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A WONDERFUL PROVIDENCE.

SOME years ago, David Sands and two others of the friends, or the people called Quakers, were travelling in the north of England; and as they were passing through a village, consisting of a few scattered houses, David Sands told his fellow travellers, that it was impressed upon his mind to remain in that village to keep a meeting. His companions remonstrated with him, and endeavoured to point out the impracticability of it, and, in order to prevail upon him to relinquish his design, they informed him, that the people were much engaged with the harvest; in consequence of which, the meeting, if held, must be late, and few or none would attend. But D. S being well acquainted with the operations of the Spirit of God upon the mind, and firm to what he was convinced was his duty, was unmoved by the arguments advanced, he therefore replied, "however late the meeting may be, or however few. may attend, I cannot be free in my mind to pass through this village without calling the people together." On his companions observing his firmness, they yielded, and directed their course towards a small house; and when they arrived at the door, they requested accommodations for themselves and their horses, informing the people at the same time, that they would make them a suitable recompence for their trouble. The request was immediately complied with, and the result of that compliance was a kind reception and an hospitable entertainment. When the people of the house were apprized of the design of their guests, they made every necessary preparation for the meeting, while D. S. and his companions went and gave notice to the villagers respecting it. At the hour appointed, several attended; and after some time had elapsed in silence, D. S. arose and addressed the company. The manner in which he commenced his address, was sufficient to excite surprise and inquiry in every breast. He informed his hearers, that is was impressed upon his mind, that a person among them had the instruments of death about him, and that the same person had prepared them for his own destruction. After thus pointing out the evil itself, he then exhorted the person to desist from his awful design, and warned him of the fatal consequences which would most assuredly follow such an attempt. He also informed the people that, although he did not know the individual personally, yet he was as much persuaded of the truth of what he had asserted, by his "inward eye," or the eye of his mind, as though he had seen the instruments with the eyes of his body.

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out of Cornwall, and therefore cannot judge; but I have heard many others make the same remarks.

D. Then you are no great traveller.

C. No, Sir.

D. Pray do you know this gentleman who advances the hill against us?

C. No, Sir, he is a perfect stranger to me.

D.

He seems by his appearance, to be a clergyman; at least, he has the garb.

C. He has that appearance, and it is highly probable that your conjecture is right.

D. Pray what kind of men are the clergy of Cornwall? for, as you have spent your time in the county, I suppose you must know.

C. So far as I am acquainted with them I will give you my opinion, and that is, that there are among them many worthy characters, but I am sorry to observe that there are many exceptions to the general rule.

D. They tell me that the people in Cornwall are very religious; is it so ?

C. I know not that I can give you a more suitable answer than my last. There are many worthy characters, but there are many exceptions to the general rule.

D. Well, Sir, whatever may be the opinions of men, certain it is that religion is pretty nearly at an end.

C.

D.

How do you mean, Sir?

I mean that the whole is a cheat, and that the bible has been lately proved to be a forgery.

C. By whom, Sir, have these things been proved?
D. By learned men.

C. By infidels, I suppose.

D. That, Sir, is the language of prejudice, but it is such as is generally used on these occasions, and when we consider the ignorance in which the world has been kept, it would be folly to expect better.

C. Perhaps, Sir, you call these gentlemen Deists ?

D. No, Sir, that language is nearly related to the former, and is the offspring of superstition,

C. What name, then, do you give them?

D. Philosophers.

C. But how have these philosophers proved the Bible to be a forgery?

D. By divesting their minds of preconceived opinions, they have been enabled to investigate the question in its native light. They have been enabled thus to make an application of abstract reasoning to the subject of their investigations, and the improve

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