Newspaper Page Text
it nr til Cabinet*
VOL. 11.
THE CABINET
Is published every Saturday by P. L
ROBINSON, Warrenton , Geo. at
three dollars per annum, which may be
discharged by two dollars and fifty
cents i f paid within sixty days of the
time of subscribing.
To the Editor of the Cabinet.
In the 9(h No. of your paper, you in
serted an extraordinary amount of
the reanimation &<:. of Kemble,
the sailor. Its perusal, 1 opine,
excited no inconsiderable degree
of astonishment in most of the rea
dors of your amusing miscellany.
It forcibly reminded me of a sin
gular account, l had some years
before seen, of the reanimation s*c.
of the Rev. William Tennent;
and thinking un amount of Teti-
trance as given by himself
and others, and published in
sketches of his life by his Execu
tor, might not be unacceptable to
your readers, I herewith forward
it to you for insertion in the Rural
Cabinet. L.
The late Rev. William Ten
nent, of freehold in the county of Moo,
mouth, in the siate of New Jersey, of
whom we write, was the second son of
the Uev. William Tennent, minister of
the gospel at Neshamicv, in Bucks-coun
ty,in the state of Pennsylvania
William Tennent, the tather on hi§ first
coming td America, settled at East
Chester, in the then province of New-
York, and afterwards removed to Bed
ford. In k short time he was calhdto
Bocks-county in Pennsylvania, and
preached at Bensalem and Smithfield
but. soon after settled permanently at Nes
haminy, in the county. After his
arrival in Bocks county on full consid
erati o he left the church of England,
and joined the Presbyterian church
His second son, William, who is the
subject of these sketches, was born on
the 3rd day of June. 1705. in the county
of Antrim, in Ireland, and was just turn
ed of thirteen yfears when he arrived in
America. He applied himself, with much
zeal and industry, to his studies, and
made great proficiency in the languages,
particularly in the Latin. early
impressed with a deep sense of divine
things, he soon determined to follow the
example rs his father and elder brother,
by devoting himself to the service of God
in the ministry ot the gospel. His broth,
er Gilbert being called to the pastoral
charge of the church at New Brunswich,
in New-Jersey, And making a very con
siderable figure as a Useful and pdptilar
preacher, William determined, as he had
completed his coursfe in the languages, to
study divinity under his broth'-r. Ac
cordingly, he left his fathers house, with
his consent and by his advice, and went to
New Brunswich. At his departure from
home, which was considered as his setting
out in life, his father addressed liirn with
great affection commending him to the
favor and protection of that God, from
whom he himself had received so much
mercy, and who had directed him in all
his migrations. He gave him a smalt sum
of money, as the amount of all he could
do for him, telling him that if he behaved
well and did his duty this was an ample
provision for him; and if he should act
otherwise, and prove ungrateful to a kind
ad gracii us God. it was too much, and
more than he deserved. Thus, with a
pittance, and the blessing of a pious and
affectionate parent, of more consequence
than thousands of pounds, the yung stu
dent set out in the world.
After a regular course of study in the
ology,Mr. Tennent was preparing for his
examination by the Presbytery, as a can
didate for the gospel ministry. His in
tense application affected his health,and
brought on a pain in his breast, and a
slight hectic. He soon became emancipa
ted, and at length was like a living skele
ton. His life was now threatened. He
was attended by a physician, a young
hi an who was attached to him by the
t rictent and wannest friendship. He
Warrenton, August 29, 18 ‘ 9.
•grew worse and worse,till little hope and
life was left. In this situation his spirit
failed him, and he began to enter'rin
doubts of his final happine&s. He vas
conversing one morning with his brother,
in Latin, on the state of his soul, when he
* fainted & died away. After the usual time,
he was laid out on a board, according to the
common practice of the country, and the
neighbourhood were invited to attend his
funeral on the next day. In the evening,
his physician and friend returned from a
ride into the country, and was afflicted
beyond measure at the news 6f kis death.
He could not be persuaded that it was
certain; and on being told that one of the
persons who had assisted in laying out the
body thought he had observed a little tre
mor of the flesh under the arm, although
the body was cold and stiff’, he endeavour
ed to ascertain the fact. He first put his
own hand into warm water, to make it as
sensible as possible, aid then felt under
the arm, at the heart, and affirmed that he
felt an unusual warmth, though no one
else could. He had the body restored to
a war m bed, and insisted that the people
who had been invited to the fuiieral should
be requested not to attend. To this the
brother objected as absurd, the eyes be
ing sunk, the lips discolored, and the
whole body cold and stiff - . However, the
doctor finally prevailed, aud all probable
means were used to discover symptoms
of returning life. But the third day arri
ved, and no hopes were entertained of
success but by the doctor, who never left
hun night nor day. The people were
again ihvited, and assembled to attend
the funeral. The doctor still objected,
and at last confined his requests lor de
lay ”f one hour, then to half an hour, and
finally to a quarter of an hour. He had
discovered that the tongUe was much
swoln, and threatened to crack. He
was endeavouring to soflen it by sotbe
emollient ointment put upon it with a
father, when the brother came in, about
the last period, and mistaking what the
doctor was doing for an attempt to teed
him, manifested some resentment, and,
in a spirited tone, said, “It is shaiheful to
be feeding a lifeless corpse;’ and insisted,
with earnestness, that the funeral should
immediately proceed. At this critical and
important moment, the body, to the great
alarm and astonishment of all present,
opened its eyes, gave a dreadful groan, and
sunk again into apparent death. This put
an end to all thoughts of burying him, aud
every effort was again employed, in
hopes of bringing about a speedy resusci
tation. In about an hour, the eyes again
opened, a heavy groan proceeded from
the body, and again all appearance of an
imation vanished In another hour, life
seemed to return with more power, and a
complete revival took place, to the great
joy of the family and friends, and to the
no small astonishment and conviction of
vety many who had been ridiculing the
idea of restoring to life a dead body.
Mr. Tennent continued in so weak and
low a state for six weeks, that great doubts
were entertained of his finai recoyeiy.
However; after that period he recovered
much faster, but it was about *wclve
’ months before he was completely restor
ed. Aftfer he was able to walk the room,
and to take notice of what passed aroOnd
him, on a Sunday afternoon, his sister,
who had staid from church to attend him.
was reading in the Bible, when he took
notice of it, and asked her what she had
in her hand. She answered that she was
reading the Bible. He replied, “W hat is
the Bible? I know not what you mean. ’
This affected the sister so much that she
burst into tears, and informed him that he
was once well acquainted with it. On
her reporting this to the broffier when he
returned, Mr. Tennent was found, upon
examination, to be totally ignorant of ev
ery transaction of his life previous !o his
sicKness. He could net read a single
word, neither did he seem to have any
idea of what it meant. As sobh as he be
! came capable of attention, he was taught
I to read and write, as children are usually
taught, and afterwards b< gau to learn the
J Latin language, under the tuition of his
brother. One day as be was reciting a
lesson in Cornelius Nepos, lie suddenly
started, clapped his hand to his head, as if
mmetfoing had hurt Inm, and made a
pause, His brother a*ked him what was
the matter; he said he felt a sndden
shock in his head, and now se.emed to him
as if he had read that book before.
By degrees hia recollection was restored,
an 1 I ecould speak the Latin as fluently
ts before his sicknelss. His memory so
completely revived,that he gained a per
fect knowledge of the past transactions of
his life, as if no diffipilty had previously
occurred. This event, at the time, made
a considerable noise, and afforded not on
ly matter of serious contemplation to the
devout Christian, especially when con
nected with what follows in this narra
tion, but furnished a subject of deep in
vestigation ?nd learned enquiry to the
real philosopher and curious anatomist.
The writer of these memoirs was
grer tly interested by these uncommon
evebts; and, on a favorable occasion
earnestly pressed Mr Tennent fora mm
uteaccount of what his viesvs and appre
hensions were, while he lay in this extra
ordnary state of suspended animation.
great reluctance to enter
intoany explanation of h s perceptions
and feelings at this time; liut being im-j
portcnatel v urged to do it, he at length
| and proceeded with a solem
nitynot to be discribed:
I “While I was conversing with my
brother,” said he, “on the state of my
soul, and the fears I had entertained for I
my future welfare, I found rnysel , in an
instant, in another state of existence un
der the direction of a superior Being,
who ordered me t * follow him. 1 was;
accordingly wafted along, I know not
how, till I beheld ar a distance an ineffa-,
b!e glory, the impression of which on r y
mind, it is impossible to communicate to
m ftaltm.n. I immediately reflect and n
my happy change, and thought—-Well,
ole>sed be God! I am safe at last* not ,
withstanding all my fears. I saw an in
numerable host of happy beings, surround
ing the inexpressible gloiy in acts of,
adornation and joyous worship; but 1 did
not see any bodily shape or representa
tion in the glorious appearance. I heard
things unutterable. I heard their songs
and hallelujahs, of thank-giving and
praise, with unsp akable rapture. I felt
joy unutterable and full of glory I then
applied to my conductor, and requested
leave to join the happy throng; on which
he tapped me on the shoulder, and said,
‘You must return to the earth.’ This
seemed like a sword through my heart.
In an instant I recollect to have seen my
brother standing before me, disputing with
the doctor. The three days rjurmg
which 1 had appeared lifeless, seemed to
me not more than ten or twenty minutes.
The idea of returning to this world of
sorrow and trouble gave me such a shock,
that l fainted repeatedly.” He added,
“Such was the effect on my mil and of what
I had seen and heard, that if it be possible |
for a human being to live entirely above the
wot id and the things ol it, for some time
afterwards I was that person. The rav
ishing -ounds of the songs and hallelujahs
that i heard, afid the very words that
were uttered, were notout of my eais,
when awake for at least three years. All
the kingdoms of the earth were in my
sight as nothing and vanity; and so great
were my ideas of heavenly glory, that
nothing which did not in some measure
relate to it, could command my serious
attention.”
The author has been particularly soli
citous to obtain every confirmation of this
extraordinary event in the life of Mr.
Tennent. fie,accordingly, wrote to ev
ery person lie could think of likely to
have convers’ and with Mr. T on the sub
ject< He received several answers; but
i the following letter. from the worthy suc
! cessor of Mr. ‘Tennent in the pastoral
1 charge of his church, will answer for the
1 authors purpose;
| “ Monriiouth , A*. Jersey , DtC. 10,1805.
“Dear 8m, —Agreeably to your re
quest, l now serld you, in writing, the
remaikable account which I some turn
since gave you verbally, respecting your
good friend, my worthy predecessoi, the
late Uev. William Tennent, of this place-
In a very free and feeling conversation on
religion, and on the future rest and bless
edness of the people of God (while tr?.v
----e together from Monmouth to Prince
town} l mentioned to Mr. Tennent that
1 should be highly gratified in hearing,
from his own mouth, an acccount of the
trance which he was said to have been in,
unless the relation would he disagreeable
to himself After a short dlence, he pro
ceeded. saying, that he had heen sick
with a fev*r—that the fever increased,
and he bv degrees sunk under it. After
sometime (a his friends informed him)
he died, or appeared to die, in the same
manner as persons Usually do—that in
laying him out, one happened to draw hi&
hand under the left arm, and perceived a
small tremor in the flesh-nthat he waa
laid out, ami was cold and stiff. ‘l’he
time for his funeial wag anpoin ed. and
the people collected, but a young doctor,
his particular friend, pleaded with great
earnestness that he might not then be
buried, as the tremor under the arm con
tinued; that his brother Gilbert, became
impatient with the young gentleman, and
said to him * What ! a man not dead who
is cold and stiff as a Stake! The impor
j lunate young fiend, however, prevailed*
another day was appointed for the bu ial,
‘and the p-ople separated During this
interval mariy means were made use of to
discover, if possible, some symtoms of life;
but none appeared excepting the tremor.
The doctor never left him for three n'ghts
and three days. The people again met to
bury him; but could not, even then, ob
tain the consent of his friend, wiio plead
ed for one hour more; and when that was
gone, he pleaded f*r half an hour, and
then for a quarter of an hour; when, just
at the close ol this period, on which hung
his last hope, Mr. ‘Tennent opened his
eyes. They thru pried open his mouth
which was stiff', so as ‘o get a quill into it,
through which sum liquid was conveyed
into the stomach, and he by degrees re
covered.
| “This account, as intimated before,
Mr. Tennent said he had received from
his friends. I said to him,‘Sir, you seem
ito be one indeed raised from the dead,
and may tell us what it is to die. and
what you were sensible ol while in that
state ’ He replied in the following
words: ‘As to dying —l found my fever
increase, and I became weaker and
weaker, until, all at once , 1 found myself
in heaven, as I thought. I saw no shape
as to the Deity, bitt glory all unutterableV
Here he p used, as though unable to find
words to express his views, let Sis bridle
fall, as St. Paul did. I heard and I saw
tilings all unutterable! 1 saw a great
multitude before this glory, apparently in
<iie height of bli6s, singing mist melodi
ously. 1 Was transported with my own
situation, viewing all mys iroubles ended,
and my rest and glory begun and “ai
ib. uttoj .in the great and happy multi
tude. when one came to me, looked me
full in the face, laid his hand upon my
shoulder, and said,‘You U"t go back.*
These winds went thr"Ugh me; nothing
could have shocked me more; I cried out,
Lord, must Igo back! With this shock I
opem dmy eyes in this world. When I
saw I was in this world I fainted, then
came to, and fainted for several times, as
one probably would naturally have done
in so weak a situation *
“Mr. Tennent furtner informed me,
that he had so entirely lost the recollec
tion of his past life, and the benefit of hie
former studies, that he cobid neither un
derstand what was spoken to him, nor
m rite, nor read bis own name—that he
had to begin anew, and did not recollect
that he had ever read before, until he had
again learned bis letters, and was able to
pronounce the monosyllables, such as
thee and thou. But, that as his strength
returned, which was very slowly, his
memory also returned. Yet notwith
standing the extreme feebleness of his
situation, his recollection of what be saw
and heaid while in heaven, as he suppo
ed, and the sense of divine things which he
iheie obtained, continued all the time in
their full strength, so that he was contin
ually in something like an ecs*acy of mind,
•Aud,’said e, ‘for three years, thfc
IVo. 12.