No sooner had I fixed my mind on this course, than my anxieties left me-the strivings of the Spirit ceased in my bosom, and ceased for ever. When sickness warned me of approaching death, I sought to fix my feelings on this subject, but it was in vain. There was a gloom and terror drawn around religion, at which my soul shuddered. I felt that I was forsaken of God, but it did not move me. I had no love to God, no repentance for sin, nor wish to forsake it. I felt nothing but the sullen gloom of despair-I knew I was in the hands of a justly offended God, from whom I expected no mercy, and could ask none. With these feelings I am now about to enter the eternal world. To you, my children, I can only say-Profit by my example; quench not the Spirit; seek religion now, if you would avoid a miserable eternity—put not off the concerns of your soul till-The sentence died upon his lips; his strength, which had been all summoned to make this last effort, suddenly failed-he fell back upon his bed, and with a groan that seemed to speak the pains of another world, the immortal spirit took its flight from that body which it had inhabited nearly fourscore years, to receive according to that it had done.

This little narrative I had from a grandson of the old man, who stood by his dying bed. He was a minister of the gospel, and dated his first permanent conviction from the solemnities of that awful scene. The descendants of the old man were numerous, most of whom became hopefully pious. Two, who are now preachers, and several others, were first awakened by his dying charge.

REV. J. W. JAMES.

In a lecture to Sunday-school teachers, a few years since, the Rev. J. W. James, of Philadelphia, related the following narrative :

A young man who had been piously educated, and whose religious impressions in early life had been strong, while at college mingled with worldly and gay companions; so that in a short time he ceased to be serious or prayerful. He graduated as worldly and careless as his classmates, and removed to a distant city. Ambitious of eminence in the profession he had chosen, he secluded himself from society, not from fear of its contamination, but to preserve his time from unnecessary waste. While thus engaged, he became acquainted with the pious superintendent of a Sabbath-school, whom he was not long after invited to succeed. After much persuasion he reluctantly consented, but was unacquainted with the duties of the school. On finding that he must open the school with prayer, he started and turned pale. He had formerly been taught by his mother to pray, but he had now forgotten how to address the Author of his mercies. By the aid of the prayer-book he succeeded, but his conscience allowed him no rest. He could not retire from the work. For some weeks he endured the lashes of an awakened and guilty conscience, until at length, by the assistance of the Holy Spirit, he was enabled to give up all for Christ. He retained his office of superintendent for more than a year; then, at length, after a course of theology, was settled as a Christian pastor in one of the Atlantic cities, where he was engaged in winning souls to Christianity; "and now," he added, and his face grew pale, and his limbs trembled with emotion as he spoke-" and now, he has the satisfaction of addressing this assemblage of superintendents and teachers."

A YOUNG CLERGYMAN.

A YOUNG licentiate, after throwing off a highly wrought, and, as he thought, eloquent gospel sermon in the pulpit, in the presence of a venerable pastor, solicited of his experienced friend the benefit of his criticisms upon the performance.

"I have but just one remark to make," was his reply, "and that is, to request you to pray that sermon."

"What do you mean, sir?"

"I mean literally just what I say; pray it, if you can, and you will find the attempt a better criticism than any I can make upon it."

The request still puzzled the young man beyond measure; the idea of praying a sermon was a thing he never heard or conceived of; and the singularity of the suggestion wrought powerfully on his imagination and feelings. He resolved to attempt the task. He laid his manuscript before him, and on his knees before God, undertook to make it into a prayer. But it would not pray; the spirit of prayer was not in it, and that, for the very good reason-as he then clearly saw for the first time-that the spirit of prayer and piety did not compose it. For the first time he saw that his heart was not right with God; and this conviction left him no peace until he had "Christ formed in him the hope of glory." With a renewed heart, he applied himself anew to the work of composing sermons for the pulpit; preached again in the presence of the pious pastor who had given such timely advice; and again solicited the benefit of his critical remarks.

"I have no remarks to make," was his complacent reply, "you can pray that sermon."

A NEW ENGLAND CLERGYMAN.

A FEW years ago, a gay lady in New England had occasion to go to a neighbouring town, where she had often been before. In the immediate vicinity was a stream which she had to go near, and which at this period was high. With a view of showing her courage to a young person whom she had taken with her as a companion, she went into the stream with her horse, and in a very little time was thrown into the water,had already sunk once or twice to the bottom, and felt that she was within a few moments of an eternal world, without being prepared for so great a change.

It so happened, that a young man in another neighbouring town had felt a powerful impression on his mind that morning, that he should visit the same place. He had no business to transact; but, being forcibly impressed with the importance of going thither, he invited a young man to accompany him. Ar riving at the side of the stream just as the young ladies were about to cross it, they saw it was improbable that they could ford it; yet, as the ladies went, they determined to follow.

By the time the young lady was thrown from her horse, the others had nearly reached the opposite shore; but, perceiving her danger, one of them immediately followed her on his horse, and in the last moment of life, as it then appeared, she caught hold of the horse's leg; he thus secured her, and snatching hold of the other drowning young lady, she was saved also. After the use of proper remedies, they recovered; and the young gentlemen, believing that the design of their coming from home was now answered, returned back.

The impressions made on the mind of this young lady were permanent, and she was led to reflect on the sins she had committed against God, to pray for the pardon of her guilt, and to

devote herself to the Divine service. She embraced the mercy of the Lord, believing in the Redeemer, who alone saves from the wrath to come.

In the same town with herself lived a young gentleman, who had often spent his hours in vain conversation with her. On her return home, he went to congratulate her on her escape, and to his surprise, found she attributed her deliverance to the power of God, and urged him to seek that grace which they had both neglected. Her serious conversation was blessed to his conversion, and he became a faithful minister of Jesus Christ.

REV. MR. POLK.

THE REV. Mr. Polk, at a general meeting of the Religious Tract Society, in London, stated, that he had a right to speak of the value of tracts, because, under God, he was indebted for all he knew of Christianity to a tract. In an institution for the education of young men, in his own country, out of two hundred and fifty individuals, there was not one who was a Christian; and though the minister laboured among them with great zeal, he seemed to labour in vain. At last, he got a young man to go through the building, and distribute some religious tracts. He left a tract on infidelity in one of the rooms, where two young men lodged together, one of whom was apparently of doubtful principles. The other, however, got hold of it, and read it. It arrested his attention, and set his mind on inquiring; and he afterwards fell in with Dr. Olinthus Gregory's "Letters," which led him to procure a Bible. The truths of that blessed book were brought home to his mind with great power, and he became a converted man. And his