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REMARKABLE CONVERSION.

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passion he felt for his bodily sufferings. To have begun by speaking to him of religion and of his soul, would only have terrified him. Gellert seemed, therefore, entirely taken up with his illness, and the means of procuring him some alleviation of his sufferings. He assisted him as much as he could, and with the utmost attention and delicacy interested his friends in his be half; and thus procured him the assistance and comforts required to calm his mind a little, and put him in a capacity of reflecting. Highly disgusting as was his illness, Gellert was continually will him, ever attentive to assist him, to amuse him, to alleviate his sufferings, and, above all, to let him see that tender sympathy so consoling to the wretched, and which Gellert's eyes so well expressed.

"By little and little the sick man's heart softened: he became less ferocious; and, from regard to so good a friend, he moderated his transports, and the violence of his impatience. This sensibility to the friendship of an amiable and benevolent man, disposed him, by degrees, to that more noble and sublime love with which Gellert sought to inspire him. The sick man began to possess himself, and soon began to reflect; from reflection he passed to repentance, and to sincere endeavours to moderate his desperation, to restrain his tongue, and to abstain from those hor rible oaths which had become so habitual to him. At length he not only permitted, but requested his friend to give him notice when, from the violence of pain, he was in danger of forgetting himself. From day to day his perplexity, his anxiety concern ing his future state, and his desire of still obtaining forgiveness from God, became more lively. Till then, he had ridiculed the ministers of the gospel; now, he earnestly wished to be instructed and consoled by them. He became more and more resigned to the will of God; his patience increased with his sufferings. He lived longer than was expected; and sometimes found himself so much relieved, that it seemed as if he might still indulge a hope of recovery. Gellert in the mean time had the joy of seeing the daily progress of his conversion. He only left him when his other indispensable duties obliged him to it; and applied his utmost and unceasing care to strengthen in the sick man's mind, on one side, the sense of his unworthiness and abhorrence of his passed irregularities; and, on the other, the kope of obtaining mercy and forgiveness. This penitent sinner drew near his end. One day, when Gellert was alone with him, and they were praying together, the sick man grew suddenly faint, seized the hand of his friend, blessed and thanked him, recommended his soul to God, and expired. Gellert, surprized by a death so sudden and so calm, could hardly believe what he saw; and called for help: but seeing his presence was now, become useless, he withdrew, full of emotions of joy, and of gra titude for the grace of God, which, he trusted, had made him instrumental to the salvation of an immortal soul."

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THE REFORMATION VINDICATED.

Rev. Sir,

To the Editor.

The following facts, and observations arising from them, were suggested by Veritas's defence of Calvin *, in your Magazine for March.

THE character of the Reformers has been already ably defended by several writers of eminence. I would with pleasure here quote several excellent observations made by Mosheim's translator, Dr. Maclaine; but they are too long for this letter +. Also, an admirable defence of the Reformers, in "Anonymous Remarks on Hume's History of Great Britain," 8vo: a work which I have read several years since; the nature of which I recollect, but have it not at hand to consult. Yet, let me gratify both myself and your readers with some remarks from our British Livy (Dr. Robertson) on this subject: "Europe had been accustomed, during many centuries, to see speculative opinions propagated or defended by force: so that, not only the idea of toleration, but even the word itself, in the sense now affixed to it, was unknown. A right to extirpate error by force, was universally allowed to be the prerogative of such as possessed the knowledge of truth; and as each party of Christians believed that they had got possession of this invaluable attainment, they all claimed and exercised, as far as they were able, the rights which it was supposed to convey and it would have appeared a symptom of diflidence in the goodness of their cause, or an acknowledgment that it was not well founded, if they had not employed in its defence all those means which, it was supposed, truth had a right to employ." Will not the above remarks apply to all the leading characters of that day? Wherefore then should Calvin be, as Veritas enquires, "singled out as possessing, in a peculiar degree, a persecuting spirit ?" What is Mr. Roscoe's meaning when he so unjustifiably asserts, "that the annals of persecution cannot afford a more atrocious instance than the burning of Servetus?" I am now brought necessarily to touch on the Romish Persecutions: and here you may draw a picture, darkened with almost every horror which fancy, aided by passion, could paint, still without verging beyond the boundaries of truth. How shall I speak of

We have been much surprized at receiving an angry letter from a correspondent, complaining of our countenancing the doctrine of intolerauce, by the thsertion of a quotation from Dr. Owen, in the letter of Feritas, above referred to. Most certainly we are enemies to religious persecution, in every form and degree; but the doctrine of toleration was not well understood even in the times of Dr. Owen.

+ See Mosheim's Eccles. History, Vol. IV. Append. I. p. 136–152.
Robertson's Charles V. vol. III.
p. 317.

THE REFORMATION VINDICATED.

"The galling tears that flow'd from Beanty's cheek,
The voice of Agony, and Terror's shrick,
The blood that trickled from Affliction's dart,
The sighs exhaling from a broken heart;
The burst of Anguish, Murder's piercing cry,

The screams that hurry'd through the midnight sky *,
The famish'd innocent's expiring moan,

The dungeon'd victim's solitary groan!?

JERNINGBAM?

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But the above lines are not sufficiently strong to express the cruelties of the Church of Rome. Look only at one instance; that of the infant of Catherine Cauche, in Guernsey; who was, immediately after its birth, thrown into the very flames which were consuming its tortured mother+! Instances of this nature multiply upon me, which we might quote; but your pages forbid.

It is wonderfully, though no doubt wisely, ordered, that, from the same soil and climate from which some plants derive their nutritive juices, others collect a poison the most destructive! Thus have Protestants and Catholics respectively acted with relation to the gospel and the truths of Christianity. The former have selected from thence causes of peace, charity, and goodness; whilst the latter have deduced, from the same source, only the motives of envy and jealousy, hatred and destruction! Wherever the latter disposition appears, there is no proceeding so open and generous, no transaction so upright, no purpose so virtuous, as not to afford food for its malignity. With whatever it comes in contact, it appropriates it, by a kind of chemical affinity, to its own nature; and, if it does not find, it creates in every thing around it gall and bitterness.

Besides, What are we to think of men, furnished with such means and opportunities for coming at truth as modern historians are provided with, yet writing as Mr. Roscoe does on this very point? He who, with such means and opportunities, can deliberately censure the Reformation, when witnessing its glorious consequences throughout Europe since the year 1555‡, must be of a strange composition! He who implicitly wishes for the restoration of the Roman Catholic Religion, with its almost inseparable concomitants (bigotry and revenge) must have a heart composed of stern materials! Contemplating such a scene only in probable prospect, if he be not induced to sacrifice his passions to his duty, he must feel the influence of principles detri-. mental to the general good of a free Protestant country. Finally: Does not Mr. Roscoe himself now enjoy the leisure of a safe and honourable literary retirement, beneath the protecting shade of

In the Irish and Parisian Massacres in the years 1641 and 1572. See the historians of those times.

+ In the reign of our bloody Queen Mary. See Clarke's Persecutions, and Neale's Puritans.

The year in which the "Peace of Religion," as it was called, was established at Augsburg, Sep. 5, 1555. Robertson ub. sup, p. 246. 314.

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that very Reformation which he thus rashly attacks? In what Can his virulence originate but in zeal without knowledge, united with enmity to the kingly authority of Jesus, and the best interests of mankind? I am, Dear Sir, Westbury, Wilis. Yours with esteem,

J. L.

There is a Life of Servelus translated from the French, in which many of his blasphemous positions will be found, but they are far too horrid ta be transcribed, and to be scattered like" firebrands, arrows, and death" among the people.

ANECDOTES.

A GOOD HINT FOR MEN IN BUSINESS.

"I endeavour (says the late Dr. Fothergill in a letter to one of his friends) to follow my business, because it is my duty rather than my interest; the latter is inseparable froni a just discharge of duty; but I have ever looked at the profits in the last place. At my first setting out I wished most fervently, and I endeavour after it still, to do my business with all the diligence I could, as a present duty, and to repress every rising idea of its consequences, knowing that there was an Hand which could easily overthrow every pursuit of this kind, and baffle every attempt either to acquire wealth or fame."

Lettsome's Life of Dr. Fothergill,

THE SCOLD CONVERTED,

THE late Rev. Mr. Westley relates the following circumstance in his journal of 1741: Wednesday 9th, I rode over to a neighbouring town, to wait on a Justice of the Peace, a man of candour and understanding, before whom, I was informed, their angry neighbours had carried a whole waggons load of these new heretics (the Methodists.) But when he asked what they had done, there was a deep silence; for that was a point their conductors had forgot! At length, one said, "Why, they pretend to be better than other people; and besides, they pray from morning to night." Mr. S. asked, But have they done nothing besides?' "Yes, Sir," said an old man, "an't please your worship, they have concarted my wife. Tui she went among them, she had such a tongue!-and now she is quiet as a lamb !" "Carry them back, carry them back," replied the Justice, "and let them convert all the scolds in the

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Ir is said that the late Rev. John Brown, of Haddington, when passing the Firth of Forth, between Leith and Kinghorn, had for a fellow-passenger, one who appeared to be a Highlandnobleman. Mr. B. observed, with much grief, that he frequently ook the name of God in vain; but suspecting that to reprove

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him in the presence of the other passengers might lead only to irritate him, he forbore saying any thing until he reached the opposite shore. After landing, Mr. B. observing the nobleman walking alone, stepped up to him, and said, “Sir, I was sorry to hear you swearing while on our passage. You know it is

written, Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain." On this the nobleman, lifting his hat and bowing to Mr. B. made the following reply: "Sir, I return you thanks for the reproof you have now given me, and shall endeavour to attend to it in future: but," added he, "had you said this to me while in the boat, I believe I should have run you through with my sword."

On Sunday, March 16, a blacksmith, who was remarkable for excessive drinking and swearing, at a village called Chalk, near Gravesend, had been frequently calling upon God to strike him dead; when, to the astonishment of all his acquaintance, his dreadful imprecations were answered, and he was actually struck dead. We are assured of the fact by gentleman in the neighbourhood.

THE power of conscience was lately manifested in a remarkable degree, in a man of the name of Cooper, of HawkesburyUpton, Gloucestershire. He had long endured a great horror of mind; and, about an hour before his death, declared the cause of it; which was, that, about forty years ago, he had assisted another man, of the name of Horton (who died about two years since) in murdering a Mr. Rice, a surveyor of the roads, whose body they threw into a well, where it was, soon after the fact, found; but the murderers were not known till now. How many dreadful secrets will come out at that great day, when the All-wise and All-mighty Judge shall make inquisition for blood! and how dreadful will be the operation of conscience in the world of misery, in the retrospect of innumerable crimes unpardoned! Blessed are they who have an interest in the Blood divine, which cleanseth from all sin!

SIR John Mason, in the reign of Edward the Sixth, being near his dissolution, and sensible he had but a short time to live,upon his death-bed called for his clerk and steward, and delivered himself to thein to this purpose:-"I have seen five princes, and have been privy counsellor to four; I have seen the most remarkable observables in foreign parts, and been present at most statetransactions for thirty years together, and I have learned this, after so many years experience, That seriousness is the greatest wisdom, temperance the best physic, a good conscience the best estate; and were I to live again, I would change the court for a cloister, my privy counsellor's bustles for an hermit's retire ment, and the whole life I lived in the palace, for one hour's, enjoyment of God in the chapel." He concluded with say.. ing, "All things else do now forsake me besides my God, my duty, and my prayers."

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