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The Christian Herald,

VOL. IX.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1822.

No. XV.

Miscellany.

AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO PRAYING MOTHERS, AND PIOUS SERVANTS.

To the Editor of the Christian Herald.

In the course of my reading I met with a very striking death-bed narrative, which I could not forbear copying out, and transmitting to you, with the hope that it may prove a suitable article for the Christian Herald. It is taken from an English publication entitled, "An Extract of the Rev. John Wesley's Journal, from June 17, 1758, to May 5th. 1760. Bristol. 1764." It appears from his life by Southey, that Wesley studied, the German language, it is probable therefore that he translated it himself immediately from the narrative of the Rev. Dr. Frescenius. I never saw so much vital religion contained within so small a compass. How very judicious, frank, and affectionate does the Pastor appear throughout! The faithfulness of the Servant is worthy of all imitation. The pride and fear of the infidel are strikingly exhibited, especially in his faltering profession to the clergyman. But at last conscience bursts out in the exclamation, "O God, thou wilt make me say," &c. And where is "the Christian indeed," who has not upon conversing even for the first time with a fellow-disciple, felt that close and endearing intimacy, so happily described by the Rev. Dr. in the sentence begining thus, we were both filled with joy," &c.

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AFTER the battle of Bergen, in Germany, among the many wounded that were brought into Frankfort upon the Maine, says Dr. Frescenius, senior of the clergy at Frankfort, there was the right hon. George Charles Dykern, baron, lieutenant-general of the Saxon troops, in the service of the king of France. He was born of an ancient and noble family in Silesia, on April 10th, 1710, so that it was just on his birthday he received his wound. He was of equal abilities as a minister in the closet, and a general in the field. In his younger years he had gone through a regular course of study in the university, and made great proficiency in philosophy, especially in mathematics. Afterwards he studied Polemic Divinity, till he reasoned himself into an infidel. During his illness he showed not the least desire of pious company or serious discourse; till the surgeon let his valet de chambre know that he could not live long. The man then asked his master, "whether he did not choose to be visited by a clergyman?" He answered with warmth, "I shall not trouble those gentlemen. I know well myself what to believe and do." His Dan, not discouraged, continued thus: "My Lord, have you ever

found me wanting in my duty, all the time I have been in your service?" He answered, 66 no." Then," replied he, "I will not be wanting now. The surgeons count you past hopes of recovery; but every one is afraid to tell you so, you stand upon the brink of eternity. Pray sir, order a clergyman to be called." He paused a little, but soon gave his hand to his servant, thanked him for his honesty, and ordered to send for me. When I came, the man told me plainly the general was a professed infidel. I went in, and after a short compliment, I said, "I am told, my lord, your life is near an end. Therefore, I presume, without any ceremony, to ask you one plain question. Is the state of your soul such, that you can entertain a solid hope of salvation?" He answered, "yes." “On what do you ground this hope ?" He replied, "I never committed any wilful sin. I have been liable to frailties, but I trust in God's mercy, and the merits of his Son, that he will have mercy upon me." These words he uttered very slowly, especially," the merits of his Son." I made the following reply, "I am apt to believe, you are not tainted with the grossest vices. But I fear, you a little too presumptuously boast of never having committed wilful sin. If you would be saved, you must acknowledge your being utterly corrupted by sin, and consequently deserving the curse of God, and eternal damnation. As to your hoping for God's mercy, through the merits of his Son, I beg leave to ask, do you believe God has a Son? That his Son assumed our nature in order to be our Saviour; that in the execution of his office, he was humbled unto death, "even the death of the Cross," and that hereby he has given an ample satisfaction for us, and recovered our title to heaven ?" He answered, "I cannot avoid a more minute description of the true state of my soul. Let me tell you, Doctor, I have some knowledge of philosophy, by which I have chose for myself a way of salvation. I have always endeavoured to live a sober life, to the uttermost of my power: not doubting but the Being of beings, would then graciously accept me. In this way I stood in no need of Christ, and therefore did not believe on him. But if I take the Scriptures to be a divine Revelation, this way of mine, I perceive, is not the right one. I must believe in Christ, and through him come to God." I replied, you say, if you take the Scriptures to be a divine Revelation!" He fetched a deep sigh, and said, "O God, thou wilt make me say, because I take the Scriptures to be thy Word." I said, "There are grounds and reasons enough to demonstrate the divine origin of Christianity, as I could show from its most essential principles, were not the period of your life too short. But we need not now that diffusive method, faith being the gift of God. A poor sinner tottering on the brink of eternity, has not time to inquire about grounds and reasons. Rather betake yourself to earnest prayer for faith; which if you do, I doubt not but God will give it you." I had no sooner spoken these words, but pulling off his cap, and lifting up his eyes and hands, he cried out, "O Almighty God, I am a poor cursed sinner, worthy of damnation. But Lord Jesus, Eternal Son of God, thou diedst for my sins also. It is through Thee alone I can be saved. O give me faith and strengthen that faith."

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An encouragement to praying Mothers, and pious Servants. 451

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Being extremely weak, he was obliged to stop here. A little after he asked, "Is faith enough for salvation?" "Yes Sir," said I, "if it be living faith." "Methinks," said he," it is so already; and it will be more so by and by :-let us pray for it." Perceiving he was very weak, to give him some rest, I retired into the next room. But he soon sent to call me. I found him praying, and Jesus was all he prayed for. I reminded him of some Scriptures treating of faith in Christ, and he was much delighted with them. Indeed he was quite swallowed up by the grace of Jesus, and would hear of nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified. He cried out, "I do not know how it is with me: I never in my life felt such a change. I have power to love Jesus, and to believe in him, whom I so long neglected. O my Jesus, how merciful art thou to me!" About noon I stept home; but he sent for me directly, so that I could scarce eat my dinner. We were both filled with joy, as partakers of the same grace which is in Jesus Christ; and that in such a manner, as if we had been ac+ quainted together for many years. Many officers of the army came to see him continually to all of them he talked freely of Jesus, of the grace of the Father in him, and of the power of the Holy Ghost through him; wondering without ceasing, at his having found Jesus, and at the happy change, by which all things on this side eternity were become indifferent to him. In the afternoon he desired to partake of the Lord's Supper, which he received with a melting, praising, rejoicing heart. All the rest of the day, he continued in the same state of soul. Towards evening he desired, that if his end should approach, I would come to him, which I promised. But he did not send for me till the next morning. I was told by his valet that he slept well for some hours, and then awaking, prayed for a considerable time; continually mentioning the name of our Lord and his precious blood, and that he had desired several of the officers, to make his conversion known to his court, (that of the king of Poland.) After some discourse I asked, "has your view of Christ and his redemption, been neither altered nor obscured since yesterday?" He answered, "neither altered nor obscured. I have no doubts, not even a remote one. It is just the same with me, as if I had always thus believed and never doubted. So gracious is the Lord Jesus to me a sinner." This second day, he was unwearied in prayer and exercises of faith. Towards evening he sent for me in haste; when I came, I found him dying, and in a kind of delirium, so that I could do no more than give him now and then a word of comfort. I prayed afterwards for him and those that were present, some of whom were of high birth and rank. I then by imposition of hands, as usual, gave him a blessing, which being done, he expired immediately. A royal prince, who was there, (Prince Xavier of Saxony,) could not forbear weeping. The rest of the officers bewailed the loss of their general, yet praised God for having showed such mercy towards him. I wrote an account of it without delay to his mother, and had an immediate answer. She was a lady of seventy two, of exemplary piety. She praised God for his mercy, adding, that " He had now answered the prayers which she had never ceased to offer on her son's behalf for eleven years."

(For the Christian Herald.

RECOLLECTIONS.

THE reader may have seen "an Excursion"* which appeared some time since-a little Essay descriptive of Virginia scenery. Af ter some adventures, perhaps scarcely worth recording, the writer reached his home in safety; for every thing in this world seems to have a home. As a great poet tells us,

Sæpe exiguus mus

Sub terris posuitque domos, atque horrea fecit.

Comfortably seated in my old study chair, the mind still loves to travel over past scenes. It is the part of memory to recal pleasures that are gone, and the part of fancy to touch them afresh, with its ever new and enchanting colours.

Upon searching a collection of papers, I found some rough drawings mentioned before, together with some scraps of a diary which was kept on my ride. It is a strange thing, says Lord Bacon, that in sea voyages, where nothing is to be seen but sea and sky, men should make diaries, but in land travel, wherein so much is to be seen, they omit it as if chance were fitter to be registered than observation. Let diaries, therefore, be brought into use.

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Had this acute observer of men and things seen my diary, he would have said that it was kept on too miniature a scale. One part of it stood thus

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Pulpit Eloquence, &c."

At the foot of a well known mountain, I one day saw two graves. Partly concealed by a skirt of woods, they would probably have escaped my notice, but for an intelligent fellow-traveller, who had overtaken me that morning. Here, said he, darting abruptly round the woods, are the graves of two young men who fell in a duel. They met on much such a morning as this. Their graves you observe almost touch, and at that distance, they fought. Never before had I felt a melancholy so profound. It was a frightful solitude, though the beams of the sun were rolling down on the foliage which hung around us. Once, indeed, my feelings were somewhat of a kindred nature. Riding one evening near a celebrated city, a certain duelling ground was pointed out to me, but the milk white pillar that decked this bloody spot, the light sail of the waterman trimmed by the breeze, the spires that glittered in the descending sun, and the hum of distant population, relieved for a moment the anguish of my heart. But this spot at a distance from the dwellings of man, seemed like some nestling place for the spirits of the accursed pit. Oh Virginia! how are thy best laws disobeyed-once the land of a savage warrior, but a warrior who would have rebuked the inhumanity of thy sons. How is that record of an Infinite Majesty-Thou shalt not kill-rent in twain by the hand of the duellist, and soaked in the blood of his foe! Father of my spirit, let me never drop from the field of

See vol. VIII. P, 449.

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fancied honour into an untried eternity. In the hour of death, let me stretch forth my withering hands to Thee-hands undefiled with blood.

The gentleman just mentioned, had fine intelligence, with an open countenance and a full blue eye, expressive of benevolence. His hair was parted before, which displayed a well arched forehead. In his manners simplicity was blended with the most winning frankness, and from his tall horse, he often cast upon me a meekly inquiring look. We ascended the mountain, which proved somewhat difficult of ascent "but else so green, so smooth, so full of goodly prospects and melodious sounds on every side," that the harp of Orpheus was not more charming. I do not know what led my fellow-traveller so far from home, but one thing is certain, that we did not reach his dwelling till quite late in the afternoon.

Now came still evening on, and twilight gray
Had in its sober livery all things clad.

Having been sent out in the character of a "Christian spy," the thought struck me to stay a few days, and make this gentleman's seat a central point, from whence to collect intelligence of the neighbourhood. The reader, therefore, will bear in mind my appropriate business, for it was not to hunt after village politicians, to catch their boisterous talk, or say witty things about their supposed innocent frailties.

Pretty early in the morning my host and myself took a ride. At no great distance from the house, we came to a stream, upon the banks of which we saw a flock of sheep. Whilst our horses were drinking, I felt inclined to meditate silently on the beautiful works of God. But the gentleman broke the silence by saying, that the view put him in mind of the words of the Psalmist: "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, he leadeth me by still waters." That is language, said I, which my heart seems to understand-there are links of the spirit, that bind all together, who love this Shepherd. I was once grievously astray, replied he. So were we all, rejoined I, but let us stray no more, save in his green enclosures-then, when the night cometh, we shall sweetly hear his voice, and enter his fold on high. There are pastures ample enough for Gabriel's range, wearing the flush of greenness, that springs up, at each renewed touch of our Shepherd, and bounded only by the rainbow of unchangeable tranquillity. Oh happy, happy flock-possessed of eternal vigour, and led onward to living fountains, by the soft hand of Him, who weaves each wreath that blooms in eternity. And in the midst of all this undecaying vigour, shall we forget," by his stripes were we healed."

I have already hinted, that my kind host was not always possessed of those sentiments, which he now so fondly cherished. He had once been inimical to the Christian system, and my reader will find an account of his embracing infidelity, embodied in the following brief narrative.

The Virginians are fond of sending their sons to a distance to be educated. It is quite common to see a little boy, on a Welsh poney, attended by a servant, setting off to school, though the school be a

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