Juvenile Department.

EXTRAORDINARY

Interposition of Providence.

MR. EDITOR,

elapsed between the filling and going down of the barge, during which I had sufficient presence of mind to strip off my three great coats, when the barge sunk, and I found myself floating in the midst of people and

THE following remarkable narra-baggage. Each man caught hold of tive is well authenticated, and, if I am not much mistaken, will not fail to interest your numerous readers, and to awaken in many of their bosoms recollections of past events, which cannot but be benefieial. It is written by the person to whom it refers, and who was so wonderfully preserved when in the greatest possible extremity.

something-one of the crew caught hold of me, and kept me under water, but let me go again. I then got hold of a trunk, which two other men were holding. A canoe picked up three of our number, and approached near me, when, terrified by the vicinity of the cascades, they changed their course, notwithstanding my exhortations. I had just time to let go the trunk, and grasp the boom of the barge, when I was

I was instantly buried, and nearly suffocated. Shortly after descending the cascades, I perceived the barge, bottom upwards, floating near me. I succeeded in getting on it, and called out to my companion, who still adhered to the trunk; he shook his head, and when the waves suffered me to look up again, he was gone.

"At the Point du Lac, or Lake St. Francis, we embarked in a barge, deeply laden with pot-ashes, pas-hurried into the cascades: in these sengers, and luggage. Above Montreal, for nearly 100 miles, the river St. Lawrence is interrupted in its course by rapids, from half a mile to nine miles long each, and requires regular pilots. On the 30th of April, 1810, we arrived at the village of the Cedars, immediately below which are three sets of very dangerous rapids, distant from each other about one mile. The 1st of May, we set out from the Cedars, our barge very leaky, and the captain a daring rash man, refusing to take a pilot. When we had passed the Cedar Rapid, not without danger, the captain called for some rum, swearing at the same time that God Almighty could not steer the barge better than he did. Soon after this we entered the Split Rock Rapids by a wrong channel, and went down a dreadful watery precipice. We here took in a great deal of water, which we baled out before we were hurried to what the Canadians call "the grand bouillon," or great boiling. In approaching this place, the captain let go the helm, exclaiming, "Here we fill!" The barge was al most immediately overwhelmed in the midst of immense foaming breakers. About half a minute

"For two miles below, the channel continues in an uproar, just like a storm at sea, and I was frequently nearly washed off the barge. I now entertained no hope whatever of escaping; and though I continued to exert myself to hold on, such was the state to which I was reduced by cold, that I wished only for speedy death, and frequently thought of giving up the contest. I felt as if compressed into a small size-my hands appeared diminished one half. I certainly should have fallen asleep, but for the waves that were passing over me. 1 knew that the La Chine Rapids were before me, and I was in hourly expectation of these ending my career. As the day advanced, however, the sun grew warmer, the wind blew from the south, and the water became calmer. I got upon my knees, and

bottomed, I had mistaken for a white fowl, and I was taken off the barge by Captain Johnstone, after having been ten hours on the water. I found myself at the village of La Chine, twenty-one miles below where the accident happened, and having been driven by the winding of the current, a much greater distance. I received no other injury than bruised knees and breast, with a slight cold. The accident, however, took hold of my imagination, and for seven or eight succeeding nights in my dreams, I was engaged in the dangers of the cascades, and surrounded by drowning men, &c."

found myself in the small lake St. Louis, about three to five miles wide. With some difficulty I got upon my feet, but was soon convinced, by cramps and spasms in all my sinews, that I was quite incapable of swimming any distance, and I was then two miles from shore. I was now going, with wind and current, apparently to destruction; and cold, hungry, and fatigued, was obliged again to sit down in the water to rest; when an extraordinary circumstance greatly relieved me. On examining the wreck, to see if it was possible to detach any part of it, to steer by, I perceived something loose, entangled in a cork of the wreck, and so carried along, I found it to be a small trunk, bottom upwards, which, with some difficulty, I dragged on the barge. After near an hour's work, in which I broke my penknife, I made a hole in the top; and to my great satis-least, who will exclaim, I too was faction, drew out a bottle of rum, a cold tongue, some cheese, a bag full of bread, cakes, &c. all wet. Of these I made a seasonable, though very moderate use; and the trunk answered the purpose of a chair to sit upon, elevated above the surface of the water.

Surely, Mr. Editor, it will be impossible for your readers to peruse such a narrative, without being forcibly reminded of God's kind interpositions on their behalf in the moment of danger. I know one, at

snatched by the Divine mercy, and almost by miracle, from a watery grave. And, doubtless, many will recollect peculiar deliverances with which, perhaps, they have been favoured, when their companions perished around them. A young man walking in the fields with Luther, was struck dead at his side by lightning. It is said that this awful circumstance made the first serious impressions on the mind of the great Reformer. Reader! have thy deliverances been the means of doing thee any spiritual good?

Some other

"After in vain endeavouring to steer the wreck, or direct its course to the shore, and having made every signal, with my waistcoat, &c. in my power, to the several headlands which I passed, in vain, I went by several small uninhabited islands; but the banks of the river appearing look person, who may to be covered with houses, I again over the preceding narrative, may renewed my signals with my waist- feel in a lively manner, that awful coat, and a shirt which I took out and interesting moment of his life, of the trunk, hoping, as the river when he too stood on the verge of a vast narrowed, they might be perceived. eternity. He had bid adieu to time, The velocity with which I was go- and, shivering on the brink of the ing, convinced me of my near ap- invisible world, he was expecting proach to the dreadful Rapids of La every moment to hear the final sumChine. Night was drawing on, and mons. Unprepared, perhaps, for my destruction appeared certain. futurity, with unspeakable emotions, Finding signals in vain, I now set amidst the clouds and darkness with up a cry or howl, snch as I which he was surrounded, he heard thought best calculated to be carried the voice of the great Intercessor, to a distance, and being favoured by" Spare him yet another year!" the wind, though at above a mile distance, it reached the ears of some people on shore. At last I perceived a boat rowing towards me, which, being very small, and white

The prayer was heard-be arosewas restored to the bosom of his family-and was found in the discharge of his accustomed duties. But has the life which has been thus

remarkably rescued from the grave, been devoted, as it ought, to the glory of the adorable Deliverer?

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A third will recollect those awful periods of his life, when “ he had no hope, and was without God in the world." He can never think without horror of those awful streams which were rapidly bearing him to "the or withgulf of black despair," out transport, of that Almighty love which rescued him from interminable misery. Nor will the distinguishing goodness of God be forgotten (and the hand of the supreme Ruler appears as distinguishing in its providential as in its gracious dispensations) in sparing him, whilst his companions persevered in their course of iniquity, and perished. So great a mercy, a pledge and earnest of eternal blessings, ought to influence the soul to the most entire obedience to the Divine will, and should never be recollected without "tides of joy, and shouts of praise." A fourth, perhaps, will exclaim, Yes, the sentiment is indeed correct, Man's extremity is God's opportunity to help and to bless. When in trouble, how have I applied to creatures, and applied in vain! One could not, and another would not, aid me. I felt, that all beneath the sun was emphatically vanity, and I was ready to despair. Indeed, I began to fear, that even the Father of

Mercies had "forgotten to be graci-
ous; that he in anger had shut up
his tender mercies." But when the
clouds were most dark and threat-
ning, God said, Let there be light!
the storm was hushed-divine light
brake upon my path-Jehovah ap-
peared, and he brought salvation.
I arose and sang, and will still
sing,

"Just in the last distressing hour
The Lord displays delivering pow'r;
The Mount of Danger is the place,
Where we shall see surprising grace."

A fifth, perhaps, will read the narrative, and say, Surely we may learn from it never to despair. NEVER DESPAIR! was the motto of one of our distinguished countrymen. The mercy, grace, faithfulness, love, power, and wisdom, of the adorable Captain of our salvation, are infinite, and should at all times, even in the greatest extremities, forbid our despondency. Though we and others may think, that he cannot, or will not help, his language is, "My thoughts are not as your thoughts, but are as high above them, as the heavens are above the earth,"and we should be encouraged to trust in him, and in him only. His promise ensures our salvation. And, Reader, "Heaven and earth may pass away, but not one jot or tittle of his word shall ever pass away." Coseley.

B. H.D.

Obituary.

MR. EDWARD GREEN

Died at Bromley, Middlesex, aged 73, on Saturday, October 16, 1819.

On the Thursday after he was taken ill, he appeared rather better, and said, “I had hoped that my time here would be short, but I console myself with what has often afforded me consolation lately,

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that yet a little while and He that shall come will come, and will not

tarry. His time is the best, and my times are in his hand. My Lord is Lord both of the dead and the living."

He was fond of being alone, and on some person's entering the room in the evening, and asking him if he was alone, he answered with a smile, "O no, I am not alone:"

MRS. JONES..

OBITUARY.

DIED, on Thursday, September 2, 1819, aged fifty-six, Mrs. Jones of the City-road. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Price of Bristol, (who were members of the Baptist church in the Pithay, under the ministry of the late Rev. Mr. Tommas,) and sister of the late Rev. T. Price of Yeovil, of whom a Memoir appeared in our No. for Nov. 1817.

happy on your dying bed as I am now." She was then rapidly hasten→ ing towards an eternal world, and shortly after became insensible to what was passing around her. About nine o'clock in the evening it pleas ed her heavenly Father to release her spirit from its frail tenement, and, without a sigh, she calmly fell | asleep in Jesus.

Her remains were interred on the Monday following, in Bunhill-fields, after a suitable and impressive address from Mr. J. B. Shenston.

She was baptized, and received into full communion, by the church Her decease was improved by her in the Pithay during the time it was pastor, the Rev. Timothy Thomas, under the pastoral care of Mr. Sharp; on Lord's-day afternoon, Oct. 3, and having, in the year 1803, re- 1819, in a discourse from Heb. xi. 16, moved to London, and been united May this afflictive dispensation be to Mr. Jones, was dismissed from abundantly sanctified to the bereavthe Pithay, and received by lettered partner of her life.-May he be into the church meeting in Devon-led to fly to the consolations of that shire-square, where she continued a member until her death.

On the night of Angust 25, 1819, she was seized with an inflammation in the bowels, which (although for a time hopes were entertained of her recovery) eventually baffled the skill of some of the most eminent medical practitioners, and terminated her valuable life.

She bore her sufferings with great resignation, nor did a murmur escape her, even when they were most acute; and, though she did not appear to be the subject of those elevated transports of soul with which some of the Lord's dear people are favoured under similar circumstances, she was, from first to last, happily preserved from distressing doubts and fears.

The rapidity and violence of her disorder was such as almost entirely 10 preclude conversation; but what fell from her at times, was sufficient 10 indicate that her end was truly peace: she seemed to dwell with pleasure on the thought that she was about to join her father, mother, and brother, in the world of spirits. A few hours previous to her death she called her husband and children to her bedside, and, after taking an affectionate leave of them, and solemnly committing them to the care of that God and Saviour who was her only refuge, she said, "May you each be as

VOL. XII.

gospel which was the support of his departed friend through life, and in death.-May their children grow up in the fear of the Lord, and be taught to follow her as she followed Christ.-And may all concerned attend to the admonition, "Be yo also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh."

DIED at Stratford, Essex, August 19, 1819, Mrs. Elizabeth Lart. On Monday the 16th, no relief being afforded, she was completely exhausted, and exclaimed, "Those dear children! Well, I give them all up; I can do no more for them; Then, it will soon be all over." pressing her husband's hand, she added, " Never let those children go from under your own eye." After this conversation she did not express a desire to see them, although her anxiety respecting them, when she was in health, exceeded what most In the evening of mothers feel. this day, she requested one of her brothers to read the 27th Psalm, saying, " It has afforded me consolation in past times." After reading and prayer, she repeated those lines,

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