Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-10-18


turn, he resolved to devote himself to the gospel
ministry, and commenced the study of divinity
under the direction of his brother, the Rev. Gil
bert Tennent, pastor of the church at New
Brunswick. While there, he was thrown into
a remarkable trance. and remained apparently
dead for number of days. The following ac-
count is from Life of Mr.. Tennent, ascribed
to Elias Boudinot, LID, and first published in
the Evangelical IntsMgencer, a work printed in
Philadelphia
After regular course Of study in theology,
Mr.. Tennent was preparing for his examination
by the Presbyter, as candidate for the gospel
ministry. His intense application affected his
breast and he had slight hectic. He soon be-
came emacated and at length was liksfi living
skeleton. His life was now threatened. He
was attended by a.physicisn. young man who
was attached to him by the strictest and warm
est friendship. He grew worse and worse til
little hope of his life was left In this situation
his spirits failed him, he began to entertain
doubts of his final happiness. He was con-
versing 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, according to the common prac-
tice of the country, and the neighborhood were
invited to attend his funeral the next day. In
the evening, his physician and friend returned
from drive in the country, and was afflicted
beyond measure at the news of his death. He
could not be pursuaded that it was certain and
on being informed that one of the persons who
had assisted in laying out the body, thought he
had observed little tremor of the flesh under
the arm, although the body was cold and stiff,
he endeavorcd to ascertain the fact. He first
put his own hand into warm water, to make it
rs sensible as possible, and then felt under the
arm, and at the heart, and affirmed that he fel
an unusual warmth, though no one else could
He had the body restored to a warm bed, and
insisted that the people who had been invited to
the funeral should be requested not to attend.
To this the brother objected, as absurd, the
eyes being sunk, the lips discolored, and the
whole body cold and stiff. However, the doctor
finally prevailed, and all possible means were
used to discover symptoms of returning life but
the third day arrived, and no hopes were enter
tanned of success but by the doctor, who never
left him nightor day. The people were again
invited, and assembled to attend the funeral
; The doctor still objected, and at last confined
his request for delay, to one hour. then to half
an hour, and finally to quarter of an hour
he had discovered that the tongue was much
swollen, and threatened to crack he was en-
deavoring to softsnit by some emollient oint-
; ment put upon it with feather, whsn tbs
brother came in about the expiration Of @as las.
period, and, mistaking what the doctor was do
ing for an attempt to feed him, manifested some
resentment, and in spirited tone said, !" 1t is
shameful 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
. is eyes, gave a dreadful groan, and sunk again
. nto apparent death. This put an end to all
thoughts of burying him, and every effort was
again employed in hopes of bringing about a
speedy resuscitation. In about an hour the
= eyes agaiu opened, heavy groan.proceeded from
y the body, and again all appearance Of animation
= vanished. In another hour, life seemed to re-
y :, turn with more power, and a complete revival
= took place to the great joy of the family and
;. friends, and to the no small astonishment ant
:, conviction of very many who had been ridicul'
:. ing the idea Of restoring to life q dead body.
q. Mr. Tennent continued in SO weak and low q
l. state for six weeks, that great doubts were en-
tertained of his final recovery. However, after
re that period he recovered much faster but il
AZ was about twelve months befers he was com
" plctely restored. After he was able to wall
is around, on Sunday afternoon, his sister, wht
I'd had stayed from church to attend him, wa
n reading in the Bible, when he took notice of it
IN and asked her what she had in her hand. Sh
o, answered that she was reading the Bible. HI
of replied, What is the Bible! | know not wha
you mean" This affected the sister 80 much
IN that she burst into tears, and informed him tha
r he was once well acquainted with it. On he
ne reporting this to the brother when he returned
Of MIR. Tennent was found upon examination, +
OF be totally ignorant of every transac ton of hi
'n life previous to his sickness. He could not rea
singls word, neither did he seem to have an
idea of what it meant As soon as he becam
capable OF attention, he was taught to read an
IA write, as children are usually taught, and after
:. wards began to learn the Latin language unde
:. the tuition of his brother. One day as he wa
rcciting lesson in Cornelius Nepos, he sudden
a y started, clapped his hand to his head, as
something had hurt him, and made pause. =
His brother asked him what was the matter
= he said that he had felt sudden shock in hi
. head, and il now seemed to him as if he ha
'' :, read that book before. By degrees his recol
~ lection was restored, and he could speak tn
10 Latin as Auently as before bis sickness Hi
mcmory SO completely revived, that he gained
\ perfect knowledge of the past transactions q
y his life, as if no difficulty had previously OCCUR
Ito ed. This event, at this time made eonsiderabl
ed noise, and afforded not only matter of serior
es- contemplation to the devout Christian, especi
se ally when connected with what follows in th
e- narration, but furnished subject of deep in
H. vestigation and learned inquiry to the real phi
Of losopher and curious anatomiss.
fi. The writer OF these memoirs was greatly in
No terested by these uncommon events. and on
on favorable occasion, earnestly pressed Mr.. TED
nent for minute account Of what his views an
for apprehensions were while he lay in this extr,
40. ordinary state Of suspended animation. He dil