The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1824-11-18
EXTRAORDINARY ACCOUNT
ofMe Rev. WILLIAM TENNENr, Tpho lay
thyfc davS ahharently Iftiess.

Ihffc QQVS uNFUtHItY tJtteSS'
The late Rev. VIM Tennent, of Freehold,
in the state of New Jersey, of whom we
write. was the second son of the Rev. VIM.
Tennent minister of the gospel at Neshami-
ny, in Bucks county, in the state OF Penn
sylvania.
He was born on the Sd day of June, l7o5,
in the county of Antrim, in Ireland, and was
lust turned of thirteen years when he arriv-
cd in America. He applied himself with
much zeal and industry, to his studies, and
made great proficiency in the Languages,
particularly in the Latin. Being early i'm
pressed with deep sense OF divine things,
he soon determined to follow the example OF
his father and elder brothers, by devoting
himself to the service of God in the work of
the gospel. His brother Gilbert being call
ed to the pastoral charge of the church at
New brunswick, in New Jersey, and max
ing very useful preacher, William deter
mined, as he had completed his course i'll
the languages, to study under his brother
Accordingly, he left his fathers house, with
his consent, and by his advice, and went to
New Brunswick. At his departure from
home, which was considered as his setting
out in life, his father addressed kim with
great affection, commencing him to the fa-
our and protection of that God, from whom
! he himself had received so much mercy, and
who had directed him in all his migrations.
EIe gave him small sum of money, as the
amount of all he could do for him, telling
! him that if he behaved well and did his duty,
4 this was an ample provision for him and if
I he should act otherwise, and prove ungrate-
4 fill to kind and gracious God, it was much,
and more than he deserved. Thus with a
| pitancc, and the blessing of pious and affec-
tionate parent, of more consequence than
thousands of pounds ofmoney, the young stu
dent set out in the world.
Mr.. Tennent was preparing for the gospel
ministry. His intense application affected
his health, and brought on pain in his
breast, and slight hectic. He soon became
cmaciated, and at length was like living
skeleton. His life was now threatened. He
was attended by physician, and a young
man who was attached to him by the strict
est and warmest friendship. Hegrew worse
and worse, till little hope of life wasleft. In
this situation his spirits failed him, and he
began to entertain doubts of his final happi-
ness. He was conversing one morning with
his brother, in Latin, on the state of his soul,
when he tainted and died away. After the
usual time, he was laid out on board, ac-
cording to the common practice the couli-
try, and the ncighbourhood were invited to
attend his funeral on the next day. In the
evening, his physician and friend returned
from a ride in the country, and was afflicted
, beyond measure at the news Of his death.
lie could not be persuaded that it was GER
tain; and on being told that one of the per-
sons who had assisted in laying out the body,
,, thought he had observed a little tremor, OF
the hcsh under the arm, although the body
was cold and stiff, he endeavoured to ascer-
tanned the fact. He first put his own hand
into warm water, to make it as sensible rs
, possible, and then felt under the arm, and
at the heart, and affirmed that he felt an
unusual warmth, though no one else could.
, He had the body restored to warm bed,
) and insisted that the people who had been
invited to the funeral should not be request
cd to attend. To this the brother objected
as absurd; the eyes being sunk, the lips
/ discolored, and the whole body weak and
5 stiff. However, the doctor finally prevailed,
, and all probable means were used to discov-
: er symptoms of returning life. But the
third day arrived, and no hopes entertained
of success but by the doctor. who never left
S him night nor day. The people were again
invited, and assembled to attend the funerai