a considerable degree of health and strength. He then commenced visiting the native free-schools connected with the station; and was able, by means of an interpreter, to inspect the studies of the boys, and to communicate to them religious instruction.

"Early in April 1820," says the memoir, "he began to recover his voice, so as to be able to speak loud for the first time (except for a few days on his voyage from the Cape to Madras,) for more than seventeen months. During that month, he was able to take considerable exercise on horseback, as well as to use more stimulating food and drink. By these means, his health and strength were visibly improved. From this time until May, 1821, there was but little alteration in the state of his health. During that year, he did much for the benefit of the mission, not only by his counsels and prayers, but by active labour as a physician, both to the souls and bodies of this people. He was remarkable for his diligence in business, as well as fervency in spirit, labouring sometimes beyond his strength."

After the death of Mrs. Poor, he became considerably more unwell, partly in consequence of fatigue during her sickness; and he never again rose to that degree of vigour, which he had enjoyed for the year previous.-But we must hasten to the closing scene, as described in the memoir.

"On the evening of the 29th of June, 1822, he was attacked with severe pain in his right side, which continued several hours. From this time, the commencement of his last illness may be dated. The pain in his side returned, on the three following days, and on Monday the 1st of July, it was excessively severe, and continued nearly six hours. It was to be hoped, that, in view of his protracted illness, he would be permitted quietly to descend to the grave. But, the 'Lord seeth not as man seeth:' and, in this case, his brethren had a pleasing illustration of the truth 'that the Lord doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.' The necessity and utility of the severe sufferings, to which he was subjected, were in a good degree apparent even to us. They were evidently the means of relieving him from that state of mental imbecility, of which he had much complained, and of rousing to rigorous exertion all the powers and faculties of his soul. While thus awakened by this powerful stimulus, the Lord was pleased to manifest himself unto him in a special manner, as the God of all consolation, as an infinitely glorious Being, and the object of supreme desire. He was favoured, at that time, with unusually elevated conceptions of the character of God, and with correspondent affections of heart. He afterwards repeatedly remarked, in reference to these seasons of suffering, that such were his views of the divine character, and so desirable did it appear to him, that God should be glorified by all his creatures, that he felt willing that his sufferings should be continued, and even increased, if it were necessary to promote any glorious designs of VOL. VI.

48

his heavenly Father; and that his sufferings were so evidently the means of rousing his mind to those sublime and heavenly contemplations, that he was in a degree reconciled to them, and disposed to regard them as a proper occasion of thanksgiving. It is evident, that these seasons of severe pain gave a character to the whole remaining course of his sickness; and that they were the means of increasing his happiness and his usefulness, during the last weeks of his life.

"On the 19th of July, his symptoms became more alarming, and his distress from nervous irritation and difficulty of breathing, became very great; so that it was necessary for several persons to be constantly employed in brushing and fanning him. He begged us to pray, that he might have more patience, but observed, -It is good to suffer. It gives me some faint idea of what my Saviour bore for me. Thanks, eternal thanks to that Grace, which snatched me from the jaws of the devourer! When I get home, how will I sing the praises of Him, who will have washed away all my sins! Crown him, yes, I'll crown him 'Lord of all.' That hymn, which begins, 'All hail the power of Jesus' name,' was ever a favourite one, and he often requested his brethren and sisters to sing it to him.

"On the morning of August 2d, Mrs. Richards rose early to relieve the brother who had watched with him, and found him very quiet and comfortable, having rested better than usual. He spoke much of the goodness of God to him, and expressed a hope, that he should not repine when called to suffering. A season of severe coughing, soon came on, which affected him very much. Soon after this, he lost his appetite, and his cough rendered him unable to take stimulants, so that his strength failed fast. The fainting, and the distress for breath, accompanied with great nervous irritation, seemed too much for his feeble body to sustain, and he cried out, O Lord deliver. O Lord Jesus, come quickly. If this be dying, I must say, the pains, the groans, the dying strife. Lord, is it not enough? In the evening of the same day when Mrs. Richards went to take leave of him, she asked, as was her custom, whether she could do any thing more for his comfort before she retired. Yes,' he answered, commend me to God and to the word of His grace, who is able to keep me from falling, and to present me faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.' This was said with a trembling voice, and with many pauses. A little before 11 o'clock, she returned to him, and he asked why she came so soon? She told him, that she found it difficult to sleep while he was so distressed. He replied, 'I am more quiet and do not need you now; yet I feel great pain in my breast. I have a new feeling there.' She told him, she thought his symptoms indicated a speedy termina❤ tion of his sufferings; and perhaps that was the last night. Well, my dear,' said he, 'you will unite with me in thanking God for

so pleasant a prospect. Retire to rest and gain strength for the trial.' About three o'clock on the morning of the 3d, he sent for his wife, and when she came, she found him in great bodily distress. Soon after this, in a season of fainting, he said, 'Now I shall go.' At half past four o'clock, Dr. Scudder was sent for. About five, he was again in great distress, when it was thought he was dying. Reviving a little, he said, 'This is hard work. Immediately after this, his teeth began to chatter, his pulse became indistinct, and his breathing very irregular. A little before seven, Dr. Scudder arrived, and approaching his bed, said, "Well, brother Richards, it is almost over.' Joy beamed in his countenance as he looked up and said, Yes, brother Scudder, I think so-I hope so. O Lord Jesus, come quickly!" After drowsing a few moments, he took an affectionate leave of his afflicted wife, and observed, "I have long been giving you my dying counsel and advice, and have now only to say farewell! The Lord bless you.' Shortly after, Dr. Scudder observed that he might possibly continue a day or two longer. Mr. Richards, with a look of disappointment, replied, 'No, brother Scudder, no; I am just going.' Soon after, 'I have now clearer views of the Saviour than before. O, He is precious.' About half past ten o'clock he revived a little, and was able to speak more distinctly. On being asked, what were his views of divine things, he replied: 'Not so clear; 1 still feel that I see through a glass darkly. But soon, yes, very soon, face to face.' He then inquired for James, his only child, who was standing at the head of his bed. Taking him by the hand, he said, 'My son, your papa is dying. He will very soon be dead. Thou, my son, remember three things. Be a good boy; obey your mamma; and love Jesus Christ. Now remem

ber these, my son.' He also gave him a small pocket Testament, and told him to read it much and obey it. His whole appearance was such as to denote, that his last moments had arrived. Dr. Scudder had, for a few moments, left the room. Looking round upon those present, he said, "Tell brother Scudder, going, -and spoke no more. He continued to breathe, for a few minutes, and then quietly fell asleep. His brethren and sisters present united in singing a hymn, and in offering up a prayer to God, expressive of the mingled emotions of joy and grief excited by the occasion.

"On the following day, which was the Sabbath, the members of the mission assembled at Tillipally, and after attending to some appropriate religious exercises, committed the remains of their departed brother to the grave, in assured hope of a glorious resurrection, when this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality."-Missionary Herald.

Scripture Illustrated.

ILLUSTRATION OF PROVERBS XVI. 4.

The Lord hath made all things for himself; yea, even the wicked for the day of evil..

THIS text has often been appealed to in support of the doctrine of unconditional reprobation; a doctrine as opposite to the general declarations of scripture as it is derogatory to the nature and attributes of God, and abhorrent to the common sentiments of humanity. A careful examination of the text will, we trust, rescue it from the improper service into which it has been pressed, and evince its accordance with those doctrines of the Bible which so illustriously display the divine perfections, and demonstrate His willingness to save the chief of penitent sinners, as well as manifest His utter abhorrence of wickedness of every kind.

The original words, my, literally signify, Jehovah hath wrought, or worked, all things for himself; and may refer to His providential dealings with the human family, making them all subserve the purposes of His infinite wisdom and goodness, in the management of his government, and especially making them to work for good to those who love God. This interpretation receives support from the preceding verse. For though the proverbs of Solomon are not generally connected by such a regular chain of argumentation as are many other parts of scripture, yet we shall find on a close inspection, that often one proverb grows out of another as one thought is suggested by a preceding one, and following from it as a conclusion from the major and minor propositions. This appears to be the case in the present instance.

In the third verse it is said, "Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established;" and as an argument to induce his readers thus to commit their works unto the Lord, the wise man immediately subjoins, for the Lord hath made, hath so wrought all things, that by the wise arrangement of His government, He will so manage, overrule, and direct all things, not excepting even the wicked themselves, as to make them subserve His purposes of good to His people, and tend to establish their thoughts in the wisdom and benevolence of Him to whom they have committed their works: and while the good of those who love God is thus promoted, the wicked, those who refuse to bow their necks to the yoke of Christ, are preserved unto the day of evil to be punished for those sins which they might have avoided.

This interpretation receives confirmation from the consideration that it harmonizes with the view which holy scripture gives of the beneficent arrangements of divine providence, and the declaration that when God had finished His work of creation, He pronounced it all very good. He, therefore, who establishes the thoughts of the righteous who commit their works unto Him, pre

serves the incorrigibly wicked, however perverse may be their dispositions, unto the day of evil to be punished. He thus preserved, sustained, and kept alive, in the midst of the tremendous plagues of Egypt, the haughty tyrant Pharoah, that God's power might be known throughout all the earth; but in the day of evil, when the measure of Pharoah's iniquity was full, he was destroyed. The application of these words to the doctrine which asserts that God makes the wicked as they are, for the purpose of destroying them in the day of His wrath, is a most gross perversion of the word of God, and a manifest impeachment of His justice and goodness, and also contradictory to the express declarations of His word, which saith that He made all things good-and, " Out of the mouth of the Most High proceedeth not evil and good."

E.

The Grace of God Manifested.

To the Editors of the Methodist Magazine.

DEAR BRETHREN,

Richmond, July 10, 1823.

THE church in this place having been recently called to mourn the loss of one of its pious members, I think it a tribute due to her memory to make a short record of her virtues, thereby to exalt the grace of God, by which the depravity of her nature was conquered, she made happy in life and enabled mightily to triumph in the hour of death. I therefore send you this account, which, if you think proper, may be inserted in our Magazine, by which many of the friends, and acquaintances of the deceased may be edified and encouraged to acts of obedience and piety, and the serious reader instructed. G. M. ANDERSON.

ELLENOR EVERIDGE was born in Charles city county, Virginia, about the year 1760. During her youthful years she was in the habit of attending the Protestant Episcopal Church, and, as she herself informed me, frequently had serious impressions made on her mind whilst in the house of God, and viewing the administration of his ordinances. But these seem not to have been of a lasting nature. From this period to that of her removal to this city, the writer of this sketch is not furnished with materials from which a detail might be given.

Suffice it to say, that about the year 1807 she removed to this place, where she became acquainted with a number of the members of the Methodist Church, through whose influence she was prevailed on to attend the ministry of the Methodist preachers. By this means she was soon brought to see herself a sinner against God, unprepared for death and judgment, and that dying in this