with him then was to obtain part of a sermon. This, however, he managed with such address, that his friends generally left him in perfect good humour. For, though he often expressed his high disapprobation of some religious characters, who mistake their disgusting rudeness for godly zeal, and their savageness of manner for faithful dealing, he was firm and inflexible in the defence of the truth upon every proper occasion. Two or three authentic anecdotes will help me to convey a more exact idea of his sentiments and conduct on such occasions.

A Baronet, who is still living, and who was examining his works, perceived among them a bust of the late Rev. Mr. Whitfield. "Mr. B." said he," after all that has been said, this was a truly great man-he was the founder of a new religion." —“ A new religion, sir!" replied Mr. B.-" Yes," said the Baronet, "What do you call it?"Nothing," replied Mr. B. "but the old religion revived with new energy, and treated as if the preacher really meant what he said."

While Mr. B. was remarkably pleasant in society, he was often mortified at meeting the insipid and trifling turn which conversation generally takes, even in what is called the best company.This, indeed, is a general confession; yet few have courage or ability sufficient to stem the shallow, babbling torrent in its unmeaning course. Mr. B. however, generally kept upon the watch

for an opportunity at which some rational, if not religious, subject might be introduced. Upon such an occasion, he made (but quite opportunely) a religious remark to a lady who sat next him. "As to that, Mr. B." said she, " my religion is to fear God and keep his commandments; so we will talk no more of such matters."-" But, madam,” replied Mr. B. " you will recollect that it is said, They that FEARED the Lord SPAKE OFTEN one to another."

At the time he was putting up the monument of Lord Chatham, a minister, to whom Mr. B. was an utter stranger, was walking through the Abbey; and coming unseen, tapped Mr. B. on the shoulder, saying, "Take care what you are about-you work for eternity," (alluding to the story of Zeuxis.) It happened the next morning, that Mr. B. heard this gentleman deliver a discourse from the pulpit, and, watching him in his passage to the vestry, he came behind him, and tapping him in a similar manner, said, "Take care what you are about-you work for eternity."

But Mr. B. was a Christian upon a larger scale than many, whose piety is too much confined to their own heart, and to their family and friends. His mind was continually on the wing to counteract the desperate attempts made, particularly for years past, to overturn Church and State, Order and Godliness. For though, from violent publications which he had read, he feared that the indiscrimi

nation and misrepresentation of some loyalists would tend more to bring a good cause into disgrace than the craft or violence of its bitterest enemies; yet he still abhorred from his heart the spirit of the Jacobins, "These fellows," said he, "are famous at the pick-axe-They can quickly pull down a palace, but cannot build so much as a shed. They affect to illuminate the world; but it is by the light of a conflagration, which discovers nothing but the desolation it spreads. Their disorder is treated as new, but it was always in human nature; and, under new circumstances, this disease, which formerly lay more hid, is now come out upon the skin: or, like a thief in the house, the villain filched before; but being joined to a band, he says, Will ye go with us and rob? -Wise men, however, may learn much from this evil: among other things, they may see what sin is when it is ripe:-it may be nipt in its growth by a frost; but in its season, it is rank. It will in the end shew, that, however this Philosophism may serve for talking, it is nothing for doing-except mischief."

Above all, he lamented that persons, making á serious profession of religion, should be found attempting even to palliate that spirit of insubordination, which had already taken such portentous strides, and still threatens to overturn Europe: or that such persons should not perceive how utterly the genius of Christianity opposes such a restless

spirit; and, calling the attention of its children to nobler objects, leaves the potsherds to strive with the potsherds of the earth...

His warm attachment to the cause of real religion led him also to grieve, and sometimes to burn, at the offences and impositions which occasionally arise in connection with the religious world. Infidels insist upon it, that we are a motley group of knaves and fools; and the freaks of some wild or false characters, which are found among us are brought forward in proof of it. They choose to forget, that, of the purest society which ever appeared upon earth, it could be said, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? It must needs be that offences come: and wherever religion spreads, imposters and fanatics of various sorts will take advantage, as mountebanks do from the gathering of a crowd.

Mr. B. however, keenly felt such abuses. He wished a religious profession to be kept sober, clean, and transparent.-" What," said he, speaking of a modern imposition, "What have Christians to do with things suspicious or equivocal?We have too much to do with substantials to dabble in every hocus that knaves are ready pocus enough to invent, and of which even good men are sometimes the dupes!- Turn aside,' says one, ' and I will shew you a thing!'-No:-it is not worth while I have seen too many punches and puppet-shows already." there," added he, "is

that Brothers with his prophecies! Should one have thought that any body could have been found weak enough to attend to the nonsense of such a man?-But the truth is, it is any thing with the world, and any thing with the devil, but faith and repentance."

Thus, while too many were increasing the national troubles by ill-timed charges and complaints, Mr. B. felt grateful, and sometimes expressed admiration, that things were found upon the whole so well; and that, when, on account of abounding wickedness under special privileges, so much heavier a scourge might have been expected, it fell so comparatively light. He accordingly joined liberally in the public subscription for the use of Government at the Bank, and armed his sons and workmen. He was, indeed, ever ready by his influence and property, to institute and support whatever tended to secure and to promote the best interests of mankind. Hence, the strenuous and successful effort he made at the institution of the Sunday Schools to preserve the Lord's Day from secular employments, and which he deemed the most important thing he ever did. Hence, his prompt attention to the various applications made to him for assistance in religious and charitable designs-and hence, his employing his leisure moments in composing popular moral and religious pieces, by which the public mind might be corrected or improved.