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journey to Locksbury, which was no less grateful, and satisfactory to him, than the former. But Dr. Rationality, Mr. Discussion, and others, took the pains to procure Dr. Stately, and his curate, Mr. Leadhead, to whom Mr. Fribble very readily lent the pulpit, to confute the enthusiastic notions of Mr. Lovegood. But this they did in such an absurd, and contradictory manner, that they entirely confuted themselves thereby. Dr. Stately held him out at arms' length, with the most supercilious contempt, as being bypocritically strict, and sanctimonious in his religion, while his curate, Mr. Leadhead, could understand him no better, than that he was a preacher of faith without works; both of them charging him also with several other preposterous notions, the most contradictory, and absurd; and the result was, that the people's minds were not a little confirmed in those essential truths, which Mr. Lovegood had before delivered among them.

Mr. Lovegood also told about a Mr. Timid, whom he found out in that neighbourhood, who, though he preaches the gospel, yet does it in such a cold, and cautious manner, that nobody is the better for it; that he is ever pleading the necessity of so preaching, as not to give offence; and that he had no notion of exciting people's prejudices, by being too plain. Thus, while by attempting to render "the preaching of the cross" of Christ palatable to the world, so as that "the offence of it might cease," neither the world, nor the church would give him credit for his design. Mr. Lovegood however, is of opinion, that if he could be got to take some of Mr. Slapdash's elixir, which, while it warms the constitution, and is an excellent stomachic, yet never throws into a fever, it might purge him of some of his worldly prudence and thus make him a useful minister in those parts.

As it is now high time to abridge all these events, nothing more shall be laid before the reader, than Mr. Lovegood's hymn, made for Mr. Slapdash's sermon, as mentioned above.

It seems, the sermon was much in his own style. When he had to display the regenerate heart of man, under the metaphor of the living temple, his imagination became so sprightly, and his language so animated, that it was almost a query with farmer Littleworth, Thomas Newman, and many others, whether he was not nearly as great a minister as Mr. Lovegood himself: however the reader may depend upon it, that Mr. Slapdash became a great favorite at Brookfield, and that his visit was attended with an abundance of good, though it was the opinion of Mr. Spiteful, and Mr. Dolittle, that he was one of the maddest fellows that ever entered a pulpit; while he was followed with the cold pity of Mr. Wisehead, that he was sorry he was not more rational in his religion, though he believed him to be a good-hearted man, though so extravagantly wild.

Were the whole life, and conversation of Mr. Lovegood to be drawn out, at full length, so holy, and active was he in all manner of conversation, that these little volumes, might soon be swollen into volumes, much too bulky for the public use: on this account, many pleasant, and profitable occurrences must be omitted, while the copy of the hymn, mentioned above, shall conclude the dialogue.

THE HYMN.

"Believers, the Temples of the Holy Ghost."

Cor. vi. 19, 20.

Produc'd at first, by pow'r divine,

Man as a creature stood,

A sacred building in design,
A dwelling-place for God.

With finish'd art the pile was rear'd,
Well fitted for its use;

Just symmetry throughout appear'd,
And glory fill'd the house.

God smil❜d in friendly visits there,
And thus his dwelling blest,

While solemn acts of praise, and prayer,
The creature's love exprest.

But sin defac'd its form, and broke
The stately structure down;
His ruin'd temple God forsook,
And left it with a frown.

Polluted thus, and thus abhorr'd,
The house in ruins lay,
Until again by Christ restor❜d,
His glory to display.

Laid deep in love this building stands,
Cemented with his blood;
Work'd all with unpolluted hands,
And fitted up for God.

Here his transforming Spirit dwells,
To beautify the place;
With kindly influence sin expels,
And sheds forth life and grace.

Oh, dearest Lord! return, reside,
Within each sinful heart:
Be thou our king, and none beside,
And never more depart.

As temples of the living God,

Thus shall we prove thy grace. We'll sing aloud redeeming blood, And chaunt thine endless praise.

DIALOGUE XXXVI.

MR. CONSIDERATE, MR. TRAFFIC, FARMER LITTLEWORTH, AND MR. LOVEGOOD.

NO GOOD MARRIAGES, FROM BAD MATCHES.

SOME

OME time after, Mr. Merryman set the example of marriage, in his union with Miss Worthy, which is said to have been so honorable in itself, and was so honorably conducted by them, that other matches were thought of. Henry Littleworth had the happiness to be united to Mr. Considerate's daughter, and Billy Traffic was determined to make himself happy with Miss Nancy Littleworth; and about the same time, Miss Patty Littleworth, was married to Will Frolic, mentioned in dialogue the sixth.

Previous to the final settlement of these marriages, it was thought necessary that the old people should meet together, to arrange the family concerns of each party. As it would, on the one hand, be very wrong in me to divulge these family secrets, so, on the other, it would by no means prove an interesting subject to the reader. Suffice it to say, the meeting took place at Mr. Considerate's; Mr. Lovegood, for the sake of his wise advice, being one of the party; and in the evening of the day, the conversation took the following turn.

Far. Well, Mr. Considerate, I tells my son Harry, be is in high luck to have your daughter: the Lord keep him humble!

Consid. A difference of a few pounds, as it re

spects money matters, is of very little consequence, either one way, or the other, where the best principle for happiness, is solidly established by the blessings of the grace of God upon the heart.

Loveg. All our happiness between each other, independent of the grace of God, rests upon very slippery ground. Even the common social, and relative duties of life, which so plainly recommend themselves to every man's judgment, and conscience, will be ill practised where this divine principle is wanting.

Far. Aye, aye, so we found it in our house, till we found the grace of God in our hearts. And if dear Harry makes as good a husband, as he has been dutiful and loving to me as a son, since he has been blessed with this precious grace, I have no doubt, though he is but a farmer's son, that they will be main happy with each other.

Consid. Why Mr. Littleworth, your son has his share of good sense, and you gave him a good education, and God has given him the blessing of his grace, and my daughter is an excellent child; therefore I have no doubt, if God preserve their lives, but that they will be a happy pair.

Far. Ah! my poor daughter Patty, she will never be so happy with that wild young blade, Will Frolic, and she is quite bent upon having him !---Poor_girl! I cannot help it; if she will please her fancy, I fear she will plague her heart.

Loveg. Why Mr. Littleworth, under these circumstances, things must be permitted to take their course. When children are grown beyond our restraint, opposition oftentimes answers no other end, than to rivet them in their purposes. You can go no further than to act a parent's part, and commit them to God.

Far. Yes, yes, Sir, I shan't mind giving her a child's portion; I can afford it without injuring the rest of my children, for the Lord has wonderfully blessed me of late; but I am afraid that spark is more 2 A

VOL, II.

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