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pronounced of a definite form-the philosophic gardener, sees every plant and shrub and flower, assume its own native garb; and even the wormwood and the gall appear without deceit---but when he steps forth from these scenes of order and harmony into the wide expanse, to explore the various productions there---he is compelled by his office and by the veracity of his nature, like the first man, to give new names to every object-for in the world, he finds light is put for darkness, and darkness for light--bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter---error for truth, and truth for error---falsehood for fact, and fact for falsehood---amazed and confounded he laments his hard destiny---his love of truth compels him on the one hand, to unmask these sons of falsehood, aud his nature as a man on the other, shrinks from this difficult post of Ishmael, which obliges him to lift up his hand against every man,---while almost every man's hand is lifted against him.

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DELIVERED IN THE PRESENCE OF SEVERAL WITNESSES,

ABOUT TWO HOURS BEFORE HE DEPARTED THIS LIFE--OBSERVATIONS ON THE INCIDENTS OF THIS GREAT MAN'S

LIFE.

"There is a spirit" (said he) "which I feel, that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong-delights to endure all things, in hope to enjoy its own in the end---its hope is to outlive all wrath and contention, and to weary out all exaltation and cruelty, or whatever is of a nature contrary to itself---it sees to the end of all temptations-As it bears no evil in itself, so it conceives none in thought to any other-if it be betrayed it bears it, for its ground and spring is the mercies and forgiveness of God---its crown is meekness---its life is everlasting love unfeigned---it takes its kingdom with intreaty and not with contention, and keeps it by lowliness of mind---In God alone it can rejoice, though none else regard it or own its life---It is conceived in sorrow, and brought forth without any pity to it-nor doth it murmur at grief and oppression-it never rejoiceth but through sufferings, for with the world's joy it is murdered-I found it alone being forsaken-I have fellowship therein with them, who lived in dens, and desolate places

of the earth; who through death obtained this resurrection, and eternal holy life"

OBSERVATIONS -James Nailor was an eminent preacher amongst the people called Quakers, contemporary with Fox and Barclay-the history of this society informs us, that he fell deeply into the snare of the enemy, so far as to suffer some weak persons to pay him divine honours! the extraordinary power which attended his ministry, cannot be better described, than by an extract from the life of James Gough-by this we are informed, that an officer returning at the head of his troop from the battle of Dunbar, observing a crowd of people at a 'short distance from the road he travelled, and one higher than the rest, sent one of his men to know the business of the assembly-the soldier not returning, he sent a second; and this latter also being compelled by his own feelings to stay-the officer determind to satisfy his curiosity in person he found it was James Nailor preaching to the people; but with such power and reaching energy, to use his own expression, as he had not till then been witness of he was made a Quaker, being forced to tremble at the sight of himself-this passage shews us what God can do by man, and the fall of James Nailor shews uswhat man is, without God-the divine mercy is however remarkably conspicuous in the restoration of this its once powerful ambassador-the nature of his fall was such as subjected him to the punishment of the civil authority-he was pillored, whipped, and branded with red hot iron for blasphemy, in the cities of London and Bristol-his punishment was probably made the first instrument of

his conviction, but be this as it may, he appears soon after to have received a deep and cleansing baptism of the spirit of Jesus Christ-for as his experience has not the smallest aspect of fiction; so in the mouth of a dying man, it furnisheth an incontestible evidence, not only that Jesus "hath power upon earth to forgive sins," but also to cleanse the soul of man from all unrighte

ousness.

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Lessons of the deepest importance, may be learned from the incidents of this great man's life-We perceive him anointed in a remarkable manner for the work of the ministry to use the allegorical language of scripture, he was made to beat the mountains small-the towers of ambition fell before him—and while sinners trembling under the energetic impression, cried out, "What shall we do to be saved?" he pointed them to "the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world"-such was the power that attended this man's ministry, that the English officer professed he trembled more before his preaching, than he did before the battle of Dunbar, where he had nothing to expect every moment, but death by the cannon of the enemy-and yet this once powerful ambassador falls himself-so necessary is the apostle's caution" Be not high-minded, but fear"-to despise such is however a great mistake—the man who does so, is ignorant of his own weakness, and of his dependence upon God for preservation.

As James Nailor before his fall, was remarkably distinguished among his brethren, by the ministerial talents conferred upon him-so in his undue elevation and its

consequences, we see confirmed the truth of the observation of that deeply experienced servant of God M. Guion-" Great gifts", said she, " do not sanctify, unless they are also accompanied with profound humility”—In this latter grace of the gospel (by which alone we are conformed to the image of him "who for our sakes became poor,") James Nailor after his restoration, appears to have been clothed as in a garment-his experience before his death, breathes forth such a spirit of meekness and universal charity, as cannot but be highly acceptable and edifying, to those who are in possession; or who are even in pursuit of vital christianity.

He was found ill in a field near Huntingdon, and brought from thence to a friend's house not far from Kings-Rippon, where he died in peace, about two hours after he had delivered the above experience-and I have no doubt but his soul pardoned through the merits, and washed in the blood of his dear Redeemer, is now united to the adoring multitude which no man can number

In praising him who bought him with his blood,
And freely washed him in the crimson flood,
Who plac'd with kings and priests his new birth name,
And in his hand, of victory the palm,

And in his mouth, the praises of the Lamb.

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