friend or two, which was frequently the case during the last ten years that he lived in the neighborhood of Olney, their conversation seemed to afford the principal alleviation to his habitual burthen. The evening was commonly employed in reading aloud to some friend who resided with him; for such was the care of God over this amiable sufferer, that he never was left without some companion, whose heart the Lord disposed to sacrifice every comfort for his preservation and relief. But as night approached, his gloom of mind regularly increased; and when he went to his bed, it was not to rest, but to be again harrassed in slumber with the terrifying images of a bewildered fancy, neither constrained by the control of reason, nor diverted by external objects. Innumerable times was he constrained to cry out, "would God it were morning!" Never, surely in the lips of a fellow-creature, could that exclamation be more appropriate, "behold, and see, if there be any sorrow like my sorrow!"

Of the general condition of his mind, during the last seven years of his abode in the vicinity of Olney, which certainly were the most tranquil that he passed in the latter part of his life, the best judgment may be formed from his own expressions, in a Poem written towards the close of that interval, part of which we have already quoted. It was occasioned by the unexpected acquisition of a small portrait of his mother, whom he had lost more than half a century before, but had never ceased to remember with the warmest gratitude and the fondest affection. Having described her's and his father's passage through this life to a heavenly world, under the figure of a voyage speedily terminated, he naturally reverts in the same metaphorical language, to the distressing contrast which his own situation and prospects presented.

"But me, scarce hoping to obtain that rest,
Always from port withheld, always distress'd,-
Me howling winds drive devious, tempest-toss'd,
Sails ript, seams op'ning wide, and compass lost;
And, day by day, some current's thwarting force
Sets me more distant from a prosp'rous course.
But, Oh! that thou art safe, and he!

That thought is joy, arrive what may to me."

The principal pleasure that he appeared capable of receiving was, indeed, that which he derived from the happiness of others. Instead of being provoked to discontent and envy, by contrasting their comforts with his own afflictions, there evidently was not a benefit that he knew to be enjoyed by others, which did not afford him sensible satisfaction; not a

suffering they endured, that did not add to his pain. To the happiness of them who were privileged with opportunities of shewing their esteem for him, he was most tenderly alive.-. The advancement of the knowledge of Christ in the world at large was always near his heart; and whatever concerned the general welfare of mankind was interesting to him, secluded as he was from the public, and, in common, from religious society. In like manner, from his distant retreat, he viewed, with painful sensations, the progress of infidelity, and of sin in every shape. His love to God, though unassisted by a hope of divine favor, was invariably manifested by an abhorrence of every thing that he thought dishonorable to the Most High, and a delight in all that tended to his glory. His sympathising and admiring friends were fondly cherishing a hope, that the diminution of his sufferings, which was apparent for several successive years, would, at length, result in his restoration to spiritual peace and joy. Although advanced in years, his health, by means of regular exercise, and additional society, was not only preserved, but even seemed to improve, notwithstanding the root of his bitterness evidently still remained. Amidst flattering expectations, the Lord permitted some affecting events to revive his distress in all its force, and to plunge him again into distraction and desperation. He declined all mental or bodily exertion, and rejected all attempts at friendly consolation; nay, he conceived his tenderest friends to be transformed, by the powers of darkness, into conspirators against his welfare. Expecting every hour to be his last out of endless torments, nothing short of this horrible prospect could attract his notice for an instant. He refused, day after day, his necessary food; and imminent danger appeared of his speedy departure out of life, in so dreadful a state of mind. But the Lord, who had dashed the rising hopes of his friends, now mercifully disappointed their fears. His period of mortality was extended, and means were unexpectedly afforded for his removal from Olney, to a distant situation, where he could remain under the continual care of an amiable young kinsman, who, with a tenderness beyond the common limits of filial affection, watched over the precious remnant of his life. Much of it elapsed without a probability of his restoration to the state from which he had last fallen.-His intellectual powers were so much affected by this relapse that he was only capable of attending to the most trivial subjects, even when willing to have his thoughts diverted from despair. Local advantages, the solicitous attention of affectionate friends, and the indefatigable assiduity of his only remaining companion,

were, at length, rendered so far useful, that he was enabled to resume his literary occupations, which were always, when pursued, a considerable, though partial alleviation of his dis

tress.

During the last year or two of Mr. Cowper's life, his health and his state of mind appeared to be as much restored, as for an equal time at any period during his long afflictions. Toward the close of the past winter, he was, however, attacked by a bodily disorder, which brought on a rapid decay. His young friend and relative, convinced that he would shortly exchange a world of infirmity and sorrow for a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, repeatedly endeavored to cheer him with the prospect, and to assure him of the happiness that awaited him. Still he refused to be comforted. O spare me! spare me! You know, you know it to be false,"was his only reply; with the same invincible despair to which he had so long been a prey. Early on the 25th of April, 1800, he sunk into a state of apparent insensibility, which might have been mistaken for a tranquil slumber, but that his eyes remained half open. His breath was regular, though feeble; and his countenance and animal frame were perfectly serene. In this state he continued for twelve hours, and then expired, without heaving his breath.

What a sudden transition, from the deepest anguish to the heights of blessedness! All his tears are wiped away; and the reasons of the divine procedure towards him are fully explained. "Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints!"

From the Connecticut Evangelical Magazine.

SOME REFLECTIONS ON THE MORAL CAUSES OF NATIONAL

JUDGMENTS.

THE design of this paper is to call the attention of the reader to a subject intimately connected with our national prosperity. If the subject had been merely political, unconnected with the existence and best interests of the Christian Church, it would not have been inserted in this Magazine. If there be a supreme God, it is proper men should acknowledge him; if the destinies of nations be in his hand, it is fit they should confess his providence. It is a primary object of infinite wisdom to convince men there is a moral Governor in the universe. To this end every event is directed, because the happiness of creatures depends on their knowing and be

ing reconciled to divine Sovereignty. There is a most important sense in which communities are the subjects of moral command, which it is their duty suitably to acknowledge. Therefore God, in his word, addresses nations, churches, and families. He gives a law of duty, promises to their obedience, and threatnings to their disobedience. As an additional motive to reverence him, and give the strongest evidence of his universal efficiency, by the mouth of his prophets he hath informed us how he will deal with nations to the end of the world. He hath foretold the moral character they should sustain, and how his providence would reward them. The present age is predicted as a period in which blasphemous impiety would come to its height, and draw down the heaviest vengeance of God on mankind.

There is no period recorded in history, that ought so much to astonish us as the present, or wherein events so great and destructive to the lives, liberties and properties of men, have succeeded in such rapid succession, as within the compass of a few years past. The French empire, with its despotic head, as an overflowing scourge, hath subjected many nations, stripped them of their wealth, their liberties, and their crown. All the countries of continental Europe have been stained with the blood of their sons. At the moment when we were ready to say the oppression must become universal, an awful and a bloody stroke hath been given to the power of the oppressor. This destruction of the greatest and best appointed force that man could bring together, hath not its parallel in the history of mankind. More men may have been collected, in the shape of an undisciplined, ungoverned multitude; but never before, did so many great captains, so many veterans in warfare, conflict together as in the present European contest. I do not mention this to give the reader a history of the wars that are going forward, but to excite him to fear and repent before the sovereign of the earth.

We

In the present commotions of the nations, there are singular marks of an avenging providence. God is ordering events in a very surprising manner to chastise men. know that wars have been, in some part of the habitable earth, in every age, for they are natural effects of the lusts of men; but there hath not been like what is now exhibited by the providence of God. All this was foretold. It is the fulfilment of prophecies very expressly written. Infidelity and apostacy, long before they took place, were predicted for this very period of time. The judgments, the battle of Almighty God to punish sin, was at the same time foretold. We who now live see the accomplishment; which is a new

and wonderful evidence for the truth of the scriptures, that our fathers did not have. The sins which God threatened to punish, were to be committed within the professing Christian world; for infidelity, as we commonly understand the word, and apostacy could not happen among the heathen; and the destruetive wars, that were appointed to punish, are nearly confined to the same Christian world. It is a strange sight we behold!—an astonishing event we contemplate !— Look on the whole heathen world, it is hushed in peace, perhaps more universally than was ever known before. Oh that it might be a presage of their speedily receiving the doctrines of peace, that were preached by our divine Redeemer! Look on the whole Christian world, it is all embroiled in war, filled with the bitterest animosity; blood hath flowed in torrents; it still flows, and will probably continue the same for years to come. Can we refrain from determining that this is a part of the battle of the great day of God Almighty; part of the vintage and the harvest, when the blood should flow to the horses' bridles, and all the fowls of heaven be called on to come and feed on the slain bodies of kings, and captains, and mighty hosts? What a literal fulfilment is this, of what is now seen in Europe? Enough hath been seen to inform us of the period in which we live; but it has not come to its close. That reverse in victory, which hah lately happened, will doubtless have great consequences, which I do not predict; but it will not stop the effusion of blood; it may rather increase it. Through a vast portion of the world the old foundations of government are so broken down; the perversion of men's natural rights has been 90 great; the violent usurpations of property and honor have been so many, and the enmity of contending nations become so fixed, that a state of peace cannot speedily succeed. There is nothing in human nature, or the state of the nations, to warrant such a conclusion. It is too probable this bloody state of things, with many intervening changes, will continue until men have exhausted the means of destruction. God hath prepared the way; he hath stored up the means, and formed the instruments of avenging his justice on a luxurious and disbelieving world. So full of sin and misery is that state of things we are contemplating that a humane soul would wish to turn from the scene, and forever forget it, if we were not called to the prospect for moral instruction. Here we see the bitter nature of those sinful principles which deprave the heart, and too often govern the counsels of nations. Here we see tyranny stripped of all disguise, and may learn how much we ought to loathe our own degenerate natures;