To the Editor of the Methodist Magazine.

DEAR SIR,

I HAVE transcribed the following article from the Journal of the Rev. E. S. Ely, page 243, of New York, entitled "Visits of Mercy." If you think it merits an insertion in your Miscellany, it is at your service. I am, Sir, your's, very respectfully, Kingsland, 18th May, 1818. DAVID WATSON.

THE PUNISHMENT OF INFIDELITY. The subject of this account was a native of L—— J——, of reputable family, and of Presbyterian parentage. In childhood he was religiously educated, and in youth was moral in his habits. When he became a young man he read the productions of Voltaire and other infidel writers. Their sentiments were congenial to his feelings, and taught him to reason against the authenticity and inspiration of the Holy Scriptures. In consequence of his new illumination, as he thought it, he discovered that public worship was useless, and of course absented himself from the places where prayer was wont to be made. His Sabbaths were spent at his father's house, (which was a tavern,) in the common business of the week, and all times were alike to him. He was a punctual and prudent man in all pecuniary transactions, and as a neighbour, was highly respected by the inhabitants of his native village.

When about thirty-five years of age, he was in the habit of exporting produce to the West Indies, and went in person almost every summer, to carry on the trade to advantage. Previous to one of his voyages he visited a Mrs. C-ll, at R-y, who is unusually pious. He was frequently a visitor at the house of this good woman; but this visit, which was in the summer, he was accompanied by a man whose opinions corresponded with his own. They did not hesitate to disclose their views of the word of God, a future state, and divine things. Mrs. C-ll said, concluding her arguments with them, that she hoped they would think differently before it was too late. "It will never be too late," rejoined the Deists, "for any but cowards."

In the autumn after this conversation, H-n, the Deist of whom I write, set sail with his produce, for a southern market. While he was absent his unbelieving friend was attacked with a mortal disease, and shuddered at the thought of meeting a holy God in judgment. He expressed his great anxiety, and in agony of mind renounced his delusions. He died on the return of H-n; the pious woman made him acquainted with the circumstances of his friend's departure from this life, with the desire of impressing on his conscience the necessity of preparing to meet

bis God. All that H-n would say, however, was this: "I am sorry that my friend died like a coward."

After this admonition, for the space of two years, the mind of this unhappy man found little quietude; he disputed sometimes less against Christianity than formerly; and sometimes more, with greater bitterness. On his passage homeward, in his last voyage, his soul was like the troubled sea; and when he was in the midst of his marine path a storm descended heavily upon the ship. At a particular hour, during the tempest, he entertained a persua sion, for which he could not account, that his mother was dying; and even observed the time by his watch when he thought that she gave up her spirit.-It is not for me to account for such mental impressions as I have no doubt H-n actually felt. Let me simply state the fact: On his arrival at home he found his mother dead. He told his friends what had been his presentiment, and at what hour he thought she breathed her last. It proved, as nearly as the family could remember, that she actually died on the same day, and in the course of the same hour which he signified. What renders this event more remakable is this, that the mother was taken away in perfect health. She was eating, and some food entering the larynx prevented any respiration.

In a

The mind of H-n from this time became habitually gloomy. He felt himself guilty and wretched, but did not believe in Christ, the way to pardon, peace of conscience, consolation in tribulalation, and everlasting felicity. The depression of his soul soon became so great, that reason was banished from her seat. frantic state of mind he stabbed his niece, whom he tenderly loved, because he loved her, and was apprehensive that she would starve. Three times he attempted to hang himself before he was brought to an asylum. Once he had suspended himself in the barn, and was, at the moment of suspension, discovered by one, who held him up until he was delivered from the rope. Once he hung himself to an hook in the ceiling, but that having become rusty, broke, and left him on the floor. At the third attempt he could command only a handkerchief, and the upper corner of a door, from which he was protruded by involuntary struggling, before suffocation took place. Finally he was brought to a benevolent Institution, with his throat cut; and was prevented for a time from intruding into the presence of his Judge.

After his wounds were perfectly healed I conversed with him

The author writes, " On the 9th of June, 1812, that classical speaker, that eloquent orator, and that amiable man, the Rev. Joseph S. Buck, minister, of Boston, died. On this same day the Rev. Dr. Buck, minister, who had not heard of his son's sickness, and who could not have any communication by human means, said to his wife, My dear, Joseph is dead.' She replied that he could not know that, and that his persuasion must have arisen from his fond anxiety. He persisted in saying that he knew that his son had in that very hour expired. This proved to have been a fact; and on the next day the father, a most tender father and minister of Christ, also died."

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on religious subjects, and he was perfectly rational, until the principles, to which he assented, were applied to his own case. "God is able and willing to save unto the uttermost all who come unto him." "That is unquestionable," he would answer. "Then he is willing and able to save you." "Oh! no! there

are exceptions to all general rules, and God is a sovereign: he will not save me, for I have been such a sinner, that God is miserable while I am out of misery. I ought to suffer. It is my duty to suffer for ever." This was the train of his thoughts, and he appeared to court misery, because it was his duty to suffer, that the glory of God might be promoted. Indeed, if there is any such thing as a desire to be damned for the glory of God, as some writers assert, H-n certainly possessed that grace; but it was only in a state of insanity and indescribable misery. To perform his duty he refused to shave, and for a long time endea voured to starve himself. Finally, he became quite resigned, and said he would permit the Lord to punish him as much as he pleased, without increasing the torment by his own abstemiousness and self-denying inventions.

When he was favoured with a partial respite from his horrors, he would read the Bible until he came to something which he did not understand; then he would ask explanations of his keeper, and if his remarks were unsatisfactory, he would cast down the book with indignation, because it was incomprehensible.

Sometimes H-n would indulge himself for a few moments in cheerful conversation, and then suddenly check himself, saying, "But this is not suitable for one who to-morrow must commence a perpetuity of torment.'

Not long previous to his death a brother, who had been confirmed by him in unbelief, came to pay him a visit. The conver sation was deeply interesting and solemn. "Ben, you see the state I am now in; and you know how I was brought to this condition. My present agonies are unutterable, and what must damnation be to a guilty sinner?" Ben answers, "John! cheer up; dont make a fool of yourself about religion, and be gloomy." "Yes, Ben, I have made a fool of myself, by reading those accursed books and despising the Bible. You cannot laugh me out of my present condition. You know that I am miserable now, and I tell you that my false ideas of religion have produced all that suffering which you witness. Ben, I am in hell! Obe warned by me! You cannot teach me any thing new against the Bible, for I taught you all the infidelity which you know; but if this was my last breath, I should say to you, "Change your way of thinking; for your present plan will not answer."

In this strain H-n conversed with his brother for more than an hour; but after all, Ben departed, saying, "Oh poh! John, dont make a fool of yourself."

One week before the death of H-n, a person in the next room hung himself. Some conversation arose from this case between H-n and his keeper :

K. "A man must be in great agony, I think, and must be very bold to enter uncalled the eternal world."

H-n answered, "It is not boldness, but cowardice, which tempts men to destroy their own lives. Is not a man a coward, who shrinks from the common lot of humanity? it is really weakness to kill oneself from the dread of calamity, or weight of temporal suffering. Men ought to bear life, and not shrink from petty evils."

Such was his language, and no one supposed that he retained a thought of performing the action which he condemned. But his sufferings he deemed unlike those of other men. His, he said, were the agonies of one already damned, who must suffer, or the eternal Judge must suffer. He thought God was in misery so long as he was out of hell. In an hour, therefore, when nothing was apprehended, he made fast his cravat to the grates of his window, and while his back was against the wall, kneeled down, at the same time bending his body forward, and strangled himself. "Like helpless sailors in a ship on fire,

He boldly plung'd, to shun a fate more dire." But, alas! who that, being often reproved, hardeneth himself, can escape Divine vengeance?

THE GRACE OF GOD MANIFESTED.

MEMOIR OF MRS. ELIZABETH PARTRIDGE, Of Leegrave, near Luton, Beds, by her Brother-in-law. THE subject of this memoir, whose maiden name was Bradshaw, was born in the year 1780, of very respectable and moral parents. Her father, who was an opulent farmer, in the vicinity of Luton, died while she was young; he was visited a little before his death by Mr. John Hickling, then in the Bedford Circuit; and there is good reason to believe he died happy in the Lord. Her mother being left at the head of a large family, fulfilled that important charge much to her credit, and their welfare; and, as I have been informed, made use of all the means in her power to promote the best interests of her children; she was careful, both by example and precept, to lead them into the paths of virtue and piety: nor were her pious endeavours fruitless.

The subject of these lines, however, being rather of a volatile VOL. XLI. SEPTEMBER, 1818.

and gay turn of mind, was in a great measure carried away by a love of dress, and the maxims and pleasures of the world: she also at this time manifested an aversion to religion in general, and to Methodism in particular; and at one time went so far as to jeer and persecute her sisters on account of their piety; but it was not long before these prejudices gave way to the power of Divine grace. Some time in the year 1806, while on a visit to her sister, (Mrs. Cole, of Kettering,) she became the subject of powerful conviction, and, at the same time, of sore temptation. Her distress was great indeed; but she was enabled to endure and overcome in the trial. Her convictions being deep, led to a real change of heart, and true conversion to God; and great in deed was the change wrought in her. The preaching and pious conversation of Mr. Tranter, in particular, (then in the Kettering circuit,) were made very useful to her. And from that period to the time of her decease, she was a steady, uniform member of the Methodist Society.

About twelve months after her conversion, a long and painful illness brought her down to the margin of the grave. During this affliction she was resigned and happy, longing to depart and be with Christ; but the Lord raised her up again. In May, 1808, she entered into the state of matrimony; and, I think, it would not be going too far to say, that few have ever exceeded her in a constant and conscientious attention to all relative duties; few have evinced stronger maternal affection, or enjoyed a higher degree of conjugal felicity!

About eleven months previous to her last illness, Mrs. P. was called to part with her pious and affectionate mother, who died, as she had lived, happy in God, saying, "I am going to that city where the inhabitants no more say I am sick. The grief occasioned by this bereavement was excessive, for in one sad night the colour of the hair on her head and eyebrows was changed from black to nearly white. The keen pang felt at parting, added to the fatigue produced by a constant attendance on her mother, in her illness, gave a shock to her tender frame, from which she never recovered.

A few months previous to her death, Mrs. P. caught cold; a cough ensued, and as she was near the time of confinement, the foundation of that complaint was laid which ended in her dissolution.

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During the former part of her last illness she was very anxious to recover; a physician was called in, who gave some hope, yet she continued to grow worse. Her husband, one day, said to the apothecary," Sir, tell me plainly, do think my wife will die?" After hesitating a moment, he candidly said, "I do think she will, and soon too." Who can describe the feelings of the husband on hearing this. Great, how* For similar cases, see Wesley's Philosophy, vol. i. page 58.