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do not all at once arrive at the utmost perfection of which they are capable."-B. "I think, Sir, that is a very rational fuppofition."-7. "Why yes, Sir; but we do not know it is a true one. There is no harm in believing it: but you muft not compel others to make it an article of faith; for it is not revealed."-B. "Do you think, Sir, it is wrong in a man who holds the doctrine of purgatory to pray for the fouls of his deceafed friends?"-7. "Why no, Sir."-B. "I have been told, that in the Liturgy of the Epifcopal Church of Scotland, there was a form of prayer for the dead."-7. "Sir, it is not in the Liturgy which Laud framed for the Epifcopal Church of Scotland: if there is a Liturgy older than that, I fhould be glad to fee it."-B. "As to our employment in a future ftate, the facred writings fay little. The Revelation, however, of St. John gives us many ideas, and particuJarly mentions mufic."-7. "Why, Sir, ideas must be given you by means of fomething which you know and as to mufic, there are fome philofophers and divines who have maintained that we shall not be fpiritualized to fuch a degree, but that fomething of matter, very much refined, will remain. In that cafe, mufic may make a part of our future felicity."

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In another converfation, Mr. Bofwell mentioned a kind of religious Robinhood Society,

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which met every Sunday evening at Coachmaker's Hall for free debate; and that the fubject for that night was the text which relates, with other miracles, that which happened at our SAVIOUR's death, And the graves were opened, and many bodies of the faints which flept arofe, and came out of the graves after his refurrection, and went into the holy city, andappeared unto many.'-Mrs. Hall obferved, that it was a very curious fubject, and fhe fhould like to hear it difcuffed. Johnfon (fomewhat warmly) faid, "One would not go to fuch a place to hear it, one would not be feen in fuch a place -to give countenance to fuch a meeting."But, Sir (faid fhe to Johnfon), I fhould like to hear you difcufs it." He feemed reluctant уси to engage in it. She talked of the refurrection of the human race in general, and maintained that we shall be raised with the fame bodies.-"Nay, Madam (returned Johnson), we see that it is not to be the fame body; for the Scripture ufes the illuftration of grain fown, and we know that the grain which grows is not the fame with what is fown. You cannot fuppofe that we fhall rife with a difcafed body; it is enough if there be fuch a famenefs as to diftinguish identity of perfon."

The Reader will, no doubt, be defirous of learning how JOHNSON fupported that awful crifis, of which he, through life, expreffed fo much dread.

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In his laft illness, with that native fortitude which amidst all his bodily diftrefs and mental fufferings never forfook him, he afked Dr. Brocklefby, as a man in whom he had confidence, to tell him plainly whether he could recover. "Give me (faid he) a direct answer." The Doctor having firft afked him, if he could bear the whole truth, which way foever it might lead, and being anfwered that he could, declared that in his opinion he could not recover without a miracle. "Then (faid Johnfon) I will take no more phyfic, not even my opiates: for I have prayed that I may render up my foul to GOD unclouded." In this refolution he perfevered; and at the fame time ufed only the weakest kinds of fuftenance.

For fome time before his death, all his fears were calmed and abforbed by the prevalence of his faith, and his truft in the merits and propitiation of our Redeemer. He talked often about the neceffity of faith in the facrifice of the Redeemer, as neceffary, beyond all good works whatever, for the falvation of mankind.

The Doctor, from the time that he was certain his death was near, appeared to be perfectly refigned, was feldom or never fretful or out of temper, and often faid to his faithful fervant, Francis Barber, who gave this account, "Attend, Francis, to the falvation of your foul,

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is the object of greatest importance." He alfo explained to him paffages in the Scripture, and feemed to have pleasure in talking upon religious fubjects.

On Monday, the thirteenth of December 1784, the day on which he died, a Mifs Morris, daughter to a particular friend of his, called, and faid to Francis, that she begged to be permitted to see the Doctor, that the might earnefily requeft him to give her his bleffing. Francis went into the room, followed by the young lady, and delivered the metlage. The Doctor turned himself in the bed, and faid,"God bless you, my dear!" Thefe were the laft words he spoke. His difficulty of breathing increased till about feven o'clock in the evening, when Francis and Mrs. Defmoulins, who were fitting in the room, obferving that the noife he made in breathing had ceased, went to the bed fide, and found that he was dead.

About two days after his death, the following account was communicated to Mr. Malone, in a letter by the Hon. John Byng:

"I HAVE had a long converfation with Cawfton, who fat up with Dr. Johnfon, from nine o'clock on Sunday evening, till ten o'clock on Monday morning. And from what I can gather from him, it should feem, that Dr. Johnfon was perfectly compofed; fteady in hope, and refigned to death. At the interval of each hour, they affifted him to fit up in his bed, and move his legs, which were in much pain; when he regu larly addreffed himself to fervent prayer: and though fome

times his voice failed him, his fenfes never did during that time. The only fuftenance he received was cyder and water. He faid his mind was prepared, and the time to his diffolution feemed long. At fix in the morning he enquired the hour, and on being informed, faid, that all went on regularly, and he felt he had but a few hours to live.

"At ten o'clock in the morning, he parted from Cawston, faying, You fhould not detain Mr. Windham's fervant.—I thank you bear my remembrance to your mafter.' Cawston fays, that no man could appear more collected, more devout, or lefs terrified at the thoughts of the approaching minute."

RELIGION.

Mr. BosWELL one day ftated an anxious thought, by which a fincerc Christian might be disturbed, even when confcious of having lived a good life, so far as confiftent with hu man infirmity; he might fear that he should afterwards fall away, and be guilty of fuch crimes as would render all his former religion vain. Could there be, he afked, upon this aweful fubject, fuch a thing as balancing of ac counts? Suppofe a man who has led a good life for feven years commits an act of wickedness, and instantly dies; will his former good life have any effect in his favour ?" Sir (faid Johnson), if a man has led a good life for feven

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