Abundance of strange notions possessed me, when I was in the desolate island; especially on a moonshine night, when every bush seemed a man, and every tree a man on horseback.  When I crept into the dismal cave where the old goat lay expiring, whole articulate groans even resembled those of a man, how was I surprised I my blood chilled in my veins, a cold

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as not to awake him, the sleeping man shall dream of what has been so whispered in his ear; nay, I can assure you, those insinuating devils can do this even when we are awake, which I call impulses of the mind:  for from whence, but from these insinuators, come our causeless passions, involuntary wickedness, or sinful desires?  Who else form ideas in the mind of man when he is asleep, or present terrible or, beautiful figures to his, fancy:  Mr. Milton represents the devil tempting Eve in the shape of a toad, lying just at her ear, when in her bower she lay fast asleep; and brings in Eve telling Adam what an uneasy night’s rest she had, and relating her dream to him.  And likewise I believe that good spirits have the same intercourse with us, in warning us against those things that are evil, and prompting us to that which is good.

Were we to have the eyes of our souls opened, through the eyes of our bodies, we should see this very immediate region or air which we breath in, thronged with spirits now invisible, and which otherwise would be the most terrible; we should view the secret transactions of those messengers who are employed when the parting soul takes it’s leave of the reluctant body, and perhaps see things nature would shrink back from with the utmost terror and amazement.  In a word, the curtain of Providence for the disposition of things here, and the curtain of judgment for the determination of the state of souls hereafter, would be alike drawn back; and what heart could support here its future state in life; much less that, of its future state after life, even good or bad.

A gentleman of my acquaintance, being about seven miles distant from London, a friend that came to dine with him, solicited him to go to the city. What, said the gentleman, is there any occasion for me?  No, Sir, said the other, nothing at all except the enjoyment of your good company:  and so gave over importuning him.  Just then a strong impulse of mind urged the gentleman and pursued him like a voice, with, Go to London, Go to London.  Hark ye, says he to his friend, is all well at London?  Am I wanted there?  Or did you ask me to go with you on any particular account?  Are all my family well?  Yes, indeed, Sir, said he, I perceived them all very hearty; and I did not ask you to go to London upon any particular account whatsoever, except it was for the sake of your good company.  Again, he put off his resolution:  but still the impulse suggested to him, Go to London; and at length he did so.  When he came there, he found a letter and a messenger had been there to seek him, and to tell him of a particular business, which was at first and last above a thousand pounds to him, and which might inevitably have been lost, had he hot gone to London that night.