several facts which bear evident marks of immediate divine interposition, and consequently such as cannot be accounted for without admitting such interposition. But as you do not confine that department to such accounts, but occasionally insert in it pieces on the doctrine of Divine Providence, I hope you will judge the following extract from a justly celebrated work, worthy of insertion.

1815.

L.

With regard to Providence, it may be observed, that though God can produce, by an immediate act, whatever he accomplishes by the intervention of second causes; for instance, can make heat without the sun, can communicate fruitfulness to the earth without heat, can furnish food to men without the fruitfulness of the earth, nay, can sustain life without food; yet he does all things (in general) by a series or concatenation of causes, in each of which there is as much wisdom and power displayed, as would have appeared had the end been effected by an immediate act. This plan is the most gracious that possibly could be; for the manifestations of the divine perfections are greatly multiplied thereby, and a providence formed, in such a manner as to be, not only the subject of human contemplation, but the foundation of our trust in God, and a grand incitement by which we are engaged to seek his favour, who thus by a variety of means makes himself known, as the chief good in every part of the universe. Covetousness therefore, and worldly-mindedness, with all the other vices which derive their strength, whether from an absolute disbelief of the perfections of God, or from wrong notions of them, are by this constitution of things, as effectually destroyed, as the nature of moral government will admit.

THE SWEDISH SAILOR BOY.

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Ar a late meeting of the Aberdeen Auxiliary Bible Society, the following pleasing Anecdote was related by the Rev. Mr. Grant, of Orkney, who was an eye-witness of the scene. transcribe it from the Baptist Magazine for this month. Weymouth, May 31, 1815. J. FIELDEN.

"Last year," said Mr. Grant, a vessel from Stockholm, in Sweden, was driven upon our coast in a tremendous gale, and became a total wreck; situated so that no human aid could possibly be administered for the preservation of the crew. In a short time after the vessel struck, she went to pieces. The spectators on shore beheld, with pungent grief, the awful situation of those on board; but those on shore could render no assistance. All on board perished except one man, and he, driven by the merciless waves upon a piece of the wreck, entwined among the

ropes attached to the mast. Half naked and half drowned, he reached the shore, and was disengaged by those on shore from his heart-rending situation. As soon as they rescued him, astonishment filled their minds by observing a small parcel, tied firmly round his waist with a handkerchief. Some concluded it was his money; others thought it was the ship's papers; and others said it was his watch, &c. The handkerchief was unloosed, and to their surprize and astonishment, it was his Bible! a Bible given to the lad's father from the British and Foreign Bible Society. Upon the blank leaf was a prayer written, that the Lord might make the present gift the means of saving his son's soul. Upon the other blank leaf was an account how the Bible came into the old man's hands; and that gratitude to the British and Foreign Bible Society, which inspires the heart of every Christian, was undisguisedly written by the old man. The request was, that the son should make it the man of his counsel; and that he could not allow his son to depart from home, without giving him the best pledge of his love--his BIBLE! although that gift deprived the other parts of the family. The Bible bore evident marks of having been often read with tears."

DREADFUL VOLCANIC ERUPTION. Extract of a Letter from an Officer of the 59th Regiment at Weltervreden, Island of Java, 30th May, 1815.

"A FEW days since, a dreadful volcanic eruption took place in the Island of Sambaroa, situated to the eastward, which has been attended with most destructive consequences. At Sourabaya, the atmosphere was in entire darkness for two days, so as to give the appearance of midnight. At this place, which is at a considerable distance, the ashes discharged from the crater fell in heaps. The noise produced from this awful visitation is beyond description, and caused a sensation among the inhabitants peculiarly afflicting. The sea rose six feet above its ordinary level, almost instantaneously causing the destruction of many lives, and also vessels. In short, the damage sustained has been exceedingly great, and many who were in affluence before this dreadful catastrophe took place, are reduced to the greatest distress."

THE GRACE OF GOD MANIFESTED.

A Memoir of WILLIAM EKINS, of Raunds, near Wellingborough.

BY HENRY ANDERSON.

WILLIAM EKINS was brought up to attend the public worship of God in the Church of England, as his parents had done

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before him. But for many years he lived without the possession of true religion, and without any right view of its nature. Any appearance of religion he had, was but the form. He was not careful to keep holy the Lord's-day; but joined with others in divers amusements and wicked practices. When he was about 30 years of age, Mr. Hull, a preacher of Lady Huntingdon's connexion, went and preached at Raunds; he went to hear him, as did many others, because it was "some new thing." He stood at the outside of the congregation, with his hat on, like many of the rest. The text was, Agree with thine adversary quickly, whilst thou art in the way with him; lest the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily, I say unto thee thou shalt by no means come out thence till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing," Matt. v. 25, 26. The word reached his heart. He took his hat off, and placed it before his face, that he might conceal his tears from being noticed by the congregation, and especially by his scoffing comrades. When the service was ended, he went away, with a dejected countenance and a heavy heart. He did not go immediately home, but retired into a private place to give vent to his grief, and to wipe away his tears. But not soon hearing such preaching again, and forming no particu lar acquaintance with religious people, his concern for the salvation of his soul soon abated, and, in the course of time wore completely off. It was "as a morning cloud, and as the early dew that goeth away." Or as St. James says, "like a man beholding his natural face in a glass; for he beholdeth himself and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was." After this, he went on as he had done before, until he heard Mr. William Jenkins preach at Raunds, when he was on the Bedford circuit. Under his preaching he was brought to seek the Lord. His soul was greatly oppressed with the burden of his sins, and his ignorance of the way of salvation. But he sought the Lord with all his heart, and soon obtained a clear sense of the pardon of his sins, through the redemption that is in Christ, and faith in his name; and was made exceedingly happy in the love of God. He said, when he believed God had pardoned his sins, he felt inclined to tell some of his ungodly neighbours of it, and was persuaded they would believe his testimony. But to his great surprize they made light of it; thereby proving the truth of the apostle's words, that "the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." A Methodist Society was at that time formed at Raunds, of which he became a member; and for true christian piety, integrity, stability, simplicity, love, and a noble generosity in support of what he knew to be the cause of

Ged and truth, for more than 20 years, he was one of its brightest ornaments. He had the satisfaction to see a sister-in-law join the society, and, a few months before his death, a younger brother, and two of his nieces. Seeing some of his family turn to God gave him very great pleasure. He just lived to see a commodious chapel built and opened at Raunds, and well attended, and many souls turned and turning to the Lord. The day before he was seized with his last affliction, he told me he felt himself better than usual in his body, and very happy in his soul. His affliction gradually wasted his strength. It lasted for fourteen weeks, and was attended with as little pain and privation of sleep as was to be expected in his situation. He soon perceived his affliction would be unto death, as though by a divine presentiment. When afflicted, he expressed no particu lar desire for his health to be restored, and was with some reluctance prevailed on to have medical assistance; for, said he, "it is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good." During his affliction, he had strong confidence in God, and when tempted of the devil, he "resisted steadfast in the faith," and " was more than conqueror through him that had loved him." When asked, he was always ready to give a reason of the hope that was in him, with meekness and fear. He had a prayer-meeting at his house, in turn, and when very weak, whilst he could sit up, would pray with those who attended, though only in a few words. He was always pleased to see his Christian brethren, and would talk about the goodness of God to him, till his strength was exhausted. In this state of mind he continued to converse with his family, and any of his friends and acquaintance who called to see him, till silence was imposed on his tongue; soon after which, his spirit was released from its earthly tabernacle, to enter into that house which is not made with hands, but eternal in the heavens." Thus ended the life of this man of God; who, whether he lived, he lived unto the Lord, or whether he died, he died unto the Lord: whether, therefore, he lived or died he was the Lord's.

William E. was not a man who read much besides the Bible. But he loved the Holy Scriptures, and read them daily. The Bible and Hymn-Book were his constant companions. He was also very diligent in hearing the word preached, and he made good use of his knowledge of the Scriptures, by believing and living accordingly. He was a man of prayer. Besides morning and evening; when at home, he always retired into some private place at noon. In family worship, his prayers were short, and when he found it difficult to get the family together, he was wont to say, that he would rather go to bed without his supper, than neglect fainily prayer. He began a prayer-meeting on the Lord's-day morning at six o'clock; and if at any time, no other,

person attended, he would read a chapter in the Bible, sing, and pray. He also began another prayer-meeting on the Lord'sday evening at five o'clock, which he constantly attended. It may be said of him, he "prayed always, he prayed and did not faint."

He was a humble man. He saw, with St. Paul, that a sinner saved by grace should be clothed with humility." Though he was possessed of property which placed him in easy circumstances, his manners, apparel, house, furniture, and table, were all plain. He had no pleasure in seeing the fashions, and hearing the compliments which generally prevail among people who move in, what is called, genteel life; and he was much opposed to expensive shew and finery in dress. It may be supposed by some, that such pleading for plainness was the effect of covetousness. It has been so with some men; but not with him. His heart was not set on this world. When he had a situation favourable to the increase of his property, he voluntarily gave it up to them that stood in greater need. The poor had a friend in him. When he saw real distress, he was ready to relieve it; nor did he do it grudgingly, but of a willing mind. But his greatest care was to support the preaching of the gospel in that connexion of which he was a member. For many years he entertained the Methodist Preachers at his house in his turn. him they found a constant and faithful friend. As, while he lived, he employed a part of his property for the support of the gospel, so when he died, his pecuniary assistance to the same good cause, did not end with his life.

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He was a man of his word. He particularly attended to these words of our Lord, "Let your communication be yea, yea; and nay, nay; for whatsoever is more than these, cometh of evil." He sincerely hated dissimulation, in making bargains or promises, whether in business or any other affairs. When he passeci his word, he never forfeited it, or made use of equivocation. If "he swore to his own hurt, he changed not." In this he felt greatly concerned for the purity of his christian character, the approbation of God, and the benefit of society, that men may have confidence in each other, as far as it is due to human testimony. He greatly lamented when he saw any want of uprightness in this respect, in professors of our holy religion.

He loved the Methodist discipline, and was much attached to class-meetings and love-feasts. He generally spoke at lovefeasts; and his short, plain, pertinent remarks on his own religious state and feelings were heard with attention and profit; and they generally helped to enliven the meeting. He was very constant at class-meeting. His leader says he had not known him miss his class more than twice when he could have attended, for more than twenty years. Once he forgot the time, whilst he