DEATH: A VISION PART I. It was about twelve months ago, that my mind, as is but too frequent with me, void of stability, rambled from one theme to another, and for a considerable time, continued its vagary to that degree, that I found myself utterly incapable of fixing my attention on any subject that presented itself, however interesting or important it might seem. At last, an awful subject,-DEATH,--all-conquering DEATH!--presented itself to me; and that not in a very desirable manner, but in all the deformities of an implacable enemy to nature. This unwelcome, though important visitant, engrossed my attention in such a manner, that for a fortnight's space I maintained an almost constant intercourse with that awful production of Sin. Throughout the whole length of the day, whether I was in the closet, at the table, or taking a turn on the flowery banks of the Severn, my friendly neighbour, I was always employed in viewing the features of his awful countenance; marking, as well as I could, the proportions of his parts, and duly observing his formidable retinue. It was thus I employed myself, while the cheering sun illumined our horizon, and nature rejoiced in his genial rays; Nor was I less intent on the awful subject when silent night spread her sable curtains over the kingdom, and invited the labourer to refreshing rest; for either my eyes resisted the leaden influence of sleep, or the visiting slumber brought the thoughts of DEATH along with it. One particular instance of my nocturnal conversation with that universal pillager, I esteem not unworthy of a publick hearing; therefore shall do myself the pleasure of relating it. It happened one night, after I had been deeply ruminating through the day on the awful subject, that when I was in bed I could not compose myself for several hours to rest, but numbered the clock from eleven till two; so deep was the impression which the exercise of the day had left upon my mind. Then it was that I felt the power of an alarmed imagination; for in one strain of thought I fancied I beheld the dreadful monster approaching me with his open commission in one hand, and a resistless dart in the other, with which he intended piercing my reluctant heart, and the hated grave close at his heels, yawning with eáger desire for a prey. The man who knows the extent of his own fortitude, and the prowess of nature's arm, will not brand me with cowardice, though I tell him, that such a striking discovery made my timorous nature shrink, and turn its back on the inflexible enemy: Hard work, alas! to join the fray with death, Unless defended from his baleful sting. At another time, I fancied I saw the tyrant in the form of a dragon, wreathing his tremendous bulk beneath the feet of a glorious Personage, who bore five overflowing wounds, which he received on the day that haughty DEATH imagined the heavenly country was added to his earthly dominions. Indeed, well might the insatiable tyrant conceive such a presumptuous thought, seeing, strange as it may seem, the Lord, the fountain of life himself, had fallen into his hands; nor did the regardless monster pay the least deference to his immaculate person. But well for him it was, that as the Saviour fell, he seized the king of terrors in his most hideous form, and wrenched from him the fatal sting, the sad repository of all his strength--and disabled him of the least hurtfulness to the chosen race. This holy Conqueror, for reasons known to himself, and profitable to us, was pleased to visit the dwellings of the dead, and, for a season, submitted himself to the arrest of DEATH. But the third blest morning come,--he shook the dust from him,-burst the barriers of the tomb,--forsook the confines of DEATH, and in holy triumph, held forth the poisonous sting, and said, Ihave overcome DEATH, and him that had the power of DEATH!! When I was indulged with this mental vision, I thought that emboldened Nature collected its force, and advanced to gaze on the expiring monster. O! thought I, if I could always view that cruel adversary in his stingless condition, sprawling at the feet of the wonderful Conqueror, I could meet him with as little fear as a child would sport himself with a harmless lamb. But, alas! I often looked forward with fear, and some times with horror, to that momentous period that shall fix, forever fix my state of existence in an unalterable station of weal or woe. To be incapable of discerning any thing alluring in life, any thing attractive in this world, and yet to dread a departure from it,--to have no satisfying discoyery made of that world of spirits where Immanuel reigns in triumph, nor of the safety of the passage from earth to heaven,--how dismal the case! how gloomy, how threatening the prospect! As I was meditating on these awful subjects, gentle slumber seized me with its lulling charms, and soon wafted me into the arms of downy sleep, where I lay the rest of the night, inactive in body, DEATH having imprinted his image upon me. In the mean while, the more vigilant mind, after her usual manner, rambled abroad through unmeasured space. Mounted on an agile fancy, she soon explored the vast meridian from pole to pole; then changing her course, she winged her flight across the countries, from the eastern depth to the occidental shore; and, in its rapid journey, my fruitful fancy lined out a numerous train of visionary objects: so that now I had work enough cut out for the residue of the night, in turning over these phantoms of the mind. I dreamed, that in one place I beheld the most beautiful garden that ever I had seen represented by any type or print whatsoever, and which I presume could be equalled only by Eden in its original beauty. In the midst of this delightful garden arose a fountain, not of water, but of a slimy substance, bearing something of the resemblance of |