ments of intellect. His greatness arose more from dispositions than from talents. Zeal, love of man, and love of God, armed him with his power, and these are attainable by all. They gave him that determination of purpose which bore down all that opposed it, and made him "mighty through God," equalling in labours and success Whitefield, or even Wesley, without the genius of the one, or the learning of the other. While most of the great men who guided the early movements of Methodism are illustrations of the power of sanctified intellect, Asbury seems to have been providentially raised up and placed among them as an example of the power of the ordinary faculties of man when sustained by high moral motives, a sublime model, not for the talented, like the former, but for all. It has been justly remarked that he occupies the place in the religious history of this country which Washington does in its civil history. Methodism, toward which, on this continent, he sustained the relation of leader, has already outstripped all other sects, but is still in its childhood: all its operations are yet in their incipience. What will be its importance when it reaches maturity? Then, perhaps, the honour we claim for Asbury will be conceded. Methodism, under Asbury, gave the impulse which

roused most other sects, and spread over the country the spirit of revivals.

The time wil

yet come when he will be acknowledged, no merely the father of American Methodism, but of American evangelism.

PRESENTIMENTS.

"Secret things belong unto the Lord our God."

Moses.

I HAVE lately received the Life of Mr. Watson. The biographer, in relating his visit with Watson to a certain village, says, "In passing the church-yard, Mr. Watson pointed to a conspicuous grave, and said, 'The first time I travelled this way, that grave-stone caught my eye, especially the words ***, who died, aged fortytwo. A very strong impression, for which I could not account, was immediately made upon my mind, that I should die at precisely the same age. The impression was both strong and sudden; I have already passed that age, and this shows how little stress can be justly laid upon those sudden impulses and impressions, of which some people make so much account.' This impression, it appears, had created considerable uneasiness in the family

of Mr. Watson; but its effect on his own mind it is not easy to determine."

Watson possessed a vigorous mind, one that we should suppose would be the last to indulge fanatical or whimsical ideas; we may learn, therefore, from his case, the liability of weaker minds to be deluded by such impressions. Had he been as susceptible as his anxious family, it is not improbable that he would have worn away under the impression, fallen into some fatal disease, and expired at the precise time, and all this the result merely of imagination. Medical history is full of proofs on this subject, and it is altogether probable that most who die under such circumstances fall victims to their own folly, instead of a revealed design of Providence. Cases have been known where criminals condemned to death have been blindfolded, laid upon the block, slightly struck on the neck with a cane, and taken up dead, without the loss of a drop of blood.

It is singular with what tenacity these morbid fears will cling to the mind, especially when the system has been enervated by prolonged excitement. No class of men, perhaps, are more exposed to such excitement than Methodist preachers, by both their extemporaneous mode of speaking, which is accompanied often

with intense emotion, and the frequency and arduousness of their pastoral labours and social meetings; and perhaps most of them experience, at some time or other, its depressing effects.

My old friend M., when stationed at Bhad a brief and ludicrous attack of this species of hypochondria. He had laboured arduously during several weeks, and not a few vexatious difficulties had disturbed the church and harassed his mind. On returning late, and quite exhausted, one night, from a meeting at which he had felt uncommonly languid and dejected, he was suddenly seized, as he entered his study, with the impression that he had offended God, and would die that very night. As usual with a diseased state of the mind, the thought was attended with profound melancholy. Of course he thought not of sleep, but walked the floor in agony for hours. Wearied at last by his rapid paces, he seated himself, and, covering his face with his hands, reclined his head on a table. Thus situated, he prayed, wept, and trembled, and as the time advanced, prayed, wept, and trembled the more. At last, in his agony, and with his hair on end, he rose to pace again the floor, when, lo! daylight was streaming in at his window! The illusion was gone, and the

astonished man knew not whether he ought to smile or blush at his weakness. It was a weakness, however, which a superior mind can more easily despise than prevent.

It was my own misfortune once to suffer much from one of these presentiments of death. It was received while I was upon my knees in private prayer. The circumstances were strong, the impression at the time was singularly clear and forcible, like an intuition. Subsequent circumstances, too, seemed confirmatory of it. The very next day an excellent Christian died in the neighbourhood, who had entertained. such a presentiment for months, and had even provided his coffin for the event. As the time passed the omens became stronger; by an accidental exposure I took cold, was attacked with cough, and confined to my room with incipient symptoms of pulmonary consumption. How easily would some minds have given way under these circumstances, and have realized the expected result! I had not, however, been disposed to superstitious fears, and knew the caprices of the imagination, and its dangerous influence on health. I therefore calmly endeavoured to prepare my mind and circumstances for any result, and waited through the period of several weeks, within which I expected to die,