bidding a holy defiance to death; as Paul, "O death, where is thy sting?" And there is ground enough for this confidence, because there is no evil in it to a child of God. Death cannot separate us from the love of God, and therefore it can do us no real harm; it kills the body, but cannot touch the soul. And why need it be dreadful when there is nothing in it hurtful? The saints have God's gracious presence with them in their dying moments; he is then at their right hand, and therefore what need they be moved? The good Shepherd will not only conduct, but convoy his sheep through this valley, when they are in danger of being set upon by the beasts of prey, the ravening wolves: he will not only convoy, but comfort them, when they need most comfort. His presence shall comfort them, his Word and Spirit shall comfort them; his rod and staff, alluding to the shepherd's crook, or the rod under which the sheep passed when they were counted. Leviticus xxvii. 32. It is a comfort to the saints when they come to die, that God takes cognizance of them. He knows them that are his; he will rebuke the enemy. He will guide them with his rod and sustain them with his staff, and place underneath them his everlasting arms."

HENRY.

HAPPY CHANGE OF AN INFIDEL.

ISAAC SIMPSON, of Kendal, who died April 30th, 1829, aged 32 vears, was one who, having long hardened his heart against religious truth, was in his last illness, through mercy made sensible of the miserable state of his soul; and having lived to confess that Saviour whom he had rejected, died in the hope of eternal life, through him alone.

A person in his own rank of life, who prompted by Christian kindness, often visited him during his illness, thus describes his character: "he was a man of good natural abilities; was generally referred to in case of disputes with his shopmates, either on politics or religion; and at all the meetings of the Shoemakers' Club, was accounted a good orator; which, he told me, often caused him to drink; being sent for to the public-house, by his compani

"

ons on every occasion. He was a great drunkard ; and had always considered religion as priestcraft. This, he told me, arose from looking at professors, instead of religion itself."

From minutes kept by the same person, the following account is with very little alteration extracted, It contains too much of home, striking truth, to need any further comment.

It was in the spring of 1829, that I was called upon to visit Isaac Simpson. I found him in bed very ill, having no hopes of recovery. Knowing he was of a deistical turn, I asked him if he would point out to me any thing in the Bible that seemed difficult or ridiculous? He said he could not; neither did he wish to try. He said he had read deistical books; and for the sake of making himself appear something in company, had defended their doctrine; but as to the Bible, he had only looked into it now and then, in a very careless manner. He had sometimes attended places of worship, and often came away condemned, and resolved to amend his life; but getting to his sinful companions again, these impressions wore off, and he still went on as bad as ever. Now it had pleased God to afflict him, and he saw he was not fit to die; and found his heart quite hard. I read to him some chapters of the Old and New Testament, which I thought best suited to his case, gave such advice as I was able, and as I thought agreed with the Word of God; telling him to rest his hopes entirely on the atonement made by Jesus Christ. I prayed with him; he thanked me, and said the oftener I called the better.

Second visit, same day.-I found him still without any hope of heaven, and he appeared much distressed on account of his former conduct; said his sins always rushed into his mind when trying to think as he ought.. I tried to encourage him with the promises made to sinners in the Gospel; likewise read to him the account of William Grierson, who was hung at Appleby in 1813; to all which he listened with attention; and exclaimed; "I am a vile sinner to come to God-never was there a worse." I told him Christ came into the world to save such; pointed him out passages in the Scriptures; and told him the adversary of souls would suggest to him that he could not have salvation; but I advised him to lift up his heart to God. He said he had read "Harris' Lectures on the nonentity of the devil," and wondered that such things were allowed in print; for he thought it conveyed more poison to his

mind than" Paine's Age of Reason."

Two neighbours came in

to see him, but this did not make him desist from talking on reli

gion.

On my third visit I found him without a ray of hope. He feared his repentance was not sincere; "but (said he) I love I read prayer, and feel a great desire for an interest in Christ.” to him a great many chapters out of the New Testament: such as 10th John, Colossians, Hebrews, &c. likewise the 9th of Isaiah. He exclaimed, he could plainly see Christ was God as well as man. Before this, he appeared to have thought otherwise; having listened to the arguments of unitarians and deists, without reading attentively the sacred Scriptures. He said, he saw that Christ had made an atonement for sinners. This seemed great encouragement to him; he wondered how any man could think of standing at the bar of God, with nothing but his own works for salvation. The Scriptures seemed more beautiful and encouraging than ever he thought they were. He told me that after I left him' last night, he had felt an anxious desire to cast his burden on Christ; that I had done him good with relating my own experience; that the experience of men clearly proved the reality of the word of God; that he durst not now say, that he did not believe the Bible-he now did believe it-he believed Christ had power to save, but could not rejoice in him as his Saviour. I remained with him about five hours. After prayer, I asked him how he felt his mind; he said, "better and better :" I then left him.

His wife told me he had wept much this morning ; his heart seemed much softened. He was reading in the Friendly Visitor, on faith and unbelief: he said it just described his state. I entreated him not to rest until he had found peace with God. He replied; "I cannot. Had not Christ's blood been spilt, I should have had no hope."

I found him this morning, glory be to God, a great deal happier; and he had now no doubt but he should die happy. He exclaimed; "What must I have done, if Christ had not shed his blood for me! I could not stand before God with any merits of my own."

Same day, P. M.-I visited him again. He seemed quite lost with wonder, to think that he had always considered the Scriptures full of contradictions and absurdities; and now since I had read to him, while he lay on that bed, he was astonished at the

grandeur, simplicity, and encouragement for a poor sinner, which they contained. All seemed quite new, as if it was not the same work. He many times cried; "Oh! that some religious people would take pains, and read the Bible to those men who deny its truth.” I told him that most that denied it were hardened, immoral men, and would not listen to it, till it pleased God to open their eyes by some severe illness, or other means; and that many died, as they had lived, blaspheming the God who made them. "Well, (he said,) it is astonishing that God should condescend to open my eyes and understanding in so wonderful a manner, that it qnite confounds and astonishes me to see and hear the beauty of that much despised book." "I am lost in wonder, (he again exclaimed,) that I never could behold these things before; but (he added,) when I used to read the Bible, I only tried to find out contradictions, or bring my own wisdom to it. I was quite certain if the Bible was true, there was nothing but hell-fire for me; and now, bless God, I am confident of its reality, and I firmly believe I am on the road to heaven. Nothing but the power and Spirit of God could have wrought this change: my mind, that was full of dark despair and horror, is now full of light, love, and happiness." I talked a great deal to him this day, and read him some portions of Scripture. He admired much the 50th chapter of Isaiah. I also read to him a good many hymns. A great number of persons came to see him, but no worldly discourse dropped from. him. When asked by any one how he was, he said, he was getting weaker and worse in body, but happier in mind. At night, some religious friends came in, and according to his desire, sang a few hymns. One of them asked if the singing disturbed him; he answered, "No: sing and pray all night, if you like it; it will never disturb me."

I found him still crying to Jesus Christ for mercy; thanking him, and wondering at his goodness in discovering to. him his lost state. "What (he cried) must I have done, had not Christ atoned for sin by his precious blood? What goodness! Lord, help me to believe; Lord, increase my faith. O that I could lay more fully hold of this Saviour." He now appeared rather better in health; I intimated to him, that the Lord might. perhaps raise him up again. He said he had no desire to live longer than to know his sins pardoned; "but if God should think

proper, (he added,) how glad should I be to go arm in arm with you to a place of worship; and likewise take my Bible in my pocket, and to go to all those places where I had said any thing against it, and endeavour to shew some of my old companions the error they are in, by despising so good a book."

Found him much as usual; but he could not, as yet, fully lay hold of the Redeemer as his. I described to him the sin of unbelief: and asked him, if a man came into his house; one whom he knew was a good man; and promised to make him a present; could he not believe that he would perform his promise? "Yes," he replied instantly. I then again related to him the promises of our Saviour, who says; "Whosoever cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out." He told me that very promise I had selected shewed him how hard-hearted he was, that he could not believe so good a Saviour. He very often cried out and said, from time to time; "how foolish, how absurd, to leave the salvation of my soul to so late an hour." I prayed with him: he desired the subject of my prayer might be, that God would give him more faith, to which he cried aloud for God to answer. I left him this time carnestly calling upon God to help his unbelief. He seemed now more and more determined to wrestle with his Redeemer, till his soul was set at perfect liberty.

On the evening of the same day, I had got ready to go to a missionary meeting, and had just got out of my own house, when it was deeply impressed upon my mind, that I ought to go and see Isaac. Accordingly I went, and found him very weak. He said, he thought he should not now be long in this world. I earnestly entreated him to pray to God to pardon his sins. He replied, he had no hope but in the atonement made by Christ Jesus. I read some hymns to him, which I thought suitable; and after conversing some time, he turned himself from me, but we were aware that he was engaged in earnest prayer. 1, at the same time, endeavoured to lift up my heart to God in his behalf. We continued in silent prayer for a length of time; his sister and his wife were in the house, but not a word was spoken: when suddenly he sat up in bed, and strongly expressing his evidence of acceptance, began to praise God with all his powers. We were now all filled with praise to God; and the scene to a spectator must have been delightful, to see all, in tears of joy, praising the Lord. He began to exhort his wife to live to God, and hoped this afflic