the day of his coming!" When I mentioned, among many other things, that strict holiness which he had formerly so lightly esteemed, he replied with a hasty eagerness, "Oh! that holiness is the only thing I now long for: I have not words to tell you how highly I value it. I would gladly part with all my estate, large as it is, or a world, to obtain it. Now my benighted eyes are enlightened, I clearly discern the things that are excellent. What is there in the place whither I am going but God? or what is there to be desired on earth but religion?" But if this God should restore you to health, said 1, think you that you would alter your former course? "I call heaven and earth to witness," said he, "I would labour for holiness as I shall soon labour for life. As for riches and pleasures, and the applauses of men, I count them as dross and dung; no more to my happiness than the feathers that lie on the floor. Oh! if the righteous Judge would try me once more; if he would but reprieve and spare me a little longer, in what a spirit would I spend the remainder of my days! I would know no other business, aim at no other end, than perfecting myself in holiness: whatever contributed to that, every means of grace, every opportunity of spiritual improvement, should be dearer to me than thousands of gold and silver. But, alas! why do I amuse myself with fond imaginations? The best resolutions are now insignificant, because they are too late: the day in which I should have worked is over and gone; and I see a sad horrible night approaching, bringing with it the blackness of darkness for ever. Heretofore, (woe is me !) when God called, I refused; when he invited, I was one of them that made excuse: Now, therefore, I receive the reward of my deeds; fearfulness and trembling are come upon me; I smart, I am in sore anguish already, and yet this is but the beginning of sorrows! It doth not yet appear what I shall be; but sure I shall be ruined, undone, and destroyed with an everlasting destruction!"

This sad scene I saw with my eyes; these words, and many more equally affecting, I heard with my ears; and soon after attended the unhappy gentleman to his tomb. The poor breathless skeleton spoke in such an accent, and with se much earnestness, that I could not easily forget him or his words; and as I was musing upon this sorrowful subject, I remembered Mr Nash;-I remembered you, sir, for I discerned too near an agreement and correspondence between yourself and the deceased. They are alike, said I, in their ways, and what shall hinder them from being alike in their end? The course of their actions was equally full of sin and folly, and why should not the period of them be equally full of horror and distress? I am grievously afraid for the survivor, lest as he lives the life, so he should die the death of this wretched man, and his latter end should be like his.

For this cause, therefore, I take my pen, to advise, to admonish, nay, to request of you to repent while you have opportunity, if happily you may find grace and forgiveness. Yet a moment, and you may die; yet a little while, and you must die: And will you go down with infamy and despair to the grave, rather than depart in peace, and with hopes full of immortality?

But I must tell you plainly, sir, with the utmost freedom, that your present behaviour is not the way to reconcile yourself to God: you are so far from making atonement to offended justice, that you are aggravating the former account, and heaping up an increase of wrath against the day of wrath. For what say the Scriptures-those books which, at the consummation of all things, the Ancient of Days shall open and judge you by every jot and tittle thereinwhat say these sacred volumes? Why, they testify and declare to every soul of man, "That whosoever liveth in pleasure is dead while he liveth;" so that, so long as you roll on in a continued circle of sensual delights and vain entertainments, you are dead

o all the purposes of piety and virtue; you are as ›dious to God as a corrupt carcass that lies putrefyng in the church-yard; you are as far from doing your duty, or working out your salvation, or restoring yourself to the divine favour, as a heap of dry bones nailed up in a coffin is from vigour and activity. Think, sir, I conjure you, think upon this, if you have any inclination to escape the fire that never will be quenched. Would you be rescued from the fury and fierce anger of Almighty God? would you be delivered from weeping, and wailing, and incessant gnashing of teeth? Sure you would! Then I exhort you as a friend, I beseech you as a brother, I charge you as a messenger from the great God, in his own most solemn words, “Cast away from you your transgressions; make you a new heart, and a new spirit, so iniquity shall not be your ruin."

Perhaps you may be disposed to contemn this and its serious purport, or to recommend it to your companions as a fit subject for raillery; but let me tell you beforehand, that for this, as well as for other things, God will bring you into judgment. He sees me now write, he will observe you while you read; he notes down my words in his book, he will note down your consequent procedure; so that not upon me, but upon your own self, will the neglecting or despising of my sayings turn. "If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself; if-thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it."

Be not concerned, sir, to know my name; it is enough that you will know this hereafter. Tarry but a little, till the Lord, even the most mighty God, shall call the heaven from above, and the earth, that he may judge his people; and then you will see me. face to face: there shall I be ready, at the dreadful tribunal, to joy and rejoice with you, if you regard my admonitions, and live; or to be what God prevent, by inclining your heart to receive this friendly admonition.

RULES AND ORDERS

OF THE

ASSEMBLY FOR CHRISTIAN IMPROVEMENT.*

PSALM 1xxxix. 7.-" God is greatly to be feared in the assemblies of his saints, and to be had in reverence by all that are round about him."

I. THAT this assembly consist of no more than ten or twelve at the utmost, lest an increased number should produce confusion or dissensions; and that each member, in order to prevent any sinister reflections from the inconsiderate or vicious, be cautious of mentioning to any others that he belongs to such+ an assembly. And that each member, before he sets out, and on his return, do use the forms of prayer which are specified in the minutes, and particularly adapted to this occasion.

II. That no one shall be admitted a member who has not been proposed by the chairman at the preceding assembly, or who shall be disapproved of by any two members on a ballot, which shall always be taken on such occasions, how unanimous soever the members may seem to be beforehand.

III. That the members shall be registered alphabetically in the minutes of the assembly's proceedings, and that the chairman of the day be appointed regularly according to that list; so that no misunderstanding may arise about precedence: and that a treasurer be elected annually, the first Tuesday in January.

* Referred to in Mr Hervey's Life.

+ As this assembly met at different inns, public prayer would have alarmed the attendants, and caused gross misrepresentation. Besides, the real design of this meeting was known only to a few, and the injunction of secrecy was given to each member, in order to avoid the appearance of religious ostentation, and in compliance with the apostle's precaution, viz. "Let not your good be evil spoken of," Rom,

v. 16.

IV. That the assembly meet on the first Tuesday in every month, during the summer season, punctually at twelve o'clock; and on the moon-light Tuesday, during the winter season, exactly at ten, at such inn as shall from time to time be agreed on by the majority; and that dinner be ready precisely at two in the summer, and one in the winter.

V. That as soon as the assembly is met, the names of the present members shall be entered in the minutes, and the forfeits (if there be any due) deposited in the charity purse. After which, the chairman shall inquire if the prayers, as agreed upon by the assembly and entered in their minutes, have been properly used by each member at his own home. Then the chairman shall, in a short charge or exhortation, remind his associates of the importance of such a meeting, and enumerate the good effects which the selected chapters, if rightly improved, may produce.

VI. The chairman shall then read the chapter in the Old Testament in English, and shall pause at the end of every verse, that any one who pleases may make such inquiries and reflections as may occasionally arise; but that no two persons speak at a time; and if two accidentally begin, the chairman shall direct which is to go on. And that every member shall, against the next meeting, send to the chairman whatever observation of his on the chapter of the day the members then present had desired to have entered in their minutes; by which method many useful observations may be preserved and in case any verse shall not be cleared of its difficulties to the satisfaction of the present members, the said verse shall be reconsidered at the next meeting.

VII. At three o'clock precisely during the summer season (no more than an hour being allowed for dinner), the chairman shall proceed in reading a chapter in Greek out of the New Testament, to be commented on in like manner as that out of the Old. But in the winter season, when the assembly meet at