not blessed it in vain. His people taste its sweetness. Their happiest hours are those which are spent in the exercise of penitence and faith; and while these graces are in lively exercise, they may look on the inhabitants of heaven without envy ; even though they may long to participate of their still more elevated enjoyments. "Such a repentance I am conscious I have felt. I would not return to my former course of life, though that course has gained me the reputation of virtue, even if it were compatible with a religious profession, for I have lived a vain life; minding earthly things; my intellectual studies have been pursued to gratify pride, which has coveted the honour which cometh from man; the `claims of God, on the homage and supreme affection of the heart, I have neglected; the Redeemer I have neither loved nor honoured; I have spurned from my presence those religious principles which require a separation from this world; and have uniformly acted as though the invisible realities of the next, were a mere fanciful conception of an idiot, or fanatic. But now the delusion which has been thrown over the whole of my mental perceptions, and objects of gratification, has vanished away; I see with an unveiled face the supreme importance of those truths and sources of enjoyment, which in the days of my ignorance were concealed from me; and if I have any regret, it is not because I have discovered the illusion so early; but because I did not discover it sooner." "It has been recorded of one of the Roman Emperors," said Mrs. Stevens, "that he wept when he saw the statue of Alexander the Great. Why did he weep? Because Alexander had conquered the world, at a period of life, when he (the Emperor) had gained no victory. And if you, my dear, have been later in gaining your spiritual conquests than some others, I hope you will now distinguish yourself by a decision more firm; and a zeal more ardent; that you may redeem, for the honour of the Saviour, the time which you have withheld from his service; and, carrying the principles of your faith to the highest possible attainments, will compel others to see the effects which the grace of God produces in the human character." As I was returning from a solitary walk, I accidentally fell into the company of the ladies, when I informed them that I had just witnessed a most affecting sight. I had seen a young lady, about the age of twenty, genteel and accomplished, labouring under a fatal disease, and given over by the physician; not only indifferent to the solemnities of a dying hour; but so determined to divert her attention from them, that she spent the greater portion of her time either in reading novels, or playing at cards with the other members of the family. I expostulated with her on the impropriety of such amusements, especially at such a crisis, but she listened with the most perfect indifference; and her mother coolly replied, "I think any thing proper, that will keep off the thoughts from such a gloomy subject. She has but a little while to live, and I wish her to be happy while she lives, and as she is passionately fond of novels and cards, I think it would be an act of eruelty to withhold them from her. Dear creature, she will soon be in heaven." "But, Madam," I observed, we have no reason to believe that there are either novels or cards in heaven; and if the felicity of your child depends on such things, she can have no prospect of future bliss." "The physician, Sir, particularly requests, that no one may be permitted to speak to her on religious subjects; he has given it as his opinion, that she cannot spend her time better than by enjoying these innocent amuse-, ments; and besides, Sir, she has taken the sacrament, and is at peace with all mankind; and is quite resigned to her fate." As the last sentence fell from her lips, the whole family wept, nor could I refrain from tears. "You have witnessed an affecting sight indeed," exclaimed Miss Roscoe," but the majority of professing Christians would gaze on it with pleasure. The physician requesting that no one might be permitted to speak to her on religious subjects! Oh, how cruel! What is this, Sir, but interdicting the visit of mercy; and dooming a sinner to pass into the eternal world, unprepared to die? I remember at an early stage of my late affliction, the medical attendant urged upon my parents the necessity of keeping the Bible out of my reach, and they complied with his request; and kept from me that holy book, which reveals life and immortality. Can you account, Sir, for this most astonishing part of their conduct?" "I can tell you the reason which they assign for it. They say that the mind ought to be kept in a state of great composure; and concluding that religion will agitate and alarm it, they forbid all reference to the subject." "Poor creatures," said Miss Roscoe; "how ignorant must they be of the nature and tendency of pure religious truth! If a person be renewed in the spirit of his mind, and feel the love of God shed abroad in his heart, there is no subject which will have such a delightful effect as the immediate prospect of entering heaven. I lately sat beside the bed of a dying Christian, who not long before her departure, after saying in the language of Stephen, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit,' repeated the following lines with an emphasis and melody of voice which still sounds in my ear;— Dissolve Thou the bond that detains My soul, from her portion in Thee: "But if a person be ignorant of the scheme of redemption as revealed in the Scripture, there is no subject which ought to be pressed more upon his attention. If he have but a short time to live, no portion of that time ought to be lost. To-day he is here. To-morrow in eternity. For the physician to interpose, to keep him in a state of ignorance, is an act of cruelty which language was never invented to describe; and, notwithstanding the frivolous reasons which he may assign for his conduct, is an act for which he will stand responsible at the last day." On reaching the end of the grove, we seated ourselves in a garden-chair which stood under a large beech tree; from whence we had a distinct view of the church and the rectory." A village church," I observed, "forms a pretty object in a scenery." "Yes," replied Mrs. Stevens, "it does; but how often does that object awaken a class of feelings in a Christian's mind, which depress him. It is professedly the house of prayer for all people;' but if the officiating minister preach not the pure Gospel. of Jesus Christ, it is not the house of mercy." "I have been accustomed," said Miss Roscoe, "to attend that church from my earliest infancy; the gentleman who does duty in it, is a learned, polite, and amiable man; we have often passed away many pleasant evenings together; he excels in music; has a fine poetic taste; but I regret to add, has a strong aversion to evangelical truth. He came to see me just as I was recovering from my late affliction; and when I made some reference to the influence which reading the Scriptures had over my mind, he said, I hope you will be on your guard, for you are now in great danger of becoming too religious. The mania has affected many in our village, but I hope you have virtue enough to resist it.' He is rather lofty in his spirit, though very familiar when among the poor; his ideas of the dignity and excellence of human nature are diametrically opposed to the scriptural representation; and he asserted in the last discourse I ever heard him deliver, that the charge of a universal corruption having taken place among the members of the human family, was a gross libel on our virtue; there are a few imperfect he said, but even those have virtue enough left to atone for their defects; but the great bulk of mankind are as perfect as their Creator ever intended they should be. He then adverted to the evangelical doctrines of repentance and faith, and salvation by grace through the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ, which he denounced the corruptions of Christianity, and warned the people against them, as being more pernicious to the peace and good order of society than the principles of open infidelity. On being asked by my father how I liked the discourse, I replied not at all. Mr. C not only opposes the Scriptures, but the Articles of his own Church; I quoted the Eleventh Article, which put an end to our conversation. "We are accounted righteous before God only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, by faith; and not for our own works or deservings. Wherefore, that we are justified by faith only, is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort, as more largely is expressed in the Homily of Justification.' 1 have not heard Mr. Csince; for I think it wrong to sanction by my presence, a style of preaching which is subversive of the entire scheme of salvation." "It must be painful," I observed, " to be driven from the church, by the introduction of erroneous doctrines; but it must be more painful to a conscientious mind to sit and hear them. Where do you now attend?" "Alas, Sir, like the captives of Babylon, I am denied the privilege of worshipping in the temple, and like them, I sit and weep over the desolation of Zion. But He who was as a little sanctuary to them in the season of their captivity, visits me, by the special manifestations of his holy presence, within the retirements of the closet. I asked permission the other Sabbath, to go and hear the venerable Mr. Ingleby, but I was refused. Oh, this pierced me to the heart.' "But why did your father deny you a request so reasonable?" " He would not have done it," replied Miss Roscoe, "if he had not been influenced by others; for such is the strength of his attachment for me, and such his devotedness to my happiness, that he has heretofore deemed no sacrifice too great, no indulgence, too expensive, to promote my comfort. But the Rev. Mr. Cand " some lay gentleman, have urged him to interpose his |