with the injunctions of Christ, and with the great object of our salvation through him? Can you suppose, which is equally just and liberal to imagine, that we can inculcate the cold maxims of Heathen philosophy, that we can lay down the precepts of Plato and Socrates, - and leave out all reference to the scheme of Christianity? It is impossible you çan misunderstand us when we say, that we preach as well doctrines of faith as obedience; that we mean to be understood as selecting for our discourses sometimes the discussion of a doctrinal point, urging it as a matter of belief, at other times the discussion of a moral subject, as a matter of Christian obedience. Why should you impute notions and actions to us which you cannot but know we disclaim ? Why should you be so studious to misunderstand and to pervert, unless it were with a motive I will not impute to you? It is this, and this only, that gives me offence; I will freely and amicably converse with you upon any point in which we may differ, but let us do it in perfect good will and charity. If I have directed any animadversions against you, or the party to which you belong, on the articles of practice and belief, they have not been made upon imaginary grounds, the objects of my own creation, but such as I have actually found to exist. If I have ever brought against any who differ from me a charge which has no other foundation than bare supposition, I would not only recall it, but make all the restitution in my power. I would not be dogmatical, I would not be thought infallible; on the contrary, I too well know my own peccability not to be assured that there are many things in which I might profit by your advice, or by that of others. Human nature, though, perhaps, not totally corrupt, does not always discover its own errors. It is, therefore, kind in any friend to point out the faults of others, provided he does so from a good spirit; as Cicero has said in the language of Ennius:

Homo, qui erranti comiter monstrat viam,
Quasi lumen de suo lumine accendat; facit :
Nihilominus ipsi luceat, cum illi accenderit.

And as a greater than. Cicero has also said Let all bitterness and wrath, and anger and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice. And be ye kind to one another, even as God, for Christ's sake, hath forgiven you.'

" Come, Sir, let us not carry this conversation any further. I assure you, I regret, very deeply regret, that our opinions should be at all at variance; and I grieve for it the more, because 'a house divided against itself cannot stand.' Before you go, give me your hand; and do me the justice to believe me sincere, when I say, I have the strongest disposition to admire the sincerity of your intentions, and the warmth of your zeal in the cause of your sacred profession. If I do not agree with you in all particulars, it is from the honest conviction of my mind that I am not at liberty to do so, and not from the most distant wish to underrate your opinions, or to overvalue our own; and I know this to be the feeling of my good friend here, whose actions, I am sure, will ever follow the dictates of his heart, and will lead him to give you now, with myself, the right-hand of fellowship."

Here the conference closed, and Mr. Wiseman and Vincent took their leave.

241

GRACE.

" My good friends," said Mr. Deacon, on entering the drawing-room of his friend Mr. Eustace, who was now married to his beloved Marian, "I sincerely hope I find you well, and truly happy."

" My dear Sir," said his friend, "your appearance increases our happiness; we have not seen you for some time. Where have you been? We thought you had forgotten us, and are almost disposed to call you to order. But, however, sit down, and let us enjoy your company."

" I readily obey your summons. My time has been much occupied of late in visiting the abodes of sickness, and administering to the wants of some of our suffering flock. The increasing infirmities of my worthy Rector necessarily impose upon me additional duty. He is, I am sorry to say, daily growing weaker; and

though his active mind abates nothing in its exertion for the good of his fellow-creatures, yet it is too evident, that unless a favourable change takes place, we shall, ere long, have to lament the loss of our excellent pastor and most benevolent friend. The little time which my clerical duties leave me, I must devote to him who is superior to all complainings, but who daily requires the increased attentions of his friends; and though I cannot avow to him these sentiments, because in his feeble state it might affect his shattered nerves, I contrive by little stratagems to be with him as much as possible, taking care to engage his attention, at one time, by the relation of any bright events of a cheering nature which shine across our ministerial paths, and at another, by discoursing with him on topics, light, yet interesting. By these means I contrive to while away with him many an hour that otherwise would hang heavy on his hands; and the satisfaction and instruction I derive from his society, afflicted as he is, more than repay me for what other people might think time heavily spent. There is something in his appearance and conduct at present, to which all his past actions appear but as foils. It is de