nent services.

I have no wish to live but for this end,-that I may glorify that God who has done so much for me.' He then spoke again of the delightful view that he had of the love of the Savior in dying for him; to which we have alluded in the former part of this narrative. 'After supplicating the divine mercy,' said he, with particular importunity, going through the whole work of redemption and applying it to myself, then it was that, in a most remarkable manner, I felt the Spirit bearing witness with my spirit, that I was one of the children of God; and so overpowering was it, that I could not but weep for joy. Though I trust that, long before I had yielded myself up to God, and had experienced at times his love shed abroad in my heart, yet it was not constant ;-but, since that time, I do not know that I have entertained one doubt; and I trust that my Redeemer will grant me his grace, to hold on to the end, He will never break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax.'

When one of his sisters said that his friends only had reason for sorrow, he replied, And why you, my dear? Follow on, and you shall attain.' He then took each of them by the hand, saying that this affliction had greatly endeared them all to him: and expressed his earnest hope that they might all meet around the throne, and join in praising Him who sits on the throne, and the Lamb for ever and ever. 'There,' said he, I shall meet my dear mother and brother, and all our relations, who are now in glory. He then repeated the 280th Hymn of Dr. Doddridge,

with a lively emotion, and particularly the following verse :

"Yes; thou hast lov'd this sinful worm,
Hast given thyself for me;
Hast brought me from eternal death,
Nail'd to the bloody tree.'

He regretted that he had not been earlier apprized of his situation, as, he said, it had prevented his enjoying the company of his christian friends, and many delightful seasons of communion with God; that it had led him to spend those hours in attention to his health, which

should have been devoted to the

service of his Redeemer; but I bless God,' he added, 'the great

work is not now to be done! I can call God my Father, Christ my Redeemer. I have often thought of the last memorandum in George's Diary, in which he speaks of the love of the Savior as expressive of my own feelings.' He then quoted the following extract from it :- I had to-day, in the house of God, so clear a view of the love of Christ in dying for sinners, that I could truly say with the apostle, "The love of Christ constraineth me."

A few hours after, he convers. ed with his brother in the lan. guage of joyful expectation. 'No one,' says he, who has tasted of the joys of Heaven, would wish to come back again to earth,' adopting, as expressive of his own experience, these animated lines in Dr. Watts' Miscella

nies :

Amidst the wreck of worlds and dying

nature

I am the Lord's, and he for ever mine!'

During the remainder of the day, though he suffered much from a fresh hemorrhage, he dis. covered singular patience, not uttering a murmur or complaint, but calmly acquiescing in the sovereign pleasure of God.

Complaining one morning to his friends that his communion with God had, during the past night, been suspended, they endeavored to comfort him, by as. cribing it to the effect of his disorder. Ah!' said he, do not talk so. Is not that an evil to be lamented, which has occasioned my heavenly Father to withdraw the sensible assurances of his love? Is not that an evil, to remain without communion with my God?-but' added he, "though he may have withdrawn the full assurance of his love for a time, my Savior will return a. gain! I know that he will return; and though weeping may endure for a night, joy will come in the morning.' Then, lifting up his eyes, he said, 'O, my heavenly Father! can such an unworthy sinner as I, hope for thy favor? Never, but for thy unchangeable love! -never, but for thy boundless mercy! Though our feelings vary, thou changest not! Thou wilt never leave those who have felt so much of thy gracious presence!' Throughout this day he continued in a very devotional temper; and finding that it was the Sabbath, he said, If this be iny last Sab. bath on earth, I shall spend an eternal Sabbath in Heaven.' When his father and sister were moving the bed-chair for him, he said, These bones, which are

6

now moved in this chair, will shortly be mouldering in the tomb. He then enlarged on the superior happiness which the soul would experience when dis. missed from this state of infirmi. ty, and repeated an expression similar to what he had before uttered, that he had wished to hon or God by some signal service in life; but if he choose,' he added, to take me from this state of pain and sickness, to serve him in perfection above, it will be infinitely better, and I am sure I shall not repine.'

He frequently spoke, in the course of the day, in the same pleasing manner; but when he awoke, about 11 at night, he expressed, with perfect composure and clearness, such emotions of joy for more than an hour, that he appeared to be like one on the confines of glory; and it is to be regretted, that the feel. ings of his friends were so over. powered, as to prevent their retaining his rapturous expressions. No part of his dying testimony was more impressive. His ap. peals to Heaven, as a test of his past experience, were particularly solemn and affecting. In the full and triumphant hope of future blessedness, he repeated, with a small alteration, the following verses from a hymn of Dr. Doddridge

'Jesus, my soul's eternal theme,

My transport and my trust;
Jewels to thee are gaudy toys,
And gold is sordid dust.

I'll speak the honors of thy name With my last lab'ring breath; Then,speechless,clasp thee in my arms, The Antidote of death.'

While uttering these words, he clasped his hands and raised his

with a countenance expressive of his heavenly transport. The next morning, seeing his ich sisters by his bed-side, he said, "Through the goodness of God, we live to behold each other aps4 gain!-this is a mercy! but, if it for had pleased him, I should have Its been glad to have been taken the past night.' His sisters replied,

23, 7

That God would take him in his own time, which is the best. It is,' said he, and in the mean time I hope to enjoy communications of his grace, by continual intercourse with Heaven; for, in pro2 portion as we maintain habitualin. Jetercourse with God, we shall taste the consolations of his Spirit.' Late in the evening he called them to his bed-side, saying, 'My time is now come.' He then took each of their hands, and committed them most affectionately to the care of their heavenly Father. On Tuesday afternoon, feeling the approaches of death, he broke out in these rapturous expres. sions: find now it is no delusion! My hopes are well founded! I shall soon join the blissful company around the throne! Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive the glory I shall shortly partake of! Read your Bible! I shall read mine no more!-no more need it !' When his brother said to him, You seem to en. joy foretastes of heaven," "O! replied he, this is no longer a foretaste!-this is heaven! I not only feel the climate, but I breathe the fine ambrosial air of Heaven, and soon shall enjoy the company! Can this be dy ing? This body seems no longer to belong to the soul! It ap. pears only as a curtain that cov.

ers it; and soon I shall drop this curtain, and be set at liber. ty! Then, putting his hand to his breast, he exclaimed, 'I rejoice to feel these bones give way!'-repeating it, I rejoice to feel these bones give way, as it tells me I shall shortly be with my God in glory!'

Notwithstanding these sup

ports and enjoyments, our young friend was not permitted to

pass through the valley of the shadow of death' undisturbed. The powers of darkness molested him, and, for a short season, almost overwhelmed him with despair.

Let not the reader suppose that we ascribe all the distress which is felt on a death. bed, to the influence or sugges. tions of Satan. It is sometimes to be imputed to the just reproofs of an enlightened and guilty conscience, and frequently to imperfect views of religion, or to the mere effect of bodily in. firmity;-but let it not be imagin. ed, on the other hand, that we are to discard all ideas of the

agency of evil spirits on these affecting occasions. If Satan was permitted to infest the Cap. tain of our salvation in his dying agonies, can we wonder that his followers are exposed to his attacks in similar circumstances? If he practised his devices on the primitive Christians, we have no reason to expect an exemption from his malicious assaults. consequence, therefore, we presume, of such temptations, our friend experienced a sudden tran sition from the highest joy to the very deepest distress. His countenance suddenly changed, and he exclaimed, 'What a cloud has come over me! What can this be? I am lost! I am lost!

In

I was taken,' says he, to the portals of heaven, and was about to enter it, when the door was shut against me; and now I shall never, never see that glorious place! When he was reminded of his past enjoyments, “Yes,' said he, 'I have been fa. vored with the manifestations of his love; but I have grieved his Spirit, and he is withdrawn from me for ever;' repeating these words, 'If thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ev. er.' Then, turning to his friends, he said to them, in a most pathetic manner, Take warning by me!' He then addressed him self to God, lamenting the mise ry of his absence, and dreading an eternal separation from him; saying, 'O, my Father! shall I never see thy face?-Shall I be banished for ever from thy smiles, from those smiles which make the bliss of Heaven? How can I bear the thought? Have I not, at times, experienced such joys in thy ways, as to make me esteem all things here as dung and dross, as unworthy my regard?—and shall I never realize those delightful anticipations?' His father then said to him, "But could you enjoy the company of the wicked in the regions of despair ?"-O, no!' said he, their company here is my abhorrence !'-" What is it then, which gives you so much distress ?" Because I have tempted his Spirit, and he is withdrawn from me for ever.'"But are you not grieved for his departure? and do you not wish for his return?" I would give all the world, if I possessed it, to obtain one hope of it.' "Do you think then your past experience a delusion ?"No,

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I know it was not a delusion; I have had such joys in theways of God, as the wicked know not of;-such delightful anticipa. tions of the bliss of Heaven, that I thought I should certain. ly arrive there.' He continued in this state for a considerable time; and neither the prayers nor conversation of his friends afforded him any relief. In these afflicting circumstances he addressed the Lord, with such an importunity and awful solem. nity as his attendants had never seen on any occasion. Havel not,' says he, given myself up to thee? Have I not chosen thee for my portion? Hast thou not assured me of thy love? And wilt thou now cast me off for ever?"-After uttering these, and other expressions, to the same purpose, a divine light f radiated the gloom; and he was enabled to triumph over the delusions of the tempter.

After this, as much as his ill. ness permitted, he was general. ly employed in devotion or is religious conversation, which indicated the happy state of mind. At one time he said, 'I have always considered that re ligion was not to be made a bf. concern, but the supreme object of life.' On another occasio he said to his father, I desire to be thankful for the restraint of a good education.' At anoth er time he said,This bed has been witness to many sweet se sons of communion with my God.'

On the Friday morning preced ing his death, being asked if Christ was precious to him, he replied, in an ecstacy of joy, "O yes, is precious indeed! very precious! I am very confident of this very

he

thing, that he who hath begun the good work will perform it.' He spoke much more to the same purpose; but part of what he said, his friends could not fully understand.

On the Lord's Day morning, shortly before he died, having called his father and sisters to his bed-side, he addressed each of them for some time; and af. terwards offered up a fervent st prayer for them. But his voice failing, little could be under. stood. But after this he lay perfectly composed, with a heaven. ly serenity of countenance. His breath became gradually shorter, till at length, without a sigh or a struggle, he fell asleep in Jesus. The last words which he was heard to utter were, Glory, glory, glory! He died on the Lord's Day, April 17th, 1808, in the 24th year of his age.

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The preceding memoir may probably be read by some young persons who have devoted much of their time to literary pursuits. It is possible, that in conscquence of their connexions, or the course of their reading and study, they have been accustomed to associate all that is igno. rant and grovelling with their ideas of what is denominated Vital Religion. But let them here contemplate a youth of distinguished abilities, who gloried in the truths which they have learnt to despise. It deserves too their serious consideration, whether the principles which they have substituted for them, can inspire such a superiority to worldly attractions, or make them equally willing to quit all that is dear and lovely in life, and enter on

the scene of an untried eternity.

We hope that this narrative may serve to obviate an objection, which the young often feel against serious religion. If they think that it is adapted to make them unhappy, let them consider its effect on the subject of this memoir. Possessing all the ardent feelings of youth, he made light of present pleasures, and the most flattering prospects of honor and interest; in consequence of the superior comfort which he derived from religion. It is surely then the want, not the possession of piety, which at any time renders men wretched or gloomy.

What an affecting proof has been here exhibited of the uncertainty of worldly hopes and enjoyments! The youthful eye, that may be now moving over this page, may also before the end of another short year, be mouldered to dust; and the immortal spirit by which it is animated, be fixed in a state of happiness or misery. How dreadful will the consequence be, if time shall have been presumptuously trifled away, and a prepa. ration for eternity have been entirely neglected!

We hope that pious parents will be encouraged by this memoir, to attend to the most im portant concerns of their children. The best education indeed cannot produce real relig ion; and whether a Timothy or a Zaccheus be converted to God, the change must be ascribed to the operation of the Spirit. But prudent, pious, persevering endeavors have seldom failed of ultimately obtaining a blessing.