The manner in which Mr. Thomas Cook was accustomed to accost S. B.

'Whenever he met me in the street, his salutation used to be "Have you free and lively intercourse with God to-day? Are you giving your whole heart to God?" I have known him on such occasions speak in so pertinent a manner, that I have been astonished at his knowledge of my state. Meeting me one morning, he said, "I have been praying for you; you have had a sore conflict, though all is well now." At another time he asked, "Have you been much exercised these few days, for I have been led to pray that you might especially have suffering grace."- Meth. Mag. p. 247.

Mr. John Kestin on his death-bed.

“Oh, my dear, I am now going to glory, happy, happy, happy. I am going to sing praises to God and the Lamb; I am going to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I think I can see my Jesus without a glass between. I can, I 'my title clear to mansions in the skies.' come! why are thy chariot-wheels so long delaying?”' — Ev. Mag. p. 124.

feel I can, discern Come, Lord Jesus,

The Rev. Mr. Mead's sorrow for his sins.

This wrought him up to temporary desperation; his inexpressible grief poured itself forth in groans: "Oh that I had never sinned against God! I have a hell here upon earth, and there is a hell for me in eternity!" One Lord's day, very early in the morning, he was awoke by a tempest of thunder and lightning; and, imagining it to be the end of the world, his agony was great, supposing the great day of divine wrath was come, and he unprepared; but happy to find it not so.'-Ev. Mag. p. 147.

Similar case of Mr. John Robinson.

'About two hours before he died, he was in great agony of body and mind: it appeared that the enemy was permitted to struggle with him; and being greatly agitated, he cried out, "Ye powers of darkness begone!" This, however, did not last long: "the prey was taken from the mighty, and the

lawful captive delivered," although he was not permitted to tell of his deliverance, but lay quite still and composed.'— Ev. Mag. p. 177.

The Reverend William Tennant in a heavenly trance.

"While I was conversing with my brother," said he, "on the state of my soul, and the fears I had entertained for my future welfare, I found myself in an instant in another state of existence, under the direction of a superior being, who ordered me to follow him. I was accordingly wafted along, I know not how, till I beheld at a distance an ineffable glory, the impression of which on my mind it is impossible to communicate to mortal man. I immediately reflected on my happy change; and thought, Well, blessed be God! I am safe at last, notwithstanding all my fears. I saw an innumerable host of happy beings surrounding the inexpressible glory in acts of adoration and joyous worship; but I did not see any bodily shape or representation in the glorious appearance. I heard things unutterable. I heard their songs and hallelujahs of thanksgiving and praise with unspeakable rapture. I felt joy unutterable, and full of glory. I then applied to my conductor and requested leave to join the happy throng."- Ev. Mag. p. 251.

The following we consider to be one of the most shocking histories we ever read. God only knows how many such scenes take place in the gloomy annals of Methodism.

'A young man, of the name of S —C—, grandson to a late eminent dissenting minister, and brought up by him, came to reside at K-g, about the year 1803. He attended at the Baptist place of worship, not only on the Lord's day, but frequently at the week-day lectures and prayer-meetings. He was supposed by some to be seriously inclined; but his opinion of himself was, that he had never experienced that divine change, without which no man can be saved.

'However that might be, there is reason to believe he had been for some years under powerful convictions of his miserable condition as a sinner. In June 1806, these convictions were observed to increase, and that in a more than common degree. From that time he went into no company; but, when he was not at work, kept in his chamber, where he was employed

in singing plaintive hymns, and bewailing his lost and perishing

state.

'He had about him several religious people; but could not be induced to open his mind to them, or to impart to any one the cause of his distress. Whether this contributed to increase it or not, it did increase, till his health was greatly affected by it, and he was scarcely able to work at his business.

While he was at meeting on Lord's day, September 14th, he was observed to labour under very great emotion of mind, especially when he heard the following words: "Sinner, if you die without an interest in Christ, you will sink into the regions of eternal death.”

On the Saturday evening following, he intimated to the mistress of the house where he lodged, that some awful judgment was about to come upon him; and as he should not be able to be at meeting next day, requested that an attendant might be procured to stay with him. She replied that she would herself stay at home, and wait upon him; which she did.

'On the Lord's day he was in great agony of mind. His mother was sent for, and some religious friends visited him; but all was of no avail. That night was a night dreadful beyond conception. The horror which he endured brought on all the symptoms of raging madness. He desired the attendants not to come near him, lest they should be burnt. He said that "the bed-curtains were in flames,-that he smelt the brimstone, that devils were come to fetch him, that there was no hope for him, for that he had sinned against light and conviction, and that he should certainly go to hell." It was with difficulty he could be kept in bed.

'An apothecary being sent for, as soon as he entered the house, and heard his dreadful howlings, he inquired if he had not been bitten by a mad dog. His appearance, likewise, seemed to justify such a suspicion, his countenance resembling that of a wild beast more than that of a man.

Though he had no feverish heat, yet his pulse beat above 150 in a minute. To abate the mania, a quantity of blood was taken from him, a blister was applied, his head was shaved, cold water was copiously poured over him, and fox-glove was administered. By these means his fury was abated; but his mental agony continued, and all the symptoms of madness which his bodily strength, thus reduced, would allow, till the following Thursday. On that day he seemed to have recovered his reason, and to be calm in his mind. In the evening he sent for the apothecary, and wished to speak with him by himself. The

latter, on his coming, desired every one to leave the room, and thus addressed him: "C, have you not something on your mind?"—" Ay," answered he, "that is it!" He then acknowledged that, early in the month of June, he had gone to a fair in the neighbourhood, in company with a number of wicked young men; that they drank at a public-house together till he was in a measure intoxicated; and that from thence they went into other company, where he was criminally connected with a harlot. "I have been a miserable creature," continued he, "ever since; but during the last three days and three nights, I have been in a state of desperation." He intimated to the apothecary, that he could not bear to tell this story to his minister: "But," said he, "do you inform him that I shall not die in despair; for light has broken in upon me: I have been led to the great Sacrifice for sin, and I now hope in him for salvation."

From this time his mental distress ceased, his countenance become placid, and his conversation, instead of being taken up as before with fearful exclamations concerning devils and the wrath to come, was now confined to the dying love of Jesus! The apothecary was of opinion, that if his strength had not been so much exhausted, he would now have been in a state of religious transport. His nervous system, however, had received such a shock, that his recovery was doubtful; and it seemed certain, that if he did recover, he would sink into a state of idiocy. He survived this interview but a few days.' — Ev. Mag. pp. 412, 413.

A religious observer stands at a turnpike gate on a Sunday, to witness the profane crowd passing by; he sees a man driving very clumsily in a gig;-the inexperience of the driver provokes the following pious observations.

--

"What (I said to myself) if a single untoward circumstance should happen! Should the horse take fright, or the wheel on either side get entangled, or the gig upset, in either case what can preserve them? And should a morning so fair and promising bring on evil before night, should death on his pale horse appear, what follows?" My mind shuddered at the images I had raised.' - Ev. Mag. pp. 558, 559.

Miss Louisa Cook's rapturous state.

'From this period she lived chiefly in retirement, either in

reading the sacred volume on her knees, or in pouring out her soul in prayer to God. While thus employed, she was not unfrequently indulged with visits from her gracious Lord; and sometimes felt herself to be surrounded, as it were, by his glorious presence. After her return to Bristol, her frame of mind became so heavenly, that she seemed often to be dissolved in the love of God her Saviour.'-Ev. Mag. pp. 576, 577.

Objection to Almanacks.

Let those who have been partial to such vain productions only read Isaiah xlvii. 13., and Daniel ii. 27.; and they will there see what they are to be accounted of, and in what company they are to be found; and let them learn to despise their equivocal and artful insinuations, which are too frequently blended with profanity; for is it not profanity in them to attempt to palm their frauds upon mankind by Scripture quotations, which they seldom fail to do, especially Judges v. 20., and Job xxxviii. 31.? neither of which teaches nor warrants any such practice. Had Baruch or Deborah consulted the stars? No such thing.'--Ev. Mag. p. 600.

This energy of feeling will be found occasionally to meddle with and disturb the ordinary occupations and amusements of life, and to raise up little qualms of conscience, which, instead of exciting respect, border, we fear, somewhat too closely upon the ludicrous.

A Methodist Footman.

'A gentleman's servant, who has left a good place because he was ordered to deny his master when actually at home, wishes something on this subject may be introduced into this work, that persons who are in the habit of denying themselves in the above manner may be convinced of its evil.'—Ev. Mag. p. 72.

Doubts if it is right to take any interest for money.

'Usury.-Sir, I beg the favour of you to insert the following case of conscience. I frequently find in Scripture, that Usury is particularly condemned; and that it is represented as the character of a good man, that "he hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase," Ezek. xviii. 8, &c. I wish, therefore, to know how such passages are to be understood; and