death. But on the other hand, do you view me in my true character, do you acknowledge me to be God as well as man; and do you give me this title as an expression of your faith in my infinite goodness, and supreme authority? Then you are right in giving it to me; for I have a just claim to it: and as a proof that I have a right to this title, and that I, being a divine person, and possessed of supreme authority, have the disposal of eternal life in my own hands, I will decide on the appeal which you have made to me. And accordingly our Saviour proceeds to give his answer in the following verses. "If thou wilt enter into life," &c. &c.

According to this plain and necessary interpretation of our Saviour's words, we see in them no such thing as a denial of his own divinity: but on the contrary, comparing his words with each other, and with his conduct on this occasion, we see in them a plain assertion of it. We say, that in the very fact of our Saviour's answering the ruler's question, it is most undeniably implied, that he is God. For, otherwise, he allows his own conduct to contradict the very doctrine which he had just been uttering. One moment he tells the ruler, No one has a right to acknowledge your appellation, or to answer your question, but he who is God; and the next moment acknowledges his claim to the title, by answering the question which had been proposed to him. If Christ is not God, this conduct had a direct tendency to lead the ruler's judgment astray, with regard to the doctrine of his person: and if there is not here an intended acknowledgment of his divinity, Christ's conduct can hardly be made to correspond with his words. We should, at least, be cautious about admitting a doctrine which leads to such a conclusion.

(To be continued.

FOR THE CHRISTIAN'S MAGAZINE.

The following narrative has been communicated by the Rev. C. D. WESTBROOK, minister of the Reformed Dutch Church in Fishkill. In a postscript to the letter inclosing it, he says "Since writing the within, I have read the statement to Mr. BRETT. He has told me, that what I had written was substantially and literally correct-in nothing exaggerated."

ROBERT

OBERT R. BRETT, was born of respectable parents, in the town of Fishkill, Dutchess county, state of New-York. Of the moral and religious character of his immediate parents, I have nothing to communicate. His grandmother, by his father's side, generally remembered by the name of Madam Brett, was a woman remarkable for piety and generosity. She was not only a pattern, but also the patron of religion; and her memory is embalmed among us as the principal benefactor of our church. ROBERT R. BRETT, was the youngest child of his Father, and in the blessings of his dying grandmother, he received a Benjamin's portion; "The righteous man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children." This circumstance I should not mention, if I had considered it as a mere common occurrence: The subject of this communication has, since his conversion, feelingly related it to me, and expressed his firm persuasion that he is Vol. III.-No. IV.

2 E

now reaping the fruits of the dying blessing of his pious ancestor. For a long series of years the blessings of the dying grandmother seemed to be lost upon her favourite grandchild. He was early left to himself to walk in the ways of his heart, and in the sight of his eyes."

During the American revolutionary war, Fishkill village and its vicinity, was in a considerable degree a place of encampment and of much military business. This circumstance, which proved the ruin of many, no doubt contributed its full share to Mr. B.'s irregularity and dissipation. Fifty three years he lived in the steady and uninterrupted practice of all manner of sin and wickedness; and for as much as thirty years of that time, he further disgraced himself and family, and wounded the feelings of his numerous and respectable connexions, by habitual drunkenness. He was literally a pest to all who knew him. His heart and his tongue were full of cursing and bitterness. He was looked upon as the greatest miscreant then known. His presence, especially when he was intoxicated, was almost as much dreaded as the pestilence; for where he appeared, thence immediately fled all peace and tranquillity. The poison of his unbridled tongue kindled strife, anger, and wrath; and often has the rage of those whom he had provoked inflicted chastisement both severe and unavailing. Having involved his family in distress, and having repeatedly invaded the peace of his neighbours and connexions, he at times became desirous to reform his life; and he thought if he could but " get rid of that cursed thing drunkenness, (I use his own words here,) he would do better." The legion of evil spirits had, however, too firm possession of his heart, to be dislodged by human resolution and strength. The first idle moment, the sight of a bottle-companion, or the temptation of a tavern, disarmed all

his courage, and put to flight the whole host of resolutions he had mustered for his defence.

His many and repeated excesses, made him pass through several trying and severe vicissitudes. These exposed him to temptations of the most alarming nature; so much so, that more than once he formed a resolution to murder the man who, he imagined, had done him much harm. Nothing externally, but the want of a favourable opportunity, prevented it. Now he confesses, that a secret and hidden power arrested his arm, and saved him from blood-guiltiness. Although a child of Satan, and an heir of destruction, as far as enormity and crime could carry him, he was yet in the eye of God one of his elect. Though he seemed afterwards to be as "one born out of due time," he was in due season, to be exhibited as a monument of free and unmerited grace, to show forth that faithful saying, which is worthy of all acceptation, "that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-the chief of sinners."

I must not here forget to mention, that to all his other sins, he added that of bitterness against religion and its professors. These invariably experienced the venom and ridicule of an unhallowed tongue. His wife, (who is still living,) had undergone a change of heart sometime before his conversion; but she had to pray, as well as mourn in secret, to avoid the cruel persecution and rage of her wicked husband.

While he was thus dead in trespasses and in sins, the day of his spiritual resurrection at length began to dawn. In the spring of the year 1806, his mind began to be seriously impressed with a sense of his guilt, and a mispent life; this was accompanied with desires after holiness. His impressions and desires visited him again after repeated departures. During this time he felt very strong convictions ; but does not remember that any text of Scripture

was particularly impressed upon his mind. He cannot tell the particular time when his awakening commenced; nor under what sermon he was converted: nor what minister was the instrument. He was powerfully drawn after the word; particularly after the word preached. To this he gave very earnest attention.

One night, as he was going to bed, he was struck with such horror, that he durst not close his eyes to sleep. The dread of opening them upon the awful realities of eternity, for some time held his eyes waking. At length he concluded to say over the Lord's prayer; and as he thought that would be doing something for the Lord, he accordingly uttered it, and thus hushed his conscience for that night. In the morning he felt no more of his distress, and he went as usual to his work.

Alarming sensations continued to visit him; till one day as he was working on the public highway, the Lord, in a most secret and remarkable manner, brought him to view his lost and perishing state-to taste the wormwood and the gall of sin. His son, who was with him on the road, had just gone from him with his team to fetch a load of gravel, and left him alone, when he was so struck with a sense of his situation, that it appeared to him that every sin he had committed was in battle-array against him. His distress was so great as to cause him in reality to lament and mourn, and even to cry out for mercy. He eagerly sought where to hide himself-he thus expresses himself; "If I could have found out a place where I could have got clear of my distress, I would have gone to it. But, (says he,) it followed me wherever I went." Night came on, and he went home. His peaceable behaviour and his unusual silence, attracted the notice and admiration of his wife-She came and sat down by