heard a grace before, since I left my father's house: since we have come to America we have neglected all these things." When I inquired how he could manage a tavern so well, he said, "It is an easy

thing for any pair to be master and mistress of their own house, if they conduct properly. Good will always overcome evil, in the end; but some people will not believe it." He was assured, that if people would serve God perseveringly, they would not want, for "he had never been without having money in the bank of North America since it was instituted: and he might have become rich, but he thought he had enough. Indeed he was afraid of being led away from the one thing needful, by too much attention to worldly business."

When I inquired, nearly a year ago, about the general tenor of his religious experience, Mr. Martin informed me, that in the same proportion as he had sought the Lord in spiritual things, so, generally, his soul had prospered. All his pastors, he said, had done him good. In former years, he had been much benefited by the preaching of old Dr. Pilmore, but especially by the labours of the Rev. George Whitefield, both in Edinburgh and in America. He could never speak of this last person, but his whole soul seemed to be roused up to praise and magnify the Lord. Next to the Bible, he read the writings of Whitefield more than any other compositions.

Often he had been dull, and stupid in his soul, and had endured severe conflict with the tempter; but frequently he seemed to himself to be renewed again by the Holy Spirit, in every faculty of body and mind. Sometimes he was elevated in his affections and thoughts, almost to heaven; and then he would sink down again, to mere flesh and blood. Alas! he had gone to church too often, to see and be seen; but even then, the word had sometimes

come home to his heart with an influence, which lasted for weeks, so that people would say, "Jemmy is becoming a Methodist." Since the decease of his last wife, he had lived in Christian solitude; generally near to God, desiring to know nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified. "I strive," said he, " to keep as close to his bleeding side as I can. I would never wish to have him out of my mind. Oh! you can't think how happy I am, in my little room, even when I awake, and cannot sleep by night; for I am with him."

.

He informed me, that he began sensibly to fail in bodily strength; that he had weighed 200 pounds in 1779, but was now very thin, and could eat little or nothing beside the simple things, the oat-meal porridge and barley broth, to which he had been accustomed when a boy. It was no wonder that he felt the change, when his knees, the strong men, bowed themselves; for since he was eighty-five years of age, he would frequently walk ten miles, and take his breakfast before seven o'clock in the morning. I asked him if he felt perfectly ready to die: and he replied, "Death is a road we never went, and a work we never performed; but I have a strong faith. I don't think all the devils in hell can root it out of my soul. believe in the Son of God with my whole heart. I would wish to be with Jesus, that I may see him as he is, and be like him."

I

In such a frame of mind as this, he generally was found, for many of the last years of his life. His evidences of acceptance with God became brighter and brighter, as he approached, in his ascension to the skies, to the glorious sun of righte

ousness.

About two months since he became so weak as to betake himself to his couch; and sent for me to visit him. I returned home, from some ministerial labours at Woodbury. not long after his message was

sent, and immediately called on him; but in the eagerness of his spirit, (for impatience was his chief fault,) he thought two hours a long delay. Consequently his first address to me, was in the tone of friendly chiding. "I might have been dead, sir," said he, "before you came; and then you would only have come to see my corpse." I told him the circumstances of my absence, and he was perfectly satisfied, "because I had been doing his Master's business. If ministers were only engaged in preaching the gospel to perishing sinners, he wanted nothing more of them." He then stated, "that he had sent for me, that he might offer prayer with me, and for me, and for my family, and people, before he died." He could not kneel, he said, because he was too weak; and so he sat, reclining in his elbow chair, and prayed audibly for a considerable time, with great animation and devotion, until his strength failed, his voice died away on the ear, and he could no longer give utterance to his desires. Having recovered himself, by resting a little while, he took each of my little children by the hand, prayed for each appropriately, and like good old Jacob, blessed them in the name of the Lord. He remembered, he said, when he was a little thing, and was made to kneel at his father's knees, before he could speak a word plainly. The impression then made had never wholly left his mind, during his long life.

Before we parted, I lead in prayer for him, as he had been praying for me and mine; and while I was engaged, he whispered distinctly in my ear, "Don't forget to pray for my grandchildren." When I had concluded, he said, "that he had, long prayed for his grandchildren, and hoped the faithful Redeemer would answer his prayers on them and their seed, when his body should be in the dust. If you think proper to say any thing about me, when I am dead," added the old gentleman,

"I wish you to bear testimony to the importance of a godly education, and the prayers of pious parents for their children. Tell the people, from me, that grace, as a grain of mustard seed, fell into the heart of my old father, and was watered there by the Holy Spirit; and it grew until it became a great tree, the very leaves of which, (I mean his prayers,) have afforded me shade and refreshment, unto this day. His piety has never ceased to be a source of blessings to me."

He desired, he said, to speak to the ministers of the gospel; for he was afraid that some were attempting to preach a Saviour whom they neither know nor love. How can they preach Christ, he asked, with power and the demonstration of the Spirit, if they have never been regenerated themselves, and do not know the mystery of redeeming love? Oh! if ministers of Christ, exclaimed he, had been zealous, and faithful in their preaching as they should have been, there would have been a great many more souls saved than now have been. He desired to beg them to preach Christ more frequently, and plainly, and boldly, as Whitefield did. He was a minister of Christ. With many such words he exhausted his little strength, while he edified his friends.

This earnest desire, that the ministers of Jesus may be faithful and successful, induced him to request a native of Scotland, a minister of the gospel, to visit him; which he did, a few days before his death; and although Mr. Martin had remained silent the greater part of the day, yet his zeal burst forth, and he exhorted his young countryman, in a strain of real eloquence, for nearly half an hour. His young friend, he said, he hoped had brought with him to America, some of the old Scotch fire of religion, that would burn a pure flame.

On the 21st of November last, I visited our excellent brother again, and found him, after a wearisome

night, sitting in his chair. His mind had been so far affected by the fever which he had experienced, that he did not remember me when I first accosted him. No sooner had I spoken, however, of salvation by grace, than he was thoroughly roused, and as collected as ever. He discoursed with heavenly wisdom, until he was obliged to rest in silence for fifteen or twenty minutes. When he was able to proceed, he said nearly what he had uttered on a former occasion; "I have enjoyed great benefit under all my pastors, both in Scotland and America. I prayed a great deal for Dr. Milledoler, and he was a faithful man; he watered the church of God abundantly by his prayers. I should not forget Dr. John B. Smith; for he was a great divine, and a bold preacher. I have also prayed much for you, my dear pastor; and the doctrines you have preached have been life and comfort to my soul. If your people will only pray for you, as I have done, you will be eminently useful. Continue steadfast in your labours, and they will not be in vain in the Lord. Don't be discouraged; persevere, and be faithful till death. After I am dead, I want you to preach again, and often, about the new birth. I remember your sermons, well, on that subject; but Whitefield preached frequently about regeneration."

may

Brethren, pray for me, that I realize the wishes of our departed patriarch, in being eminently useful. This is the great object of my ambition. To win you all, for Jesus Christ, would be the honour, and praise, and felicity that I seek. I know, indeed, that some may deem this boasting; and think it a proof of my vanity, that I have rehearsed the friendly speeches of an old favourite; but, "I say the truth in Christ; I lie not;" that I desire most earnestly your salvation; and am willing to be accounted a fool for Christ's sake.

"If you think proper to make

mention of me after I am dead,” continued one, who now speaks to us, as from the eternal world, “you may tell the people of my sinfulness and backslidings; but tell them, also, that the Lord never left me, for any considerable time together. He never let me go astray from him, in any way, without causing me to feel contrition, and reclaiming me in mercy. He will not desert his people, to long continuance, in any course of sin."

Again, he requested me to insist on the duty and importance of training up children in the way in which they should go. "What I heard of my great grandfather, when dying, has often been on my mind, through my pilgrimage. My great grandfather was a martyr in the days of the bloody Queen Mary. He was too poor to be beheaded beneath the throne, and so he was shot by one Cleverhouse. After he had received his mortal wound, he sat dying in his great armed chair; and Cleverhouse tauntingly asked him, what he thought of his old wife now. His wife instantly replied, that she thought more now of her husband than she had ever done before. Then turning to my great grandfather she asked, 'Johnny, do you want any thing.' He replied, and they were the last words he ever uttered in this world, nothing but the grace of God through all eternity! And so will I say," added Mr. Martin, with remarkable emphasis, "if God gives me strength; for I want nothing but the grace of God through all eternity."

In his solicitude for the spiritual welfare of this congregation, the venerable friend, who has just left us, inquired, "how does the work of the Spirit prosper with your elders ?" I informed him, that they had become more zealous and animated of late. This was nearly two months ago; and blessed be God, I could now give a still better account of them. He asked, "do they pray heartily for you?" I told him,

that for some time past, I had thought, that I had lost my prayerbook, and had felt a good deal discouraged; but of late I had found it

continually rested on his countenance; and while weakness confined him to one position on his back, he would attest, with the

Brethren in the eldership, hear this counsel from the grave, and may we mutually, and with great affection, strive together for the furtherance of the gospel. We have all been deficient in our prayers, for each other and the people; but now, let us give the Lord no rest, until he appear to build up Zion.

After I had offered prayer with Mr. Martin, he said, "I am about to die. My soul is like a bird just breaking loose from this cage of sin and death: I am flying away on the wings of faith and love to that tree of life, in the paradise of God, which bears twelve manner of fruits, and yieldeth her fruit every month; the leaves of which tree are for the healing of the nations: I shall light on that tree, and there like a bird, chirper* the praises of my blessed Saviour for ever and ever."

In this happy state of soul he continued, until the Tuesday night preceding his death, without any doubt of his justification before God, through the imputed righteousness of Christ. The greater part of his wakeful moments he spent in prayer; or in edifying conversation with his numerous friends that visited his dying couch. He was especially solicitous to promote the welfare of young Christians; and desired them to see, in his case, how desirable it is to serve the Lord from their youth. A sweet smile

ed how he was, that he was as happy as he could be this side heaven. When he seemed, the day before his death, to be somewhat insensible, I asked him if he had forgotten Jesus Christ yet? and he almost sprang up, with "Oh! no, I am continually with him." There was but one short interruption to this serenity of hope, and assurance of salvation: it occurred on the Tuesday night just mentioned; and on the Wednesday following he said, "I have had a dreadful conflict last night with my old enemy, the tempter. He induced me to think that I was forsaken of all my friends, and suggested to me to kill myself; but by prayer I vanquished him; and now Christ Jesus is present with me to comfort me. I keep continually engaged in prayer, waiting till my change come; it is just at hand.” On Thursday last I saw him for the last time. His peace was that which passeth all understanding: it was such as the world can neither give nor take away. He had no fear of death; but conversed concerning it with great cheerfulness as well as solemnity. He expected soon to be with Whitefield, Paul, the whole host of spirits of just men made perfect, and their and his Divine Master. With the expression of a mutual hope, and expectation, of meeting again, and recognising each other, we parted; and with a smile. still on his countenance, he clasped his hands in secret prayer.

On Friday morning, Jan. 12th, one of our elders found him in the same peaceful, waiting frame of mind; and at seven o'clock, in the afternoon of that day, he requested that he might be turned on to his side. It was done; and without a sigh, or a groan, he breathed his spirit out, into the hands of his Redeemer.

Thus lived, and died, James Martin, a friend and follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The poor in his late neighbourhood cannot but experience in his death a great loss, for during many years he expended much more on them than on himself. I cannot tell," said he, to one of our elders, "why I am always thinking about the poor; unless it is because I was born poor; and when a child, often went to bed without any supper, because my parents had none to give me." He was strictly religious in his expenditures and donations, and told me, that before money came into his hands, he usually appropriated it, by covenant with his God. He greatly preferred private benefactions to public charities; and perhaps, to a fault, was opposed to some of the existing associations of a charitable nature. He wished individuals to realize that the poor they shall always have with them.

To this church, the death of the person of whom we have already said much, deservedly, is a great loss: not, however, so much in any thing, as in his fervent prayers for the blessing of heaven to rest upon our worship, and our various social relations.

He was a genuine patriot, and all who hear this simple narrative of his worth, ought to venerate his memory, and imitate his love of civil and religious liberty.

He was a Christian indeed, and has gone home to heaven. Let his body rest in peace, until the resurrection of the just; and may we, who survive, imbibe his religious principles, and imitate his godly example.

Who of you, my hearers, now consents to seek the Lord? Who of you is determined that he will devote himself to the pursuits of pure and undefiled religion, in confident persuasion, that those who honour him, God will honour? Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace.

Let us conclude, by singing, as peculiarly appropriate to the present occasion,

"Hear what the voice from heav'n proclaims

For all the pious dead!

Sweet is the savour of their names,

And soft their sleeping bed.
"They die in Jesus, and are bless'd;
How kind their slumbers are!
From suff'rings and from sins releas'd,
And freed from ev'ry snare.
"Far from this world of toil and strife,
They're present with the Lord;
The labours of their mortal life
End in a large reward."

AMEN.

Keligious Intelligence.

Letter from the Rev. Emile Guers, of Geneva, to a Student in the Theological Seminary at Prince

ton.

Geneva, October 4, 1820. Sir and dear Brother in Jesus Christ,

I remember to have known you formerly, when you lived in the island ;*~ I was about of your age. I do not know whether you will remember me. Judge with what joy I have heard that the Lord our God, who had conducted you to America, had there made known to you his well beloved Son, and through him had translated you from darkness to light! Immediately I felt a very lively affection arising for you in my heart, and that communion of desires and prayers which unites all the members of the family of God, the citizens of heaven. heartily desire to begin a correspondence with you; and our brethren of Geneva, who love you in the Lord, have the same desire. The Rev. Mr. Gaussen has urged me to it.

I

Dear and beloved brother in our adorable Saviour, we feel and we see this day how true is this saying; that there is but one Spirit, but one baptism (of the Spirit); that all

A part of the city of Geneva, surrounded by the Rhone.