that this happy people had seen in his temple the ark of his

testament.

66

'My instructer perceived my attention directed to a particular class of men, that were almost every where to be traced. They seemed greatly to excel in the spirit of wisdom and love. They always walked arm in arm. The attachment of the people to these men was surprising. Some of the men were on their knees, and with eyes bright with tears of rapture, cried, 'Lord, it is enough!' A few were engaged in public addresses; but most of them were saying to the people, 'In every place your faith to Godward is spread abroad, so that we need not to speak any thing.' I was informed they were ministers of the Gospel, who had lived to see the answer of their prayers and the fruit of their ministrations.

66

I was struck with observing, at some distance, immense volumes of smoke ascending in the air. My director invited me to approach the spot. In one place were large furnaces, with prodigious crucibles, into which were cast gods of gold and silver. The workmen were so zealous in their employ, that one melting-pot could scarcely be poured, before they wanted to throw in other gods. The matrices gave to each ingot characters which every one might read, 'The silver and the gold is the Lord's.' In another place blazed a prodigious fire, which at first appeared composed of logs of wood, but, on nearer inspection, I found them gods from the forest. I recognized in them the forms of Brumha, and Kishnoo, and Shivu, and mentioned them to the genius. 'Yes,' added he, 'and here are the representations of Indru, and Sooryu, and Guneshu, and Kariketu, and Ugnu, and Puvunu, and Vuroonu, and Yamu, and Gaudama, and all the three hundred and thirty millions of Indian gods at once on fire.' Many similar piles were seen in every direction. It was really

delightful, to observe with what eagerness men were carrying their idols to the pyre. The women and children and old men were no less active than the rest. 'This,' said the guide, 'is the way in which God will purge the earth, by the spirit of burning.' One stream of fire ascended more vivid than the rest. I supposed the reason to be, because the materials were more combustible. I arrived just in time to spell out some few characters, for I found them to be papers, rolls and books. I distinctly discovered the words Koran, Veda, Shastra. 'Come with me,' said the genius, 'to the other side of the pile.' I went, and saw amid the fire the names of Chubb, Collins, Herbert, Shaftsbury, Hume, Gibbon, Paine, and several others that I do not distinctly recollect. On a neighboring spot were burning beads and crucifixes, dispensations and mitres. As I was contemplating the fiery mass, I heard a voice from the sky, 'These the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.' Seeing at a distance some vessels very deeply laden, I asked my instructer what these meant? He said, 'Come and see.' We hastened to the rivers, and passed, in our way, many heathen temples, over each of which were written the words, empty, void, and waste. We discovered that the vessels were filled with gods of stone and clay, which, with shouts of joy, the seamen threw into the depths of the ocean, to be seen no more.

66

'Walking among the inhabitants, I could not but remark that they had some familiar terms in conversation, that I never found used so much before. I often heard the words, showers, wind, water of the sanctuary, jubilee, year of release, mountain of the Lord's house, latter days, and the like. I ventured to speak with one of the happy people; with which I saw my conducter was not displeased. I asked, Do you keep the Sabbath? The answer was, 'Sir,

ours is perpetual Sabbath; the seven thousandth year of the creation of God is come.' Are there any hospitals, or alms-houses in your regions? No, disease is not.' Have you any courts of judicature, or prison houses? I was told, 'the former still remain, the latter are demolished, for the people are all righteous.' I had proceeded, but the genius. said, 'Come, let us survey at large the glorious landscape.' We ascended, and pursued our way. The seas were covered with ships, but on every pendant were such mottos as joy, love, peace, zeal, holiness, the end is come, &c. &c. In one situation I saw multitudes of Chinese occupied in evangelic devotions. There Tartars, in immense congregations, were celebrating the name of Jesus. Hindoos and Bengalees, Gentoos and Burmans, were hailing the light of the glorious gospel. Ethiopians were lifting up their hands to the heavens. Indians of the west were rejoicing,

that to their deserts the excellency of Carmel was given. The face of the Jew was without a veil; and the names of Mecca and Medina were in a manner forgotten.

666

These,' said my director, 'are some of the glories of future times, which I have been instructed to unfold to thee; but the half has not been told. Return to thy station in life; believe in the Lord, and bid adieu to thy griefs.' The thought of losing the delightsome vision seemed intolerable. I said, how long, my inestimable instructer, shall it be, before these glories shall be universally realized? He replied, 'Come with me, I will show you the hill of prophecy.' Turning to the east, I beheld the most magnificent eminence I had ever seen. Its base was granite, coral and gold, on which were engraved, as with a pen of iron on the rock, in letters which time had not in the least degree defaced, 'HATH HE SAID, AND SHALL HE NOT DO IT?' The mountain rose sublime and awful; in some parts it showed a steady resplendence, in others it

was involved in clouds which seemed gradually vanishing. A bright effulgence, descending from above, rested on its summit, on which stood forty or fifty venerable forms. Several of them bore standards waving long and beautiful. On two, that flamed with red, I saw the figures 666 and 1000. But several, which my guide pointed to me, were of the purest white. On one was written, 'his times;' on another, 'time, times, and the dividing of a time;' on a third, 'forty and two months;' on a fourth, 'twelve hundred and sixty days.' I regretted that a part of the ensigns seemed wound round the staffs that supported them, so that I could not ascertain the dates, whence to calculate the period intended. On expressing my sorrow on this account, my instructer said, with the greatest tenderness of manner, 'You remember, child of dust, the words of your Lord and mine, 'it is not given to you to know the times and seasons.'' But, said I, may we not hope that in one hundred and a few years all these things shall come to pass? He smiled. I understood the smile to say, yes, thou hast rightly divined. He, however, only said, opening the scroll he held in his hand, 'Read this.' I saw, in golden letters, Moravian missions, Baptist Mission Society, London Mission Society, Bible societies, Sunday schools, &c.; and the names, Elliott, Brainerd, Vanderkemp, Kircherer, Carey, Marshman, Ward, &c. I was continuing to read the opening roll, when the prophets on the hill struck with their lyres and uttered with their voices such rapturous strains, that, overpowered with their sweetness, their fulness, and their harmony, I awoke.”

CHAPTER VIII.

His private character-his kindness, affability and philanthropycheerfulness and simplicity in the social circle—his hospitality— friend of the widow and orphan-his pleasure in making others happy-several letters of condolence-an incident-confidence which his brethren exercised in him-letter from Joseph Butterworth, member of parliament-his independence and decision of character-his piety-constant effort to promote piety among the young, and to be useful to all-his cheerfulness.

THE private character of our deceased friend was as amiable and unblemished as his public career was useful and splendid. His temper was naturally irritable; but through grace, he obtained an astonishing command over it, so that to his acquaintance, it appeared almost impossible that any circumstance could destroy its equilibrium. His heart was susceptible of quick impulse, and if, for a moment, roused to any thing like undue heat, it was but for a moment, and all was forgotten. His kindness and affability were probably never surpassed. Careless of his own convenience, there was no sacrifice but he was prepared to make, no labor but he was ready to undertake, in order to promote the comfort of his friends. His philanthropy was of the highest order. To do good was his great delight, and when his means were incompetent to supply the claims of benevolence, he sought the aid of the wealthy and the influential in society, with whom he had an extensive intercourse.

His company was at all times hailed with delight. He had a peculiar facility in giving entertainment to the social circle,