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nations to oppose the success of the gospel, nor to attempt to injure the persons and characters of those faithful servants of the Most High, whom sooner or later he will vindicate to the unspeakable confusion of all, who have persecuted and traduced them.

Mr. Tennent was a man of the most scrupulous integrity, and though of a very grave and solemn deportment, he had a remarkably cheerful disposition, and generally communicated his instructions with so much ease and pleasantry, as greatly to gain the confidence and affection of all with whom he conversed, especially of children and young people. In all his intercourse with strangers and men of the world, he so managed his conversation, that, while he seldom neglected a proper opportunity to impress the mind with serious things, he always made them covet his company, rather than avoid it; well knowing that there is a time for all things, and that even instruction and reproof, to be useful, must be prudently and seasonably given.

An instance of this disposition occurred in Virginia. The late Rev. Mr. Samuel Blair and Mr. Tennent were sent by the synod on a mission into that province. They stopped one evening at a tavern for the night, where they found a number of guests, with whom they supped in a common room. After the table was cleared, our missionaries withdrew from it. Cards were then called for, and the landlord brought in a pack and laid them on the table. One of the gentlemen very politely asked the missionaries if they would

not take a cut with them, not knowing that they were clergymen. Mr. Tennent very pleasantly answered, "With all my heart, gentlemen, if you can convince us, that thereby we can serve our Master's cause, or contribute any thing towards the success of our mission." This drew some smart reply from the gentleman, when Mr. T. with solemnity added, "We are ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We profess ourselves his servants; we are sent on' his business, which is to persuade mankind to repent of their sins, to turn from them, and to accept of that happiness and salvation, which is offered in the gospel." This very unexpected reply, delivered in a very tender, though solemn manner, and with great apparent sincerity, so engaged the gentlemen's attention, that the cards were laid aside, and an opportunity was afforded, and cheerfully embraced, for explaining in a sociable conversation, during the rest of the evening, some of the leading and most important doctrines of the gospel, to the satisfaction and apparent edification of the hearers.

Resignation to the will of God in all his dispensations, however dark and afflictive, was among the excellent graces that adorned the character of this man of God. He had been tried in the course of God's providence in various ways; but domestic afflictions, as yet, had not been laid upon him. The time, however, was now come, when his character was to be brightened by a severe test of his resignation and obedience, a test attended with ma ny peculiarly distressing circum

stances. His youngest son, who was one of the handsomest of men, had just come into public life; had commenced the practice of physic; was married, and had one child. To the great distress of the parents, he discovered, though possessed of the sweetest temper, and most agreeable manners, no regard to the things that belonged to his eternal peace. Wholly negligent of religion, he indulged without restraint in the gaiety and follies of the world. The pious father was incessant at the throne of grace in behalf of his dissipated son; and was continually entertaining hopes that God would, by the influences of his Spirit, arrest him in his career, and bring him into the church of Christ, before his own summons should arrive; that he might die in peace, under the consoling hope of meeting this dear child in a better world. God, however, had determined otherwise; and the son, while engaged in inoculating a number of persons, in a house he had obtained for the purpose, near his father's neighbourhood, was seized in an unusually violent manner, with a raging fever. With the disorder, he was brought to a sudden and alarming view of his lost condition by nature, and the grievous transgressions of his past life. His sins were all set in dread array against him. A horrible darkness, and an awful dread of the eternal displeasure of Jehovah, fell on him, so as to make him the dreadful example of a convinced sinner, trembling under the confounding presence of an angry God. The affectionate and pious father was constantly in prayer and supplication, that God would have mercy Vol. II. No. 2.

I

upon him. He seldom left the side of his bed. For many days the fever raged with unabated fury; but the immediate distresses which it occasioned, were lost or forgotten in the severer pains of an awakened conscience. Such was the height to which his anguish at last arose, that the bed on which he lay was shaken by the violent and united convulsions of mind and body. The parents were touched to the quick; and their unqualified submission to God, as a sovereign God, was put to the most rigorous proof. But in due time they came out of the furnace, as gold tried in the fire. God, in his infinite and condescending grace and mercy, was at last pleased, in some measure, to hear the many prayers put up by the parents, and many pious friends, for the relief of the poor sufferer. His views of the lost state of man by nature; of the only means of salvation, through the death and sufferings of the Saviour; of the necessity of the inward regenerating grace of the Holy Spirit, became clear and consistent, and the importance of a practical acquaintance with these things was deeply and rationally impressed on his mind. He now saw that salvation, which he had deemed almost or altogether hopeless to him, was possible. His mind became calm, and he attended to religious instruction and advice. In a short time he began to give as much evidence of a change of heart as a death-bed repentance (rarely to be greatly relied on) can easily afford. He sent for his companions in iniquity, and, notwithstanding his disorder, exerted himself to the utmost to address them, which he did in the most

solemn, awful, and impressive manner, as a person, who, by the infinite mercy of a prayer-hearing God, had been delivered from a hell gaping to receive him. He besought them, by all the terrors of everlasting destruction; by all the love they ought to bear to their own immortal souls; by the love of a crucified Jesus, who poured out his soul unto death, that they might live forever; by his own awful sufferings and terrible example; that they would repent and turn to God. This happy change was a reviving cordial to the distressed and suffering father. His soul was overjoyed, and his mouth was full of the praises of redeeming love. His mind and spirits were hereby prepared with true resignation, to surrender the son of his advanced age to the God who gave him. After a few days more of severe suffering in body, but rejoicing in mind, the son was removed from time to eternity. There being no minister in the neighbourhood, the father undertook to preach a funeral sermon. All the son's old companions that could be sent to, were specially invited, and the old gentleman preached in such a manner, with a particular address to the young men, as to astonish every hearer: and while the seriously inclined wondered and adored, the careless were confounded and greatly alarmed.

Scarcely had Mr. Tennent got over this heavy affliction, and returned to an active and useful course of life for a few years, when God again called him to another severe and arduous struggle of the same nature. His eldest son, John, promised fair to make a distinguished figure in

life, had possessed a large share
in the affections of both father
and mother, and was more dear
to their hearts than ever, since
It so
the death of his brother.
happened, that the father was call-
ed to New York to heal some dif-
ferences between the members of
the church there. The next
morning after his arrival, he went
into a bookstore, when one of the
ministers of the episcopal church
came in, and on being introduced
to him, after the common saluta-
tions, told him that he condoled
with him on the death of his eld-
est son in the West Indies.
The old gentleman was at first
struck dumb. With difficulty he
soon inquired how the news
came; and being informed that
it was by a circuitous route, he
suddenly turned, and said, “The
will of the Lord be done." The
clergyman observed, that it was
happy for him to be able so cor-
dially to submit to it. Mr. Ten-
nent replied, "The Lord is my
God, his will be done." On be-
ing asked by the bookseller, who
was his particular friend, to retire
into the house, and endeavour to
settle his mind, he answered, "I
am come on the Lord's business;
my duty requires that I should
finish it; when that is done I
shall have time enough to mourn
for my son." He immediately
set off to attend his appointment,
finished the business to his satis-
faction, and next day returned
home, where he found that a let-
ter had been reived by a neigh-
bour, containing the same infor-
mation which he had before re-
ceived. Thus, on the most try-
ing occasion, he showed the same
submission to the allotment of Di-
vine Providence that was discov-
erable in all his former conduct.

The following extract from a letter, written at this time to the writer of this narrative, will show the temper of his mind in his own language. "Freehold, March, 1776. My dear Sir, Perhaps before this comes to hand, you will be informed, that He who gave me the honourable epithet of a father, has, in his wise and unerring providence, written me childless. My son is dead. This account I had yesterday from a letter written to a friend; the account is so straight (though not circumstantial) that I cannot doubt its truth. The tender mother has not heard it, nor do I intend she shall, until authenticated. This I mention as a caution to you, in case you should write me before the matter is publish ed. Let the dear heart have all possible ease, before the load, which it is likely will try her life, falls upon her. I know her attachment to that child; his conduct has been such as greatly endeared him to us. Our pains and expense in his education have been great, but infinitely short of what God has done for him. He has, therefore, the best right to him. Should we then,

*He seems, in the depth of his distress, to have forgotten, that he yet had one son left, although he was 800 miles distant from him.

were it in our power, obstruct his taking full possession of his own property? God forbid! This, Sir, through God's goodness, is not only what I say, but it is the temper of my soul, for which God only deserves the honour. It is now above fifty years since my soul resigned itself to God in Jesus Christ. I had then neither son nor daughter; I was completely satisfied with him, and, blessed be his name, I am so now. Have I then reason to cry out as if ruined? O! no: on the contrary, I have the utmost reason for thanksgiving, that he has not, in righteous judgment, deprived me of himself, in whom all fulness dwells. My wife and myself are now hastening to childhood! if spared a few years, we shall need one to lead us ; and we shall look to you under God. All the benefit you can expect from so doing, will con, sist in the satisfaction of your own mind, that you have helped two old people through the last steps of their pilgrimage." Thus did this pious man turn every event of life, however afflictive, to the praise and glory of God, and he seldom omitted an opportunity of inculcating the same disposition on all his acquaint

ance.

(To be continued.)

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long before the period designated by the sixth vial. Therefore, the beast here intended, must be the second beast, mentioned chap. xiii. 11, &c. " which came up out of the earth, and which exercised all the power of the first beast, and caused all them, that dwell on the earth, to worship the first beast." The question then is, What power is designated by this second beast? Some have supposed this to be the Roman hierarchy, or papal clergy. But this interpretation confounds the beast with the false prophet, and makes but two mouths, instead of three, out of which the frogs issue; for the false prophet is that hierarchy, as will soon be shown.

Others have supposed the second beast to be those German principalities, in which the civil and ecclesiastical powers are united, as they are in the pope. But against this interpretation there are weighty objections. These principalities are parts of the German empire, and so members of the body of the dragon, or first beast, rather than a distinct beast. I do not find that these principalities have been so associated among themselves as to form a separate body, and act a part distinct from the empire, in the persecution of the church. And they have never been, either separately or conjunctly, so respectable, as to merit a distinct character in this great prophetic drama. I rather prefer the opinion of a late English writer, who supposes that the second beast is the French monarchy, especially under the government of the family of the Capets.

The French monarchy, in the

first, or Merovinian line of kings, began not far from the time, when the bishop of Rome assumed to be the father, or pope, or universal head of the church, Pepin, the first king in the next, or Carolinian line, granted to the pope, about the middle of the eighth century, the exarchate of Ravenna, and thus made him a temporal power. In the tenth century began the late or the Capetine line of kings, under whom France has been remarkably ambitious, and often very powerful, has been greatly devoted to the see of Rome, has contributed more to its support than any other kingdom, and has persecuted the Protestants with distinguished cruelty and wantonness as far as her power extended. The inhuman tortures and massacres in the time of Lewis XIV. have never been exceeded in any part of the papal dominions. And, which is very remarkable, the spiritual tyranny of France was a system of its own. It was independent of the pope, and yet administered in subservience to his views, and in support of his power. "In all other kingdoms, where popery prevails, the spiritual power is exercised by the pope. Heretics, as they are called, are accused, tried, and condemned in his courts, by laws issuing from him, and by his ministers. Kings are only his executioners. It was otherwise in France. There the king issued edicts, and erected and appointed offices for the trial and punishment of his Protestant subjects. By virtue of power derived from the king, not from the pope, Protestants were harassed, dragooned, banished, then forbidden to leave

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