and have so continued. I now think His life, for years, was what might be expected from his belief. He seemed to endeavour to erase from his mind all thoughts of a hereafter. In this state, an awful accident, in a moment, placed before him an eternity, into which he must very soon enter. The powers of his reason were in full strength. And now his beloved scheme of ceasing to On being told by one who did not know his previous opinions, that he certainly should exist, and that the future being of men was indicated by nature, and made sure by scriptural evidence, an aspect of still greater horror settled on his countenance; and, after a pause of a minute, he replied," If those Scriptures are true, eternity will be more dreadful to me than the loss of being. I will not believe them; yet how dreadful the idea of sinking into eternal, thoughtless night!" He soon opened his eyes on the realities of another world. 23. ANTINOMIANISM. | (a) EFFECT OF ANTINOMI- | high esteem, and to whom she looked ANISM ON A YOUNG LADY.-A with implicit confidence, ran from one young lady, of high family, was called error to another; and she as implicitly by grace, under the ministry of a pious followed them, and soon became entirely clergyman of the church of England. imbued with the Antinomian leaven. The change upon her heart soon be- Her spirituality of mind, tenderness of came visible. In every good work she conscience, and every truly pious feelwas actively engaged. Bible Societies, ing, rapidly declined; and her exertions Missionary Societies, visiting and reliev- to promote the cause of God, and the ing the sick, teaching a large Sunday- welfare of her fellow-creatures gradually school, which her exertions had raised, declined also. No books could she read constituted her constant employment. but such as were of the Antinomian cast; The floating money she possessed, which and no preachers could she hear, either had previously been appropriated to of the established church or dissenters, dress and worldly amusements, was now but those of the strongest Antinomian consecrated to God, and devoted to carry sentiments. In this state she called on forward the objects her piety had formed. a dissenting minister, for whom, in her She was humble, zealous, modest; and better days, she had felt a great venelived in the admiration of all who knew ration. He affectionately inquired after her. Henry and Scott were her favour- the state of her mind, and what were ite commentators, and the Bible her the advantages she had derived from the constant companion: in every part of sentiments she had embraced. She reBiblical knowledge she made consider-plied, with all the confidence and posiable progress. But mark the deadly tiveness that conceit could inspire, effects of error upon her mind! Some "That she was as safe, as to her eternal clergymen, for whom she possessed a state, as a saint in heaven." "But," said he, “madam, do you feel yourself | her family and others, bore with terrific as happy and as spiritual in your devo- weight upon her conscience; but the tional exercises, as you used to do?" Lord spared her life, and mercifully deShe replied, I have learned to live livered her from the appalling delusion. without them." "But do you not pray In this state, she wrote a most affecting in your closet?" Pray," said she, penitential letter to the minister already "what can I pray for?" Shocked at referred to, saying she could never forher reply, he rejoined, "Do you not give herself for the reproach she had pray to be favoured with a sense of par- brought on Christ and his cause, candoning mercy, and for grace to resist didly acknowledging that the sentiments sin?" "Such prayers," answered she, she had imbibed had destroyed all sense "in my view, would be perfectly ab- of moral obligation in her mind, and had surd; for my sins were imputed to deprived her of all holy and spiritual Christ, and pardoned from all eternity; enjoyment in religion. and as to my being kept from sin, I am sure God never designed that I should. I am complete in Christ, and there I rest: all is finished." Every argument used, elicited similar replies. She proceeded in this course from bad to worse, and retaining her creed, plunged again into the gaieties of the world. In this state of professing religion without religion, she remained some years, until God laid her upon a bed of severe affliction. Light broke in again upon her mind; she saw she was destitute of every pious feeling; the errors of her creed appeared in all their fallacy, nor could she derive from it one ray of hope, nor discover one Scriptural evidence of her interest in Christ. The injury she had done to others, by the dissemination of error, the prejudice that had been excited by her conduct against religion, both in the members of (b) HILL AND THE ANTINOMIAN.-Rowland Hill would have tried the critical sagacity of the most erudite. His eccentricities are of great notoriety. With many strong points of character, he combined notions prodigiously odd. One of those restless infesters of places of worship, commonly called Antinomians, one day called on Rowland Hill, to bring him to account for his too severe and legal gospel. "Do you, sir,” asked Rowland, "hold the Ten Commandments to be a rule of life to Christians?" "Certainly not," replied the visitor. The minister rang the bell, and on the servant making his appearance, he quietly added, "John, show that man the door, and keep your eye on him until he is beyond the reach of every article of wearing-apparel, or other property in the hall!" 24. ANTIQUITY. (a) PRETENSIONS OF THE CHINESE. It is well known that the Chinese pretend to an excessive antiquity. Their chronology exceeds all bounds of probability: and, could their pretensions be verified, the Mosaic account of the creation must necessarily be discredited. But we have a singular fact to state, which will prove that their boasted antiquity really falls within the limits of the Mosaic chronology. For the evidence we are about to produce, we are indebted to the discoveries of modern astronomy. The Chinese have ever made a point of inserting in their calendar remarkable eclipses, or conjunctions of the planets, together with the name of that emperor in whose reign they were observed. To these events they have also affixed their own dates. There is a very singular conjunction of the sun, moon, and several planets, recorded in their annals, as having taken place almost at the very commencement of their remote history. The far-famed Cassini, to ascertain the fact, calculated back, and decidedly proved, that such an extraordinary conjunction actually did take place in China, February 26th, 1812 years before Christ. This falls four hundred years after the flood, and a little after the birth of Abra- | ham. Here are two important facts ascertained. The one is, that the Chinese are a very ancient nation; and the other, that their pretensions to antiquity beyond that of Moses are unfounded; because this event, which they themselves represent as happening near the beginning of their immense calculations, falls far within the history and chronology of the Scriptures. 25. APOLOGIES. (a) SWIFT AND THE LADY'S DINNER.-A lady invited Dean Swift to a most sumptuous dinner. She said, "Dear Dean, this fish is not as good as I could wish, though I sent for it half across the kingdom, and it cost me so much," naming an incredible price. "And this thing is not such as I ought to have for such a guest, though it came from such a place, and cost such a sum." Thus she went on, decrying and underrating every article of her expensive and ostentatious dinner, and teazing her distinguished guest with apologies, only to find a chance to display her vanity in bringing her trouble and expense into view, until she exhausted his patience. He is reported to have risen in a passion, and to have said, "True, madam, it is a miserable dinner; and I will not eat it, but go home and dine upon sixpenceworth of herring." (b) A SENSIBLE HOST.-Lord Carteret, while Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, went one day unattended to Dr. Lord C. was highly pleased; for though a courtier, he hated ceremony when he sought pleasure. At the close of the meal, his excellency told Dr. D. that he had always thought him a well-bred man, but had never had so good a proof before. "Others," said he, on whom I have tried the same experiment, have met me with as much confusion, as if I had come to arrest them for high treason; nay, deprived me of their conversation, by undue attention to the dinner, and then spoiled my meal by fulsome apologies or needless profusion." 26. APOSTACY. (a) APOSTACY AND INTEM-, light;" but an awful disappointment PERANCE.-Mr. was blessed followed. Instead of devoting himself with a worthy parentage. All that and all his powers to the work of the heart could desire was lavished upon ministry, he chose the profession of the him, and especial regard was had to the law. However unpropitious that profescultivation of his intellectual powers, sion may be to the growth and energy which by nature were of a superior of true piety, the experience of his wororder. He received a college educa- thy father, as well as the lives of sevetion, and in early life was supposed to ral eminent Christian lawyers, were a be the subject of a gracious visitation sufficient guarantee that he too might of the Spirit of God. His early Chris- have served God in the profession of tian experience and deportment gave his choice, if his heart had been right; the cheering promise, that ere long he but alas! the fire of devotion had gone would be a "burning and a shining out. Not only was the holy calling of the Christian abandoned, not merely the power of godliness lost, but even the form of religion was in a great measure relinquished, and he became a votary of pleasure, and attached to the bottle. The subject of this melancholy picture had many engaging qualities; and, in intervals of correct moral deportment, was capable of affording much pleasure to the social circle. At times, too, when conscience raised her voice and lashed him with the stings of remorse, he could chide his wanderings, and cover himself with reproaches; but his was not the sorrow that worketh repentance unto life; it was the keen remorse, the gnawing anguish of a victim of despair. Mr. entered the married state, and although the partner of his bosom did not long continue with him, she left behind her a child, whose tender age, it might have been supposed, would have induced the unhappy man to pause in his ruinous course. However, the endearing relation of father had no charm to break the fatal spell which the god of this world had cast upon his soul. In a little while his own father was stretched upon his dying couch; and his last moments were rendered bitter, not by his own prospects, for he had hope in Christ, but by the character of his ungodly son. These trying dispensations of Providence had no effect to rouse the unhappy man from the awful lethargy into which he was sunk; and yet his friends were unwilling to give him up for lost. His old companions, some of whom were eminent as preachers of righteousness, expostulated with him; and very many solemn letters were addressed to him. One, who never exchanged a word with him, drew a faithful likeness of his character; the deluded victim saw it in print, and though not a little enraged at the exposure, confessed that the picture was true. In spite of all this, however, be still continued addicted to spirituous liquors, and seemed to place his chief delight in them. He became, at length, united to an amiable woman, in whose society he might have shared many happy hours, and days, and years, if strong drink had not been dearer to him than all other objects. For a short time he appeared to conduct himself with propriety; but old habits prevailed, and he became their victim with more devotedness than ever. Now and then he would express his deep regret for the wicked course he was pursuing, and appear to desire earnestly that he might be delivered from the horrid temptation; but all his seeming goodness was as the morning cloud, and as the early dew. Not many weeks previous to the close of this unhappy man's career, he entered into conversation with an old friend, respecting his wicked course of life, and remarked that he desired, above all things, one circumstance to mark his dying hour: "It is," said he, “that I may not possess my reason.' 66 What," rejoined the friend, "to die in a state of derangement, Mr. ! Is it possible that can be "It is," redesire ?" your plied the victim of despair; "I know what has been my past life; that I have professed religion and apostatized; that I have become an abandoned wretch, lost to all shame and propriety; and I am sure that if I were to have my reason in my last moments, the retrospect of life would fill me with such insupportable remorse that I should be a terror to my friends and to myself. I know that I am not, and never shall be, prepared for heaven, and therefore I shall be damned; and I wish that these things may not be in my thoughts in my last moments, but that I may be insensible." At a time not very distant from the period when he uttered the strange remarks just quoted, he told his wife, in a very grave manner, that he should not long be with her. To others of his family he made the same or similar statements; in all of which he named the day on which he would cease to exist. For a few days after this he appeared to do pretty well, but soon relapsed, and engaging in mirth and festivity, his thoughts of death were all forgotten. Whenever he did speak of death, however, he expressed his horror of dying, associating with it, as he always did, the prospect of bitter remorse for his past wickedness. He was at length attacked by violent illness, which brought on convulsions of the whole frame, long-continued, and often re peated for several days, during the whole of which he was deranged, and died as senseless as the brutes. (b) COMPANIONS OF J. A. JAMES.-The Rev. J. A. James relates in his "ANXIOUS INQUIRER AFTER SALVATION DIRECTED AND ENCOURAGED,' that he began his own religious course with three companions, one of whom was materially serviceable, in some particulars, to him; but he soon proved that his religion was nothing more than transient devotion. A second returned to his sin, "like a dog to his vomit, and a sow that is washed to her wallowing in the mire." The third, who was for some time his intimate friend, imbibed the principles of infidelity; and so great was his zeal for his new creed, that he sat up at nights to copy Paine's " Age of Reason." After a while he was seized with a dangerous disease: his conscience awoke; the convictions of his mind were agonizing; his remorse was horrible. He ordered all his infidel extracts, the copying out of which had cost him so many nights, to be burnt before his face; and if not in words, yet in spirit, "Burn, burn." he cried, in sacred rage, His infidel companions and his infidel principles forsook him at once, and in the hearing of a pious friend, who visited him, and to whom he confessed with tears and lamentations his backsliding, he uttered his confessions of sin, and his vows of repentance. He recovered; but, painful to relate, it was only to relapse, again, if not into infidelity, yet, at any rate, into an utter disregard to religion. (c) APOSTACY AND SUICIDE.John Child, of Bedford, (England,) in early life, professed religion, and was for some years zealous in its extension, both by preaching and writing. But yielding to temptation, and indulging a spirit of pride, he became the avowed enemy of the gospel, and wrote a book against the truths he had professed to love. After this, he was brought into a very awful state of mind, absolutely despairing of the mercy of God being extended to him. He was visited by several ministers and others, but without any good effect, and at last committed suicide, by hanging himself in his own house, in the year 1684. (d) SPIRA'S DEATH-BED.-Francis Spira, an Italian lawyer, embraced Christianity, discovered great zeal in its diffusion, and was distinguished for his extensive knowledge of the gospel. When he found that he was likely to suffer for the sake of Christ, he publicly recanted; and soon after being seized with illness, and having the prospect of death before him, he was visited by several eminent Christians, who conversed and prayed with him, but without avail. He died in a state of the most awful despair, declaring the impossibility of his finding mercy at the hands of God. (e) THE APOSTATE BURNED. Richard Denton, a blacksmith, residing in Cambridgeshire, was a professor of religion, and the means of converting the martyr, William Woolsey. When told by that holy man that he wondered he had not followed him to prison, Denton replied, that he could not burn in the cause of Christ. Not long after, his house being on fire, he ran in to save some of his goods, and was burnt to death. (f) CRANMER'S UNWORTHY HAND.-In the bloody reign of Queen Mary of England, Achbishop Cranmer became obnoxious to her persecuting spirit. She was determined to bring him to the stake; but previously employed emissaries to persuade him, by means of flattery and false promises, to renounce his faith. The good man was overcome, and subscribed to the errors of the Church of Rome. His conscience smote him; he returned to his former persuasion; and, when brought to the stake, he stretched forth the hand that had made the unhappy signature, and held it in the flames till it was entirely consumed, frequently exclaiming, "That unworthy hand:" after which he patiently suffered martyrdom, and ascended to receive its reward. (g) APOSTACY DESTROYS THE CONFIDENCE OF WORLDLY MEN.-It is well known that Frederick the Great took pride in having his soldiers well disciplined; and was therefore particularly attentive to the con |