. 2d, for four hundred years before that period, the two nations had been almost constantly at war; and in consequence of this, a deep and irreconcileable hatred existed between That it was divided into a number of small principali- the people within and without the pale. 3d, The Irish, ties, which waged constant war on each other, or that the at the accession of Queen Elizabeth, were unquestioneppointment of the chieftains was elective, do not appear ably the most barbarous people in Europe. So much sufficient reasons, although these are the only ones assigned for what had happened previous to the reign of Queen by those who have been at the trouble of considering the Elizabeth: and let any man, who has the most superfisubject: neither are the confiscations of property quite sufficient to account for the effect. There have been great cial knowledge of human affairs, determine, whether confiscations in other countries, and still they have flour-national hatred, proceeding from such powerful causes, ished: the petty states of Greece were quite analogous to could possibly have been kept under by the defeat of the chiefries (as they were called) in Ireland; and yet one single rebellion; whether it would not have been they seemed to flourish almost in proportion to their dis-easy to have foreseen. at that period, that a proud, sensions. Poland felt the bad effects of an elective monar- brave, half-savage people, would cherish the memory chy more than any other country; and yet, in point of of their wrongs for centuries to come, and break forth civilization, it maintained a very respectable rank among the nations of Europe; but Ireland never, for an instant, into arms at every period when they were particularly made any progress in improvement till the reign of James exasperated by oppression, or invited by opportunity. If the Protestant religion had spread in Ireland as it 'It is scarcely credible, that in a climate like that of Ire- did in England, and if there never had been any differ. land, and at a period so far advanced in civilization as the ence of faith between the two countries,-can it be beend of Elizabeth's reign, the greater part of the natives lieved that the Irish, ill-treated, and infamously gov. should go naked. Yet this is rendered certain by the testi-erned as they have been, would never have made any mony of an eye witness, Fynes Moryson. "In the remote parts," he says, "where the English manners are un- efforts to shake off the yoke of England? Surely there known, the very chief of the Irish, as well men as women, are causes enough to account for their impatience of go naked in the winter time, only having their privy parts that yoke, without endeavouring to inflame the zeal of covered with a rag of linen, and their bodies with a loose ignorant people against the Catholic religion, and to mantle. This I speak of my own experience, yet remem- make that mode of faith responsible for all the butche. ber that a Bohemian Baron coming out of Scotland to us by the north parts of the wild Irish, told me in great ear-ry which the Irish and English, for these last two cennestness, that he, coming to the house of O'Kane, a great turies, have exercised upon each other. Every body, lord amongst them, was met at the door by sixteen women of course, must admit, that if to the causes of hatred al all naked, excepting their loose mantles, whereof eight or ready specified, there be added the additional cause of ten were very fair; with which strange sight his eyes being religious distinction, this last will give greater force dazzled, they led him into the house, and then sitting down (and what is of more consequence to observe, give by the fire with crossed legs, like tailors, and so low as a name) to the whole aggregate motive. But what Mr. could not but offend chaste eyes, desired him to sit down Parnell contends for, and clearly and decisively proves, with them. Soon after, O'Kane, the lord of the country, came in all naked, except a loose mantle and shoes, which is, that many of those sanguinary scenes attributed to he put off as soon as he came in; and, entertaining the the Catholic religion, are to be partly imputed to causes Baron after his best manner in the Latin tongue, desired totally disconnected from religion; that the unjust inhim to put off his apparel, which he thought to be a burden vasion, and the tyrannical, infamous policy of the Engto him, and to sit naked. lish, are to take their full share of blame with the sophisms and plots of Catholic priests. In the reign of Henry the Eighth, Mr. Parnell shows, that feudal submission was readily paid to him by all the Irish chiefs; that the Reformation was received without the slightest opposition; and that the troubles which took place at that period in Ireland, are to be entirely attributed to the ambition and injustice of Henry. In the reign of Queen Mary, there was no recrimination upon the Protestants; a striking proof, that the bigotry of the Catholic religion had not, at that period, risen to any great height in Ireland. The insurrections of the va rious Irish princes were as numerous, during this reign, as they had been in the two preceding reignsa circumstance rather difficult of explanation, if, as is commonly believed, the Catholic religion was at that period the main spring of men's actions.

To conclude, men and women at night going to sleep, lye thus naked in a round circle about the fire, with their feet towards it. They fold their heads and their upper parts in woollen mantles, first steeped in water to keep them warm; for they say, that woollen cloth. wetted, preserves heat (as linen, wetted, preserves cold,) when the smoke of their bodies has warmed the woollen cloth."

The cause of this extreme poverty, and of its long continuance, we must conclude, arose from the peculiar laws of property, which were in force under the Irish dynasties. These laws have been described by most writers as similar to the Kentish custom of gavelkind; and indeed so little attention was paid to the subject, that were it not for the researches of Sir J. Davis, the knowledge of this singular usage would have been entirely lost.

The Brehon law of property, he tells us, was similar to the custoin (as the English lawyers term it) of hodge-podge; When any one of the sept died, his lands did not descend to his sons, but were divided among the whole sept: and, for this purpose, the chief of the sept made a new division of the whole lands belonging to the sept, and gave every one his part according to seniority. So that no man had a property which could descend to his children; and even during his own life, his possession of any particular spot was quite uncertain, being liable to be constantly shuffled and changed by new partitions. The consequence of this was that there was not a house of brick or stone, among the Irish, down to the reign of Henry VI.; not even a garden or orchard, or well fenced or improved field, neither village or town, or in any respect the least provision for posterity. This monstrous custom, so opposite to the feelings of mankind, was probably perpetuated by the policy of the chiefs. In the first place, the power of partitioning being lodged in their hands, made them the most absolute of tyrants, being the dispensers of the property as well as of the liberty of their subjects. In the second place it had the appearance of adding to the number of their savage

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In the reign of Elizabeth, the Catholic in the pale regularly fought against the Catholic out of the pale. O'Sullivan, a bigoted Papist, reproaches them with doing so. Speaking of the reign of James the First, he says, And now the eyes even of the English-Irish' (the Catholics of the pale) were opened; and they cursed their former folly for helping the heretic.' The English government were so sensible of the loyalty of the Irish-English Catholics, that they intrusted them with the most confidential services. The Earl of Kildare was the principal instrument in waging war against the chieftains of Leix and Offal. William O'Bourge, another Catholic, was created Lord Castle Connel for his eminent services; and MacGully Patrick, a priest, was the state spy. We presume that this wise and manly conduct of Queen Elizabeth was

utterly unknown both to the Pastrycook and the Secretary of State, who have published upon the dangers of employing Catholics, even against foreign enemies ; and in those publications have said a great deal about the wisdom of our ancestors--the usual topic whenever the folly of their descendants is to be defended. To whatever other of our ancestors they may allude, they may spare all compliments to this illustrious Princess, who would certainly have kept the worthy confectioner to the composition of tarts, and most probably furnished him with the productions of the Right Honorable Secretary, as the means of conveying those juicy delicacies to an hungry and discerning public. In the next two reigns, Mr. Parnell shows by what injudicious measures of the English government the spirit of Catholic opposition was gradually formed; for that it did produce powerful effects at a subsequent period, he does not deny; but contends only (as we have before stated), that these effects have been much overrated, and ascribed solely to the Catholic religion, when other causes have at least had an equal agency in bringing them about. He concludes with some general remarks on the dreadful state of Ireland, and the contemptible folly and bigotry of the English ;* remarks full of truth, of good sense, and of political courage. How melancholy to reflect, that there would be still some chance of saving England from the general wreck of empires, but that it may not be saved, because one politician will lose two thousand a year by it, and another three thousand-a third a place in reversion, and a fourth a pension for his aunt!-Alas! these are the powerful causes which have always settled the destiny of great kingdoms, and which may level Old England, with all its boasted freedom, and boasted wisdom, to the dust. Nor is it the least singular among the political phenomena of the present day, that the sole consideration which seems to influence the unbigoted part of the English people, in this great question of Ireland, is a regard for the personal feel. ings of the Monarch. Nothing is said or thought of the enormous risk to which Ireland is exposed, nothing of the gross injustice with which the Catholies are treated, nothing of the lucrative apostasy of those from whom they experience this treatment; but the only concern by which we all seem agitated is, that the King must not be vexed in his old age. We have a great respect for the King; and wish him all the happiness compatible with the happiness of his people. But these are not times to pay foolish compliments to Kings, or the sons of Kings, or to any body else: this journal has always preserved its character for courage and honesty; and it shall do so to the last. If the people of this country are solely occupied in considering what is personally agreeable to the King, without considering what is for his perma. nent good, and for the safety of his dominions; if all public men, quitting the common vulgar scramble for emolument, do not concur in conciliating the people of Ireland; if the unfounded alarms, and the comparatively trifling interests of the clergy, are to supersede the great question of freedom or slavery, it does ap. pear to us quite impossible that so mean and foolish a people can escape that destruction which is ready to burst upon them;-a destruction so imminent, that it can only be averted by arming all in our defence who would evidently be sharers in our ruin, and by such a change of system as may save us from the hazard of being ruined by the ignorance and cowardice of any general, by the bigotry or the ambition of any minis. ter, or by the well meaning scruples of any human being, let his dignity be what it may. These minor and domestic dangers we must endeavour firmly and temperately to avert as we best can; but, at all hazards, we must keep out the destroyer from among us, or perish like wise and brave men in the attempt.

* It would be as well, in future, to say no more of the revocation of the edint of Nantz.

METHODISM. (EDINBURGH REVIEW, 1808.) Causes of the increase of Methodism and Dissension. By Robert Acklem Ingram, B. D. Hatchard. THIS is the production of an honest man, possessed of a fair share of understanding. He cries out lustily, (and not before it is time) upon the increase of Metho dism; proposes various remedies for the diminution of this evil; and speaks his opinions with a freedom which does him great credit, and convinces us that he is a respectable man. The clergy are accused of not exerting themselves. What temporal motive, Mr. Ingram asks, have they for exertion? Would a curate, who had served thirty years upon a living in the most exemplary manner, secure to himself, by such a conduct, the slightest right or title to promotion in the church? What can you expect of a whole profession, in which there is no more connection between merit and reward, than between merit and beauty, or merit and strength? This is the substance of what Mr. Ingram says upon this subject; and he speaks the truth. We regret, however, that this gentleman has thought fit to use against the dissenters, the exploded clamour of Jacobinism; or that he deems it necessary to call into the aid of the Church, the power of intolerant laws, in spite of the odious and impolitic tests to which the dissenters are still subjected. We believe them to be very good subjects; and we have no doubt but that any further attempt upon their religious liberties, without reconciling them to the Church, would have a direct tendency to render them disaf fected towards the State.

Mr. Ingram (whose book, by the by, is very dull and tedious) has fallen into the common mistake of supposing his readers to be as well acquainted with the subject as himself; and has talked a great deal about dissenters, without giving us any distinct notion of the spirit which pervades these people-the objects they have in view-or the degree of talent which is to be found among them. To remedy this very capital defect, we shall endeavour to set before the eyes of the reader a complete section of the tabernacle; and to present him with a near view of those sectaries, who are at present at work upon the destruction of the orthodox churches, and are destined hereafter, perhaps, to act as conspicuous a part in public affairs, as the children of Sion did in the time of Cromwell.

The sources from which we shall derive our extracts, are the Evangelical and Methodistical Magazines for the year 1807; works which are said to be circulated to the amount of 18,000 or 20,000 each, every month; and which contain the sentiments of Arminian and Calvinistic Methodists, and of the evangelical clergymen of the Church of England. We shall use the term Methodism, to designate these three classes of fanatics, not troubling ourselves to point out the finer shades, and nicer discriminations of lunacy, but treat. ing them all as in one general conspiracy against common sense, and rational orthodox Christianity.

In reading these very curious productions, we seemed to be in a new world, and to have got among a set of beings, of whose existence we had hardly before enter tained the slightest conception. It has been our good fortune to be acquainted with many truly religious persons, both in the Presbyterian and Episcopalian churches; and from their manly, rational, and serious characters, our conceptions of true practical piety have been formed. To these confined habits, and to our want of proper introductions among the children of light and grace, any degree of surprise is to be attributed, which may be excited by the publications before us; which, under opposite circumstances, would (we doubt not) have proved as great a source of inthey are to the most melodious votaries of the taberstruction and delight to the Edinburgh reviewers, as

nacle.

It is not wantonly, or with the most distant intention of trifling upon serious subjects, that we call the attention of the public to these sort of publications. Their circulation is so enormous and so increasingthey contain the opinions, and display the habits of so many human beings that they cannot but be objects of curiosity and importance. The common

and the middling classes of people are the purchasers; and the subject is religion-though not that religion certainly which is established by law, and encouraged by national provision. This may lead to unpleasant circumstances, or it may not; but it carries with it a sort of aspect, which ought to insure to it serious attention and reflection.

An interference respecting Cards.

A clergyman not far distant from the spot on which these lines were written, was spending an evening-not in his closet wrestling with his Divine Master for the communication of that grace which is so peculiarly necessary for the faithful discharge of the ministerial function-not in his study searching the sacred oracles of divine truth for maIt is impossible to arrive at any knowledge of a reli- feed the flock under his care-not in pastoral visits to that terials wherewith to prepare for his public exercises and gious sect, by merely detailing the settled articles of flock, to inquire into the state of their souls, and endeavour, their belief: it may be the fashion of such a sect to by his pious and affectionate conversation, to conciliate insist upon some articles very slightly; to bring for their esteem, and promote their edification, but at the card ward others prominently; and to consider some por- table.'-After stating that when it was his turn to deal, he tion of their formal creed as obsolete. As the know-dropped down dead, 'It is worthy of remark (says the wriledge of the jurisprudence of any country can never be ter,) that within a very few years this was the third character obtained by the perusal of volumes which contain card table to the bar of God.'-Ev. Mag. p. 262. in the neighbourhood which had been summoned from the some statutes that are daily enforced, and others that have been silently antiquated: in the same manner, the practice, the preaching, and the writing of sects, are comments absolutely necessary to render the perusal of their creed of any degree of utility.

It is the practice, we believe, with the orthodox, both in the Scotch and English churches, to insist very rarely, and very discreetly, upon the particular instances of the interference of Divine Providence. They do not pretend that the world is governed only by general laws-that a Superintending Mind never interferes for particular purposes; but such purposes are represented to be of a nature very awful and sublime-when a guilty people are to be destroyed, when an oppressed nation is to be lifted up, and some remarkable change introduced into the order and arrangement of the world. With this kind of theology we can have no quarrel; we bow to its truth; we are satisfied with the moderation which it exhibits; and we have no doubt of the salutary effect which it produces upon the human heart. Let us now come to those special cases of the interference of Providence as they are exhibited in the publications before us.

Interference respecting Swearing-a Bee the instrument.

the bees with his hat, uttering at the same time the most A young man is stung by a bee, upon which he buffets dreadful oaths and imprecations. In the midst of his fury, one of these little combatants stung him upon the tip of that unruly member (his tongue,) which was then employed in blaspheming his maker. Thus can the Lord engage one of the meanest of his creatures in reproving the bold transgressor who dares to take his name in vain.-Ev. Mag. p.

363.

Interference with respect to David Wright, who was cured of Atheism and Scrofula by one Sermon of Mr. Coles.

This case is too long to quote in the language and with the evidences of the writers. The substance of of it is what our title implies.-David Wright was a man with scrofulous legs and atheistical principles ;being with difficulty persuaded to hear one sermon from Mr. Coles, he limped to the church in extreme pain, and arrived there after great exertions ;-during church time he was entirely converted, walked home with the greatest ease, and never after experienced the slightest return of scrofula or infidelity. Ev. Mag. P. 444.

The displeasure of Providence is expressed at Captain
Scott's going to preach in Mr. Romaine's Chapel.

The sign of this displeasure is a violent storm of thunder and lightening just as he came into town.Ev. Mag. p. 537.

An interference with respect to the Rev. James Moody. "Mr. James Moody was descended from pious ancestors, who resided at Paisley;-his heart was devoted to music, dancing, and theatrical amusements; of the latter he was so fond that he used to meet with some men of a similar cast to rehearse plays, and used to entertain a hope that he should make a figure upon the stage. To improve himself in music, he would rise very early, even in severely cold weather, and practice on the German flute: by his skill in music and singing, with his general powers of entertaining, he became a desirable companion: he would sometimes venture to profane the day of God, by turning it into a season of carnal pleasure: and would join in excursions on the water, to various parts of the vicinity of London. But the time was approaching, when the Lord, who had designs of mercy for him, and for many others by his means, was about to stop him in his vain career of sin and folly. There ""Never mind," says the innkeeper, "I'll get a greater conwere two professing servants in the house where he lived; gregation than the Methodist Parson; we'll have a cockone of these was a porter, who, in brushing his clothes, fight." But what is man! how insignificant his designs, how would say, "Master James, this will never do-you must impotent his strength, how ill-fated his plans, when opposed be otherwise employed-you must be a minister of the gos-to that Being who is infinite in wisdom, boundless in power, pel." This worthy man, earnestly wishing his conversion, put into his hands that excellent book which God hath so much owned, Allein's Alarm to the Unconverted.

'About this time it pleased God to visit him with a disorder in his eyes, occasioned, as it was thought, by his sitting up in the night to improve himself in drawing. The apprehension of losing his sight occasioned many serious reflections; his | mind was impressed with the importance and necessity of seeking the salvation of his soul, and he was induced to attend the preaching of the gospel. The first sermon that he heard with a desire to profit, was at Spa-fields Chapel; a place where he had formerly frequented, when it was a temple of vanity and dissipation. Strong convictions of sin fixed on his mind; and he continued to attend the preached word, particularly at Tottenham-court Chapel. Every sermon increased his sorrow and grief that he had not earlier sought the Lord. It was a considerable time before he found comfort from the gospel. He has stood in the free part of the chapel, hearing with such emotion, that the tears have flowed from his eyes in torrents; and when he has returned home, he has continued a

great part of the night on his knees, praying over what he had

heard.

"The change effected by the power of the Holy Spirit on his heart now became visible to all. Nor did he halt between two opinions, as some persons do; he became at once a decided character, and gave up for ever all his vain pursuits and amusements; devoting himself with as much resolution and diligence to the service of God, as he had formerly done to folly.'-Ev. Mag. p. 194.

Interference with respect to an Innkeeper, who was destroyed for having appointed a cock-fight at the very time that the service was beginning at the Methodist Chapel.

terrible in judgment, and who frequently reverses, and sud denly renders abortive, the projects of the wicked! A few days after the avowal of his intention, the innkeeper sickened,' &c. &c. And then the narrator goes on to state, that his corpse was carried by the meeting-house, 'on the day, and exactly at the time, the deceased had fixed for the cock-fight.'— Meth. Mag. p. 125.

In page 167, Meth. Mag., a father, mother, three sons, and a sister, are destroyed by particular interposition.

In page 222, Meth. Mag., a dancing master is destroyed for irreligion-another person for swearing at a cock-fight-and a third for pretending to be deaf and dumb. These are called recent and authentic accounts of God's avenging providence.

So much for the miraculous interposition of Provi. dence in cases where the Methodists are concerned: we shall now proceed to a few specimens of the energy of their religious feelings.

Mr. Roberts's feelings in the month of May, 1793.

'But, all this time, my soul was stayed upon God; my desires increased, and my mind was kept in a sweet praying frame, a going out of myself, as it were, and taking shelter in him. Every breath I drew, ended in a prayer. I felt myself helpless as an infant dependent upon God for all

things. I was in a constant daily expectation of receiving | ous appearance. I heard things unutterabie. I heard their all I wanted; and, on Friday, May 31st, under Mr. Ruther- songs and hallelujahs of thanksgiving and praise, with unford's sermon, though entirely independent of it, (for Ispeakable rapture. I felt joy unutterable and full of glory. could not give any account of what he had been preaching I then applied to my conductor, and requested leave to join about,) I was given to feel that God was waiting to be very the happy throng."-Ev. Mag. p. 251. gracious to me; the spirit of prayer and supplication was given me, and such an assurance that I was accepted in the Beloved, as I cannot describe, but which I shall never forget.'-Meth. Mag. p. 35.

Mrs. Elizabeth Price and her Attendants hear sacred music on a sudden.

"A few nights before her death, while some neighbours and her husband were sitting up with her, a sudden and joyful sound of music was heard by all present, although some of them were carnal people; at which time she thought she saw her crucified Saviour before her, speaking these words with power to her soul, "Thy sins are forgiven thee, and I love thee freely." After this she never doubted of her acceptance with God; and on Christmas day following was taken to celebrate the Redeemer's birth in the Paradise of God. MICHAEL COUSIN.'-Meth. Mag. p. 137.

The following we consider to be one of the most shocking histories we ever read. God only knows how many such scenes take place in the gloomy annals of Methodism.

A young man, of the name of SC, grandson to a late eminent Dissenting minister, and brought up by him, came to reside at K- -g, about the year 1803. He attended at the Baptist place of worship, not only on the Lord's day, but frequently at the week-day lectures and prayer-meetings. He was supposed by some to be seriously inclined; but his opinion of himself was, that he had never experienced that divine change, without which no man can be saved.

However that might be, there is reason to believe he had been for some years under powerful convictions of his miserable condition as a sinner. In June 1806, these convictions were observed to increase, and that in a more than

T. L., a Sailor on board of the Stag Frigate has a special common degree. From that time he went into no company,

revelation from our Saviour.

"October 26th, being the Lord's day, he had a remarkable manifestation of God's love to his soul. That blessed morning he was much grieved by hearing the wicked use profane language, when Jesus revealed himself to him, and impressed on his mind those words, "Follow Me." This was a precious day to him.'-Meth. Mag. p. 140.

The manner in which Mr. Thomas Cook was accustomed to accost S. B.

Whenever he met me in the street, his salutation used to be, "Have you free and lively intercourse with God to-day? Are you giving your whole heart to God?" I have known him on such occasions speak in so pertinent a manner, that I have been astonished at his knowledge of my state. Meeting me one morning, he said, "I have been praying for you; you have had a sore conflict, though all is well now." At another time he asked, "Have you been much exercised these few days, for I have been led to pray that you might especially have suffering grace."'-Meth. Mag. p. 247.

Mr. John Kestin on his death-bed.

"Oh, my dear, I am now going to glory, happy, happy, happy. I am going to sing praises to God and the Lamb; I am going to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I think I can see my Jesus without a glass between. I can, I feel I can, discern, my title clear to mansions in the skies.' Come, Lord Jesus, come! why are thy chariot-wheels so long delaying?"'-Ev. Mag. p. 124.

The Reverend Mr. Mead's sorrow for his sins. This wrought him up to temporary desperation; his inexpressible grief poured itself forth in groans: "Oh that I had never sinned against God! I have a hell here upon earth, and there is a hell for me in eternity!" One Lord's day, very early in the morning, he was awoke by a tempest of thunder and lightning; and imagining it to be the end of the world, his agony was great, supposing the great day of divine wrath was come, and he unprepared: but happy to find it not so.'-Ev. Mag. p. 147.

but, when he was not at work, kept in his chamber, where he was employed in singing plaintive hymns, and bewailing his lost and perishing state.

He had about him several religious people; but could not be induced to open his mind to them, or to impart to any one the cause of his distress. Whether this contributed to increase it or not, it did increase, till his health was greatly affected by it, and he was scarcely able to work at his business.

While he was at meeting on Lord's day, September 14th, he was observed to labour under very great emotion of mind, especially when he heard the following words. "Sin ner, if you die without an interest in Christ, you will sink into the regions of eternal death."

'On the Saturday evening following, he intimated to the mistress of the house where he lodged, that some awful judgment was about to come upon him; and as he should not be able to be at meeting next day, requested that an attendant might be procured to stay with him. She replied, that she would herself stay at home, and wait upon him; which she did.

'On the Lord's day he was in great agony of mind. His mother was sent for, and some religious friends visited him; but all was of no avail. That night was a night dreadful beyond conception. The horror which he endured brought on all the symptoms of raging madness. He desired the attendants not to come near him, lest they should be burnt. He said that "the bed-curtains were in flames,-that he smelt the brimstone, that devils were come to fetch him,-that there was no hope for him, for that he had sinned against light and conviction, and that he should certainly go to hell." It was with difficulty he could be kept in bed.

'An apothecary being sent for, as soon as he entered the had not been bitten by a mad dog. His appearance, likehouse, and heard his dreadful howlings, he inquired if he wise, seemed to justify such a suspicion, his countenance resembling that of a wild beast more than of a man.

150 in a minute. To abate the mania, a quantity of blood "Though he had no feverish heat, yet his pulse beat above was taken from him, a blister was applied, his head was shaved, cold water was copiously poured over him, and fox-glove was administered. By these means his fury was abated; but his mental agony continued, and all the sympSimilar case of Mr. John Robinson. toms of madness which his bodily strength, thus reduced, would allow, till the following Thursday. On that day he About two hours before he died, he was in great agony mind. In the evening he sent for the apothecary; and seemed to have recovered his reason, and to be calm in his of body and mind: it appeared that the enemy was permit-wished to speak with him by himself. The latter, on his ted to struggle with him; and being greatly agitated, he cried out, "Ye powers of darkness, begone!" This however did coming, desired every one to leave the room, and thus adnot last long: "the prey was taken from the mighty, and mind?" "Ay," answered he, "that is it!" He then acdressed him: "C, have you not something on your the lawful captive delivered," although he was not permit-knowledged that, early in the month of June, he had gone ted to tell of his deliverance, but lay quite still and com- to a fair in the neighbourhood, in company with a number posed.'-Ev. Mag. p. 177. of wicked young men: that they drank at a public-house The Reverend William Tennant in an heavenly trance. together till he was in a measure intoxicated; and that from thence they went into other company, where he was crim"While I was conversing with my brother," said he, inally connected with a harlot. I have been a miserable "on the state of my soul, and the fears I had entertained creature," continued he, "ever since but during the last for my future welfare, I found myself in an instant, in an- three days and three nights, I have been in a state of deother state of existence, under the direction of a superior speration." He intimated to the apothecary, that he could being, who ordered me to follow him. I was wafted along, not bear to tell this story to his minister: "But," said he, I know not how, till I beheld at a distance an ineffable" do you inform him that I shall not die in despair; for glory, the impression of which on my mind it is impossible light has broken in upon me; I have been led to the great to communicate to mortal man. I immediately reflected on Sacrifice for sin, and I now hope in him for salvation." my happy change; and thought, Well, blessed be God! I 'From this time his mental distress ceased, his counteam safe at last, notwithstanding all my fears. I saw an in-nance became placid, and his conversatiion, instead of numerable host of happy beings surrounding the inexpressi- being taken up as before with fearful exclamations conble glory, in acts of adoration and joyous worship; but I cerning devils and the wrath to come, was now confined did not ce any bodily shape or representation in the glori- to the dying love of Jesus! The apothecary was of opi

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