It was now observed by his sisters, when they went into his room, that he had every day the Bible, Fletcher's Appeal to Matter of Fact, Bishop Watson's Apology for the Bible, Tom Paine's Age of Reason, and the Westminster Confession of Faith, lying on his bed; but he did not make any observations about the deistical impressions that had been made upon his mind; but he became very gloomy in the house, and would seldom converse with any of us. On the last Sunday but one before his illness, he went to the Methodist church to hear a funeral sermon preached by the Rev. Samuel Fowler, occasioned by the death of a young child. Whether the sermon had made any impression upon his mind or not, we could not tell; but he became unusually cheerful in the house, which led us to hope that he was about to reform his conduct, and to employ his fine talents to a better purpose than he had done for some time past, and that he would yet become a shining ornament to the church of God.

But he who holdeth the issues of life and death in his hand saw it best that his race should be short, and that he should soon finish his course on earth. On the sixth of April he appeared to be unwell, but made no complaint. In the evening he came to his tea as usual. His father then observed to him that he thought he looked to be very unwell, and advised him to get bled, and take some medicine. He replied that he felt as well as usual. He sat up with the family until bed time; but when he attempted to go up stairs to his room, he appeared unable to ascend; but with some difficulty made out to get to his bed. We again advised him to get bled; but he said he had no occasion for bleeding, as he did not feel unwell. About twelve o'clock he came into my room and desired me to get up and bleed him, and observed unless he got immediate ease he could not live till morning. I got up immediately and raised one of my sisters who slept in an adjoining room, and without alarming any more of the family I opened a vein in his arm, which bled nearly a tea cup full, and then suddenly stopped. A second and third attempt proved unsuccessful; but on making a large incision, about the same quantity of blood was obtained as at first.

After bleeding he fainted, and we put him in bed. On my leaving his room my sister came running to me and desired that I would go for a physician, as William was spitting blood. I went and examined his pulse; but it appeared to me that all pulsation had stopped, and I expected he would die immediately. On his hearing my sister tell me to go for the doctor, he told me I need not trouble myself, as death had taken hold of him, and the doctor could not help him. I went, however, for doctor Miller, and brought him without delay. He immediately administered medicine which operated, and we began to VOL. II.

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entertain hopes that he might yet get over his illness. Alas! our hopes were vain! I now advised him to pray earnestly to God to prepare him for death, and then, let the issue be what it would, all would be well-he would be fit to live, and fit to die. I thought I could see him raise his eyes to heaven as if praying; but he did not make use of any outward expression that would be sufficient proof of it. For four days we endeavoured to prevail on him to seek the Lord, and to ask for redemption in the blood of Jesus, the forgiveness of his sins; but he appeared unwilling to come to this. On the fifth day the doctor thought that his disorder was about taking a favourable turn, and watched with him until two o'clock at night, and desired me to watch until morning, and to pay the utmost attention to the state of his pulse, and that if any alteration should take place, I would immediately raise him. He said that he had now got the disor der under the medicine, and if he could keep it so for some time longer, he had hopes that William would yet recover.— But about five o'clock in the morning his symptoms became so alarming, I had to raise the doctor out of bed. All our hopes were at once cut off, and death seemed now to approach in a most dreadful manner. His lips changed from red to black, and his eyes sunk in their sockets with a ghastly appearance. I took the doctor aside, and asked him if he had any hopes? he said no. I asked him how long he thought he might live? he said he could not tell; but it was his opinion he would not live fortyeight hours. I then went to my brother and told him the doctor considered him dangerously ill. He said he knew that. I then entreated him to lose no time; but immediately to call upon God for mercy, and to cast himself on the mercy of God through Jesus Christ, that he might obtain the pardon of his sins, and be prepared for heaven. I was then called out of the room, and one of his sisters went to him, and with tears advised him to call upon God for mercy. He told her he was not afraid to die.On my return to him, I begged of him to cast himself upon the mercy of God through the merits of Jesus Christ, and to make a covenant with God that if he would spare his life he would spend his days in his service. "O Joseph," said he, "I am a self-murderer: I have brought on my death prematurely by my imprudent conduct." I told him I thought that strictly speaking he could not charge himself with that crime, as he had not intended to bring on his death by his conduct; but let his sins be ever so great, the blood of Christ would wash their stains away. "O Joseph," said he, again," I have been a confirmed deist." I strove to encourage him to look to God, and all his sins would be forgiven him.

(To be concluded in the next.)

Miscellaneous.

WESLEYAN SEMINARY.

To the Editors of the Methodist Magazine.

DEAR BRETHREN,

I

THE genuine friends of religion and science will hear, with gratitude to God, that our infant Institution in the City of NewYork. the Wesleyan Seminary, promises abundant success had the pleasure of witnessing yesterday and the day previous, the first examination of the Scholars, since its formation: and though from the acknowledged ability of the Teachers, I had anticipated much, I must sincerely confess, that what I saw and heard exceeded my most sanguine expectations.

The Seminary is divided into two departments, a Male and Female, each at present containing nearly an equal number of pupils. The whole number of Scholars may be about one hun. dred and sixty. Br. N. Morris, by the appointment of the New-York Annual Conference, and as provided by the constitution of the Seminary, is the Principal, and with the assistance of two Teachers conducts the Male department. The Females have the superintendence and instruction of Mrs. C. M. Thayer, who is likewise aided in her task by an assistant. The general routine of study comprises the ordinary branches of a useful and polite education. The lower classes are taught, Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, &c. the higher are instructed in Mathematics, Geography, English Grammar, and the Greek and Latin Classics. Upon each of these subjects the result of the late examination, reflected no less merit on the diligence and assiduity of the pupils, than approbation on the exertions and ability of the Teachers.

At the close of the exercises of each department recitations of select pieces of poetry or prose were made: But these were judiciously confined to a very few specimens. While on this subject we cannot pass by, without the tribute of a solitary notice, the elegance and propriety, with which the Pastoral dialogue (an extract from Miss H. Moore) was pronounced by some young ladies of the higher classes. In order to encourage industry, and excite a laudable emulation, premiums of books, &c. were bestowed upon the most deserving.

It is now only six months since the Seminary was opened. Its progress during that time has been rapid, indeed almost unexampled. And when we view the difficulties which it was necessary to overcome in its formation, and the impeded, and

it has been the invariable method of God to bring mankind to the knowledge of the truth by means of a living ministry. The Bible is the infallible judge, to which the living messenger appeals for the correctness of his message; but it is the word of truth, addressed by the ambassador of Christ to the understandings and consciences of men, that generally lays open the nakedness of the human heart, and brings the guilty sinner to Jesus Christ. Send, therefore the living messenger of God, with the Bible in his hands, and let that finally decide the controversy between the sinner and the truths delivered. This method, we believe, will be the most effectual to convey the glad tidings of salvation to those who are perishing for lack of knowledge.

Moreover, as it is the design of this Society to extend itself, if possible, by means of auxiliary societies, throughout the United States, and to engage especially the co-operation of all the annual Conferences, provision is made in the Constitution for the formation of auxiliary societies, and a Circular addressed to them on the subject: and as none are so competent to take an impartial and comprehensive view of the various parts of our extensive continent as the general Conference, in which is concentrated the episcopal authority, and the general oversight of the whole Church; and as it would, in our opinion, very much facilitate the operations, and greatly contribute to accomplish the benevolent objects of the Society, to unite in some measure its counsels and operations with the Book agency: we have provided for the attainment of these objects, by ceding to the general Conference a power of inserting such articles for these purposes as they may judge proper, as well as for the equitable apportionment of the funds of the Society among the several annual Conferences. As our ultimate object is the general good of mankind, by the extensive diffusion of experimental and practical godliness, we are principally solicitous to raise an adequate supply for such men of God as may volunteer their services in the cause of Christ, leaving to the episcopacy the selection of the men, as well as the place of their destination.We take the liberty of observing, however, that our views are not restricted to our own nation or colour; we hope the aborigines of our country, the Spaniards of South America, the French of Louisiana and Canada, and every other people who are destitute of the invaluable blessings of the Gospel, as far as our means may admit, will be comprehended in the field of the labours of our zealous missionaries. To accomplish so great and so glorious an object, time, union, liberality, patience, and perseverance, are all necessary. And we hope to exhibit, in our future exertions, evidence of our zeal in providing pecuniary aid to the extent of our power, and in our fervent prayers and earnest wishes for the success of our institution.

With an object of such magnitude and importance before us, we think we cannot appeal in vain to the liberality of our brethren and friends for their hearty co-operation.

When we review our ministry from the commencement of our existence as a separate communion, and mark its successful progress, we are constrained to say, What hath God wrought? Contending with numerous impediments, they have persevered with great success in extending the triumphs of the cross mankind. We ourselves are, we humbly trust, the troamong phies of this ministry. By the blessing of God upon their labours, it was this same ministry, crossing the "watery world" in the character of missionaries, that gave the first impetus to that mighty exertion in the Christian cause, by which the present generation in this western world is distinguished. And shall we be wanting in our efforts to send this "Gospel of the kingdom" to our fellow-men, millions of whom are yet dwelling in darkness, and in the shadow of death?

Arise, brethren, in the majesty of your strength in the name" of Immanuel, God with us, go forward: concentrate your force in this Society; and, by a united exertion, help to people the regions of perennial happiness, by contributing to send the word of life to the destitute inhabitants of our fallen world.What heart can remain unmoved, what hand unemployed, when called to action in a cause so important, so interesting, so sacred! Let but the friends of Zion give half as much for the support of missionaries, and for the distribution of the word of life, as the intemperate do to gratify and pamper their appetites, and there shall be no lack.

Although the Constitution which accompanies this address, requires the payment of two dollars annually to constitute a member, and the payment of twenty dollars at one time to constitute a member for life, yet this does not exclude donations, to any amount, great or small. Remember, the mite of the poor widow was not only accepted, but her liberality was highly applauded by her Lord, because she put in all her living. “It is accepted according to what a man hath, and not according to what he hath not." And if every one will become a cheerful giver," according to the ability which God giveth," we shall soon witness the rising glory of the Church; the solitary pla ces shall be glad for them"-the messengers of Zion-" and the wilderness shall blossom as the rose" the pagan nations, which inhabit the wilds of America, and the desolate inhabitants of our new States and Territories, shall hail the effects of your bounty;-nations unborn shall rise up and call you blessed.Let, then, all hearts be warm, and all hands active, until the "ends of the earth see the salvation of our God."