THE DREAM OF PILATE'S WIFE.

"What! fated Pilate, could you save his life !'
What vision was it so alarm'd your wife?
I think I hear her call you with affright,
And thus the terrors of her dream recite:
O, Pilate! solemnly prepare to hear
A narrative that freezes me with fear!

A dream but O! support my mind oppress'd;"
The Roman soul is melted in my breast.
Alone I tremble, e'en with you, I dread
To think upon the vision of my bed.
Where'er I move it follows on my view,
I faint to hear that clamorous guilty crew,
Demanding his fair life that knows no stain:
Away with him!"-O! Pilate, hence, refrain..
I would not, for the grandeur of a crown,,
To such a whelming weight of fear lie down :
A crime is brooding that shall all appal
Jerusalem is nodding to her fall.

But, not alone for me the curtain drew,
The vision, Pilate, chiefly is for you;
From heaven to you the solemn warning sent;
And your destruction hangs on the event.

I, sleepless, laid me down-it seem'd by fate,
While you were on the judgment-seat in state:
That sintess man before you meekly stood,"
While the fierce Jews were raging for his blood,
Without a charge of guilt, or e'en pretence;
And you so silent in his just defence-
But, suddenly, I heard a dreadful sound' -
That broke the silence of my sleep profound,
Himself appear'd his form, his face, I knew,
Brighter than splendour met my startled view,
While you beheld him, I beheld him too,
My hair stood up !-I trembl'd fearful now;
And yet no mortal terror mark'd his brow
Anger I read, and dreadfully severe;

But not such wrath as trembling mortals weaf;
Such meekness, with such majesty of mind,
The lamb and lion in his looks combin'd.
Some power sustain'd me, or his piercing sight
Had sealed up mine în everlasting night.
O! not the form that at your bar appears;
Methought his features seemed ten thousand years;
Hoary eternity beam'd round his face
Where terror mingl'd with forgiving grace:
Yet youthful How'd his locks, with comely mien
Such as in fairest mortals ne'er was seen.

He spake aloud!the sound now follows me,
Responsive to your question" I AM HE!"

And disppear'd, all trembl'd round the place,
Much like an earthquake of three moments' space,
Then, league not, Pilate, with these Jewish bands,
Of his pure blood wash, snowy white, your hands:
Murder in any form, alarms our ears,

But more than murder, Pilate, now appears.

を

Against him give that fated mob no trust; IA CIZINC M
For he is wholly innocent and just:

Save him, if you have power-if you have none,

Let not your hands receive the fatal stain→→→

Lay the foul murder on the Jews alone, on

Thus I may find my wonted peace again 27
Or never hence shall I find sleep serene,
So dreadful is the vision I have seen.

The sound is clear, wherever I mayibe,best blow codoreda sull me t When he so meekly answered” Í AM HE !””

R. THOMSON."

London: Printed by J. BARFIELD, 91, Wardour-street, Soho.

J.Gedby fair!

Baptist Magazine.

OCTOBER, 1815..

MEMOIR OF MR. JOHN VICKERS,
(LATE A STUDENT AT STEPNEY:) »

pel.

Hearing that some persons were to be baptized at Devon shire-square Chapel, he went, with some acquaintance, per

MR. JOHN VICKERS was born | worship on a Lord's day, at the at Stanion, near Kettering, in Tabernacle, or at Hoxton ChaNorthamptonshire, in April, 1788. His father, who was engaged in a business not very extensive, employed his son in it, as soon as he could be rendered serviceable. When, perhaps from the same motives by haps, about fifteen years of age, which he was first induced to as matter of amusement or cu- hear the gospel preached. riosity, he went, one evening, Brought, by experience, clearly with some companions, to a to understand the evangelical meeting house in the neighbour- plan of salvation by faith, withhood, where, there is reason to out the works of the law, and believe, he found that which he attending to what was advanced "sought not." Like Lydia's, upon the nature and design of it should seem, that then “ the the ordinance, as an act of reLord opened his heart, that he ligious worship, he was struck attended to the things that were with it as a reasonable serspoken." From this time, he vice," on the part of those who generally worshipped with the were baptized, and who were people in that place, but did previously addressed, as having not unite with them in church-repeatedly declared their whole fellowship. Before he was se-dependence upon Christ for life venteen, he came to London; and salvation; so that, by their and a friend wrote, by him, to regard to his authority in this an acquaintance in town, re- | ordinance, they could add no questing that he would procure thing to what they professed to him accommodations in a serious family; which he did; and, for some time, our young friend generally attended public

VOL. VII.

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believe, and depend upon, as the only ground of their acceptance with God. Uninformed, it is very true, upon what may

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press his ideas in prayer, I was not without hope, after an acquaintance of some standing, that, with advantages for the cultivation of his mind, by pursuing a course of preparatory studies, he might, at some future time, engage with accept

be said in support of his having been baptized in his infancy, he powerfully felt the force of one sentiment advanced, viz. If baptism and the Lord's supper be acts of religious worship, and that, under the present dispensation, which, in distinction from, or superior to, the for- ance and usefulness in the mimer, requires "the true wor-nistry. shippers to worship the Father in spirit and in truth," he knew that, whoever worshipped God at his baptism, he had not; and, pursuing this thought to its legitimate consequence, he became convinced, that infant baptism, equally with infant communion, was abhorrent from the nature of the gospel dispen

sation.

In September, 1806, he was baptized, upon a profession of his" repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ;" and, on the first Lord's day in October, was received into fellowship with us at the Lord's table. After which, his steady attendance upon public worship, as also at our prayer meetings, and his general deportment, were such as adorned his profession, and gave pleasing hopes of his rising to be a useful member in the church of Christ.

Though, in his intellectual powers, I perceived nothing brilliant or striking, yet, appearing to possess great purity of mind, sweetness of temper, and simplicity of manners, possessing also a ready utterance to ex

A junior assistant in my school, having spent nearly seven years with me, and being, I trust," born of God," during that time, left me, in order to enter the academy under Dr. Ryland, at Bristol, in the beginning of 1809.* This made an opening for my friend Vickers to engage in an employ, with which he was much gratified, and which, at the same time, afforded him an opportunity of improving himself. This he did to a considerable degree, under the direction of my senior assistant,+ beyond what he had an opportunity of doing when a youth, in an obscure country village.

Mr. Vickers conducted himself very pleasantly in the family, and much to the satisfaction of all concerned. Happy in himself, he contributed to the happiness of those around him. He loved children, and it gave him pleasure to assist them in acquiring suitable knowledge, to observe the opening of their minds, and assist in the formation of them. He would say, that he should not be happy if he thought he should spend

* Mr. Daniel Williams, jun. now at Kingston-Lile, Berks, son to my esteemed friend and brother, the Rev. D. Williams, of Fairford, Glouces 'tershire.

+ Mr. Edward Thornton.