and sorrow. Then called I upon the name of the Lord; O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul." This Scripture, for a moment, conveyed some light and comfort to me in my distress. I saw my case was not as I supposed, peculiar to myself. I said, "Surely this man has been in like trouble of soul, and has felt the pains of hell too; and yet the Lord graciously delivered him out of all."

But this small glimmering of light was soon extinguished: All that night I had no rest. My slumberings were attended with astonishing terror; Death, Judgment, and eternal Destruction was all I could see, and all I could hear; and a terrible sound it was. The Preacher's text was continually ringing in my ears, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of Heaven." For some time I confined myself to my room; hardly took so much sustenance as was sufficient to preserve me alive. The comforts of life were now blasted. I lay under sharp convictions. "The arrows of the Almighty stuck fast in me; they drank up my spirits, whilst his hand pressed me sore:" Then cried I, "What must I do to be saved ?" At other times I was more easy; then again under amazing horror and dread, because I was so very thoughtless and stupid while my case was so dreadful. I was often under violent temptations to destroy myself, and so put an end to a wretched life; for I thought, "Surely the longer I live, the more sin I commit; consequently my punishment must be greater in the end." Then was I without hope of deliverance, and concluded, the sooner I put an end to my misery the better. Now and then I had a small transient gleam of light darting into my soul, which, for the time it lasted, gave me some hope of deliverance; at least, a peradventure that the Lord might have mercy on so vile a wretch as me.

At this season I was led to discover more clearly the secret workings of corruption in my heart. The Spirit of God convinced me, that my understanding was by nature blind and ignorant, "Till God, who caused the light to shine out of darkness, shines into the heart, to give the knowledge of his glory, in the face of Jesus Christ." I saw more than ever, that my will was stubborn and perverse, even to an enmity against the Law of God; also, that my affections were all disorderly, impure, sensual, and devilish; and what was even beyond this, I could not love the Lord Jesus Christ, who had done and suffered so much to ransom ruined man! I felt that all my designs wholly terminated in myself. I was spiritually and rationally convinced, that for me to deny natural, moral, and religious self, and come to Christ as a poor, miserable, wretched, empty creature, to live upon his righteousness for ever, as my Bible directed me, is as supernatural and wonderful, as to see the mountains and hills removed, and cast into the depth of the sea. I now began to feel more than ever what I had before read in the Bible, but could not comprehend—that Salvation was entirely of Grace that nothing less than Sovereign Grace could save my soul from the guilt and dominion of sin, and make me a partaker of the glorious privileges of the sons of God.

During this confinement, my courteous Friend, who had before taken such pains to instruct me in the manners and language of the country, made me a visit. He was greatly surprised to see my countenance so fallen, and kindly inquired into the cause. As he was called a

Teacher in Israel, and one that I had heard often animadvert warmly on the bad behaviour of the generality of his brethren, I simply related the trouble I was in, and

what I apprehended was the cause of it; and what I more than feared must be the fatal consequence. He looked earnestly at me, and with concern in his countenance, replied, "I pity your condition from my heart. Your disorder is a religious distraction of mind, which we call Enthusiasm; we have a great deal of this in England. The person you heard preach, and who was the cause of your trouble, is a Grand Deceiver, one whose constant employment is to 'turn the world upside down!' Not being content with the happy established Form of Religion, he has got some novel wild chimeras in his head; and being fired with the irrational ideas of his own brain, he frightens his poor deluded followers out of their senses: most of whom are poor illiterate persons, the 'very filth and offscouring of the world.' My advice to you, Sir, said he, is never to go near them more by any means. Attend the regular stated service of our excellent Church; go abroad into cheerful company; shake off that corrosive melancholy, and resume your wonted sprightliness. God is a merciful Being, and does not require so much strictness at our hands. You may use the pleasures of this life, love the world, and go to Heaven too."

I asked him the meaning of those words, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." He said, "You must be baptised, and lead a moral, sober life; but not think to receive the Holy Spirit."

Now I saw what he was; and knew that if he was right, the word of God was wrong; if the word of God was truth, he must be in error and delusion. He left me grievously oppressed and heavy laden with sin. I was under the clearest conviction, both from what the Preacher declared, and what I read in the Bible, that no

righteousness could serve to justify my person at the Tribunal of a just and holy God, but that which is altogether perfect, fully commensurate to the utmost demands of the Moral Law. This I more than saw was altogether impossible for me to perform. In fine, I found my acquaintance was a "Physician of no value," altogether a stranger to my disorder, and quite unacquainted with the sovereign remedy for perishing souls. Just then came into my mind some passages I had read in my Bible of false Prophets, who cry, "Peace, Peace, where there is no Peace." And the words of the blessed Author of Christianity, "Beware of false Prophets, who are only blind leaders of the blind;" I was enabled to take these hints, and to beware of falling into the ditch with him. I longed exceedingly for the return of the next Lord's Day resolved to go (nothwithstanding all the Doctor said) to the same place, where God had so wonderfully wrought upon my soul before.

(To be continued.)

Obituary.

It hath pleased God in the dispensations of his Providence, that we should this month, have to give our friends the mournful intelligence of the

Death of our dear Pastor, Mr. Weller,

who departed this life on Sunday Evening, the 12th of September, in the 41st year of his age, after an illness of about ten months, during the last five of which, he was principally confined to his home, quite unable to perform his ministerial labours, or

to appear before his flock, which painful circumstance, at times, filled his heart with sorrow. It is true, that during about four weeks in the months of July and August he visited Brighton for change of air, but from the result of which, it is evident that that visit, by the Will of God, tended to hasten his end. During his last three weeks he was confined to his bed, on which he specially experienced the sweet and endearing presence of his God almost continually; there were intervals of darkness, but they were short. On the Sunday, two weeks prior to his death, he felt more than ever in his life, a submission to die, and be with Christ, and longed to depart; though he said the Sting of Death had for some time before been taken away; yet, at this time he seemed more as though he could reckon himself as one already dead. His last moments were truly precious; he said a little before he was no more, that, very soon his heart-strings would break, and he should be with his Christ for ever; he said he was quite happy; and as he took his farewell of his friends, he desired the Lord would keep them from evil, and bless them. He went off at last (though he had in his illness indeed been a great sufferer,) so easy and calm that those around him knew not that he was gone for some few minutes.

He has left a Widow and eight Children, who are wholly dependent upon the kind benevolence of friends. Besides whom, he has left a fond people to lament his loss, till their God manifests to them the needs be for such dispensations, to show forth his own everlasting praise, glory, and honour.