bears. When I was at Dios in Macedon, concerting the plan I should pursue, in order to subject Asia to my dominion, I saw in a dream, this very person habited exactly as he now stands, who exhorted me to undertake the expedition without delay, and promised me infallible success. I now am certain, that, under the divine patronage, I shall subdue Darius, and be master of Persia *."

POLYCARP bishop of Smyrna, was martyred for the Christian faith, A. D. 167. Three days before he was apprehended by the heathen officers, he dreamt that his pillow took fire, and was burnt to ashes." The holy man told his friends, that he considered this dream as significative of his being burnt to death for Christ's sake. And the event was answer

able to the presage.

THOMAS BRADWARD IN archbishop of Canterbury, who went to heaven, A. D. 1349, was author of that admirable treatise, written against the Pelagians, and most justly entitled, "De Causâ Dei." As a masterpiece of invincible reasoning, and as a treasury of evangelical doctrine, it is equal to any performance of St. Austin's: nor can I refer the learned reader to a more suitable book (next after the holy Scriptures), if he wish to see the very sinews of Pelagianism, and of modern Arminianism, totally and irrecoverably demolished.

This admirable prelate acquaints us in his preface to that immortal work, that he was encouraged to undertake it, by a very singular dream. I had long lamented (says he) the atrocious errors of Pelagius, and the general infection occasioned by the extensive spread of the free-will heresy. One night, after having spent some considerable time in weeping and supplication before God, beseeching him,

*Josephus, Antiq. b. xi. ch. 8. + Cave's Apostolici, p. 1118.

for his glory's sake, to arise and maintain his own cause; I at last fell asleep, and dreamed as follows. "Videbar nempe mihi videre, diurno lumine circumfuso, me multùm supra terram in aëre sublevatum, sicque ab oriente versùs partes occiduas ascendendo intrepidum proficisci: quòdque Pelagius veniens ex adverso, apprehensâ sinistrâ meâ, consertisque digitis, totâ me violentiâ ad terram detrahere conabatur. Cui et, proprii roboris accinctus fiduciâ, plurimùm reluctabar: talisque lucta, non mediocritèr anxia, diutiùs perduravit. Sed et Pelagio continuò prævalente, et me pænè aà infima detrahente, ipse in meipso responsum desperationis accepi; totâ tamen virtute renitens, ad divinum confugi auxilium toto corde: statimque Pelagius, solutâ manu, præceps detruditur, et fractâ cervice corruit super terram, clausisque oculis mortuus jacuit resupinus. Ego autem super terram remansi, in aëre ascendens et progrediens, sicut ante, gratulando jucundiùs, et mirando. Hinc ergo, spiritu fortitudinis confortatus, spem hausi, quòd de superbo Pelagio, principe Pelagianorum pestifero, quare et de universo ejus exercitu, Christi parvulus triumpharem :" i. e. I imagined myself to be ascending, high and fast, through the air, from east to west, in broad day-light, and without being in the least afraid. Pelagius, methought, met me in a hostile manner; and, laying hold of my left hand, implicated his fingers strongly with mine, and strove with all his might to check my ascent, and to drag me down again towards the earth. Confident in my own imaginary strength, I resisted and opposed him to the utmost: and the conflict was warmly continued for some time. But Pelagius seemed to be getting the better, and to be pulling me more and more downward. Then it was, that I began to despair of my own strength, and cried with my whole heart to God for succour; taking care, however, still to resist the enemy with all the force I could exert. Immediately, I thought the tables began

to turn; and Pelagius, unclinching his grasp of my hand, fell headlong to the earth, and there lay, a breathless corpse, with his neck broken, and his eyes closed. I still seemed to remain above the earth, mounting and advancing as before, but with additional wonder and rejoicing.-From the tenor of this dream I conceived some hope, that I, though a mere infant in Christ, might be enabled to triumph over the insolent Pelagius, that pestilent ring-leader of the sect which bears his name; and over his whole army of followers and adherents.

I will take upon me to say, that Bradwardin was not mistaken, as to his interpretation of this dream. Pelagianism has indeed lain extended on the ground, a breathless corpse, with closed eye-lids and a broken neck, ever since the publication of the great and good archbishop's volume. Arminians worship a demolished dagon, which all their zeal and efforts will never be able to quicken, or set up again on its legs; seek they to collect the shattered pieces ever so carefully, and to put them together ever so artfully.

SKETCH OF NATURAL HISTORY.

BIRDS.

THERE are two kinds of birds which I shall consider: viz. birds of retreat, and birds of passage. The former pass the winter in their chambers (if I may use the expression); i. e. in sleep and retirement. The latter migrate at stated seasons, from one climate to another.

I. Of the first sort are bats, (if they may be classed with birds) swallows, and (as is generally believed) the cuckow.

1. The bat, as every body knows, is a very ugly animal, and holds a kind of middle rank between bird and beast. As it seems to subsist on what nocturnal insects it can meet with, and as this supply can only be had during the warmer months, providence has wisely and kindly ordained, that sleep shall answer to this creature, every purpose of food, until the return of summer supersedes the famine occasioned by the long absence of the sun.

In men, that fine chemical process of nature, which we term perspiration, is twice as great during the hours of sleep, as when we are awake. But in those of the lower animals, who are to sleep for whole months successively, and who would literally starve but for that succedaneum, perspiration either totally ceases, during the period of rest, or is so extremely trivial, as to occasion no sensible waste of spirits, nor diminution of parts.

2. Swallows likewise, live on insects, which they catch flying; and, when their summer repast fails,