Remarkable, in the Course of God's Dealings with Alexander Clark,
Gardener at Dumcrief, near Moffat, Anandale, in the Year 1749."

"In the month of August, 1749," says he, "at a certain time when the
Lord was pleased to chastise me greatly in a bed of affliction, and in
the midst of my great trial, it pleased the Almighty God wonderfully to
surprise me with a glorious light round about me; and looking up, I saw
straight before me a glorious building in the air, as bright and clear
as the sun: it was so vastly great, so amiable to behold, so full of
majesty and glory, that it filled my heart with wonder and admiration.
The place where this sight appeared to me was just over the city of
Edinburgh; at the same instant I heard, as it were, the musick bells of
the said city ring for joy."

From this period, Clark's character became tinged with that enthusiasm
which ended in his belief that he was inspired; and that in publishing
his--

"Signs of the Times: showing by many infallible Testimonies and Proofs
out of the Holy Scripture, that an extraordinary Change is at Hand,
even at the very Door,"--

he was merely "emitting what he derived directly, by special favour, from
God!"

"The Spirit of God," he says on another occasion, "was so sensibly
poured out upon me, and to such a degree, that I was thereby made to
see things done in secret, and came to find things lost, and knew where
to go to find those things which were lost!"

This _second sight_, if I may so call it, set our author upon drawing aside
the veil from the prophetic writings; and his view of their mystical sense
is diffused over the indigested and rambling works bearing the following
titles:

"A View of the Glory of the Messiah's Kingdom." 1763.

"Remarks upon the Accomplishment of Scripture Prophecy."

"A Practical Treatise on Regeneration." 1764.

"The Mystery of God opened," &c. Edinburgh. 1768.

"An Emblematical Representation of the Paradise of God, showing the
Nature of Spiritual Industry in the Similitude of a Garden, well
ordered, dressed, and kept, with Sundry Reflections on the Nature of
Divine Knowledge, 1779."

In his _Address to the Friendly Society of Gardeners_, Clark gives some
account of his worldly condition; of his early training in religious
habits; his laborious and industrious devotion to his profession, with
which he