family, and you wish them to know the things that be

long to their peace.

7, You are of a forbearing and forgiving temper; 8, you pity and pray for sinners, who, through blindness and ignorance, oppose at present their own eternal interest; 9, you are of a thankful spirit; you thank God for making you to differ, by his grace, from many others; and you praise him for every favor, both of a temporal and spiritual na. ture; 10, you are zealous for the honor of God in the world; 11, you desire to rejoice in Christ Jesus, and in all the duties of Christianity; 12, you esteem the applause, the pleasure, and the wealth of the whole world, as nothing, in comparison of the love and blessing of God, through Christ Jesus. These are some of the signs of having the Holy Spirit. (Read with care Gal. v. especially towards the close.) See, my dear readers, that the graces there mentioned by the apostle, in verse 22, &c. be in you and abound; and you will prosper in the divine life, and walk in the comfort of the Holy Ghost.

THE SOCINIAN.

A GENTLEMAN of B....., pretty deeply tinctured with Socinian principles, took occasion, in almost every company, to speak contemptuously of the leading doctrines of revelation. Being one day at the sale of a library of a late divine of that city, in one of the lots there happened to be a volume, entitled Christ Crucified. The lot being sold, and the volume missing, there was a general inquiry after it through the room; when, very unfortunately, it happened to be found in the possession of the above gentle. man, who, without hesitation, gave it up, with a sneer,

saying, "Here, take your Christ Crucified, for any thing it is good for." Upon which another gentleman in the com. pany patting him upon the shoulder, very smartly whis. pered him, "I find it is nothing uncommon for thieves to ridicule a crucified Jesus."

DEATH.......A VISION.

PASSING the other day through

I met a funeral

'procession; a hearse, several mourning coaches, and all the sable apparatus of death. I was struck at the contrast so manifest between this procession and all that was moving about it; and these scenes so occupied my mind, that I consider them as the cause of a visionary dream which I had on the following night, wherein Death was represented as driving his hearse and procession through that populous street and addressing himself to various persons who met him in his route:

"Ye numerous passengers, going and coming on each side of the way, whose aspects manifest that you are bent on different schemes, which you deem of importance; know, that whatever your business may be, ye are all hastening to my territories. You who are young and gay, and you who are more advanced in life, are moving, with different paces, toward that house of mine which is appointed for all living.' You who are arrayed in the height and variety of the fashion, will soon put on your last suit, and, like the corpse in this hearse, be enshrouded by death. You, whose plumes are high, and proudly nod over your giddy heads, will soon occupy my plumed hearse, and your vanity will cease for ever. Some of you may be driv. ing to the temple of Hymen, and pleasing yourselves with

prospects of many years' happiness; but you must soon submit to my cold embraces; and your connexions and enjoyments, however dear and delightful, must be resigned at my command, and be exchanged for the gloomy soli. tudes of my kingdom.

"Ye foolish people and unwise, who in your crowded carriages are hastening to various places of dissipation, folly, and vice, remember that the heart of the fool is in the house of mirth. Know, that I often visit these delusive scenes, snatch the frightened victims from their fatal festivities, and plunge them into outer darkness. Even lately I seized several giddy wretches on the threshold of one of these seminaries of vice which you are driving to. Know, foolish citizens, that what I have done, I may do again. In my next visit I may come in a fire, an earthquake, or a storm, and swallow up the crowded fabric, and all its unthinking and deluded company. Stop, ye cruel parents, look on my retinue, and return to your houses! Are ye so mad as to drive your children to tophet, and offer them to the devouring idol, Dissipation? Ye are rapidly advancing in the broad way, and your steps will soon take hold on hell. Carry, therefore, your little ones home, read them a lecture on what you have seen in this street, and so teach them to number their days, that they may apply their hearts unto wisdom.

"I perceive a carriage advancing, whose armorial bear ing, declare it to belong to the bishop of the city: 'Remember; my lord, you and I wear the same livery; it is my business to kill; but your duty to prepare men for my stroke. It is evident that I work too fast for you; for, many under your charge feel my dart in their vitals, before they possess repentance in their hearts. Where lies the

fault, my Lord? for a fault there is some where! You have many assistants in this great city, who are well paid for carrying on the work of preparation; but, by what I see and hear where I visit your flock; very few are informed of my power, and rightly prepared to submit to my stroke. The bells toll, and the churches are opened every sab. bathday; but your assistants, in general, are very sparing of their labor, and care not to disturb their hearers by preaching on my certain dominion over all men; nor do they show them by what means they may make me their friend, and have a happy passage through my dark valley, I would have you look to these things, my lord; you know I am not ceremonious; you and I shall meet again cre long; and I wish to meet you as a friend, and by my advice to subserve your best interest.'

6

"Here comes a consequential son of Galen, whose fame is widely spread, and whose medical skill is highly applauded; Know, sir, that with all your fame and consequence, you are my servant; you are retained by me, and often forward my work. You are parading through this city in your way, as I am in mine; but I have somewhat to say against you. While I am incessantly looking to the end of my work, and warning men to think of their lat ter end, you seldom let your patients know the worst of their case, but flatter them with the hopes of recovery, till they have almost entered on my territories. Although you are constantly frequenting the chambers where I appear, you studiously avoid any conversation with me. Now, Mr. Physician, permit me to exhort you to heal yourself; remember, that however shy you at present may be, you must soon bow to my sceptre, and visit my dominions. VOL. I.

5

For the present, sir, pass on; reflect on what I have said, and do as much good as you can till I call for you.'

"Here are a few of the ambassadors of the Prince of Life and Peace; of different denominations, but all of my acquaintance; 'It is part of your study and ministry to make men familiar with me. Formerly, I could not step into a house, without all the family crying out for fear; but, since ye have held forth the word of life, the very children learn to be familiar with me. I bow at the remembrance of your divine Master, O ye servants of Christ! There was a time when He submitted to be imprisoned by me; but, by that condescension he destroyed satan, my powerful master. I was proud of having such a prisoner in my power; but, when he chose to depart, he did not vouchsafe to ask my leave; and no force of mine could detain him; and he so entirely tore away the adamantine bars of my prison, and left such impressions of his divine power on me, that it is impossible for me to detain any in my power when he demands their release. Tell, therefore, your namerous congregations, to meet me as becometh Christians. Exhort them to banish from their minds the vulgar notions of hideous looks and evil designs; and let them be assured, that I shall visit them as a friend, to introduce them to the presence of your Master."

When the King of Terrors had finished his address, he assumed a most terrible aspect; and, frowning with tremendous horror, drove fiercely forward, while all around was in the moss fearful agitation. The affrighted passengers fled from the streets; the shops were darkened; the houses and churches trembled to their foundations; the sound of the artificer, and the din of business, were silenc ed; the general pulse of trade stood still; and an awful