Besides serpents, it is well known that there are several other animals whose poison is more or less active and deadly, against which the antidote in question might be rendered extremely valuable. Among the most terrible, is that of the blood and froth of a certain species of lizard, found in the island of Java, and used by the natives to poison their arrows. In order to obtain it, they suspend the lizard by the tail, and beat and irritate it till it emits from the mouth a yellow viscous matter, which is received into an earthen cup, and fermented in the sun. Afterwards, their arrows are steeped in it, and the wounds they inflict are of a deadly nature. In these cases, the Guaco-plant would undoubtedly answer the end desired, and certainly it is on that account highly deserving the attention of the physicians attached to the British armies in the East Indies, where the soldiers are alike exposed to the ills of war and the reptiles of the woods. Several other herbs and roots have been used, with a partial degree of success, against the bites of serpents; and many other modes of cure are in practice among the natives of South America, some of which consist in bruising the head of the animal that has caused the wound, and applying it to it; but as none are so simple, safe, and efficacious as the Guaco-plant, it would be useless to enumerate them in this place. This specific is, besides, now well known, frequent and easily found on almost all the margins of rivulets, and in damp places, and can also be readily transplanted, or propagated by means of seed.

THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD ASSERTED.
To the Editor.

I HAVE extracted the following instance of the power of faith and prayer, from a volume of " Clarke's Lives:" if you think good to insert them in your Magazine, they will speak to the hearts of your readers. Dr. Samuel Winter was born in 1603, Your's, in the same faith,

and died in 1666.

CREDENS.

Not long after Mr. Winter's coming into Ireland, he went to Kilkenny, in which place Col. Jones's wife became exceedingly ill; her husband invited certain ministers and other friends to spend some hours in prayer unto God in her behalf. And Mr. Winter

was the last man that prayed. But before he began he went to her, and asked her whether she had faith to be healed? She answered, she thought she had. Then he went to prayer, and wrestled exceedingly with God for her recovery; and when he had done he went again unto her, and advised her to be very careful in the use of all good means for the recovery of her health, adding, that she should live and not die at that time. After

this she continued very weak for a month, or more; her doctors gave her up: Mr. Winter was sent for to see her before she died. She lay speechless, and without the use of her senses, not answering, nor moving her eyes, though her husband and Mr. Winter called unto her; whereupon her husband judged that she had lost her hearing. Mr. Winter requested that he might pray with her; but her husband refused, saying, that she was senseless, and had been dying all the morning: Mr. Winter urged again, that he might pray with her; "No," saith the Colonel, "it is to no purpose, she is now a dead woman ;" yet Mr. Winter urged the third time that he might pray, saying, "Her life is yet in her, and whilst there is life, there is hope;" and he went to prayer, which he performed with much earnestness and importunity, joined with many tears. When prayer was ended, Mr. Winter going to her bed-side, she looked upon him, and said, "Oh! see the fruit of prayer! Oh! see the fruit of prayer! Set me up, and give me something to eat; I am cured, but not by the art of doctors, only free grace, and fervent prayers have prevailed with God for me." They then gave her some food, which she ate. Her husband sent for the doctors, but she bade them not provide any more physic for her, saying, that she would take none; for she would not dishonour God, nor wrong prayer so much, by which she was now cured, as to take any more physic; nor could she, by any means, be persuaded to it." The prayer of faith shall save the sick."

Whilst Mr. Winter was in Dublin, Mrs. Winter's sister's husband being upon business in London, he fell very dangerously sick, and his physicians, after a time, gave him up. Another of Mrs. Winter's sisters wrote her word of it, adding, that she believed before that letter could come to hand he would be dead and buried. As soon as they received it, his wife desired that that afternoon might be set apart to seek God in her husband's behalf; and accordingly some ministers and Christians were invited to meet together for that end. When the time was come Mrs. Winter requested her husband to come away, for that the company were met together; he bade her go before, for he must endeavour to know of the Lord whether he was living or not; "For (said he) do you think that I will pray for a dead man?" When some of the ministers had prayed, Dr. Winter came in. They prayed with submission, that if he were yet in the land of the living, the Lord would be pleased to be his physician, and to direct and bless all good means to him for the recovery of his health. But in the close of the day, when Dr. Winter came to pray, he shewed much confidence that he was yet alive, to the amazement of all that heard him; and when he had concluded, and was risen from his knees, he went to his sister-in-law, and took her by the hand, saying, "Be of good comfort, for your

husband is alive, and shall recover, and you shall see him again with joy." She said, "Ah! brother, I fear he is dead, do you think he is alive?" "I know (said he) that he is alive;" and repeated over his former words again; and accordingly, in their next letters, they heard of his recovery.-" All things are possible to him that believeth."

The last time that the soldiers pulled the Parliament in pieces, Dr. Winter, and his friends in Dublin, were in great fears of the confusions that were like to follow: whereupon he kept weekly fasts with his congregation, for a great while together: And one time, as he was praying, in imitation of Abraham's praying for Sodom, he used like expressions; "Lord wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Peradventure there be fifty thousand righteous, within these three kingdoms, wilt thou also destroy and not spare these nations for fifty thousand righteous that are therein?" And when he came to the last number of ten thousand, as he kneeled against a post in the room, he saw a great shining light about him, and heard perfectly a voice, saying, "The nations shall be spared for ten thousand righteous persons' sake." Upon this gracious answer, he turned his prayer into praises and thanksgivings unto God, for this speedy return to his earnest request, insomuch that all the company could not but take notice of it, though none of them heard the voice but himself only. Dr. Winter afterwards told his wife, that he perceived that a voice might be spoken to one in a room, where many were, and yet none else might hear it. And when he lay upon his death-bed, his wife asked him again about it, and he said that he did as certainly and plainly hear it, as he heard her then speak: she asked if the voice were like unto her's? "No (said he) it was another manner of voice." Thus we read, Acts xxii. 9, that the men which went with Saul to Damascus, saw indeed the light and were afraid, but heard not the voice that spoke to him.

THE GRACE OF GOD MANIFESTED.

A brief Memoir of Mr. JOHN HALL, late of Tong, near Breedon, in the County of Leicester, who was a member of the Methodist society, in that place, more than half a century, and an intimate friend of the Rev. Walter Sellon.-By J. EDMONDSON.

Mr. JOHN HALL was born at Tong, on the 17th day of February, 1732. His parents, who were diligent in business, and upright in their dealings with men, brought him up, as far as they had light to direct their steps, in the fear of the Lord, and in the practice of moral duties; but they were strangers to that pure VOL. XLI. JANUARY, 1818. * G *

gospel which afterwards shone with great splendour in that part of the country, principally through the ministerial labours of the Rev. Walter Sellon, and his friends, the Methodist preachers.

It appears that Mr. Hall retained, for many years, that fear of God and love for moral conduct, which his parents had recommended to him in his youth; so that when he was early called to business, and much exposed to mixed company, he was not only preserved from those vices which frequently ensnare inexperienced youth, but maintained a decent character in the public walks of life.

But, about the 25th year of his age, he began to feel the awakening and powerful influences of the Holy Spirit upon his heart, which led him to think more seriously on religion, and the state of his soul, than he had ever done before; and he saw clearly that he wanted something which he had not, to make him truly happy on earth, and to prepare him for the upper and better world. On communicating his thoughts and feelings to some of his neighbours, who probably had been wrought upon in a similar way, they attended Divine worship in several neighbouring churches, hoping to gain further light; but both he and his companions were painfully disappointed; for, at that time, there were but few in the established church, either ministers or people, who understood the gospel of God our Saviour. At length being informed of a pious Baptist preacher, at Melbourne, he went to hear him, and, under his ministry, was deeply convinced of his fallen state by nature. He then began to seek the Lord in good earnest, resolving not to rest without that salvation, which the gospel offers to a lost and ruined world.

While he was thus employed, the Rev. Walter Sellon, a truly enlightened and pious clergyman, obtained the curacy of Breedon church. Mr. Hall sat under his ministry with great delight, and through his instrumentality was brought into the glorious liberty of the children of God. His sister, Mrs. Skirmer, was also awakened and truly converted to God, and they enjoyed sweet refreshing seasons from the presence of the Lord. On a sacramental occasion, while Mr. Sellon gave out that hymn," Thou Shepherd of Israel and mine," Mr. Hall was so filled with the love of God, and so uncommonly elevated above every thing earthly, that he knew not whether he was in the body or out of the body; a state of mind, which, however pleasing, does not often occur, even to the best of men, and which ought never to be set up as a standard of Christian experience. Soon after this remarkable visitation, he lost his mother, who was one of the first fruits of Mr. Sellon's ministry. She died truly happy in God.

Mr. Sellon's ministry was attended with uncommon power. The churches where he preached, namely, Smisby, near Ashbyde-la-Zouch, and Breedon, were generally crowded, and the

Holy Spirit was poured out upon the congregations, in a way which had never been known by any person in those parts. Vast multitudes of people came to hear the word, not only from the adjacent towns and villages, but frequently from places at the distance of ten, fifteen, and twenty miles. Breedon church stands on the top of a high hill, and may be seen many miles around. While Mr. Sellon preached there, the multitudes who used to attend that favoured spot, on a Lord's-day, were, as I have heard our aged friends express it, like the tribes of Israel who went up to Mount Zion, to worship Jehovah in his holy temple. The seals to his ministry, were not only numerous, but what is still more pleasing, generally endured to the end. I travelled in that lovely country, in the Ashby-de-la-Zouch circuit, three years, where many of his spiritual children were still living; and they always spoke of him with the warmest gratitude and love. It was soon discovered, after his arrival there, that he was warmly attached to the Rev. John Wesley and his preachers; and he rejoiced greatly when they came into Breedon parish. Mr. Hall, and Mr. and Mrs. Skirmer, though sincerely attached to the church, were the honoured instruments of introducing them to Tong. The occasion was as follows: being informed that one of our preachers was about to visit LongWhatton, a neighbouring village, they went to hear him, and were so much pleased and profited with his discourse, that they invited him to preach the word of life to them also. Accordingly. he went, and his ministry was attended with Divine power, so that both the inhabitants of Tong, and others who came from distant places, were instructed and edified.* Afterwards, other respectable preachers visited Tong, in regular succession; a society was formed, which has continued to this day; and Mr. Hall was appointed the leader, which office he held as long as he lived.

Mr. Hall was very diligent in the early days of Methodism, using all the means in his power to spread the gospel, and to form societies in the neighbouring villages, particularly in Breedon, Worthington, and Diseworth; and he was the leader of classes in those places for several years. But Tong was long considered, by our people, as the mother church, and the members of other societies regularly attended the preaching there. Of those who statedly worshipped God, in the house of Mr. Hall,

* The preacher was Mr. George Hudson, whose zeal in the cause of God, in those days, was very great; and whose labours were remarkably successful. He was a nauve of Keighley, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, and was well known to me when I was very young. After many years labour in the vineyard of our Lord, he fell into sin, disgraced himself, and brought a reproach upon the cause of God, for which he was justly expelled from the Methodist connexion. But he confessed his sin, and, professing to have found peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, again began to preach wherever he had an opening. I have been informed, that after many years, be was received as a regular local preacher, in the Otley circuit; that he continued to preach the word as long as he was able; and, that, there was hope in his death

J. E.