he added, "one thing we know He doeth all things well; and in whatever way it may end, it MUST END WELL?" His countenance was illumined with an expression of cheerfulness as he said this, which plainly declared the composure of his mind. The season not being favourable for conversation, I left him, with a promise of renewing my visit in the evening.

"In the evening I found him in bed, much reduced and exhausted. He could not converse: it was not desirable, indeed, that he should. I read the 103d psalm, making such brief remarks as seemed suitable to his circumstances, and then prayed with him. After prayer, he spoke of receiving the sacrament, and said that it was his particular wish not to defer it too long: he thought an early time should be fixed: it was an ordinance which he much enjoyed, and he should be sorry that it were delayed, for he feared that he might be too much weakened by his disease, which was rapidly reducing his strength, to enjoy it it was agreed that it might take place on the next day, or the day following. The little which he spoke at this interview indicated a very happy frame of mind. He had been heard in the morning, by a medical attendant, to repeat that beautiful hymn :

"Come, thou long expected Jesus,
Born to set thy people free;

From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in thee.'

"He went through the whole of the hymn, and seemed to breathe out the lines as expressions of his own ardent longings for the glorious appearing of Christ.

"On Thursday morning I again called. He received me with an affectionate welcome, and expressed much thankfulness for being thus assisted in collecting his thoughts, and fixing them on spiritual things, from which he felt himself much drawn aside by his bodily infirmities. I read to him the fourteenth chapter of St. John's gospel, and prayed: the words that where I am, there ye may be also,' appeared to comfort him greatly.

"In the evening I found him very much exhausted. My time with him was very short. I read a few of the first verses of the fifteenth chapter of St. John, and prayed.

"The same remark applies to my visit on Friday morning. The disorder had made fearful ravages on his frame: he suffered much; yet it was edifying to observe how much, in this low estate, he was refreshed by the 130th psalm and a few words of prayer.

"On all these visits, after the first, he was evidently so affected by his complaint as to be little capable of conversation. My endeavour was to speak so as not to elicit answers-to suggest such thoughts as his case required, and to pray for a blessing.

"About two o'clock on Friday, I received a message from the medical attendant that he was sinking fast, and that it was desirable that the sacrament should be no longer delayed. This ordinance, to which he had looked forward with so much earnestness, was accordingly administered about half past three. It was a memorable occasion. I pray that all of us who were present may long retain the recollection of it in our hearts: we ought to consider it a great privi

lege that we were permitted to witness such a scene. It would have greatly affected and delighted you, could you have witnessed the fervour, and humility, and holy enjoyment of the ordinance, manifested by your honoured brother on this occasion. His frame was greatly emaciated, but his soul seemed to rise superior to all earthly things, and, while he partook of the elements, to feed on Christ in faith with thanksgiving. In order to shorten the service, which I feared might prove burdensome to him in his weak state, I left out the hymn of praise, Glory be to God on high,' and was proceeding to the benediction: he immediately noticed the omission, and interrupted me, pronouncing himself, with great animation, the whole of that beautiful service as long as his voice would admit. We were all greatly affected. I cordially thanked him for noticing the omission; and with tears of joy we concluded the service together. It was a season peculiarly impressive. I felt happy in having given occasion to a movement on his part which so decidedly proved that his mind was entirely collected, and that he entered into the spirit of the ordinance, as a solemn act of thanksgiving and worship-an eucharistical service to Christ.

"The ordinance being concluded, he requested me to draw my chair close to his couch, at the same time intimating his wish that all others might withdraw. He then most affectionately put out his hand, and entreated me to pray for him, that he might be delivered from all FALSE CONFIDENCES; adding that he felt much peace, but when he reflected on his past life, he could not but feel a trembling sense of his demerits: he trusted in the mercy of God through Christ, but at such a season, and in a matter of such importance, he felt it necessary to pray against all false confidences. He repeated this injunction with great earnestness. I replied that God would not disappoint the hope which was founded on the merits of His Son; and that the Scripture was peculiarly adapted to convey comfort to all who, under a trembling sense of their sinfulness, cast themselves on the mercy of God. He replied, That is true. I am perfectly satisfied on that point. My views are strong and clear: I have no cloud or doubt, and long to be with my God and Saviour. Oh, when will the time come? To this time I have looked forward, oh God, thou knowest. It does not take me by surprise. I have been preparing for it. For some years I have been endeavouring to withdraw from the world, avoiding as much as possible all new connexions, and labouring to be ready for thy summons. I greatly long for my rest.'

"Here he dwelt with great delight on the blessedness of being with God; varying and reiterating his expressions, sometimes in broken accents, at others more distinctly. I observed to him that he was now in a state to appreciate those beautiful lines of Mr. Charles Wesley, written when he supposed himself dying. What are the lines?' he said-' repeat them.' I began:

"In age and feebleness extreme,

Who shall a helpless worm redeem ??

and was then proceeding to the line,

"Ob, let me catch a smile from thee;'

but here he took me up, and with great fervour himself repeated two important lines which I had missed.

"Jesus! my only hope thou art :

Strength of my failing flesh and heart!
Oh, let me catch a smile from thee,
And drop into eternity!'

"He was refreshed by these lines, and entered with great delight on the hymn, 'Jesu, lover of my soul.' We repeated these verses together; and every now and then he helped my memory till we came to the end, in which he joined, with great emphasis of tone and

manner:

'Spring thou up within my heart!
Rise to all eternity!'

"Here I expressed my thankfulness to God for the support vouchsafed to him at so trying a time; and observed that it was a new instance of the Lord's tender mercy, in that when he most needed comfort, his consolation should be so strong; adverting at the same time to my first interview, when he was comparatively depressed.He said that it was indeed a merciful dispensation, but that violent disorders naturally deaden the expression of the feelings. He had abundant reason to bless God for all his dealings. I can see mercy,' he said, 'in all the way by which I have been led, and a gracious reason for every trial and affliction with which he has visited me.— All is wonderful! Surely, goodness and mercy have followed me all the days of my life, AND I SHALL DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD FOR EVER! These last words he uttered with uplifted hands and great fervour. The scene was grand!

"I remarked to him that the sorrow and regret of the occasion were absorbed, and that I could only rejoice in the comfort which he felt at such a trying season. The hearts of many, I said, would be confirmed thereby, especially those of his friends at home. He had one beloved sister, he said, who would be comforted to hear of him: 'Tell her,' he said, with peculiar deliberation, that I DIE HAPPY!' "His disorder now becoming very troublesome, he said, 'I can bear no more!' and most affectionately seized my hand, and kissed it. It was grievous to part with him! Having committed him, with mingled feelings of joy and sorrow, to God, I withdrew.”

The closing scene, and its very remarkable circumstances, are thus depicted by another friend :

"On the day of his death he went through a long list of names, individually; beginning with those immediately about him, and proceeding to all his relatives by name, and then ended with God bless THEM all, and ALL I have not named; and God bless all Hindoos, and give them the light and comfort of religion.'

"Shortly after this he became evidently more exhausted, and his voice scarcely audible even close to his mouth. He then made me send for Dr. Russell, to whom he put this question: How long have I to live-days or hours? I ask you, sir, to tell me candidly, and without fear, for I have none.' Dr. Russell, feeling his pulse, told him that it was very weak, and that he thought that a few hours

would terminate his sufferings. I thank you, sir, for your candour,' he replied, and thank you for your attention to me. God grant that all your patients who are to die may feel as happy at that time as I do now.'

"He exerted himself at this interview, and scarcely spoke a whole sentence afterwards. At intervals, prayers were read to him.

"Mr. Stevenson, surgeon of the David Scott, was in the house during the last four days; and on Saturday, after Dr. Russell had stated the opinion which I have before mentioned, Sir Henry made him sit on the bed, and keep his hand on the temporal artery, and say, from time to time, how much longer it was likely to beat. About half past seven he said, 'Come, doctor, it is small enough now! I think a few minutes, and it will all be finished.' He soon sank into an apparent sleep, and never moved his position. At nine o'clock he breathed his last; and seemed rather to have ceased to live, than to have had death come upon him. There was not the least struggle, or even a sigh; and his countenance was as serene and placid as I ever beheld it."

REVIEW.

From the Wesleyan Methodist Magazine.

Theological Institutes: or, A View of the Evidences, Doctrines, Morals, and Institutiona

of Christianity. By RICHARD WATSON. Part First. 8vo. pp. 288.

WITH us it has long been an occasion of deep regret, that, although there are many systems of theology in the English language, there is scarcely one which is not either greatly defective, or seriously objectionable in point of sentiment. Some of them consist almost entirely of dry and unimpressive disquisitions concerning religious and moral duty, without a sufficiently prominent exhibition of the distinguishing doctrines of Christianity, and without that habitual reference to them by which the apostolical epistles are characterized, and which is indispensably necessary to render successful exhortations to piety and holiness. In others, those doctrines are openly impugned, and an attempt is made to supersede them by the substitution of Pelagian and Socinian speculations; and, in a

third class, the vital truths of revelation, to a considerable extent at least, are neutralized, by being identified with the bold and revolting deductions of Calvinian metaphysics. Under one or another of these classes may be arranged many a system of divinity, from the semi-infidel production of Fellowes, the inanimate compilations of Fiddes and Stackhouse, and the cold and occasionally heterodox details of Limborch, to the high supralapsarian volumes of Witsius and of Gill. With whatever advantage some of these works may be occasionally consulted by men of learning and experience, whose minds are established in the knowledge and belief of the truth, we should feel greatly reluctant to put them as authorities into the hands of young men who are just enter. ing upon the study of theology.

Much valuable information may of the extreme prejudice which doubtless be derived from the lec- both religion and philosophy have tures of Dr. Doddridge; but their received from being commixed tomathematical form renders their gether, as that which undoubtedly general tendency injurious, rather will make a heretical religion and than otherwise-as leading inex- a fabulous philosophy."* perienced minds to subject even the most sublime discoveries of revelation to a mode of proof of treats exclusively of the divine which they are not legitimately capable.

The first part of Mr. Watson's work, which now lies before us,

authority of the holy Scriptures. This is a subject which has been It is therefore with feelings of often discussed by men of the high gratification that we find an- greatest abilities, both natural and nounced, from the pen of the able acquired; and on which, therefore, and excellent writer whose name little that is strictly novel can be appears at the head of this article, fairly expected. It would indeed a systematic "View of the Evi- be hazardous to the reputation of dences, Doctrines, Morals, and a man of ordinary attainments and Institutions of Christianity." For qualifications, to enter at large into this important and responsible task the evidences of revealed religion we believe him to be admirably at the present time, when the wriqualified; and its execution will tings of Leland, of Lardner, of call into useful exercise his exten- Watson, of Paley, and of others sive reading, his correct habits of equally gifted, have occupied so thought, and the various energies much of the public attention; and of his powerful and discriminating when nearly all that is valuable in mind. We are the more pleased the volumes of those eminent men to see this work in the hands of has been so ably embodied by Mr. Mr. Watson, because of that pecu- Hartwell Horne, in his admirable liar sobriety of manner with which "Introduction to the Critical Study he is accustomed to treat sacred and Knowledge of the Holy Scripsubjects. Unlike many speculative tures." We are, however, far from theorists, in all his writings he dis- considering this part of Mr. Watplays the most implicit deference son's work to be superfluous. On to the authority of Scripture, and the contrary, we have no hesitation a perfect inaptitude to associate in saying, that in our judgment at its hallowing truths with philoso- least, it is one of the most valuable phical refinements. On this sub- treatises of the kind that has ever ject one of the most profound issued from the British press. It thinkers that ever lived has contains none of those dangerous said, "We ought not to attempt concessions on the subject of what to draw down or submit the mys- is called natural religion, which teries of God to our reason; but, several preceding apologists for on the contrary, to raise and ad- Christianity have unhappily made; vance our reason to the divine and in no publication with which truth. In this part of knowledge, we are acquainted is the necessity touching divine philosophy, I am of a revelation from God more so far from noting any deficiency, strongly proved, or the evidence that I rather note an excess in favour of the divine authority whereto I have digressed, because of the Jewish and Christian Scrip

* Lord Bacon.

VOL. VIII. December, 1825.

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