She said if she had only gone on to serve the Lord as she did then, she might have been happy. But she did not-and now she was shut up in that dismal place. My mind was much affected to hear the poor creature thus exclaim; but shortly after, she made her escape at midnight, and went to her home. I visited her there, and found her mind more composed. But her friends did not like that any one should speak to her, or that she should go to any place of worship; and if she did, they would shut her out of doors all night. But the Lord had pity on her, and called her to his blessed home, where the wicked cease from troubling, and where the weary are at rest.' When she was near her end, she sent for me, and with pleasure told me what the Lord had done for her soul. She had a full assurance of her eternal happiness, through a precious Saviour, and hoped to meet me in heaven. As I was then going a journey, I saw her no more-she died while I was away. The Lord can make the way-faring, though fools, wise to salvation. This has encouraged me to pay attention to the poor deranged people in the Hospital; and I now record some things more which took place there. Going into a ward where many of them were together, an elderly gentleman who had been long there cried out-What, sir, are you come to preach to us again?' I replied, 'Yes, sir, if you will please to come into another ward and hear-I have no authority to compel you.' 'But you have,' replied another. Does not your Lord and master command you to go out to the highways and hedges, and compel sinners to come to him?' I replied, "That is true, my friend, and will you come?'-I surely will,' said he: and many of them did attend worship at that time. I took for my text the words 'Compel them to come in.' He who mentioned them appeared much engaged, and entreated me to go to their ward again, which I did. He soon after recovered his use of reason, and was set at liberty. At another time, some of the doctors wished to see what effect it might have upon some that were quite bad, to bring them in. A number were accordingly brought and placed before me one with his hat covered with dirty feathers, which he had picked up. Some of them appeared very uneasy, and kept stamping and looking very wild at me and others-one figuring in the sand on the floor, and then looking at me, as though he were taking a likeness. This drew the attention of the people who were in their senses, so much, that I thought our meeting would be broken up. I tried to keep my mind composed, and to beg the Lord to direct me what to do. I thought it would be best to surprise them; and I jumped up suddenly before them, and called upon them to attend, telling them we had come there to worship Him that made us, and had given us our reason at first, and could restore it to those who had lost it; that we did not know what he might do for us, if we should sincerely pray; and now, said I, if you will be quite still, we will endeavor to pray. They saw me go upon my knees, and to the surprise of all, they immediately kneeled down, and the feathered hat was thrown aside. After prayer, they all rose and sat down, looking earnestly at me, and remained quiet until all were dismissed. Some time after, the steward, Mr. Francis Higgins, desired to know if I would be willing he should bring a man out of a cell into the meeting. I told him, if he could be kept in order I was willing. He then brought him-a very large man. I went up to him and welcomed him to take a seat. They then brought another, very bad, and put this man by the side of the first-The second man began to shuffle and make a noise, on which the first seized him fast by his knees, and told him he must be perfectly still there, and kept him in order all the time of worship, and did not move himself, except when I was speaking of what the blessed Saviour had done for poor sinners-how many dreadful cases he had relieved he then clasped the other round the neck, as if he wished they might be benefited also; and after worship went quietly to his cell again. A woman called at my house, desiring I would speak to a friend of hers, confined in one of the cells. I inquired for her, and was told she was so unreasonable it would be in vain to say any thing to her. I observed I would wish to comply with the request of my friend. They then went and put some decent clothes on her, and invited me to go in. She cried out I do not know that man. True, said I, but you know such a lady. She, I said, desired me to come and see you. She then began to measure the shawl they had put on her with her knuckles, as fast as she could. Why, said I, do you that? I must, I must,' was the answer, 'for I am a great sinner.' So am I, was the reply, but I am come to tell you about a great Saviour, who is able to save you and me. She then stopped, and sat as still as was possible for any one to do, and listened to all that I said without uttering another word. In a short time after she came to herself, so far as to leave the Hospital, and took lodgings for herself; and then desired to see me. I found her composed and solemn. She desired me to pray and return thanks with her; and when she rose up to go to prayer, she lifted up her hands and said-O Lord, help me to unite with thy servant now in prayer,' and then fell upon her knees. Dr. Rush desired me to visit a patient of his, also, in one of the cells. The gentleman was much distressed, and complained that he was worse than a brute; that he could not act as a rational creature; that when he eat he was so ravenous that he was shocked at himself—he was very melancholy. Visiting him on a Sabbath day, he inquired if I was not about to have worship in some part of the Hospital. I told him I was. He requested to attend with us. The steward observed, it was contrary to his orders to let him come out of his cell. The gentleman said, if Dr. Rush was there, he would let him come. At that very instant, unexpectedly to him or any of us, the doctor appeared, passing the cell door. He called out, ‘Oh, Doctor, shall I not be permitted to go to meeting here?" Certainly, replied the doctor. He appeared overjoyed, and attended with great apparent devotion; and afterward entreated me to go back with him to his place, which I did, and often tried to encourage him. He had not been allowed any book before, but now earnestly desired to have a Bible, which was allowed him. But his constitution was very weak, and he gradually declined in body, until nature sunk. He was not able, as far as I could find, to say any thing about the state of his mind, until death closed the scene. Doctor Rush also desired me to visit a Doctor, who had come from the West Indies in a consumption, seeking the advice of physicians, and to try a change of climate. But he was very fast sinking under the disease. He had a room furnished in the Hospital, and every attention possible paid to him. I went with one of the managers to see him, and told him Dr. Rush had desired me to come, and what was my errand. He received me politely, but said but little. I endeavored to improve the time to the best of my knowledge, and hope I was directed by the blessed Spirit to a word in season. I urged the necessity of prayer to the Lord, who alone could help him; and desired to know if he would have me to pray with him. He seemed rather to consent, than to ask it. But in time of prayer, his mind was filled with wonderful joy; and when I rose, he clasped me with both hands, and said it was the happiest visit to him that ever he had; and that he was under great obligations to Doctor Rush for many favors, but none was so great as sending me to visit him at that time; and he desired me to come again. But in a few hours after, on the same day, he expired. The manager, who was of the Friends' society, was so much pleased with what he beheld, that he wrote me a permit to visit the Hospital when I pleased, and gave orders to the steward and gate-keeper to admit me at any time-which opened the way for my holding worship there; and he and other of the managers have often attended the meetings and countenanced them." It appears that, beside the foregoing narratives, Mr. Eastburn kept a regular journal of the religious services he performed, from the time of his licensure till he was confined to his house by his last sickness. If the whole of this journal were published, it would exhibit a very extraordinary series of labor and self-denial, through which this excellent man passed, in the service of his divine Master, and for the salvation of sinners of all descriptions -but especially for those for whom others had not sufficiently cared. From this journal a considerable number of extracts will be made. Previously to this, however, it may be proper to remark, that for the two or three years immediately succeeding his licensure, his services on the Sabbath were almost wholly confined to the three public institutions, already repeatedly mentioned. But after the lapse of about that period, he requested of the Presbytery that his attention might not be so strictly confined as it had been, to those institutions-observing, that the scenes which he constantly witnessed there were so gloomy, that he found it difficult to keep them from having a depress ing influence on his spirits. His request was readily granted; and indeed from that date till his death, he was left very much at discretion, in the employment of his time.* He never failed, it is believed, to make a distinct report to the Presbytery, at least once a year, of the manner in which he had employed his time; and these reports were invariably approved-In a few instances, he was appointed by the Presbytery, either to perform some missionary services, at no great distance from the city of Philadelphia, or to preach in vacant congregations; but in general it was left to his own sense of duty, to choose where and when his services should be rendered. He never ceased *The following extracts from the minutes of the Philadelphia Presbytery, found among Mr. E.'s papers, afford a specimen of the records usually made in his case. "April 20th, 1808.-The Presbytery received from Mr. Eastburn an account of the manner in which he had fulfilled his appointments, since the last stated meeting in the Spring, and approved his fidelity. "On motion, resolved, that it be left at the discretion of Mr. Eastburn, as he shall judge it expedient, to employ less of his time in the public institutions of the city of Philadelphia, and more in the places in its vicinity, which are destitute of the regular preaching of the gospel." "April 19th, 1809.-Mr. Joseph Eastburn made a report with respect to the discharge of his duties; which being accepted, he was directed to continue to act under his former instructions." "April 19th, 1810.—The Presbytery received, and approved the report of Mr. Eastburn, and directed him to employ his time till our next stated meeting, agreeably to his instructions received at the last Spring Sessions." Truly extracted from the records of the Presbytery of Philadelphia. JAMES P. WILSON, |