an advantage they had been ignorant of, as they could not make the observation the night before. How to recover their horses, saddle bags, &c. excited some consideration. James Dickinson proposed that they should return for them; which was done; after he had kindly replied to his Companion's suggestions of fear, that he believed horses and bags would be ready for them; and that no questions would be asked, nor should they see an individual of the people they had seen the preceding evening. Still Jane was afraid, till encouraged by J. D. who told her she might safely venture, being convinced by that which never deceived him. They returned to the house, found their horses standing in the stable, saddled, their bags upon them, their clothes dried, and laid ready to put on, and they saw no person but an old woman sitting in a corner, by the fire side, whom they did not remember to have seen the night before. They asked her what they had to pay, discharged it, and proceeded on their journey. Some time after, James Dickinson travelling the same way on religious service, passed by the place where the house had stood, found it pulled down, and totally destroyed. On enquiring what was the cause of the house being thus in ruins: he was told that a short time after he and Jane were there, some travellers, who were ob

served to go there to lodge, were missing, and the house having been long under a bad name, the people being strongly sus pected of murdering many that went there, the neighbourhood rose with a general consent, and beset the house. They took up the people, and on searching the premises, found the bodies of the above who were missing, with many others in different states of decay, who had been evidently murdered, with some parts of their bodies wanting; much clothes were also found, supposed to belong to the murdered. The people were tried, five were executed, and the house razed to the ground.

REFLECTIONS.

The excellent Mr. Flavel in some of his remarks on the conduct of the divine providence, observed, "that he who the most attentively marks providences, will have the most providences to mark." His own experience had convinced him of this truth; and there are few (are there any) true followers of Christ who cannot, on looking back on the way in which the Lord has led them, set up their, Ebenezer, "stone of Help," in different places of their pilgrimage. God's creatures are his constant care; and their minds are greatly perverted, who, while they admit his attri

butes of Omnipotence, Omniscience, and Benevolence, deny a particular providence. In general, indeed, he works unseen; and natural, secondary causes, are his agents; but on worthy occasions, when a nation has been in danger, an humble disciple in distress, or a soul at stake, he has more manifestly interfered, controlled the most probable events, and not unfrequently changed the ordinary course of nature. At these junctures, the ignorance of infidels has filled them with wonder, at what they could not account for, though their prejudices have restrained them from expressing their unwilling admiration; but the devout believer has gratefully proclaimed, "This is the Lord's doing: it is marvellous in our eyes." When the church has been under persecution, such instances seem to have been most frequent.

I would premise, however, that I do not think we ought to conclude these tokens of Divine favour to be so many seals set to the propriety of Quakerism or nonconformity, or even to the truth of every doctrine which they might deliver. I believe that had the friends of Episcopacy, and of the Liturgy, suffered the same persecution, with the same piety, resignation, fortitude, and conscientious adherence to principle, they would have received similar supports. The Lord would have

equally manifested his approbation of their conduct; and they also would have been enrolled among those of whom it has been declared, that," the world is not worthy.' Modes of worship and forms of churchgovernment, and uniformity in these, are not indeed, matters of pure indifference: but nevertheless, he that conscientiously observes a particular mode, observes it to the Lord; and he that as conscientiously rejects, rejects it to the Lord; and the Lord is the judge and avenger of both; and though men curse, he will bless.

In rejecting the non-conformists, the church of England tore away the brightest jewels from her crown. These great men were not inferior, as a body, to the conformist clergy, in general erudition; and in spiritual knowledge, the effect of study and experience combined, which is the peculiar qualification of the Christian minister. They were so eminent, that it may be questioned if any age of the church has yet exhibited so numerous, and so bright an assemblage. Their piety and their sufferings have sanctified their cause.

Many of these blessed men (and the Quakers, Laymen, and Preachers, among the rest) were brought into the greatest difficulties but often, very often, had they to record the Lord's interference for them,

sometimes they were preserved (as in the case before us) in imminent dangers; sometimes God withered the outstretched arm of the persecutor, and made him a monument of the divine anger, inscribed with, "Do my prophets no harm; and sometimes their table was spread by an invisible hand, and their soul was saved alive in famine.

THE PERSECUTING JUSTICE.

Sir Richard Craddock, a justice of peace, who was a violent hater and persecutor of the Dissenters, and who exerted himself to enforce all the severe laws then in existence against them, happened to live near Mr. Rogers, to whom he bore a particular enmity, and whom he wanted above all things, to have in his power. Hearing that he was to preach at a place, some miles distant, he thought it a fair, opportunity to accomplish his base design; and in order thereto, hired two men to go as spies, and take down the names of all the hearers whom they knew, that they might appear as witnesses, against both them and Mr. Rogers. The plan seemed to succeed to his wishes. These men brought him the names of rever: 1 persond