:

therefore, as he moved from the dinner, I followed him; my heart was so full that almost every word I spoke to him was intermixed with tears of contrition and remorse while he, with the greatest affection, began to pour into my wounded conscience all the consolatory promises of the Gospel; observing, what a great mercy it was that I was now convinced of the folly and evil of my past life, and what a blessing this might prove to hundreds besides, if, by the grace of God, I continued in the same mind. When we parted, Mr. Lovegood affectionately invited me to see him. As it unfortunately happened, I was engaged on a visit to Mr. Bluster, at Revel-Hall; Mr. Lovegood advised me to send my excuse, as I could now say, I was engaged on some concerns which demanded my particular attention.-So the time I meant for Mr. Bluster, I passed with Mr. Lovegood.

Wor. It proved a very favourable event, that immediately as you found your need of an instructor, you at once had one at hand, so excellently well calculated for your purpose.

Mer. Indeed Sir it was. For you must think what a situation I was in, when just emerging from my ignorance, a mere babe in Christ, and in spiritual knowledge, I found that I had to fill the place of a Father in divine knowledge; for such fathers, I apprehend, are the only fit instructors of the children of God.*

Wor. I fear there were very few who could properly be called the children of God, who needed inyour struction in that parish, so that the difficulty could

It is probable that on this supposition the fears of Thomas Newman were excited, in Dialogue the 6th, lest Mr. Lovegood should be promoted from the vicarage of Brookfield to the Archbishoprick of Canterbury, judging very rightly how well he deserved, not only the title of the right reverend, but even the most reverend Father in God, both from the rich experience of the Gospel on his own heart, and having also so many around him, who were his spiriturl children, and over whom he acted in a manner so fatherly and so wise. Oh! that a Mr. Lovegood, independent of every political principle may never be wanting to fill each vacant bishoprick in our land.

not be very considerable, while you had to instruct others still more ignorant than yourself.

Mer. True Sir. But then I was perfectly ignorant how I was to set about that low office of a spiritual instructor. But by passing the two days I designed for Mr. Bluster, with Mr. Lovegood, he gave me a clue for obtaining spiritual knowledge, which afterwards proved a wonderful advantage to me. He particularly advised me to read the first book of Homilies; to employ my time in modernizing the language, and then read them over as sermons, to my congregation. Wor. Did you take the advice?

Mer. Sir I have before told you I could think of nothing but myself, and my ignorance, directly as I began to examine myself by the new views which had been brought to my nind. And though I found the book of Homilies exceedingly instructive, and though I have loved the church of England ever since, as in this land she is certainly the pillar and ground of truth; * yet I rather chose to follow that part of Mr. Lovegood's advice, to attempt some instructive hints, as I read the lessons appointed for the public service, and when I got into the pulpit, I have before told you how I stammered out the truth as well as I could.

Wor. I should suppose this change wrought on your heart, was not a greater blessing to yourself, than a matter of astonishment to all the people at Sandover.

Mer. I bless God, many of my parishioners were not less affected than myself, when I began to tell them all, how grieved I was that I had been leading them wrong, both by iny example and doctrine; and that now I hoped in God, that I should preach them

Mr. Merryman might not suppose from that observation, that no blemishes could be found which vindicated the conduct of others in their conscientious dissent from the established church though he laments that there are any such dissenters to be found, as blame Mr. Merryman and others, for their conscientious confor mity to a church, notwithstanding some defects, whose liturgy is so evangelical, and whose doctrines are so sound.

4

better doctrine, and show them a better example; and while I was thus talking to the people, it is amazing how poor Sam Resolute, one of my former comrades, was affected. I was in hopes for some time, that his heart had been truly changed; but since then, he has awfully declined. I hope however, he will yet be brought back, for I met with him the other day, after he had been at a horse race, and begged him to come into my house. He followed me like a criminal; I plucked up courage, and would go to prayer with him, and it is amazing how he wept, and with what contrition he mentioned his backsliding state.

Wor. People must have been filled with remarkable astonishment at such a change.

Mer. Why Sir, it was curious beyond expression, what strange reports fled about the country, concerning me. Some said, that the change was occasioned by dejection of spirits, from my having met with a heavy loss by gaming; others found out that I had been crossed in love; some said that I had seen my uncle's apparition, who died about six weeks before; and others thought it was the effect of a fall from my horse, when I was taken up for dead at Gambleton races, whereby my scull had been nearly fractured, and that now I was quite gone mad. In short, it was so currently reported, that I was mad, that young captain Sparkish, one of my former frothy companions, actually came over to see me, and inquired if it might not be adviseable to consult a Physician, to know what remedy might be necessary to heal the cracked scull I met with, on the horse course.

every

mad

Miss Wor. Why Sir, I should rather think it might have been supposed, your scull was quite as much cracked when you were after amusement and when you pitied me and my sisters at Mr. Bluster's, that we were to be bred in up such a mopish manner, as that we were not to be allowed to touch a card; and as you expressed yourself that my father would as soon see the devil come

into the house as a dancing-master; but I am sure, what the grace of God has done upon your heart, has been a great blessing to me.

Mer. Why madam, who could tell you I made such a speech as that? I confess, though I have frequently expressed my pity that Mr. Worthy should educate his daughters in such a mopish manner, as I then thought it; yet I do not think I ever said your father" would as soon see the devil in his house, as a dancing master."

Wor. [To his daughter.] This you know, my dear, was a speech of Mr. Spiteful: and when he has it in his power to exemplify the spleen of his heart against any of the supporters of vital religion, he never thinks it a crime to exaggerate.

Miss Wor. But Sir, since you favoured me and my sisters with the present of Mrs. Hannah More's book on Female Education, we can very willingly give up the silly amusement of dancing and card playing, for the sake of the rational instructions we receive in the room of them. I am sure, when I happened to be with the Miss Giddy's the other day, I was satisfied nobody need to envy them the privileges of their sort of education.

Mer. Indeed, my dear Miss Worthy, through the divine blessing, I now see how much it is to be lamented, that the young women of the present day are turned out from their different boarding schools, such mere baubles and playthings, that they scarcely deserve to be esteemed as rational creatures; but I had no serious views of the evils of these things, till I became serious myself.

Wor. Yes, and when you were half a madman, and as thoughtless as you could be, you were then judged to be in your sober senses; but when you became "sober and temperate in all things," then you were supposed to be a madman. We never know the worth of our own minds, till such time as we are blessed with the grace and mind of Christ.

Mer. I am sure the Spirit of God, in his divine ope

ration on the human mind, may well be described as "the Spirit of wisdom and understanding." What a lovely sedateness, what pleasant calmness, are they possessed of who feel the restoration of" the kingdom of heaven within them;" which is beautifully described in the scripture, as being "righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost!"

Wor. Mr. Lovegood preached us two admirable sermons, a few Sundays ago, on that subject, "The peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds, through Jesus Christ."But here is Edward coming; I suppose it is with a message from Mr. Lovegood.

Edw. Sir, will your honour want the best parlour when you come in? for a young gentleman and his lady in a one-horse chair, and a servant with them on horseback, stopt to read the poetry your honour had put over the door,* and have asked for a dish of tea; and say, if I can accommodate them, they had rather stop the evening with us, than go two miles farther to Mapleton.

Wor. O no Edward, we shall be going home directly.

Edw. But I am afraid my accommodations are not good enough for them; for I am sure by their manner that they are real gentlefolk.

Mrs. Wor. Then you will find it still more easy to accommodate them. You have all things, though in a plain way, yet very clean and neat; and if they want any thing you have not got, send to Trusty, my housekeeper, and she will let you have it.

Wor. Well, we will leave a couple of the largest trout for your guests, and call on Mr. Lovegood; and we will go home and clear for your visitants.

Edw. Thank your honour and madam, for your kindness.

Wor. Farewell Edward. But be sure and send if you want any thing.

* See Dialogue XIX.