sensual and intellectual pleasures, When Garrick showed Dr. Johnworldly riches, and human honours. son his fine house, gardens, statues, All these I reduce to the piece of pictures, &c. at Hampton Court, crape in which you will shortly be what ideas did they awaken in the buried. This standard of death I mind of that great man? Instead of lift up in your sight, and I cry-This, a flattering compliment, which was this is all that will remain to you of expected, "Ah! David, David, Dathe possessions for which you ex-vid," said the Doctor, clapping his changed your souls." hand upon the little man's shoulder, "these are the things which make a death-bed terrible."

Philip, King of Macedon, as he was wrestling at the Olympic games, fell down in the sand; and, when he Lewis the XIth of France was so rose again, seeing the print of his bo- fearful of death, that, as often as it dy in the sand, cried out, "O how lit-came into his physician's head to ile a parcel of earth will hold us, threaten him with death he put when we are dead, who are ambi-money into his hands to pacify him. tiously seeking after the whole world His physician is said to have got whilst we are living !” 55,000 crowns from him in five months.

a

A Sultan amusing himself with walking, observed a Dervise sitting "I have heard of a man," says with a human skull in his lap, and Gurvall, "that would never be preappearing to be in a very profound sext at any funeral; he could not reverie; his attitude and manner sur-even bear the sight of any of his own prised the Sultan, who demanded the grey hairs, and, therefore, used cause of his being so deeply engaged black lead comb to discolour them, in reflection. "Sire," said the Per-lest, by these, the thoughts of vise, "this skull was presented to me death, which he abhorred, should this morning; and I have from that crowd in upon him.” moment been endeavouring, in vain, to discover whether it is the skull of a powerful Monarch like your Majesty, or a poor Dervise like myself." A humbling consideration truly!

Mere dignity of station, or worldly affluence, cannot produce real felicity: there is still an uncomfortable reflection, that all will terminate in death. "Hence," said the late popular Mr. W. "I'd rather be a beggarboy at sixteen, without a shilling, than the Chamberlain of London at seventy!"

Mr. B- mentioning to Dr. Johnson, that he had seen the execution of several convicts at Tyburn two days before, and that none of them seemed to be under any concern; That was a pertinent and empha"Most of them, Sir," said Johnson, tical reply, which a Fellow of Ema"have never thought at all." "But nuel College, in Cambridge, made to is not the fear of death natural to a friend of his of the same College. man?" said B. "So much so, Sir." The latter, at the Restoration, had said Johnson, "that the whole of been representing the great difficullife is but keeping away the thoughts ties (as they seemed to him) of conof it." There are some exceptions, formity in point of conscience, conhowever, to this remark. Dr. Donne, cluding, however, with these words: ît is said, some time before his death," But we must live." To which the when he was emaciated with study and sickness, caused himself to be wrapped up in a sheet, which was gathered over his head in the manner of a shroud, and, having closed his eyes, he had his portrait taken, which was kept by his bed-side as long as he lived, to remind him of mortality..

other answered only with the like number of words:. "But we must. (also) die." Than which a better an swer could not possibly be given. Let those whom it may concern weigh the answer well.

"Consider death in itself,, it is," as a good writer observes, "a sad scene

With

and the solemnity of the scene in- and having, as he used, eaten an creases as death advances. Every egg, he said to his daughter, “I think step the last enemy takes, alarms; I am yet hungry: you may bring me every fresh symptom strikes terror another egg.' But having mused a into the spectators, and spreads si- while, he said, "Hold, daughter, lence and gloominess through the hold; my Master calls me." dwelling; the disease baffles the these words his sight failed him; power of medicine. They who stand whereupon he called for the Bible, by, observe its progress; the dying and said, "Turn to the 8th chapter man watches their looks; he sus- to the Romans, and set my finger on pects his case to be desperate. The the words-'I am persuaded that physician at length pronounces it so; neither death, nor life, &c. shall be he believes it. Now the wheel of able to separate me from the love of life goes down apace. The vital God, which is in Christ Jesus my flame burns faint and irregular; rea- Lord." When this was done, he son intermits, short intervals of sense said, "Now is my finger upon them?" divide his thoughts and passions: Being told it was, without any more, now himself is the object; then his he said, "Now, God be with you, my family. His friends, his relations, children; I have breakfasted with his children, crowd around his bed, you, and shall sup with my Lord shed their unavailing tears over him, Jesus Christ this night." And then and receive his last blessing. Es expired. pulse beats a surrender to the pale conqueror; his eyes swim; his tongue falters; a cold sweat bedews his face; he groans; he expires!"

HAPPY DEATHS.

Addison, after a long and manly but vain struggle with his distemper, dismissed his physicians, and with them all hopes of life. But with his hopes of life he dismissed not his concerns for the living, but sent for a youth who was nearly related, and "BLESSED are the dead who die finely accomplished. He came, but, in the Lord." Nothing can be more life now glimmering in the socket, consolatory to a pious mind, than the the dying friend was silent. After consideration of the happy deaths of a decent and proper pause, the youth believers. The idea of dissolution is, said, "Dear Sir, you sent for me. I indeed, somewhat terrific in itself; believe and I hope you have some combut when we behold the Christian in mands; if you have, I shall hold them that moment superior to every fear, most sacred." May distant ages not and often happy beyond expression, only hear but feel the reply! Forciit tends to brighten our hopes, ani- bly grasping the youth's hand, he mate our minds, and helps us to look softly said, "See in what peace a forward to our own exit with a de-Christian can die!" He spoke with gree of composure and submission. difficulty, and soon expired. There is nothing in history," says Beza, in his younger years, was Addison, "which is so improving as one day in the church of Charenton, those accounts which we meet with where he providentially heard the of the deaths of eminent persons, and 91st Psalm expounded. It was folof their behaviour in that dreadful sea-lowed with such power to him, that son." he not only found it sweet and pleasant, but was enabled to believe that the Lord would fulfil to him all the promises of that psalm. At his death, he declared to his Christian friends that he had found it so indeed. That, Mr. Robert Bruce, the morning as he had been enabled to close with before he died, being at breakfast, the second verse, in taking the Lord

A happy death, no less than an holy life, is the gift of God. Hence Dr. Guise never prayed in public without thanking God for all who depart in the faith.

1

my earnest desire is, that in writing and commenting upon some part of the scripture, I may finish my days." This request was granted him, for he was called hence as he was composing a commentary upon Leviticus.

for his God, and got a sure claim that | press. The next day he shut himhe should be his refuge and fortress, self up in his parlour, where, to the so he had found remarkably, in the great surprise and regret of all who after changes of his life, that the Lord saw him, he was found just expiring. had delivered him from the snare of Dr. Willet, in his epistle dedicatory the fowler, for he had been in fre- prefixed to his Hexapia upon Exoquent hazard by the lying in wait of dus, has this expression: "It is most many to ensnare him; and from the honourable for a soldier to die fightnoisome pestilence (for he was some-ing, and for a bishop or pastor praytimes in great hazard from the pes-ing; and, if my merciful God shall tilence) in those places where he was vouchsafe to grant me my request, called to reside; and, amidst the civil wars, which were then so hot in France, he had most convincing deliverances from many imminent hazards, when he was called to be present sometimes with the Protestant Princes upon the field, where thousands did fall about him. And thus, when near his end, he found that Psalm so observably verified on which he was caused to hope, that he went through all these promises, declaring the comfortable accomplishment of them, how he found the Lord giving his Angels charge over him, often answering him when he called upon him; how he had been with him in trouble, had delivered him, and had satisfied him with long life. And now, says he, I have no more to wait for, but the fulfilling of these last words of the Psalm-" I will shew him my salvation; which with confidence I long for."

Archbishop Usher often said, he hoped to die with the language of the publican in his mouth; and his biographer tells us, that his wish was fulfilled: he died, saying, "God be merciful to me a sinner."

There was a remarkable circumstance in Dr. Leighton's death. He often used to say, that, if he were to choose a place to die in, it should be an inn; it looking like a pilgrim's going home, to whom this world was all as an inn, and who was weary with the noise and confusion of it. He added, that the officiousness and care of friends were an entanglement to a dying man, and that the unconcerned attendance of those that could be procured in such a place would

DEATHS, REMARKABLE, AND give less disturbance. He obtained

PRESENTIMENT OF.

what he desired, for he died at the Bell-Inn, in Warwick Lane, in the

THOUGH We are not bound to be-year 1684. hieve every idle story propagated by the weak and superstitious, yet it must be confessed there have been singular monitions and very remarkable events which have preceded the death of some men, the testimonies for which we cannot reasonably reject. The following, I believe, are attested by indubitable evidence.

The manner of Mr. Saltmarsh's death was so extraordinary, that it deserves a place in this collection. Dec. 4, 1647, being at his house at Ilford in Essex, he told his wife he had been in a trance, and received a message from God, which he must immediately deliver to the army. He went that night to London, and next The pious Mr. Ambrose had a day to Windsor: being come to the very strong impulse on his mind of council of officers, he told them that the approach of death, and took a the Lord had left them; that he formal leave of his friends at their would not prosper their consultations, houses a little before his departure, but destroy them by divisions among and the last night of his life he sent themselves, because they had sought his discourse concerning angels to the to destroy the people of God, those

who stood by them in their greatest and affectionate inquiries which were difficulties. He then went to the immediately addressed to her, she General, and, without moving his calmly replied, "I am admonished by hat, told him, that God was highly a strong impression on my mind that displeased with him for committing my departure is at hand; I hope of saints to prison. The like mes- grace has prepared me for my change: sage he delivered to Cromwell, re-I have no desire to remain any longer quiring him to take effectual measures in this world. Pray be composed, for the enlargement of the members and resign me to the will of my God. of the army who were committed for I am going to the rest that I have not complying with the general coun-long desired."

cil. He then took his leave of the With the best means in their power officers, telling them he had now done to re-animate her feeble body, they his errand, and must never see them used all the remonstrances and enany more. After which he went to treatics that prudence and affection London, and took leave of his friends could suggest, to banish from her there, telling them his work was mind the idea of instant dissolution : done, and desiring some of them to observations were made on her case, be careful of his wife. Thursday, the natural appearance of her counteDec. 9, he returned to Ilford in per- nance; and hopes very confidently fect health: next day he told his wife expressed that she must be mistaken he had now finished his work, and in her views of so sudden a death: in must go to his Father. Sunday reply she said, "I should be very morning, Dec. 11, he was taken sorry to find this to be the case, but speechless, and about four in the am under no apprehension of it. I afternoon died. have received an assurance of being in heaven in a short time: my soul is in perfect peace; I feel no pain, and am happy: compose yourselves, and leave me to my joys. Love and serve God, and you will soon follow me to his presence! May God bless you, my dear children, and keep you in the way of his holy commandments."

Dr. James Spener, some days before he died, gave orders that nothing of black should be in his coffin"For," said he, "I have been a sorrowful man these many years, lamenting the deplorable state of Christ's Church militant here on earth; but now, being upon the point of retiring into the chuch triumphant in Heaven, I will not have the least mark of sorrow left upon me; but my body shall be wrapt up all over in white, for a testimony that I die in expectation of a better and more glorious state of Christ's church to come, even upon earth."

The Georgia Analytical Repository, No. 3, contains the following singular account of the death of Mrs. Daniel. On the morning preceding her death, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel junior, left her in perfect health, expecting their return at dinner time; shortly after this hour they arrived, and found the victuals on the table scarcely cold. To their unutterable surprise, their mother appeared in her grave clothes, having also prepared and taken possession of a suitable place for her corpse. To the earnest

With great composure, she directed a pair of hose and a handkerchief, which she had laid by themselves for the purpose, to be put on her corpse, as the only articles she had omitted in otherwise fitting herself for the coffin. Nothing like distortion was seen in her features; no symptoms of alarm, nor the slightest degree of derangement, appeared in her conduct or conversation. Life gradually retreated to the extremities of the system; her breath began to fail, and in the course of a very few minutes she gently departed.

She had been remarkably healthy for many years, and never appeared more so than she was a little before her dissolution. It is supposed, that, within two hours from the time she conceived herself warned to prepare immediately for death, she was in.

eternity: several of her neighbours, not remembered, that, while he rewho are worthy of the highest con- sided at Deptford, he ever preached fidence, speak of her as a pious and publicly in the neighbourhood, exexcellent character. The extraordi- cepting once, when he accepted an nary manner of her dissolution is appointment to preach at the Archsaid to have had a happy effect, in deacon's visitation, at Dartford. In connexion with her dying counsel, on this instance he kept his intention an her surviving relatives. entire secret, lest a multitude should be drawn to hear him. He afterwards mentioned to a particular friend, that from the hour he stood engaged, which was several weeks before the

DIFFIDENCE.

WHILE We behold some possessed time, he could scarcely think of any but of little knowledge, and a medi-thing else; and that, when the day ocrity of talent, put on all the con- arrived, his spirits were so extremely sequence of learning and all the bold- agitated, that, for a few minutes after ness of authority, we are sometimes, he was in the pulpit, he was deprived on the other hand, spectators of men of his eye-sight. of uncommon worth, fine genius, and extensive abilities, labouring under the fetters of diffidence and fear. It is, however, an unhappy circumstance for such, as it must be injurious to themselves, while it precludes in some respect their usefulness to others.

DELIBERATION;

Or, the Town Clerk of Ephesus.

DELIBERATION, which is the act of considering things before an underIt is said of the learned Junius, that taking or making choice, is very he had such an invincible modesty, essential to our honour and comfort that throughout his life he appeared in the present state. "I have heard to common observers under peculiar one say (observes Dr. Mather) that disadvantages, and could scarcely there was a gentleman, in the 19th speak upon the most common subjects with strangers without a suffusion in his countenance. In this respect he seems to have equalled our famous Mr. Addison, who likewise was at once one of the greatest philosophers, as well as one of the most abashed and modest men of his time. Such was the diffidence of that good man Dr. Conyers, that if he saw a stranger in his congregation, especially if he suspected him to be a minister, it would so disconcert him, as to render him almost incapable of speaking. On these occasions he would sometimes say to Mr. Thornton-"If you expect any blessing under my ministery, I beg you will not bring so many black coats with you."

Perhaps there have been martyrs who approached the rack on the stake with less distressing sensations than he has felt when about to enter upon his otherwise delightful work. It is

chapter of Acts, to whom he was
more indebted than to any man in
the world. This was he whom our
translation calls the Town-clerk of
Ephesus, whose counsel it was to do
nothing rashly. Upon any proposal
of consequences, it was
a usual
speech with him we shall first ad
vise with the Town-clerk of Ephesus.'
One, in a fond compliance with a
friend, forgetting the Town-clerk,
may do that in haste which he may
repent at leisure-may do what may
cost him several hundreds of pounds,
besides troubles which he would not
have undergone for thousands."

DISPUTATION.

So much have the tempers of men been agitated in controversy, and so numerous the quibbles of disputants, that it has, with great propriety, been called a thorny path.

Sir Henry Wotton so disliked it,