REMARKABLE PROVIDENCE.

To the Editor of the Evangelical Magazine.

REV. SIR,

SHO HOULD the following narrative of a fingular Providence meet with your approbation, I fhould esteem it meet a favour if you give it a place in your useful Magazine, H. U. May 21, 1798. Your's, J. F-R.

About three years and a half ago, having obferved the drawer in which I keep my cash to be unlocked, or the bolt fhot, and having no fufpicion in the leaft of any of my family, I was willing to believe it must be owing to my not looking it up. But after repeatedly finding it fo, and fome lofs of cafh, it was ftrongly impreft on my mind, that it muft be my maid-fervant who opened it; yet no plain proof appeared that fhe was the perfon, till a few days before the diabolical plot was difcovered. The day before, I took an opportunity to charge her privately with the crime, not without great hope the would confefs it. I told her the confequence if it was proved on her, and offered forgiveness if the would confefs it: I alfo pomted out to her the dreadful condition of a future ftate if the lived in the practice of such fins but all was in vain. I at last faid to her, M-a, you may depend upon it, if it is proved to be you, I fhall how you no mercy, and be fure your fin, will find you out.

After having faid fo much, and the perfifted in denying it, I reflected on myfelf, that I had faid any thing to her. This was much on my mind all the evening, and, firft the next morning, which caufed me to be earncit, at the throne of grace, that, if I had accufed her wrongfully, that the, harth words above (I' will fhew you no mercy) night be. forgiven me; but that if he was guilty the might confefs. After returning thanks for the favours of the past night, I recommended myfelf and family to the Divine protection.

This morning, as ufual, I went into the fields, and after returning home, breakfast not being ready, I took a book to read, and as it is my cuftom when reading, not to stop, to afk a bleffing until I get to a period, fo it was this morning. · Perhaps the breakfaft might wait two minutes, which led to the difcovery of the plot; my fifter, waiting for me, 61.5-fined.

ftirred her tea, and in a furprize faid "My tea is just like poifon, it has changed my fpoon just like copper." At this I inftantly stopt, and ftirred up mine, and found it to be the fame.

It ftruck us both that fomething must be put in the water, tea, or sugar, which we found to be in the latter, and which plainly appeared to be mercury, broken fmall, and mixed with it. For the proof of this, I picked out fome. of the largest pieces and put them into a cup. I broke about the fame quantity of mercury and put it into another cup, then put a fpoon in each, and filled them both with boiling water, which changed the spoons to the copper colour, before mentioned. For further proof, I picked from the fugar fome more pieces and gave them to a hen, which foon put an end to her life.-The fugar with the mercury in it I have now by me; which I keep as a token of the Lord's mercy. Reader, may this providence remind us of the wickedness of the human heart when left to itself, and make us watchful over leffer fins, which, if given way to, lead to greater; as an old divine remarks, "If the ferpent wind in his head he will draw in his whole body after." May it alfo encourage us to put our truft in that God who hears and anfwers prayer!,

S

ANECDOTE.

OME time before the Rev. Mr. M. was fettled minifter of L. he lived with a fifter of his in the parish of L-th. Near bis fifter's houfe was a man who, for certain irregu larities, had been for fome time under the fentence of the greater excommunication, the higheft cenfure of the church of Scotland. This man's confcience at length awoke, and his difmal apprehenfions concerning his miferable fituation increafed, fo as not only to bring him under the greatest diftrefs of mind, but also to affect materially his bodily health. Mr. M. being induced to vifit him, heard his groans diftinctly as he was approaching the houfe where he lay. Upon converfing with him, he found him quite ignorant. Upon repeating his vifits, and reading to him fome ftriking paffages of Scripture, fuch as the parable of. the prodigal fon, his mind was calmed, and he indicated a ftrong defire to be further inftructed. Mr. M. perfevered in reading the Scripture to him, and teaching him the affembly's Shorter Catechifm; and the man, on his part, had fo great a thirst for knowledge, that he was as ready 3 F 2

to

to take as the other was to communicate it, and not only acquired a tolerable acquaintance with the great truths of the gofpel; but experienced their falutary effects in healing a wounded confcience, and he gave the clearet evidence that he had joy and peace in believing. Being now reftored confiderably to his health of body as well as of mind, he was advised by Mr. M. to wait upon his parith minifter, Mr. W, RI in order to get hinnieif relieved from the cenfure of the Church. He accordingly fet out, but fickened, and in fhort, died by the way, and, to all appearance, he may truly be faid to have died in the Lord,

R. B.

THE BENEFIT OF RELIGIOUS SOCIETY.

T is obfervable of many hotfes in the city of London, that they have fuch weak walls, and are of fuch a lender and flight building, that were they fet alone in the fields, probably they would not ftand one hour; which now ranged into freets, reteive fupport in themfelves, and mutually return it to others. Such is the danger of Solitude, and the great benefit of Society, with good and godly company. Such as want fkill or boldness to begin or let a pfalm, may competently follow tune in confort with others; and fuch are the bleifed fruits of good Jociety, that a perfon may not only be preferved from much mifchief, but alfo be frengthened and confirmed in many fpiritual exercifes, which le could not perform of himfelf alone. Jerufalem is builded as a city that is compact together." *

SATAN'S CHARGE, AND THE SINNER'S DISCHARGE,

A

N old author mentions a ftory of the devils appearing to a dying man, and fhewing, him a parchment foll which was very long, wherein were written 'on every fide the fins of the poor fick man, very many in number. There were written the idle words he had fpoken, which made up three quarters of the words he had fpoken in his life; together with the falle words, the unchaffe words, and angry words; afterwards came in rank his vain and ungodly words; and lastly, his actions, digefted according to the commandments; whereupon Satan faid, "See here,, thy virtues ; fee here what thy examination muft be;" but the poor

Pfalm cxxii. 3.

man

man answered, "It is true, Satan, but thou haft not fet down all; for thou thouldeft have added, and fet down here below, "The blood of Jefus Chrift cleanfeth us from all fins;" and this alfo fhould not have been forgotten, "That whofoever believeth in him, thall not perish, but have everlafting life," whereupon the devil vanifhed.

Thus, if the devil fhould mufter up all our fins, and fet them in order before us, yet let but Chrift be named in a believing way, and he will yield, and flee from us with the greateft fpeed. The Captain of Salvation overcame the tempter, by faying, "It is thus and thus written ;" and his foldiers may ftill " overcome the accufer of the brethren, by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their teftimony."

THE LOSS OF THE SOUL IRRECOVERABLE.

T. Chryfoftome hath well obferved with the anatomists, Omnia Deus dedit duplicia, God hath, in the frame of man's body, given him two eyes, two cars, two hands, two feet, and the like, that the failing of the one might be fupplied by the other: Animam verò unam. Yet he hath given him, faith he, but one foul; fo that if that be loft, there is no fupply to be had. Nebuchadnezzar may lose his kingdom, and it may be reftored. Job, his health and wealth, and they may be recovered. Lazarus, his life, and he may be revived. But for the lofs of the foul, no means can repair it; no price can redeem it; all the world cannot recompenfe it; being once loft, it is loft irrecoverably.

TH

SELECT SENTENCES.

HE Spirit is Chrift's Adminiftrator by the Father and Son's appointment, and will be fure to give every foul what Chrift has left them in his will and teftament.

A perfon may get into a church without Chrift, but he he cannot get into heaven without him. Heaven is a believer's end and bolinefs his way..

A true Chriftian may be in a fpiritual lethargy; fenfelefs of fin, when he is not dead in fin.

Some true Christians may commit thofe fins which a wicked man doth not, and yet go to heaven; and a wicked man may do fome good which every godly man doth not, and yet go to hell.

RELIGIOUS

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

THE HE fafe arrival of the Duff, the health which prevailed on board during her whole voyage, the welcome reception, and happy fettlement of the Miffionaries at the feveral places of their deftination, and the remarkable interpofition of Divine Providence throughout the whole of this enterprize, were fuch evident answers to the numerous prayers which had been offered up to God on the behalf of the Miffion, as loudly demanded the moft publie acknowledgement of gratitude and praife.

The Directors, therefore, of the Society, having acquainted the friends of the inftitution, as foon as poffible, with the leading circumstances of the voyage, requested that a day of public thanksgiving might be observed on the 6th of August, being the firit Monday in the month, when Miffionary prayer-meetings are generally held throughout the kingdom; that all whofe hearts have been interested in the work, might have an opportunity.. of uniting in the fame pleafing and reasonable employ.

The morning fervice was held at Surry chapel, where the prayers of the Church of England were read by Mr. Eyre, and extempore prayer offered by Mr. Griffith Williams. Mr. Griffin, of Portfea (to whofe church Captain Wilfon belongs) then preached from Ephef. iii. 20, 21, “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us: unto him be glory in the church, by Chrift Jelus, throughout all ages, world without end, amen." The hymns were read by Mr. Cooper, Mr. Townsend, and Mr. Platt; and Mr. Leggett, of Burwash, concluded in prayer.

In the evening, at Sion Chapel, prayers were read by Mr. Charles, of Bala, and extempore prayer offered by Mr. Grove and Mr. Nichol. Dr. Haweis (the original projector of this M flion) preached from Pfalm cxxvi. 3, "The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad.” The hymns were given out by Mr. Greatheed, Mr. Pover, and Mr. Ford; and the fervice was concluded with prayer, by Mr. Brooksbank.

As the fermons are printed, we fhall forbear any remarks on them, till they come regularly under our review. The large places of worship allotted for thefe fervices were early filled with very numerous and refpectable auditories, and the fervices were conducted with the utm ft folemnity. The prefence of God was happily experienced both by Minifters and hearers; and never perhaps was gratitude more genuine, or expreffed with greater warmth, on any public occafion.

Senfible, however, that verbal acknowledgments, though highly proper, formed but a small part of the tribute due to the Divine Majefty, for fuch fignal bleffings, the Directors, on the following day convened the Society at Haberdashers' Hall, in order to confider how they might farther pro mote the glory of God, and the falvation of their fellow men, by maintaining a communication with the Miffionaries already fettled in the South Stas, and establishing other Miffions in that diftant hemifphere.

The report was read by Mr. Greatheed, and it was unanimously refolved that the Directors fhould be authorised to prepare for another voyage to the Pacific Ocean, for the purposes of vifiting and affifting our brethren already there; of adding to their number, where circumstances may ren der it neceffary or expedient; and of planting the gospel in other idlands, where it shall appear moft eligible from their extent, population, or other favourable circumftances.

* Sold by T. Chapman, Price 1a

Mr