A FALSE PROFESSOR. 47 same time. There I saw another woman of about thirty years of age, who was one year in the Hospital, and who has been nearly the same time in the Almshouse. She is almost gone, and she said of two young things, not more than sixteen years of age, who sat at the foot of her bed, mending some old rags to cover their naked, weather-beaten, dying bosoms, O that they would take warning from me!' The professor of religion, who is a common courtesan, seemed quite insensible; while two or three, who had never acted the part of hypocrites, were much affected. This proves that an unrenewed nominal Christian, who had many fits, swoons, and fevers of devotion, without any saving knowledge or faith, may be worse than many abandoned persons, who never made any pretensions to religion. W— F― declines; but he can nod his meaning, just as well as if he spake it. Every thing he resigns into the hands of the Redeemer, whose soul touches his. Good night to the hundred poor, to whom I have preached; good night to the thirty devotees of Succoth-Benoth, with whom I have afterwards prayed. 'Lord, what is man!-poor-feeble man!' Mercy! mercy! mercy on us! Son of David. February 14th. BESIDES attending church once, I have preached three times to-day, visited and prayed in three wards of the Almshouse, and, in short, have gone through a scene so similar to that of the last Sabbath, that it is useless to enlarge this article. 48 PREPARATION FOR DEATH. February 15th. THIS morning I have visited three wards of the Hospital, and prayed with three dying men who were solicitous of instruction. One said, "I am almost as low as I can be." 'Yes, friend,' I replied, and perhaps you will die soon.' "I hope not," he responded, and drew back with much horror in his countenance. He had not, indeed, calculated on dissolution, and it was my unpleasant duty to convince him that the cold hand of death was on his heart. Before I left him, he appeared to be more reconciled to the thought of speedily departing from this life. My Roman Catholic friend was truly glad to see me, and assured me that death had become by far less terrible than it was, before he knew the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. He said, "I am waiting for the last moment." To see his pale, white, and red full face, lifted up to Heaven, with eyes full of tears, would affect any spectator, if it would not convince him of the reality of vital religion. Another man I approached on the bed of sickness; but what shall I say of him? On the Sabbath but one before the last, in this same room, a man died, a few moments after I had concluded my sermon, and two have since resigned their bodies to the power of the grave: but all this is nothing to the callous heart. From his furrowed face and grey locks, which hung upon his shoulders, I might have expected to hear him say, "I remember the days of my youth with sorrow; when I feel the weakness of my arm. I have AN OBDURATE OLD MAN. 49 beheld the tombs of my friends, and now darkness comes on my soul." Nothing like this escaped him. You are aged, Sir, as well as sick,' said the writer. Yes, I am a good old dog yet," he said, and turned his antiquated frame like Goliah of Gath; "a good old dog, that may live many days!" 'I could wish you some higher destiny than that of a dog, which shall perish.' "I have no doubt but that every good man wishes the same; but my sins are as innumerable as the sands on the sea-shore, and I can spend my time much better than to be praying for their pardon!" This was uttered with such a countenance and air, that I confess I knew not what to say to him. He appeared to defy the living God. A few things, nevertheless, I suggested for his consideration; and he closed his eyes, telling me that he wished to go to sleep. You must sleep soon,' I said, 'the sleep of death; and may God grant that you do not awake in hell!' February 16th. "Though weary'd virtue oft his soul forsake, How glorious then, to gain th' unrivall❜d prize! The foe's resistless pow'rs, Hope sinks in deep despair.' OBERON. AT the request of Mrs. M****, who, without wealth, does much good, I renewed my visits to the VOL. II. 50 THE WOUNDED SOLDIER'S sister of Miss H the sick soldier's female friend, of whom I gave some account in my Journal for 1811.* The aged and withered survivor, who was born before her departed sister, still occupies the same cellar; which, to use her own words, ' is homely, but neat.' A neighbour, a poor woman, who appears to be thoughtful, had come to make her a visit; and they two were actually within the chimney, over a few sticks which had been kindled to boil the pot. "You have almost forgotten me, I suppose; but you once knew me." 'O, its Mr. Ely! I'm glad to see you once more. How do you do? You look healthy; much more so than you did.' "And you can remember better days, and tell of changing scenes." Yes, Sir; I can well remember when I had the honour of dining in company with that reverend man of God, Mr. George Whitefield, and with eight or ten clergymen at the same time.' She then repeated their names to me, which I have forgotten. But it is the Lord, who has brought me low, and I must submit. Blessed be his name, for he deals mercifully with me!' "Have you suffered much since I saw you last? Or have you been provided for?" Once last summer I arose on the Sabbath, and had nothing but a crust of bread, and one drawing of tea in the house, and so I went to the church * See pages 70, 71, 78, 121. FEMALE FRIEND. 51 fasting; and there was I fed, so that I was completely satisfied.' "Did any one give you temporal food there?" 'Oh, no; but I was refreshed with the word of God, and returned to this place, and was as well satisfied, as if the room had been lined with provisions. His word is meat indeed. But I was very weak, and went to bed. In the evening I thought that I ought to go to my meeting again, and not lie down in sadness, so I went, and the next day I got some work to supply my craving appetite.' "I perceive, that the poorest are not the most unhappy people in the world, and the Lord appears to comfort you in your sorrows. He brings down many, and raises others up." 'I have seen many grow rich; but I think America has become great without being thankful. I think the people have become proud and high in their notions. To be high and rich is the ruling passion in our land.' The writer thought her remarks correct; but was grateful for the fact, that many people in the midst of us are exemplary in their piety. 'True,' she said, and there seems to be more than a common stir in this city; but if all PROFESSORS were POSSESSORS of religion, this city would be a very different place.' This quaint, but pungent speech, may have been original with her, or it may have been quoted from the fathers. I did not inquire how she came by it; and since she spoke without any apparent disaffection with the fluent, yea, without the least manifestation of discontent with her own situation, I could |