About that time, having neglected to prepare his lesson at school, he dreaded much his being called up to say it to the master, which feeling led him to think what he should do when called to appear before the judgment seat of Jesus Christ. This thought dwelt on his mind ever after. One pleasing trait in his youthful character, mentioned by his friends, is what cannot be said of all the youth in the present day, that in the whole course of his life he was not known either to swear, or lie, or take the name of God in vain. About five years ago he was much impressed by a sermon on a Lord's day evening, at Kingsland, on Moses lifting up the serpent in the wilderness,-when he said he felt that he was poisoned by sin, became very unhappy, and wept much. Indeed After this he went to reside in London, where he attended the ministry of Mr. Fletcher. The Bible became his constant companion, and from his remarks on many parts of it when his father used to call on him, he appeared to derive profit and pleasure from the perusal of it, and from private prayer to God. at that time he confessed that he had never been happy before. For some time he seemed, (as the Apostle expresses it,) to run well, but afterwards there commenced a backsliding in heart from the ways of God. He began to entertain the thought that so much prayer, reading, and attendance on the preaching of the gospel was not necessary, as surely God would not destroy him, after having favoured him with such experience of his goodness. This temptation did much harm to his soul, in consequence of his sinfully yielding to it.-Though he never totally abandoned the hearing of the gospel, yet he did not hear it with that interest, and that application of it to himself, which he had formerly. He not only lost his relish for the preaching of the word, but also for the reading of it, which increased to such a dislike, that he could not bear the sight of a Bible. This awful and dangerous state of mind continued for a considerable time after the disease had taken hold of him, which terminated in his death. He lost his reverence for the Lord's day, part of which he would spend walking with the gay and the giddy in St. James's, or in Hyde Park. On one of these occasions his mind was filled with horror from the reflection, that while he was spending his Sabbath in idleness and vanity, his, family were listening to the gospel in Kingsland Chapel. In these very Parks during the feats performed in honour of Peace, &c. his constitution received a shock which it never recovered. The wages of sin is often temporal death, even where the soul is saved through the grace and tender mercy of the Lord. Feeling himself unwell about fifteen months age, he expressed a desire to be taken home to his father's house, especially because he wished to get free from the snares of London. Accordingly he returned to Kingsland, and attended the worship of God with the family. Sometimes, after the morning services, he would say, There is yet hope for me-my case has been described."" During his illness, especially after he was confined to the house, he was much exercised about the state of his soul; and had many fears concerning his salvation, and offered up many prayers to God for pardon. He confessed that he had been a backslider-that he had sinned against conviction and knowledge, and that he could not bear to hear the Bible read to him. In reference to this feeling he said, one day, having his eyes fixed on a Bible that was near him, Oh! thou sweet companion; once I had pleasure in reading thee.'. But though he continued praying for pardon, he ex-1 pressed his fear that God would not answer his prayers. Frequently have I heard him say, about that time, that he believed all was truth in the Bible, that there was no other way to be saved but by Jesus Christ; but he could not take comfort from it, which he acknowledged was owing to unbelief, and this filled him with distress of soul. More than a month before his death, his mind was particularly affected and comforted by considering Psalm 42, 11. "Why art thou cast down, O my soul; and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise him, &c." Two lines of a hymn also, sung at worship, affected him.— "Weary of wandering from my God, "And now made willing to return." After this he drew to his Bible, became more attached to it, took it into the bed with him, and perused it with much earnestness. Soon did he renounce all dependance on, or looking to any supposed righteousness of his own, and said he could only pray the Publican's prayer, "God be merciful to me a sinner." "Jesus has wrought out a righteousness for me. I now see that sin is a great evil; but the mercy of God is greater than all. Jesus has done great things for poor sinners. I hope the justice of God is on my side, for Jesus Christ has satisfied the justice of God." His mind was much affected by the wonderful grace of God displayed in that Scripture, Isaiah i. 18. "Come now, let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." December 7th. His father inquired respecting the state of his mind. He replied, "I leave all to the Lord, and I am looking where dying Stephen looked; to the Lord." Next day, (Dec. 8th,) he said with cheerfulness-" I have been home to-day-saying he had found much comfort in prayer, adding, who can doubt more of his mercy?" 10th. Christ, said he, is a Saviour for the poor, the needy, and the guilty; he suits me, for I am poor, needy, and guilty. Adding, I should like to die this moment, and be with him. 13th. He said, "I am quite resigned to go this moment-I cast my soul on Jesus." His sister happening to say to him, poor thing! feeling for his trouble. "Poor!" replied he, "I am rich, I am rich! When I am gone, do not weep, but rejoice." He then exhorted her and all his brothers and sisters to make sure work for heaven. letter having been received from his missionary sister at Ceylon, in the East-Indies, wherein she states, that her first religious impressions arose from her father's reading the 9th Psalm at family worship, where it is said, that "the wicked hall be turned into hell, and all the people that forget God." And she recommended to her father to persevere in reading the Scriptures at family worship. On hearing this, he said with a loud voice-" I say, Go on father, I have got good by it also; and I have more brothers and sisters to be brought to heaven." After which he thanked his father for what he had seen and heard in family worship. i On the 14th, he had a hard struggle for breath, which made all around him weep; to whom he said, "Weep not! I am at home :" And spreading out his hands, exclaimed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit;" when all thought he was gone, but he soon revived, and seemed very happy. On a friend observing to him, that same evening, that God was faithful to his promises, he remarked with a smile, " I have proved him to be so !" He had many struggles in his mind respecting the equality of the Son with the Father; but the saying of Christ, "I and the Father are one," removed all his doubts. A short time before his death, he dictated a letter to his brother, who was in the English Army at Paris; it is full of exhortations respecting the value of the soul, and the urgent necessity of attending to its salvation. On the 16th he revived little, when a friend present said, that he might get better yet; he significantly shook his head, and said, "he wished to be in heaven." In half an hour the agonies of death seized him; he called for his father, held his hand, and died without a struggle or a groan-his poor frame being completely exhausted. From this account we find that the life of George Park was very short; but the life of many a reader of it may be still shorter. From his case it may be seen how extremely dangerous it is to be from under a parent's eye, especially in such a city as London, where the young are surrounded by many snares. For a youth. to be placed under a master who will watch over his conduct out of doors as well as at home, is a great mercy to him, and would not be viewed as a hardship were he aware of its importance. Time on earth is very short and very precious, and should never be wasted in idleness or folly. The Bible teaches how to spend it properly and profitably; wherefore we should search the Scrip tures with the same earnestness, diligence, anxiety, and perseve rance, as men would a field that contained hidden treasures, which should belong to the finder. The only happy life proceeds from enjoying the favour of God through Jesus Christ; and the happy death exclusively belongs to the friends of God, whose trust for every blessing is in his Son, who died for sinners and rose again. Youth's Mag. REVIVAL OF RELIGION. To the Editor of the Christian Herald. DEAR SIR, NOT to disappoint the expectation conveyed in No. 20 of the Herald, of a more particular account of the revival of religion in the congregation under the ministry of the Rev. Dr. Richards, in this town, and which is now spreading itself in other societies; I venture to furnish a brief statement of some of the more interesting facts and circumstances connected with this joyful event. It was a time of general and unusual declension, when the arm of the Lord was first revealed, and a glorious light from heaven shone round about us. The fire upon the Christian altar had not wholly ceased, but the flame was feeble and obscure, and had often threatened to expire. Prayer meetings were kept up, but for the most part thinly attended; and seldom could a solitary individual be found, who was inquiring the way to Zion. The wise and the fool ish were slumbering together. But He who works for his own great name, looked down and pitied; and, at a time when human expectations were low, and when few could be found to weep over the desolations of Zion, some tokens for good began to be discovered. As early as about the middle of December, it was known that several young men were under very serious impressions. A few of these cases had been of five or six weeks standing; but, except in one or two instances, the fact had been carefully concealed in their own bosoms. Nearly at the same time an unusual spirit of prayer was felt by some of the Lord's people, who had had no com munication with each other, and by some who had no knowledge of any awakening among the secure. Their hearts were greatly moved at the low state of religion, and they could not forbear to cry, with unceasing importunity, "Help, Lord! for the godly man ceaseth, for the faithful fail from among the children of men.' " Their minds were wonderfully turned off from creatures, and made to fix on God alone; and so great were their desires that the Lord would appear in his glory to build up Zion, that they were made to agonize at the foot of his throne, and to wrestle as Jacob did when he entreated for the life of the mother and the children. Amongst their most early and solemn petitions, was, that the Lord would awaken his slumbering church, convince them of their awful backslidings, and cause them humbly and sincerely to return unto him, that, with united heart, they might supplicate the outpouring of the Spirit, and a revival of his work. How certain is it that God hath not said to the seed of Jacob, "Seek ye me in vain!" On the evening of the 19th December, at a stated prayer meeting, the first public and visible token of the Lord's special presence was witnessed among us. This meeting had been established for more than three years, and, though in a place quite central to the congregation, it had often happened that not more than 20 or 30 .. persons attended; but on this evening, from some secret impulse, perhaps, on the minds of the people, not less than 200 persons were present. On this occasion, the 7th chapter of the 1st book of Samuel was read, and the attention of the audience directed to the conduct of Israel when they lamented after the Lord on the plains of Mizpeh, and to the counsel given them by Samuel.-It was a solemn and melting time: professors of religion were made to weep over their own backsliding, and earnestly to implore the Divine mercy; and others were excited to inquire what they should do to be saved? The Lord's day following will long be remembered by some, as a season of more than ordinary interest in God's house. The Christian was awakened from his long night of slumber, and the secure sinner made to tremble while he contemplated the vast concerns of an approaching eternity. These impressions were imperceptibly and gradually extended; and, when the New Year opened, such an anxious desire was felt on the part of the Lord's people to humble themselves for their sins, that the following Thursday was set apart in the congregation, as a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer. The former part of the day was spent in the closet; and, at 2 in the afternoon, the congregation assembled in the house of God, to mingle their tears and pour out their supplications together. It was a favoured season; many a heart was broken, and HE, who never refuses to listen to the cry of the humble, lent a gracious ear to the supplications of his church. Not a few date their first religious impressions on that day; and, at the same time, others found joy and peace in believing. From this period the work has rapidly spread, and is now become general in the congregation, and extends more or less into all parts of the town, particularly in the Baptist society. Scarcely a day passes us, without witnessing the song of praise from the lips of some new-born soul. I cannot speak with certainty as to the number of the awakened, but I do not feel the smallest hesitation in pronouncing it to exceed 300; more than one hundred of whom have obtained a hope that they have passed from death unto life. Time only can determine as to the genuineness of this work; but the view at present is amazing, and it appears to be a work of great power. Convictions in many cases are deep and pungent, and often succeeded by extraordinary light and peace. Among those who are comforted, some have their hearts filled with love in contemplating the work and character of Christ, and are enabled cheerfully to commit their everlasting interests into his hands. This solemn work has been attended with much feeling, at the same time that it has been free from any lively agitation, noise, or disorder; more than the ordinary exercises experienced in the momentous change of passing from death unto life. It has extended more or less to all ages and conditions; and men of the stoutest hearts and proudest spirits have, like the stubborn and lofty oak of |