al hours. The next morning the French and English fleets were dispersed by a violent storm.

Those who hate the very name of a miracle, (although in reality they suppose the greatest of all miracles, that is, the tying up the hands of the Almighty, from disposing events according to his will) pretend, "This was only an extraordinary ebb." But this very ebb was an extraordinary Providence, as the descent, which must have terminated in the destruction of the Republic, was to be punctually at that and no other time. But that this retrogradation of the sea, was no natural event, is as certain as any thing in nature.

Many writers of unquestionable veracity might be produced, to confirm the truth of the fact. I shall only cite one, who was at the Hague but three years after it happened. "An extraordinary thing lately happened at the Hague: I had it from many eye witnesses. The English fleet appeared in sight of Scheveling, making up to the shore. The tide turned: but they made no doubt of landing the forces the next flood, where they were like to meet no resistance. The state sent to the Prince for men, to hinder the descent, but he could spare few, having the French near him. So the country was given for lost; their admiral de Ruyter, with their fleet being absent. The flood returned, which the people expected would end in their ruin : but to the amazement of them all, after the sea had flowed two or three hours, an ebb of many hours succeeded, which carried the fleet again to sea. And before the flood returned, de Ruyter came in view. This they esteemed no less than a miracle wrought for their preservation." Bishop Burnett's History of his own times. Book II.

An account of a man who lay in a trance, and had a view of the fiery lake and of heaven.

Arminian Magazine, London.

JOHN TAYLOR, of Bewdley, in Worcestershire, a young man, about three and twenty years old, lived utterly without God in the world, till on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 1783, he was drinking at one Thomas Pountney's house, to such excess, that he was much disordered. The landlord observing this, refused to draw him any more ale. He then, after many oaths and imprecations upon himself, rose up to go away. But as he was going out of the door, he dropt down. Thomas Pountney being ear, caught him; he was stiff as a dead man, his eyes set wide open, and his

fered to prevail." In what form did the devils appear? Many of them appeared like bears, lions, and other wild beasts." How long do you suppose you were tormented a second time? He answered, with the same emotion as before." O, a great while! But the angel came again, and the moment I saw him the tormenters fled, and I felt no pain at all; till he gave me up to be tormented a third time, and then my tormenters returned, and all my pain and anguish returned, with the same violence as before." How long in all do you imagine you remained in this place of torment? "It seemed to me to be five or six years." How dreadful must that pain be, which though it really lasted not two days, appeared to endure so many years. O what must those pains be, when continued to all eternity.

Did the angel appear any more?" He did, and to my unspeakable joy, not only the devils fled away, but I was permitted to follow him to the very gates of heaven. Yea, and to look into it." Did you see any persons there? "I saw transparent persons, very beautiful and glorious, and heard them sing in a manner I cannot describe. This I heard long before I came to the gates. I would fain have gone in, but the angel told me, I must go back and tell my brethren what I had seen." I said, "And must I leave my good angel." In saying those words his spirit returned.

Since that time he is greatly changed, attends all the ordinances of God, and has left the company of all his wicked acquaintance. But he seems still ignorant of the power of religion.— This is a mystery indeed? It is well if the last end of this man, be not worse than the first!

An astonishing account of an extraordinary beautiful woman, of whom, in the narrative it is estimated, that she had leagued with satan to aid her in becoming the most beautiful woman of Europe. So insatiable is the desire of some ladies to excel in this captivating qualification. With such, God is not well pleased, for such persons adore themselves instead of their Creator.

In the Duke of Sully's Memoirs, book the tenth, there is a very remarkable account concerning the lady of the constable of France, then (in the year 1599) in the flower of her age, and supposed to be one of the most beautiful women in Europe. The account was given by several ladies who were then at her house. She was conversing cheerfully with them in her closet, when one of her women came in, who seemed to be under great emotion, and said, "My lady, a gentleman is just entered your

anti-chamber, who is very tall, and quite black, and desires to speak with you. He says it is about affairs of great consequence, which he cannot communicate to any but you.” At every circumstance relating to this extraordinary courier, which the woman was ordered to describe minutely, the lady was seen to turn pale, and was so oppressed with horror, that she was hardly able to tell her woman, to intreat the gentleman, in her name, to defer his visit to another time. This message she delivered; but he answered in a tone which filled her with astonishment, "If your lady will not come to me, I will go and seek her in her closet." At last she resolved to go to him; but with all the marks of deep despair. In a short time she returned to her company, bathed in tears and half dead with dismay. She was able only to speak a few words and take leave of them; particularly the three ladies who were her friends, and to assure them she should never see them more. That instant she was seized with exquisite pains all her beauty was gone. Every feature of her face was changed and she became a spectacle of horror. At the end of three days she died in the utmost agonies both of body and mind.

"Of this story (the Duke very gravely adds) the wife thought as they ought to think." Suppose the story be true; suppose it be related just as it occurred (and there is no shadow of reason to imagine the contrary,) all wise men ought to think, that God permitted an evil spirit to put an end to the life of an evil

woman.

An account of the pleasing and wonderful dream of Mr. John Townsend, of Weymouth, Pennsylvania, June 25, 1809.

At the last visit my dear mother made in Bethlehem, April, 1760 where she stayed four weeks, she often spoke of her death as at no great distance; and frequently said if she could not see me in her last illness, she would beg the Lord's permission to visit me after her decease. I besought her not to do it, alledging my fearful disposition, telling her I was certain I could not support such a visitant. Why, my dear, said she, surely you would not be afraid of a happy spirit. I still affirmed that I could not bear it, and entreated her not to come if she had leave; her answer was, See you I must, and therefore if it is permitted, I will visit you when asleep, and converse with you in such a manner that you shall have no uneasy sensations.

On the 21st of September, the same year, my dear mother departed this life as a happy pardoned, reconciled sinner, and en

tered into the joy of her Lord, About ten days after her decease, I went to bed very much depressed, and could not be reconciled to my loss, and lamented my stay behind in this vale of tears. In this state of mind I fell asleep, and had the following dream.

It seemed to me that I was walking under a row of trees, and, looking upwards, saw my mother gently descending till she stood before me; her robes were white as snow, and flowed upon her feet, and her countenance shone with so much lustre, that I could not support the brightness long together: it resembled the sun at noon-day, yet I perfectly knew her, and was struck with reverential awe. She seated herself under a tree, and beckoned me to sit by her. I obeyed without speaking, for I was all amazement; she broke silence and said, "My dear child, I have asked our Saviour and have obtained permission to visit you. I have perceived the concern you are under-I am here, and ready to answer any questions you may be desirous to ask." She stopped and I repeatedly looked at her without any sensation of fear. The first question I asked her was, if she had an easy departure; for I knew she had the fear of death remaining after she had obtained true grace. She answered, "My dear, I was insensible to the pains of death, my dear Saviour had taken away sin, which is the sting of death. As soon as my soul left the body, I came, as a poor pardoned sinner, to the throne of grace, and met with a most gracious reception; He (meaning our Lord) then took a book in his hand, and held it open, so that all the saints and angels could read my name, which was written in large characters therein; and then our Lord pronounced these words, 'Mary Attwood, because thou hast kept the words of my patience, I have also kept thee in the hour of temptation. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.""

My mother then paused, and seemed to wait another question, here my curiosity was great concerning her state of blessedness, but fearing to ask a description, I only said are you happy? in hopes she would tell me the manner of her happiness, but, with a sweet serious look and tone of voice, she said, "I am not permitted to tell you what my degree of happiness is-enough, that I am completely happy more would do me no good, and less would not satisfy me." She then took occasion from my asking this question, to rebuke my curiosity, by charging me never to enter too deeply into conversation on the life to come, as she and I had frequently done. "My dear, (said she) do not think too much on the manner and ways of eternity; it is beyond your conception: poor mortals attempt to describe what they cannot comprehend. The tongues of men or of angels cannot describe the inexpressible happiness of the blessed above." She