frame. Meanwhile he engaged in fervent prayer, that God, in the name of Jesus, would restore him, for His glory; and pleaded His promises to hear and to heal. The Lord did so; and in the morning following, and all the day, Mr. Begg was enabled to attend his church, and therein to give thanks, on the Resurrection morning to Him who has received the power over death. It was necessary to withhold all knowledge of his illness, as much as possible, until perfect recovery should have dissipated the fears for infection; or he would have been compelled either to abandon his duties to his departed friends, or to leave his house. On the Monday morning his aunt was also seized as soon as he heard of it, he engaged for a short time in prayer, and hurried away to her dwelling, although the spasmodic cramps had never entirely left his feet: the aunt died also, in the course of the day; and the cramps continued for three days afterwards; never very violent, but sufficient to keep him in continual dependence on Him in whose hands alone are the issues of life.

Glasgow is one of the places in which the cholera has been very fatal, and in which some cases occurred of righteous retribution on those who mocked at the judgment of God, that could not fail to strike all who witnessed them. We forbear giving the names, for obvious reasons: they could be of no use to strangers, and they are unnecessary for those who are acquainted with the parties, since they are unfortunately too well known to them already. An infidel lady said, that if people were well-fed and clothed there was no danger she purchased a gallon of wine; used it with freedom herself; and gave it freely to her neighbours her gallon was but half finished when she was attacked, and died. Another lady, in good circumstances, and, it is believed, a Christian, sought not her safety in God, but in human means: she made extensive preparations for the disease: besides her regular family physician, she engaged another nearer her dwelling, to be ready at a moment's warning to attend her, if seized; and on the very day that she was attacked she was engaged in heating blankets: at one o'clock she had eight pair so prepared; at two she was seized; at six the surgeon was sent for; at twelve the spasms were violent; and in twelve more hours she was a corpse. A milk-maid in the same entry denied this was cholera she was likewise seized, and died. Her master denied also this to be cholera : he was seized, and died.

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To the Editor of the Morning Watch.

My dear Friend,-As you have asked me to give you an account of the gracious dealings of our Heavenly Father with me, his unworthy servant, on the occasion of my being seized with

what, to all appearance, and to the conviction of medical men, when described to them, seemed to be that disease which has proved fatal to so many of our fellow-creatures in this and other lands; I sit down to do so, with much gratitude of heart to my God, who enabled me to hold fast my confidence in him, and who did not forsake me when I trusted in him, nor suffer the adversary to triumph over me, but gave me power, through faith in Christ my risen Head, to overcome him, when he endeavoured, by his assault in my flesh, to shake my faith in my God, and to prevent me from fulfilling that day, to two different congregations, the office of a minister of Christ.-Praise the Lord, O my soul, and rejoice at the remembrance of his faithfulness. Oh, all that is within me be stirred up to praise and to magnify his holy name. He forgave thy sins, and healed thy diseases.

I feel I ought to mention, that, on the evening preceding my attack, I had preached from these words, in the xiith of 1 Cor. "To another, the gifts of healing, by the same Spirit." I was led in discourse to shew out to my flock that the standing of the members of the body of Christ was to be without disease, and that this had ever been the standing of God's people. See Exod. xv. 25, 26: "And he cried unto the Lord; and the Lord shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, and said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, Iwill put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians : for I am the Lord that healeth thee." And I added, that if disease did come upon them, as in the case of Job, it was either for chastening for some sin, whether in themselves or in the body of Christ, for God ever views us as one; or permitted as a trial of their faith. Having stated these things out fully, and shewn that this was in accordance with the whole tenor of Scripture, I exhorted the saints of God before me to live by faith continually on Jesus, for the body as well as the soul; and if any were afflicted, to seek that their merciful Father, who afflicteth not willingly, nor grieveth the children of men, would make known unto them wherefore He had this controversy with them; and which I felt the Lord would do, in answer to their simple faith on Christ Jesus, after having humbled themselves before the Lord their God, and having entered into the forgiveness treasured up for them in Christ;-then by faith to believe on him for health to their bodies, as we see that he ever, whilst on earth, connected the forgiveness of sins with the healing of the body. Or should their faith be put to the test by disease,

I entreated them still to hold fast their confidence, and to plead the Lord's own many and gracious promises to the members of his church, and in faith to go about the occupations which in his providence they were called to perform; ever bearing in mind, that whatsoever they did should be for His glory; and that I had no doubt but they would ever experience that the Lord honoured their faith on his word.

On the following morning I arose in perfect health at the usual hour, and was in the church by half past six o'clock. During the prayer-meeting I began to feel pain, but was able to go through the service. A number of friends accompanied me home to breakfast. On reaching home I became very chill, and had very severe pain in my stomach and bowels, and my bowels were much relaxed. I then seated myself before a large fire, and had some strong brandy and water, much stronger and hotter than in ordinary circumstances I could have drunk. After sitting awhile, I felt a little relieved, and entered the room where my friends were, and sat down by the fire, unable to taste any thing. The hour's pain I had endured, and the other trial of my constitution, had even then had such an effect on my frame that my appearance shocked my friends. I could take no interest in the conversation going forward, but endeavoured to lift up my heart to my God, having a presentiment that I was called upon to shew forth the faith which I had on the preceding evening been led to exhort my people to have in their Heavenly Father. In the strength of God I proceeded, when my friends had finished breakfast, to conduct family worship; which I was enabled to do, though my body was so enfeebled that I could neither kneel nor stand, having tried both positions, but had to sit whilst I prayed. I then retired to my own room, in order to search myself in the presence of God, to confess my sins, to cast myself entirely on the mercy of my Father, and to seek for strength to perform the duties of that dayhaving to preach that forenoon, at half past eleven o'clock, and again in the evening at seven. I was now very sick, with a feeling of wringing or gnawing pain through my whole body, from the lowest part of my bowels to my throat. I then retched violently, and vomited much fluid: my bowels were also very much acted upon. A peculiar sensation came over my limbs, particularly towards the extremities. I was so weak that I could not sit up, and in sore pain, with a painful chill all over my body: I therefore wrapped me up in blankets, and laid me on my bed, refusing bottles of hot water, or any other application, and desiring to be left alone until a few minutes before the time for setting out for the house of God, where I should minister to his people. My orders were obeyed, and my wish attended to. My wife entered my room about a quarter past eleven o'clock. I

felt so exhausted that I did not attempt to speak to her. She saw my weakness, and spoke not, but hurried down stairs to prepare a little arrowroot and brandy for me; and to desire that my fellow-labourer, the missionary of our church, should go and take my place, as she thought there was little hope of my reaching the church at the hour when the service should commence. When my wife had left the room, though I felt no better, I said, In the strength of the Lord I will arise and do my duty. I arose, and came down stairs in tottering weakness, but holding fast my assurance, that, though brought very low, the Lord would not forsake me. When I reached the bottom of the stairs I sat me down, and attempted to button on my gaiters. My wife came with some arrowroot; but I could not look at it, I was so sick. My sunken eyes, my pallid and hollow cheeks, and altogether my ghastly appearance, she afterwards told me, reminded her of her grandsire of eighty-four, whose frame had been wasted with disease. Another violent fit of vomiting now attacked me, and what was ejected from my stomach was that of unmixed ricewater appearance. The action on the bowels succeeded thereupon. With slow and difficult steps, accompanied by my wife and a young friend, I proceeded to the church, about a quarter of a mile from my house, and on entering found my friend and fellow-labourer standing and ministering in my room. All things tempted me to shrink back from my office; but I felt no hesita tion to instruct my faithful beadle, though he remonstrated much, to go up to the pulpit, and inform my brother, that, when he had finished the first prayer, I would take my place, and, by God's help, perform my own duty. Meanwhile I stretched myself on three chairs before the fire in the vestry, barely able to keep myself in heat, and by perfect stillness in one position a little to abate the pain. Ever as I shifted my position I endured much suffering, and was almost involuntarily impelled to draw up my limbs in order to keep the pain under. Nevertheless, when I stood up to attire myself for the pulpit, and went forward to ascend the pulpit stairs, the pain seemed to leave me. Over and over again my kind and tender-hearted brother besought me to let him proceed; but my mind was made up to fall at my post, which I had an inward assurance my Master would not suffer me to do. I began to read the chapter, expecting the power of spiritual exposition, which was wont to abound to me in this above all my other services; but, to my astonishment, I had no thought in my heart nor word upon my lips, and felt it was all I could do to keep on reading. About the sixth verse my words began to be indistinct in the sound. I could not strike them shrill and full out; they fell short of my usual utterance, all I could do. My eye became dim, and the words of the book looked hazy. Then my head began to swim, and my heart to

become faint, and I laid hold on the pulpit sides, and looked wistfully about, wondering what was to befal me. But the most painful symptom of all was, that I felt it a great effort to draw my breath. At this moment, when the disease was come to a crisis, and all nature was sinking down within me, I had only one feeling, for the honour of Jesus, my Lord and Master, that He should be put to shame through my unbelief; and that I should fall before the enemy in the place of testimony, and in the sight of all the people. One thought, one prayer, shot across my spirit; which was this, "Surely thou, O Jesus, art stronger in my spirit, than Satan is in my flesh." That instant a cold sweat, chill as the hand of death, broke out all over my body, and stood in large drops upon my forehead and my hands. From that moment I seemed to be strengthened. My reading, which had not been interrupted by all this, though strongly affected, so as to be sensible to all present, proceeded more easily to the end of the chapter, but all without my being able to add one word of exposition. Nevertheless, after singing a few stanzas of a Psalm, I undertook to preach on the last verse of the third chapter of John's Gospel, which came in order. According to my custom, I had premeditated nothing, and, as hath been said, while reading the chapter found myself utterly incapable of originating any thing. But I knew the Master whom I serve, and set out on his charges. Slowly, and with great weakness, the words dropped from me, and I was ill able to indite sentences, or bind them into regular discourse; but I gave myself to the Spirit, and went forward. I had not proceeded many minutes, until the Holy Ghost, in one of the prophets, burst in upon my discourse, speaking with tongues and prophesying. This both brought me rest and refreshing, and some of the words were made to me spirit and life so that I resumed with fresh strength; but still as a dead man, both in respect of body and of mind; alive in respect of the Spirit. I continued my discourse for about an hour, with more unction, as it appeared to myself and all who spake of it, than I had ever preached before. After the service I walked home, and conversed with my friends, and took a little simple food, expecting to strengthen my body for my evening duty by eating heartily at dinner. But God was resolved that for this day the glory of my strength should stand only in Him: for I was able to eat little or nothing, yet had more power given me, in preaching to about two hundred poor people in a crowded schoolhouse, than I ever remember to have had. And next morning I rose to my duty before the sun, and was enabled to go forward with renewed strength, unto this hour. For all which let the glory be given to Jehovah, by his name, "I am the Lord God which healeth thee." Edward Irving.