particular disposition of the muscles which we describe by the name of antagonist muscles. And they are accordingly so disposed. Every muscle is provided with an adversary. They act like two sawyers in a pit, by an opposite pull and nothing surely can more strongly indicate design, and attention to an end, than their being thus stationed, than this collocation. The nature of the muscular fibre being what it is, the purposes of the animal could be answered by no other. And not only the capacity for motion, but the aspect and symmetry of the body is preserved by the muscles being marshalled according to this order, e. g. the mouth is holden in the middle of the face, and its angles kept in a state of exact correspondency, by two muscles drawing against, and balancing each other. In a hemiphlegia, when the muscle on one side is weakened, the muscle on the other side draws the mouth awry. (To be Continued.) AN ACCOUNT OF A STORM. A LETTER TO THE REV. DAVID SHARP. We were travelling in a deep and narrow valley, not far from the Ohio river. The mutterings of distant thunder had occasionally filled our ears, for some time before. We came to the foot of the hill, more properly, a small mountain. The ascent was pretty steep, but the height was not very great. The mountain rising before us, covered the cloud from our view, excepting the broken columns which floated before the tempest. We began to ascend the mountain slowly; but not without some apprehension, that the storm would approach us, before our arrival at a farm house, which was not far distant. This apprehension, at last, induced us to increase our speed. Coming suddenly to the top of the mountain, from whence nature presented an awful prospect, the mind seemed to be arrested under an overwhelming impression, and lost in astonishment. At this moment, a few drops of rain fell, and gave us notice, that it was time to prepare, by putting on our outside garments, for the onset of the approaching storm. But before we could effect this object, the rain broke upon us with such violence, that we were wet to the skin-so that my wife, who had an infant in her arms, did not put on hers, but wrapped our babe in it. The wind blew with great violence; the rain fell in torrents; the lightnings flamed incessantly around us; while the thunder, peal quickly succeeding peal, kept up an uninterrupted roar. The trees were in fearful commotion, bending and breaking, and their branches falling on every side. What rendered the scene still more frightful, was, the day seemed to be turned into night. The thickness of the clouds which seemed to roll upon the earth, and the torrents of rain mixed with a large quantity of leaves torn from the trees, obstructed our view beyond a few rods. So fearful was the scene, that our beasts refused to go, and turned themselves away from the violence of the tempest. But we were safe-for our God rode on the wings of the wind, and directed the fury of the storm. I adored him with rapture. A flood of heavenly bliss descended into my soul, while the rain fell upon my body. I was ready to shout aloud, when I beheld the power and majesty of Jehovah, manifested in such awfully sublime operations of nature, while I felt the overflowings of his love in my heart. From the bursting lightnings on every hand, and the falling timber on every side, we could but sensibly discover, that our mortal existence was hung in awful suspense. Death appeared to be at hand, ready to close his jaws upon us in a moment. But this only increased the rapture of my soul. On the righteousness of my Redeemer, my heart reposed in the sweetest peace. I would have embraced death with extacy, under the assurance of resting eternally in God. At such a moment, how valuable is religion. Its truth and excellence appear in all their beauty and splendour. That religion which exists, not in floating notions of the brain, but in the power of God in the heart, is worth more than thousands of worlds. After a short time the storm abated; and we arrived in safety at the house of a hospitable farmer, grateful for the protection of Providence, and resigned to the divine will, with respect to the time and manner of our removal to a better world. CL H. The Grace of God Manifested. From the English Methodist Magazine. A SHORT MEMOIR OF MRS. HUNT, LATE OF SALISBURY. THE interest we feel in reading biographical memoirs, varies in kind and degree, according to the various subjects whose lives are recorded. The accounts of some so abound with accident, and paint the vicissitudes of the world in such striking colours, that we are drawn as by enchantment through every line of their history and regret at the close that it should end so soon, even when we see nothing in the persons themselves which we particularly admire. The lives of others, whose outward circumstances have not been marked by the marvellous, or uncommon, forcibly display the power of genius and application, and shew us what amazing effects may be produced by the solitary and unaided operations of individual minds. In others, we behold the transcendent efficacy of divine grace, subduing and irradicating the habits of depravity, infusing the noblest principles of piety and benevolence, and seizing on every faculty to promote the service and glory of God. The sentiments and feelings excited by a contemplation of such different characters, cannot be of the same order they must necessarily differ: but to every serious reader, the biography of the Christian will afford infinitely greater charms than a narrative of adventures, or a monument to genius. But Christian biography itself includes a wide variety. Some of its subjects claim our attention on account of the distinguished stations they held in the church, and the eminent talents with which they were entrusted; others, for their flaming zeal, and astonishing success in religious enterprize; others for their extraordinary trials and afflictions; and others, for their early commencement, steady progress, and constant perseverance in the path of life. Persons of this last description, are worthy of peculiar honour, in however a humble sphere in life they may have moved; because they bore the burden and heat of the day, and did not grow weary in well-doing, "but continued steadfast and unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord." Their example is a lesson to all. It teaches the young to remember their Creator in the morning of their days; it teaches the middle-aged to cleave to God, through all the fatigues, anxieties, and engagements of life; and it teaches the old to pursue their way with unremitting diligence, and increasing celerity. In this class we must reckon the subject of this memoir, Mrs. Barbara Hunt, who, for 63 years, was a consistent and exemplary member of the Methodist society. She was born at Salisbury, in the year 1736. At two years of age, she lost her father, but it was her happiness that her surviving parent was a truly pious woman, who offered up many prayers in her behalf, and instructed her infant mind in the knowledge of the truth. Hence it is not astonishing, that she was a subject of serious impressions at a very early age. She did not, however, act the decided part, till about her fourteenth year, when she began to make religion her one concern; and having given herself to the Lord, she also gave herself to his people, by the will of God; and joined the Methodist society, a step which she never regretted, but on which she often reflected with pleasure and gratitude. This, it must be confessed, was an heroical undertaking for a child, at a time when the society was very small, and composed chiefly of a few old persons, who were the butt of derision and contempt to all the city. Indeed, they had to pass through a scene of fierce persecution, and were often obliged to fly from the ungodly rabble as with their lives in their hands. The misconduct of Mr. Hall, (Mr. Wesley's brother-in-law,) afforded the children of darkness an occasion of triumph, and encouraged them to commit many outrages on the poor Methodists, who were loaded with infamy and insults on his account. But all this was insufficient to intimidate our departed friend. She felt the need of salvation, and was resolved, on no account, to omit any of the appointed means of obtaining it; one of which she judged was that of Christian fellowship. In spite, therefore, of all opposition, she cleaved to God, and his people, and cheerfully went forth to Jesus, without the camp, bearing his reproach. It is much to be lamented, that, in the present day, when the cross of uniting with a Christian church is exceedingly light, so many, who profess a concern for religion, should be so reluctant to take it up. The flimsy, futile objections which they bring forward to excuse themselves, only serve to prove, that the "world's dread laugh," the frowns and sneers of mortals, weigh more with them than all that is desirable in the favour of God, or dreadful in his curse. Let such blush with deserved shame, while they behold the magnaninity of a child bidding defiance to the scorn and hatred of the world. From a conversation which I had with Mrs. Hunt, a few months since, I am inclined to think she was about three years seeking redemption, before she experienced a sense of pardon. Her joy then was unspeakable and full of glory; and as she was of a very cheerful and gentle disposition, religion appeared in herall lovely and serene." Throughout the remaining part of her life, she generally possessed a consciousness of the divine favour; and, as she used to express herself, she enjoyed renewed manifestations of the love of God very frequently. Being asked by a preacher, when renewing her ticket, if she had ever known the pardon of her sins, she replied, "Yes, hundreds of times!"--She was aware that past experience, however genuine, is no ground of dependance, and that we should bring matters to the present, in judging of our state before God. In 1761, she removed from Salisbury to Bradford, Wilts. At parting from her christian friends, with whom she had often taken sweet counsel, she was greatly affected. She and they shed tears of reciprocal affection over each other, prayed together, and sung, with great emotion, the following verse: Saviour, who know'st the hearts of men, And rul'st them as it seems thee good, Regard a broken-hearted train; Pour down the balsam of thy blood; "Farewell!" our hearts may feel thee nigh. This painfully pleasing period she never afterwards forgot, but often mentioned it with sentiments of thankfulness and joy. She lived at Bradford till she became acquainted with Mr. Richard Hunt, to whom she was united in marriage, November 1, 1767. Soon after this, she returned with her husband to her native place, where she continued till the day of her death. As her family began to increase, she was called to pass through a variety of difficulties, and she sensibly felt, that "man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward." She drank deeply and frequently of the bitter cup of affliction. Indeed, her trials for many years, were of such a peculiarly distressing kind, that her grace must have been exercised to the uttermost, to bear up under them. But while in the world she had tribulation, in Christ she enjoyed that peace which passeth understanding. She was often indulged with extraordinary consolations.-July 31, 1780, she writes thus, "O the peace and joy I have felt in believing such as my tongue can never express!" She here alludes to a remarkable manifestation of God's presence and love, which she said so transported her, that, like the great apostle, she scarcely knew for two or three days whether she was in or out of the body. She was particularly fond of singing hymns suitable to her experience. In the midst of her sorrows, one thing afforded her unspeakable pleasure, namely, the conversion of many of her children to God. Several of them being united to partners who truly love and fear God; and having large families who were likely to tread in their parents' steps, it is not to be wondered at, that a heart pious and affectionate as hers, should frequently exult with joy on their account. Doubtless, her fervent intercessions were daily presented to the throne of grace, for her dear offspring; the prevalence and efficacy of which, many of them happily realize. O may every request on their behalf be granted! And when this short Memoir meets the eyes of her grandchildren, may they recollect her early piety, and be solicitous to obtain an equal, nay, a superior degree themselves--may they think of her maternal advice, and strive to follow it; and, above all, may they remember her earnest prayers for their salvation, and wait for the answer, by cleaving to Christ "with full purpose of heart!" For upwards of 60 years this Israelite indeed steadily proceeded in her Christian course. Though often called to sustain the most poignant afflictions, there was an equanimity, and even a cheerfulness of mind manifested in them all, which fully evinced that her religion not only improved the comforts of life, but softened its rigours; and practically illustrated the paradox of St. Paul, "as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing." Had Mrs. Hunt been called to move in any of the higher walks of life, where |