thousand persons were present; the procession extended three miles in length. "This funeral," said governor Morris, an intelligent American, who was an eye-witness of the scene, "is an imposing spectacle. It is a vast tribute paid to superior talent, but no great incitement to virtuous deeds. Vices, both degrading and detestable, marked this extraordinary being."* Solemn thoughts must indeed crowd the mind of the Christian reader, while perusing the narrative of the death-bed of Mirabeau. died as he had lived-a sceptic; he maintained that death was an everlasting sleep, thus affecting, in his last moments, a peace which infidelity at times bestows, but which is, at best,

"The torrent's stillness,

Ere it dash below."

He

Who that has studied the word of God, can contemplate, without dismay, the spectacle of a fellow-creature, distinguished by talents which he grossly abused, drawing nigh to his latter end, polluted by countless sins, unrepentant, unpardoned, unsanctified, unsaved? Compared with such a scene as this, how pleasing is the contemplation of the Christian's dying hour! In the dark valley of the shadow of death, the

• See Macfarlane's French Revolution.

Saviour's rod and staff comfort the trembling soul, and enable it at times to exclaim, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory ?"

Reader, wouldst thou desire in peace to meet the solemn hour of thy departure? Cast thyself now, in humble faith, at the feet of thy compassionate Saviour. Implore in earnest prayer his Holy Spirit to create within thee a new heart; to awaken thee to true repentance and abhorrence of every sin. Determine, in the strength of his grace, to give thyself up unreservedly to his light and easy yoke. Clothed in his spotless righteousness, sealed by his Holy Spirit, thou shalt then witness unmoved the approach of the king of terrors, and enjoy a peace which even the awful solemnities of the day of judgment shall fail to disturb.

In contrast with the death-bed of Mirabeau, may be placed that of Dr. Payson, an American clergyman. The following sentences, uttered by the latter when on the point of dissolution, exhibit, in a lively manner, the supports which spring from Christian principles, at a time when all earthly sources of consolation prove utterly powerless. Dr. Payson, it may be premised,

was, like Mirabeau, racked with acute pain on his death-bed, so much so, that he compared his sensations to that of a man who had a stream of liquid fire poured through his bones. Yet, amidst such sufferings, he could speak in the following manner to the friends who surrounded his dying pillow. "Death comes every night, and stands by my bed-side in the form of terrible convulsions, every one of which threatens to separate the soul from the body. These continue to grow worse and worse, until every bone is almost dislocated with pain, leaving me with the certainty that I shall have it all to endure again the next night. Yet while my body is thus tortured, the soul is perfectly, perfectly happy and peaceful; more happy than I can possibly express to you. I lie here, and feel those convulsions extending higher and higher, but my soul is filled with joy unspeakable. I seem to swim in a flood of glory, which God pours down upon me. And I know, I

know that my happiness is but begun; I cannot doubt that it will last for ever.

Were I

master of the whole world, what could it do for me like this? Were all its wealth at my feet, and its inhabitants striving to make me happy, what could they do for me? Nothing! nothing!

Now all this happiness I trace back to the religion which I preached, and to the time when that great change took place in my heart, which I have often told you is necessary to salvation; and I now tell you again, that without this change you cannot-no, you cannot see the kingdom of God."*

*The above extract is taken from a small tract, well fitted for general distribution, published by the Religious Tract Society, entitled "Last Days of Rev. Dr. Payson."

CHAPTER V.

King's flight from Paris-He is intercepted, and returns to the metropolis-Insults experienced by the royal family-Entrance of the mob into the palace-Insurrection of the 10th of August -The king seeks shelter in the assembly--Is committed with his family to the prison of the Temple-War declared against France by Prussia-Alarm felt in Paris-Massacre of September-And remarks.

DEPRIVED of the aid which he had expected from Mirabeau, and deserted by almost the whole of his nobility, the unhappy Louis made secret preparations for escaping by flight from Paris, and retreating to some distant part of France, where he might be less exposed to the influence of the democratic factions of the metropolis. On Monday evening, the 20th of June, 1791, disguised as a courier, he entered, with his family, a hackney coach, driven by count Fersen, and, by the following morning, had reached a considerable distance from Paris. At the town of Varennes, which was three or four days' journey from the metropolis, he expected to meet a detachment of soldiers, headed by general Bouille, a zealous royalist.