In the morning, I endeavoured to lead the conversation toward the subject of faith, and tried to demonstrate that all that Scripture required of men was to "believe the Record which God hath given of his Son ;" and also added the usual arguments which common sense suggests-nay, I tried to startle his mind, by talking in a general way of the folly and presumption of those who would look into the secret things of the Almighty, and who would, as it were, throw open these visible heavens, and profanely enter "the holiest of all," that they might ascertain whether or not their particular names were engraven on that mystical breastplate which the great High Priest bears "on his heart" before the throne of God. He gazed upon me for some time, and then said, "Ah! my friend, you would content yourself with a low standing in Christianity-you would remain in the porch, instead of listening to the voice of the King, as he bids us come into his presence-chamber, that we may see greater things than these!" His look convinced me that the ABSURDITY which I was commenting on had taken possession of his heart and soul, and that to argue with him would only be to root it deeper in his mind. I remained silent-but determined to watch him narrowly, and to avail myself of every opportunity of removing his erroneous idea. But I sincerely wish that no friend of mine will again undergo the same misery which belief in a delusion inflicted on James M- Months of deep mental suffering passed over him, before he could bring himself to say to his own satisfaction, "My Lord and my God!" But when he DID attain to it, so high was his joy, that I almost envied him the delusion which produced such effects. "To think," he more than once exclaimed, "that the Saviour died for ME!-for me!-a poor worm of the dust-that HE, the Mighty God, should come from his throne of glory in the heavens, to suffer upon earth for me!— and what am I, and my father's house, that he should bestow such honour on me!" I now began to tremble for my friend.

James became a completely altered character. He not only set a watch upon the door of his lips, but he nearly sealed them altogether, while the cheerful smile that used to play upon his countenance fled like the last hues of the rainbow.* He would deplore

and humble, the melancholy, (who cannot wind themselves up to the highest pitch of self conceit and presumption) do? They will of course fall into fears and doubts, and desperation, as persons in a reprobate condition; because they have not the same experiences as others, not only of knowing and feeling, but actually seeing Christ taking away their sins.”—Bishop Lavington.

* "Mr. Wesley resolved not willingly to indulge himself in the least levity of behaviour, or in laughter, no, not for a moment. To speak no word, not tending to the glory of God: and not a tittle of worldly things. Which may serve to show what useful members of society such persons would make; though from human infirmity the resolver himself has sometimes forgot his vow. But perhaps he may be provoked to a more exact conduct, when he reads, how grievously the Seraphic Mechtildis disciplined and tortured herself for having once spoke an idle word; and what a heinous sin she deemed it to laugh that not a word fell from St. Catharine of Sienna, that was not religious and holy: that the

my deficiencies, exhort me to press onward, and when I attempted to oppose him in any of his views, I was-"a babe!" From the doctrine of Assurance he passed to that of Universal Pardon-and from that he wrought himself into fits of extravagant longing and ardent desire, and was never happy but when in some elevated state of devotional feeling. In vain I told him that I wished from my heart and soul that it was consistent with God's holiness and truth that ALL men should be saved-in vain I told him that his limitations and explanations turned the controversy into a war of words—in vain I told him that God required "mercy and not sacrifice," and that his fastings and nightly vigils were destructive of his health-his only reply was a tear shed over my carnality and earthly-mindedness, and I heard him one night mention my name in prayer, imploring that my eyes might be opened. During the second winter of his residence with us, he declined in health so rapidly that I was fearful it would terminate in consumption-he rallied as spring came on-but I was glad that he consented to accompany me to a friend's house in the county Wicklow, where I hoped that a few weeks spent in the midst of country scenery and pure air would soon divert his mind and establish his health.

We accordingly, on one of the finest mornings that the month of May ever owned, proceeded towards our friend's residence in the Vale of Enniskerry. My dear Q. you must, though I know you love the city, have extended your excursions beyond the village of Dundrum-and you must, as you ascended into the high country, have felt your breast expanding to drink in the pure fresh balmy gales that came down from the sunny hills-and as your spirits rose, and your ideas expanded, and you looked abroad upon the lovely scenery, presenting, as it does, as rich a combination of hill and dale as the British isles can boast-you must have felt your heart swelling with emotion, and your spirit would soar upwards towards that great and good Being, whose name is LOVE. Such at least were my thoughts during that morning drive. There was that clear translucency in the atmosphere which the western breeze can alone convey, when it comes in gentleness from the

:

lips of Magdalen of Pazzi was never opened, but to chant the praises of God. That a certain abbot refused to assist his friend in getting his ox out of a quagmire, for fear of meddling with worldly things and a monk would not discover a thief that stole a horse, because then he must speak of secular matters. As laughter is a faculty peculiar to the human species, the resolution of a religious melancholist entirely to discard it, may be reckoned a little essay towards putting away the properties of a rational creature.”— Bishop Lavington.

"When alluding, for example, to a religious friend who seldom smiled, I happened to remark, that, as well as by other reasons, such solemnity of aspect might be induced by the traditionary report of our Saviour never having been seen to smile. I do not think that could be correct,' replied one of those children of the Bible, for does not the evangelist describe him as rejoicing in spirit? and a smile must have been at that moment as natural to his holy countenance, as tears were to his eyes when he was weeping over Jerusalem.' 'And would not he smile,' said Isabella, 'when he took the little children in his arms to bless them.'"-Isabella Campbell.

ocean-beautiful cirri of clouds careered through the heavens, and sent their shadows in every possible variety of light and shade along the inclined planes of the mountain range-vegetation was bursting forth from every herb and tree-the lamb was disporting upon the knolls of the sheltered sheep-walk, and the kid was skipping from rock to rock, while the cow in the lowland pasture was supplying to the milkmaid her delicious nutriment-the cuckoo flickered along the hedge-row trees, and by his fantastical note announced to the birds that seemed out of curiosity to attend him, that he was indeed a stranger-while the chirrup of the sparrow, the hum of the bee, and even the croak of the frog, as it brooded over its shapeless offspring in the marsh, all joined in that universal hosanna which ascends from nature, proclaiming that "God is love," and all that he has made "is very good." Alas! man is the only chord in the mighty harmonicon out of tune-yet my mind was disposed to dwell upon the bright side of the picture--and I gave thanks to God, "for his unspeakable gift," and rejoiced that the glorious Gospel dispensation was extending its renovating influence over the whole earth. "Surely," thought I, "my friend shares in my emotions. His mind is alive to the beauties of nature, and his heart is susceptible of every bright impression that scenes like these convey." We had journeyed on in silence, for I was unwilling to interrupt the current of his thoughts-but now I looked towards him, eager to reciprocate in the ideas that might be passing within: but a cold amazement seized me, as former transient suspicions were irrevocably confirmed-his eye had been vacantly wandering over all that had so arrested mine-and his absurd replies and incoherent observations told me that my friend was Insane!

You know it is remarked that the limits of insanity have never been-and we may add, cannot be ascertained. But if we are to bestow more care and attention upon one class of lunatics more than another, it is surely upon those, the eye of whose nervously delicate minds-their reason-has been obscured by the effulgence of eternal truth. Yet we ought to be cautious, lest we mistake their aberrations for the dictates of the Spirit-which is, I am convinced, a cause of much of the religious folly of the present day. It is, indeed, a wonderful thing that the same being should fall into intellectual darkness by the very strength and brightness of his moral views, and become all but dead, by being made alive. Yet in a higher sense than ever the author intended, "God tempers the wind to these shorn lambs," and it is only when they fall into the hands of injudicious friends that mischief is done to Christianity and the world.

James rapidly improved in health during the first week of our residence in the country: but during the second he relapsed. A servant told me that he was in the babit of going out very early in the morning, and returning before any of the family were up. I determined to watch him-and about three o'clock next morning I heard him go out, and followed him gently. He went to a retired spot in the garden, and spreading open his Bible on the ground, knelt down, and apparently read and prayed alternately.

I paused whether or not I should interrupt him in this hallowed duty but when I felt the chilly night air, and felt the dampness of the dews which hung on every leaf, my duty became obviousso stepping forward, I touched him on the shoulder, and called him by name. A flush passed over his cheek; but without uttering a word, he returned with me to the house. He was unable to join the morning worship, or sit down to breakfast: a high fever confined him to his bed, the effect of severe cold; yet he told me in the course of his illness, which was severe, that God was glorifying himself, by the pains he inflicted on him, and that were he not able to thank him FOR his agonies, he would be "without God, and without hope in the world!"*

This is a grievous delusion, my dear Q. and yet not a few entertain it. God commands us to be submissive UNDER, but never thankful FOR, pain and suffering. Can we conceive that the blessed Author of nature would make the perfection of the Gospel to consist in eradicating the feelings of nature? If so, then the dying Christian mother, as she clasps her youngest infant to her bosom, and feels that she could part with all things below, BUT for that child, commits a grievous sin, and those "who are chained in darkness," until the judgment of the great day, might have hope of regaining God's favour!

About the time that my friend was again recovering, he told me that he had something very important and very awful to tell me ; and he adjured me by that sacred name which he was not accustomed lightly to take into his mouth, to conceal what he was about to reveal to me from every other human being. "You are the friend of my soul," he said, "to none else could I tell what has been told to me!" Fearful of giving offence, and thinking it might be some one of the many incoherencies he was in the habit of uttering, I promised compliance; and he then assured me, most solemnly and seriously, that God had given him a revelation from on high, of what he intended to do in these latter days. "But," he added, "let me wait until He comes into my heart!" Then suddenly he shouted, "He comes! he comes! the God of Israel comes!"

"In this matter she exercised a most godly jealousy over her feelings. She was not satisfied as to the entireness of her resignation to the divine will, unless consciously thankful for every pang that thrilled through her frame. "Her expressions and feelings often reminded me of the memorable declaration of John Chalmers, a deeply interesting youth, who died a few years ago in a different part of the parish, after a long season of varied and excruciating suffering:-'Do you know, Sir, that every pang that pierces through this corrupted body of mine, gives me just a new glimpse of God's goodness." Isabella Campbell.

"This morning spent about two hours in secret duties, and was enabled more than ordinarily to agonize for immortal souls; though it was early in the morning, and the sun scarce shined at all, yet my body was quite wet with sweat. Felt much pressed now, as frequently of late, to plead for the meekness and calmness of the Lamb of God in my soul; through divine goodness felt much of it this morning. It is a sweet disposition, heartily to forgive all injuries done us; to wish our greatest enemies as well as we do our own souls. Blessed Jesus, may I daily be more and more conformed to thee. At night was exceedingly melted with divine love, and had some feeling sense of the blessedness of the upper world.-Brainerd.

and for some minutes appeared labouring under the most violent paroxysms. His eye rolled wildly and fearfully, and altogether I perceived with pain and regret that his lunacy was more aggravated than ever it had yet been. "Know," he said, in an unearthly tone, "that this dispensation is waxing old, and is even now ready to vanish away. The first dispensation was the childhood of man, when legal ceremonies were given to him, as toys to an infant: the second was his "fulness of time," when he attained his stature, and entered on possession of what God had prepared for him. The third is about to open upon the world, amid the amazement of the universe. Ah! mine eyes may behold, but I shall not enjoy--for my days are numbered. Hush," he said, and held up his finger with an air of mystery, "I am to be the destroyer of the great Apostate! He who calleth the things that be not as though they were, hath chosen me, as he did Cyrus of old, to be his messenger of destruction to mystical Babylon. But I have sinned against Him-awfully, fearfully sinned against Him-and I must perish in the desolation which I am destined to cause-yet I myself shall be saved, yet so as by fire. Previous to my entering on my arduous duty, I must warn all who are in that perilous communion to come out of it, that they partake not of the plagues about to fall upon all who bear the Apostate's mark: but they will reject my testimony against themselves! and then, as the crisis approaches, will I be conveyed to Rome, to announce the coming of the Lord, and the outpouring of God's fiery judgments upon spiritual Sodom and Gomorrah!"

The tears started to my eyes, when he concluded his wild harangue: for I remembered how that fine mind, which seemed now shattered and destroyed, used to instruct me in moral and in mental things. Grasping my hand, he said, "Weep not for me! can you resist God's decrees? would you dare to do it? No, my friend. Take away all thy dross and tin; anoint thine eyes, and cleanse thy garments: prepare for His coming, and so escape the impending judgments. As for me, God has given me strength, and I am to set out on my mission to-morrow!''

I was quite at a loss what to do. To strangers James still appeared the same quiet spiritually-minded being he had originally appeared to our family, and he still talked at times so rationally and so coolly, that even those most intimate with him only thought him "a little wrong." I was now determined, however, to have the advice of a judicious medical man respecting the propriety of removing him to a lunatic asylum: but in the course of the day in which he had uttered the absurdities mentioned above, a note was handed to me, to the following purport :

"Brother-I am afraid that your carnality would attempt to throw obstacles in my way, and I therefore depart, without personally thanking the kind friends whose hearts the Lord hath disposed to treat me with such Christian hospitality. May your eyes be opened to see your danger and your duty; and in that hope, I am your brother in Christ,

J. M.