perceptible; nothing said or done elicited any signs of consciousness. She had been a devoted Christian for threescore years; I had therefore a right to presume what was her ruling passion. Placing my lips close to her ear, I asked her if she knew JESUS CHRIST. Instantly, to the surprise and joy of all, tears stole down her cheeks; emotion began to play on her pale and withered face; one muscle after another began to act; her arms moved; she revived and lived several days, to leave her parting blessing, and then fell sweetly asleep, to awake only in heaven.

To recur to the case of apparent death. The subjeci of this state, aware of what was passing, naturally be came more and more anxious as the hour for burial ap proached. Her feelings on this subject must have reached a point of extreme intensity when at last they were about to carry her to the grave. All her hopes were suspended on the arrival of her husband; and just at this moment he arrived! From a state of most intense depression, her mind was suddenly exalted to one of most transporting joy. Such mental electricity was adequate to do what no other means could: it started again the suspended wheels of physical life; the heart moved, the blood stirred in the veins, the stubborn muscles be- . came again obedient to the mind.

QUESTIONS ON CHAPTER III.

What is said of suspended animation? Of apparent death? Notice the case mentioned. What is said in the note about death? Remarks on the case cited? Wherein does it differ from dreaming? From insanity? From artificial coma? From artificial somnambulism? From clairvoyance ? What remains that is marvellous? When does this cease to be so? What is said in conclusion?

CHAPTER IV.

TRANCE.

TRANCE is a state of suspended animation, in a greater or less degree, in which the mind passes from its natural condition into an ecstasy. It is usually of a religious kind, and implies a special exaltation of the spiritual nature. It has no necessary resemblance to clairvoyance; it assumes no divine prerogative; it has nothing to do with discovering stolen property, or revealing a neighbor's secrets, or predicting future events; it is a spiritual perception, a fervid imagination, a glowing heart, communing with the subjects of revealed truth.

Trances are of every degree, from ordinary instances of great religious abstraction to the seraphic ecstasy of Paul. Such was his trance, that, he informs us, he could not tell whether he was in the body or out of the body; but he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

Some religious sects abound in trances more than others, owing, probably, to the importance they attach to them. By placing the mind and body in situations favorable to induce them, by ardently seeking and expecting them, they may often be obtained, when they would not come spontaneously.

The following instance occurred at a house in the country where I was at the time boarding: A religious service was held there in the evening, and a Methodist preacher delivered an animated discourse. At the close of the sermon, permission was given to all present to speak. Among others, a lady of about twenty-five arose and spoke. After relating her religious experience, with

perceptible; nothing said or done elicited any signs of consciousness. She had been a devoted Christian for threescore years; I had therefore a right to presume what was her ruling passion. Placing my lips close to her ear, I asked her if she knew JESUS CHRIST. Instantly, to the surprise and joy of all, tears stole down her cheeks; emotion began to play on her pale and withered face; one muscle after another began to act; her armns moved; she revived and lived several days, to leave her parting blessing, and then fell sweetly asleep, to awake only in heaven.

To recur to the case of apparent death. The subjeci of this state, aware of what was passing, naturally be came more and more anxious as the hour for burial ap proached. Her feelings on this subject must have reached a point of extreme intensity when at last they were about to carry her to the grave. All her hopes were

suspended on the arrival of her husband; and just at this moment he arrived! From a state of most intense depression, her mind was suddenly exalted to one of most transporting joy. Such mental electricity was adequate to do what no other means could: it started again the suspended wheels of physical life; the heart moved, the blood stirred in the veins, the stubborn muscles became again obedient to the mind.

QUESTIONS ON CHAPTER III.

What is said of suspended animation? Of apparent death? Notice the case mentioned. What is said in the note about death? Remarks on the case cited? Wherein does it differ from dreaming? From insanity? From artificial coma? From artificial somnambulism? From clairvoyance? What remains that is marvellous? When does this cease to be so? What is said in conclusion?

CHAPTER IV.

TRANCE.

TRANCE is a state of suspended animation, in a greater or less degree, in which the mind passes from its natural condition into an ecstasy. It is usually of a religious kind, and implies a special exaltation of the spiritual nature. It has no necessary resemblance to clairvoyance; it assumes no divine prerogative; it has nothing to do with discovering stolen property, or revealing a neighbor's secrets, or predicting future events; it is a spiritual perception, a fervid imagination, a glowing heart, communing with the subjects of revealed truth.

Trances are of every degree, from ordinary instances of great religious abstraction to the seraphic ecstasy of Paul. Such was his trance, that, he informs us, he could not tell whether he was in the body or out of the body; but he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

Some religious sects abound in trances more than others, owing, probably, to the importance they attach to them. By placing the mind and body in situations favorable to induce them, by ardently seeking and expecting them, they may often be obtained, when they would not come spontaneously.

The following instance occurred at a house in the country where I was at the time boarding: A religious · service was held there in the evening, and a Methodist preacher delivered an animated discourse. At the close of the sermon, permission was given to all present to speak. Among others, a lady of about twenty-five arose and spoke. After relating her religious experience, with

great apparent emotion, she swooned and fell. As it was presumed she would soon revive, no alarm was felt.

She was removed to a chamber in a state of apparent insensibility, in which she continued two days and three. nights, or about sixty hours. During the second day, scarcely a symptom of life appeared. No pulse could be felt, no movement of the lungs could be observed; the body was cold, the eyes were closed, and the mouth so firmly set that it could not be opened. On the morning of the third day, a feeble pulse was observed; some warmth and other signs of animation appeared. Soon after, she suddenly opened her eyes, and commenced singing.

She had no knowledge of what had taken place, and after concluding her song, asked where the people were who had been present at the meeting. She said she had been to heaven, had seen the Savior, had joined in the song of the redeemed, and realized such views of the heavenly world, and such experience of its joys, as she would not exchange for whole years of worldly pleasures. But the whole sixty hours had seemed to her only a few moments. She could, at first, hardly believe that the religious meeting had closed.

The excellent character of this young woman precludes all reasonable doubt of her entire sincerity. She was of a highly nervous temperament, of great religious devotion, and of singular simplicity and purity of purpose. She has since died as she lived, trusting in the Savior, and leaving the best of evidence that she has in truth gone to realize the eternal enjoyments of that world, of which she had in trance, like Paul, received the foretaste.

TRANCE OF REV. WILLIAM TENNENT.

One of the most remarkable trances on record is that of Rev. William Tennent. The following account of it is taken from his Memoir, written by Dr. Boudinot, the late venerable President of the American Bible Society,"