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severe a service, in addition to his pastoral charge, was a boon to his generation, that at this day cannot be easily nor sufficiently appreciated.

His expectations, in a few years, were more than realized. In this institution the principal men of the day, and many of the Presbyterian clergy, were educated, and added greatly to the increase and usefulness of their churches. The late Rev. Messrs. Rowland, Campbell, Lawrence, Beatty, Robinson, and Samuel Blair, with many others, were among the number of his pupils, and thought themselves honoured by being considered as sons of this humble seminary. Here also his own four sons received their education, and were prepared for their important services. Had these been the only fruits of that infant academy, America would have reason to rejoice, and to render thanks to that God, who directed this gentleman to visit her shores.

His second son, WILLIAM, who is the subject of these sketches, was born on the 3d day of June, 1705, in the county of Antrim, in Ireland, and was just turned of thirteen years when he arrived in America. He applied himself, with much zeal and industry, to his studies, and made great proficiency in the languages, particularly in the Latin. Being early impressed with a deep sense of divine things, he soon determined to follow the example of his father and elder brother, by devoting himself to the service of God in the ministry of the gospel. His brother Gilbert being called to the pastoral charge of the church at New Brunswick, in New Jersey, and

making a very considerable figure as a useful and popular preacher; William determined, as he had completed his course in the languages, to study divinity under his brother. Accordingly he left his father's house, with his consent and by his advice, and went to New Brunswick. At his departure from home, which was considered as his setting out in life, his father addressed him with great affection, commend ing him to the favour and protec tion of that God, from whom he himself had received so much mercy, and who had directed him in all his migrations. He gave him a small sum of money, as the amount of all he could do for him, telling him that if he behaved well and did his duty, this was an ample provision for him; and if he should act otherwise, and prove ungrateful to a kind and gracious God, it was too much and more than he deserved. Thus, with a pittance, and the blessing of a pious and affectionate parent, of more consequence than thousands of pounds, the young student set out in the world,

After a regular course of study in theology, Mr. Tennent was preparing for his examination by the presbytery, as a candidate for the gospel ministry. His intense application affected his health, and brought on a pain in his breast and a slight hectic. He soon became emaciated, and at length was like a living skeleton. His life was now threatened.

He was attended by a physician, a young gentleman who was attached to him by the strictest and warmest friendship. He grew worse and worse, till little hope of life was left. In this

situation his spirits failed him, and he began to entertain doubts of his final happiness. He was conversing, one morning, with his brother, in Latin, on the state of his soul, when he fainted and died away. After the usual time, he was laid out on a board, according to the common practice of the country, and the neighbourhood were invited to attend his funeral on the next day. In the evening, his physician and friend returned from a ride into the country, and was afflicted beyond measure at the news of his death. He could not be persuaded that it was certain; and on being told that one of the persons who had assisted in layIng out the body thought he had observed a little tremor of the flesh under the arm, although the body was cold and stiff, he endeavoured to ascertain the fact. He first put his own hand into warm water to make it as sensible as possible, and then felt under the arm, and at the heart, and affirmed that he felt an unusual warmth, though no one else could. He had the body restored to a warm bed, and insisted that the people, who had been invited to the funeral, should be requested not to attend. To this the brother objected as absurd, the eyes being sunk, the lips discoloured, and the whole body cold and stiff. However, the doctor finally prevailed; and all probable means were used, to discover symptoms of returning life. But the third day arrived, and no hopes were entertained of success but by the doctor, who never left him night nor day. The people were again invited, and assembled to attend the funeral. The doctor still object

ed, and at last confined his request for delay to one hour, then to half an hour, and finally to a quarter of an hour. He had discovered that the tongue was much swoln, and threatened to crack. He was endeavouring to soften it, by some emollient ointment put upon it with a feather, when the brother came in, about the expiration of the last period, and mistaking what the doctor was doing, for an attempt to feed him, manifested some resentment, and in a spirited tone, said, "It is shameful to be feeding a lifeless corpse;" and insisted, with earnestness, that the funeral should immediately proceed. At this critical and important moment, the body, to the great alarm and astonishment of all present, opened its eyes, gave a dreadful groan, and sunk again into apparent death. This put an end to all thoughts of burying him, and every effort was again employed in hopes of bringing about a speedy resuscitation. In about an hour, the eyes again opened, a heavy groan proceeded from the body, and again all appearance of animation vanished. In another hour life seemed to return with more power, and a complete revival took place, to the great joy of the family and friends, and to the no small astonishment and conviction of very many who had been ridiculing the idea of restoring to life a dead body.

Mr. Tennent continued in so weak and low a state for six weeks, that great doubts were entertained of his final recovery. However, after that period, he recovered much faster, but it was about twelve months before he was completely restored. After

he was able to walk the room, and to take notice of what passed around him, on a Sunday afternoon, his sister, who had staid from church to attend him, was reading in the Bible, when he took notice of it, and asked her what she had in her hand. She answered that she was readingthe Bible. He replied, "What is the Bible? I know not what you mean." This affected the sister so much that she burst into tears, and informed him, that he was once well acquainted with it. On her reporting this to the brother when he returned, Mr. Tennent was found, upon examination, to be totally ignorant of every transaction of his life previous to his sickness. He could not read a single word, neither did he seem to have any idea of what it meant. As soon as he became capable of attention, he was taught to read and write, as children are usually taught, and afterwards began to learn the Latin language under the tuition of his brother. One day as he was reciting a lesson in Cornelius Nepos, he suddenly started, clap ped his hand to his head, as if something had hurt him, and made a pause. His brother asking him what was the matter, he said, that he felt a sudden shock in his head, and it now seemed to him as if he had read that book before. By degrees his recollection was restored, and he could speak the Latin as fluently as before his sickness. His memory so completely revived, that he gained a perfect knowledge of the past transactions of his life, as if no difficulty had previously occurred. This event, at the time, made a considerable noise, and afforded, not only matter of

serious contemplation to the devout Christian, especially when connected with what follows in this narration, but furnished a subject of deep investigation and learned inquiry to the real philosopher and curious anatomist, (To be continued.)

LIFE OF LUTHER.

From the Religious Monitor.
(Continued from p. 527, vol. I.)

THE Elector, acquainted with the faithlessness of Rome, and fearing that the imperial edict might afford some pretext to one or other of the Popish princes, to violate the safe conduct, which Luther had received, and deliver him into the power of his implacable enemies, had the prudence to have him conveyed to a secret place of safety. On his return from Worms, at the entrance of the forest of Thurin

gia, he was seized by a number of armed horsemen, who were lying in wait for him, and carried to the castle of Wartburg, a strong fortress in the neighbourhood of Eisenach. The secret of Luther's retreat, though confided to several of his friends, was long unknown; and reports of his assassination were spread, as the true explanation of his sudden disappearance. The grief which these reports occasioned to multitudes, whose attachment to the cause of the reformer, had till then, been unnoticed, proved the extent of the evil with which the church threatened, and the inefficacy of bulls and prescriptions to avert it. But their fears were dis

was

* Seckendorf lib. 1. § 98, p. 160.

pelled by the publications, which soon issued from the castle of Wartburg.

Luther, who followed the dictates of prudence and authority, rather than his own inclination and conviction of propriety, in remaining under the protection of secrecy, was impatient to be at liberty, that he might resume his usual labours. He was, however, indefatigable in writing both letters and treatises, illustrating and confirming his established opinions on many points of religious doctrine, and they were received with increased avidity, as from one, who had almost suffered martyrdom for the truth. He also preached regularly every week to those, who shared his solitude; but his mind was constantly occupied with anxiety about the interests of the reformation, which he was excluded from publicly directing and superintending. His health too, was affected, by his confinement, his anxious cares, and the delicacy of his diet, so different from his accustomed fare in his monastic life. But the state of his flock at Wittemberg, and the prospect of the spiritual tyranny of Rome being anew riveted about the necks of those, whose emancipation had been nearly effected, were the sources of his deepest affliction. Yet his courage and zeal seemed to be inflamed by the very circumstances, which might have damped them: "I had rather," said he, "expire on burning coals for the glory of God, and the confirmation of my own faith, and that of others, than thus pine away, in a state of solitude, half alive, nay, only not dead." But, adds he, "though I perish, the gospel re

mains. If the Pope persecute all, who think as I do, Germany will revolt, and the sooner he begins it, the sooner will he and his minions be destroyed. God has so raised the spirit of thousands, and that among the common people, that it seems to be impossible to be repressed; nay, its force will be increased ten fold by opposition." He was, at the same time, so averse to any thing like violence on either side, that he considered the conduct of the students at Erfurd, who pillaged and burned some houses belonging to the canons of that city, because they had expelled one of the brethren on the charge of Lutheranism, as a token of the Divine displeasure, and meriting the most unqualified censure.*

The first work of his solitary hours, was a treatise on auricular confession, in which he insisted on the propriety of abolishing this point of discipline, because entirely of human invention, productive of the most scandalous effects, and calculated to encourage rather than to discountenance sin, by the facility of obtaining absolution. was followed by an answer to Latomus, who had undertaken the defence of the censure, which the faculty of Louvain had passed on his writings. This work contained a vindication of the severity with which he spoke of his adversaries, as abundantly justified by the dangerous opinions, which they supported, and the profligate lives, which they led, and an elaborate defence of several of the propositions, which he had formerly advanced re

• Seckend. § 99, p. 162.

specting the nature and merit of good works.* The next treatise, which came from his pen, was on the celibacy of the clergy, and on monastic vows in general. On this subject Melancthon had frequently conversed with him; but Luther, aware of the danger, which might ensue to the reformation from the promulgation of an opinion, which controverted one of the most ancient practices of the church, hesitated immediately to embrace it. Melancthon, however, was determined not to conceal his sentiments, when, in consequence of his influence and instructions, a curate of Kemberg in Saxony having, in defiance of the law of celibacy, entered on a married life, an opportunity was afforded of giving them publicity. The curate was summoned to appear before the Archbishop of Mentz; and Philip prepared an apology for him, addressed to the officials of Magdeburg. This apology was an unanswerable refutation of the Popish tenets respecting the marriage of Priests, and paved the way for Luther's treatise on the general topic of religious vows. These he showed to be unsupported by either precept or example in the New Testament; to be contrary to Christian liberty; subversive of that very spirituality and purity, of which it was pretended they were the bulwarks; and a burden imposed by hellish policy on the consciences of men.t

During Luther's residence at Wartburg, a reformation took place in the public worship at Wittemberg. It was a wise

....

Seckend. § 101, p. 164. + Ib. § 104, 105, p. 170.

kind.

maxim of this illustrious reformer, that the people should be instructed in the errors, which pervaded the religious service of the church, and that after they were thoroughly persuaded of their existence, that they should be abolished without disorder or turbulence, to prevent the fatal consequence of precipitate changes in the established worship. Following out this maxim, several of the Augustine monks, who had come to Wittemberg, from different parts of Germany, to enjoy the advantages of Luther's instructions, which they regarded as the light of heaven, began publicly to preach against the doctrine of private mass, and communion under one They were checked by the prior of the monastery; but persisted in their opinion, and discontinued the practices, which they impugned, on which, complaint was, made against them to the court. The unanimity and peace of the society being thus broken, in order again to cement them, the Elector, on being informed of it, sent Gregory Pontanus to Wittemberg, who appointed deputies to receive the reasons of the malcontent, monks for resisting the established order, and to report them along with their own opinion to Frederic. The deputies being attached to the reformation, represented the reasonings of the innovators as sound and unanswerable; gave it, as their own opinion, that some alterations were necessary, though they did not insist on the total abolition of private mass; and conjured the Elector to maintain that gospel, which God had caused to revisit his church. Frederic, on receiving their re-

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