Comptroller of the Queen's household, Sir Richard Southwell, both the Sheriffs, and a wonderful number of people, he was burnt into ashes, washing his hands in the flame as he was in burning.

A little before his burning at the stake his pardon was brought if he would have recanted: but he utterly refused it. He was the first martyr of all the blessed company that suffered in Queen Mary's time; he gave the first adventure upon the fire.

His wife and children, being eleven in number, ten able to walk, and one sucking on her breast, met him by the way as he went toward Smithfield; this sorrowful sight of his own flesh and blood, dear as they were to him, could yet nothing move him, but that he constantly and cheerfully took his death with wonderful patience, in the defence and support of Christ's Gospel.

SOME ACCOUNT OF A RELIGIOUS CONVERSATION.

I HAPPENED not long since to be in company with some people when the conversation turned almost entirely on religious matters. The names of the talkers were these: Mr. Ignorance, Mr. Wilful, Mr. Considerate, Mr. Truelight, Mrs. Formality, and Miss Conceit. They were persons well known in our town; and, save Mr. Considerate and Mr. Truelight, met with very little respect from their neighbours. This was a galling circumstance to Mrs. Formality and Miss Conceit, two ladies who, whatever other people might think of them, were always sure to have

a good opinion of themselves. As, therefore, I had nothing better to do, I thought I would sit down, and listen to what was going forward. It should be observed that all these persons professed to be the servants of God, and in the right way to heaven. Mr. Ignorance and Mr. Wilful were more than commonly positive on this head.

As

Now the Reader must note that the conversation had begun some time before I entered the room. I opened the door, I found Miss Conceit warmly engaged with Mr. Truelight. Bridling herself up in a way that she thought particularly graceful and becoming, she said, what! do you mean to assert, Sir, that we are so very bad, that there is nothing good in us at all on which we may pride ourselves a little, and that some folks are not better and more respectable than others? I should not think of such a thing, she further observed, with a suitable toss of her head.

Mr. Truelight replied, what I have said, Ma'am, I mean, and will stand to it. What I have said I can prove, and that by the highest authority. No doubt you can call to mind what is said in the book of Genesis, that "every imagination of the thoughts of man's heart is only evil continually." Again, what David says in the 14th Psalm, "There is none that doeth good, no not one." written in the Prophet Isaiah, that "all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." And moreover, that some folks are not better than others, but on a level in this respect, is shewn by what the Apostle Paul says, that we have "all sinned, and come short of the glory of God,"

Still further it is

At this Mr. Wilful, nearly starting from his seat, exclaimed, I will not believe it, though the Scriptures tell me so. It is contrary to all reason and commonsense. If I am to go to heaven at all I will be allowed to go there in my own way.

Here Mr. Considerate put in a word. He mildly but firmly observed, that the subject required grave deliberation; he had often weighed it in his own mind, and must confess he judged Mr. Truelight right in the main.

At this Mr. Ignorance, with a look that might be thought rather solemn, just said that for his part he did not know much about the question, and at the same time could not see any reason for people's troubling their heads about such matters.

Mr. Truelight, with an air of deep seriousness, said, that all whose eyes were not blinded by the God of this World, must see the exceeding great importance of those matters which related to the salvation of the precious and never-dying soul. Religion was no trifling concern, but commends itself to every man's conscience who is not asleep in his sins, as was very forcibly put by the Rev. Mr. Faithful to his charge, in his discourse last Sabbath day.

Here Mr. Truelight was interrupted in what he was going further to say, by Mrs. Formality's remarking with some asperity, and in rather a crabbed manner, that great fuss was made now-a-day by some people about religion. She could hear of nothing but the strange words of conversion, the new birth, the power of godliness, the witness of the Spirit, the constraining love of Christ, and other things equally unaccountable and absurd. People seemed to be all

out of their senses, and running mad. It never used to be so in her time. Folks thought then religion was a respectable and decent thing in its way; that it was enough to go regularly to Church on Sundays, and say our prayers, and now and then take the Sacramen after reading the Week's Preparation.'

Good Mr. would tell us our duty in a nice short way, and give no offence to any body, not he dear man ah! I can hardly stop crying when I think of his kind and condescending manner. He would often come in and join our snug card parties, or else get into a corner with us, and have a little chat about our neighbours. But things are strangely altered now, and in my opinion not for the better at all. I shall stick to the good old way, and mind the forms and ceremonies of the Church. If they don't take me to heaven, I don't know what will. I like to see folks comfortable and social together, as it used to be so long back as I can remember.

Mr. Ignorance here added, that he never knew it to be any other.

How long Mrs. Formality might have continued in this strain, it was not easy to say, had not Mr. Truelight seized the opportunity of a slight pause in her talk to put in a few remarks inore fitted to instruct and enlighten all present.

This worthy and well-informed man (for such Mr. Truelight in reality was,) said, he hoped Mrs. Formality would excuse him for interrupting her. What she had said he had many times heard before, and in consequence felt no way surprised. It was according to the form and fashion of the professedly Christian world in general. However, he would beg leave to

make answer to some of the things which she had spoken. He observed that it was a source of unmixed satisfaction to himself, and he thought must be the same to every well-disposed and serious mind, that religious matters were altered in our town, since there was much room for improvement in those particulars. He repeated, therefore, that he rejoiced in the change.

'

Mrs. Formality had said, that a great fuss was made now-a-day about religion;' for his own part he only wished the fuss was greater. There could not be too much concern about what was called by the Saviour himself, the "one thing needful." And as to Mrs. Formality's remark about the strange and unaccountable words of conversion,-the new birth, the power of godliness, and so forth; he could not wonder at it at all, because he found it written in his Bible: "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

Now conversion implies the being turned from darkness unto light, and from the power of Satan unto God. To those who considered the state of man by nature and practice, to those who gave themselves the trouble to look a little at home, and contemplate themselves as they really are, there could be nothing strange, and still less absurd in the doctrine of conversion. The necessity too of conversion was enforced in Scripture. Surely Mrs. Formality, who no doubt read her bible mornings and evenings, could not forget what is said in Matthew xviii. 3, and who says it, "Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted,