also, shalt put off thy sack-cloth, and shine in the garments of salvation.

It is by passing through great sorrows and sore temptations, that the Lord fits his ministers for eminent usefulness. Thus he dealt with Mr. Thorpe. Christians should deeply sympathize with, and most earnestly pray for their ministers, for, indeed, they need their prayers, and most affectionate sympathy.

"When Mr. Thorpe had preached about two years, he was uncommonly harrassed with temptations to atheism.” But, under the divine blessing, by reasoning correctly on a leaf, he was delivered. Yes, a blade of grass, a grain of sand, an insect, may well confound an Atheist, and confirm a Christian. See to what, even, a genuine minister of Christ is liable; and observe how effects are to be traced to a first cause. Reason and philosophy, thus employed, are like the morning spread upon the mountains, showing the handy works of God.

Mr. Thorpe was, for some years, a holy, acceptable, and successful preacher in Mr. Wesley's connexion; but at length became a Calvinist independent minister; and appeared, not as gold become dim by the change; but as a highly polished mir

His

ror, reflecting, with peculiar brightness, the glory of divine grace; and gilding the countenances of the valuable church on whom the rays of his instruction fell. successor gives this testimony concerning him, “ that he was a very holy man'; much respected during the whole course of his life; made a glorious end; and that his memory will long coutinue dear to the people of his charge."

THE QUAKER AN INTER

Dear Sir,

PRETER.

Collumpton, Jan. 1806.

The following anecdote is taken from the journal of Thomas Chalkley, published at London, in the year 1751. The author was an eminent quaker minister, who laboured sometime in these kingdoms, being a native of London, but spent the greatest part of his time and labours in America. This anecdote contains an aw

ful warning to those persons who are fond of strong drink, and spirits; and those who may have imbibed, either more or less, the principles of infidelity. I transcribe it verbatim, and present it for insertion in your improving magazine.

To the Editor of the Methodist Magazine.

L. PARNELL.

"About this time (the good man was now on his passage from America to this country) our Doctor (says he) dreamed a dream, which was to this effect, himself relating it to me; he thought he went on shore at a great and spacious town, the buildings whereof were high, and the streets broad; and as he went up the street, he saw a large sign, on which was written in great golden letters, SHAME. At the door of the house to which the sign belonged, stood a woman with a can in her hand, who said unto him, “ Doctor, will you drink?" he replied with all my heart; I have not drank any thing but water a great while;" (our wine and cyder were all spent; as we had had a long passage,) and he drank a hearty draught, which he said made him merry: so he went reeling up the street to and fro, when

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a grim fellow coming behind him, clapped him on the shoulder, and said, that he arrested him in the name of the governor of the place. He asked him for what? (and said) what have I done? (he answered, for stealing the woman's can ;) the can he had indeed, and so he was taken before the governor, which was a mighty black dog, the biggest and grimmest that he had ever seen in his life; and evidence was brought against him by an old companion of his, and he was found guilty; and his sentence was to go to prison, and there to lie for ever. He told me this dream so punctually, and with such an emphasis, that it affected me with serious sadness, and caused my heart to move within me; for to me the dream seemed true, and the interpretation sure. I then told him that he was an ingenious man, and might clearly see the interpretation of that dream, which exactly answered to his state and condition; and I thus interpreted it to him. This great and spacious place, whereof the buildings were high, and the streets broad, is thy great and high profession, the sign on which was written, Shame, and the woman at the door, with the can in her hand, truly represent that great, crying, and shameful sin of drunkenness, which thou knowest to be thy great weakness: the grim fellow which arrested thee, in the Devil's territories, is Death, who

Y

"

will assuredly arrest all mortals: the governor, which thou sawest under the form of a great black dog, is certainly the devil, who, after his servants have served him to the utmost, will torment them eternally in hell! So he got up, as it were in haste, and said, "God forbid! It is nothing but a dream. But 1 told him it was a very significant one, and a warning to him from the Almighty, who sometimes speaks to men in dreams. After a single paragraph, relating to their passage, weather, &c. the good man resumes his story thus: "Now about this time (being some days after the doctor's dream) a grievous accident happened to us. We meeting with a Dutch vessel in Lime Bay, hailed her, and she us, they said, they came from Lisbon and were bound to Holland. She was loaded with wine, brandy, fruit, and such like commodities; and we, therefore, having little but water to drink (because our passage had been longer than we expected) sent our boat to them, in order to buy us a little wine to drink with our water. Our doctor, and a merchant that was a passenger, and one sailor, went on board, where they staid so long, that some of them were overcome with wine, although they were desired to beware thereof; so that when they came back, a rope being handed to them, they, being filled with wine unto excess, were not capable of