He had read his Bible. See Job xiii. 27. Ifai. xiv. 16. the boat to which he was attached had an immenfe catch-many thousands which they fent direct by Rail to London. On the whole they realized that spring near 300l. Of this one way or another, about 30l. came to Tole's fhare. Counselled by his wife, the first thing he did was to clear himself with Mr. the holder-forth, and as I was credibly informed, in words very like to thefe, 'Sir, you will permit me to repay the money you were kind enough to advance to me unconditionally. I received it at your hands when myself, and wife and family was under the weather. I hope, Sir, you will not confider me ungrateful, but even in this cafe I have discovered money to be the root of great evil. For it, we were in the end induced to defert our Church, and neither I nor my wife have had any peace fince. I do moft heartily thank you for what you did, and I hope you will still bear us in your remembrance,-but, please God, on Sunday next, we fhall go to our own Church, and bear the narrow looks of those whom we have justly offended. It is but for once or twice, and they will refpect us the more. We have craved God's pardon, and have the promise of His Peace!' And fo it was. They made no defence, neither was defence 'The filence often of pure innocence "Such is this fimple story," continued the Vicar, "and I think it just to add that the crazy holder-forth (fuch his after conduct, very fad, and very difgraceful, proved him to be) never interfered with them more. At the moment he could not but applaud their principles. And I thought upon words I had read often, "What a brave armour is An innocent foul! How like a rock it bids Ye! good Chriftian people, that affifted the Winter's Tale, Shirley, The Zootomia, p. 35. faid, "The Bread caft upon the waters maketh R. Whitlock's better than Eaft India voyages, and returneth back to thee laden with improvements. Thy corn, given to them, with whom all years are dear, (the Poor,) is more advantageous than corn fold in the greatest dearth by a monopolift.-Wouldeft thou have a policy in It is a Parish It one,--in a better let a ruinous heaven?-of thy uncertain riches make the poor thy infurers." One day we were ascending the upper parts of the Parish towards the Down, and came upon an outlying hamlet fome four or five hundred yards from the green-fward. As we paffed a very poor cottage the Old Vicar remarked, "One of my first reminiscences here “One attaches to that rude tumble-down fabric. When I came to this Parish, now a quarter of a century ago, there lived in it a very aged, hard-featured widow, who died shortly after at the advanced age of ninety and more. But, though her features were hard, the continual dew of God's grace had foftened a nature otherwise churlifh. One day fhe faid to me, 'It is very good of you to come and read to me fo regularly as you do, and I can't fay that I deserve it, for my ways have been othergates when I was younger, than they ought to have been;--but years ago I became very ill, and cripplish, and I heard voices, or thought I heard them, behind me, and I was spared to repent. I often thought to tell this to the The Reverend good kind Rector who was here before you, -but fomehow I didn't.' I evidently faw," faid the Vicar, "that there was more behind, William Vaux. tell what? well tell you -fo I put the leading queftion at once.-To Ah well,' fhe faid, 'I may as though it isn't after all much of a fay.' She then recounted how one bright fummer's day, when the neighbouring Watering Place was full of vifitors, a carriage ftopped fuddenly at the door, and the driver afked Is any woman within?' 'I hobbled out as well as I could, (for I was only just recovering,) and fhowed myself. Upon which lady, looking very ill, asked me if she could come in for a few minutes, and I helped her out. She was fuffering from severe spasms, and all I could give her was fome spearmint water, but it had the defired effect,—and all that fummer after fhe vifited me most kindly, and helped me in many ways. Indeed my recovery was much owing to her affiftance. The last time fhe vifited me I told her that my present way of life was not what it had always been, but that in my illness I had heard voices, faying, Sinner, turn back! finner, repent! all but loft finner, call upon thy Saviour!" Now, Ma'am, was this truth, or 1 The Reader may perhaps call to mind Drummond of Hawthornden's lines. "All ye whofe hopes rely On God, with me amidst these deserts mourn, [Repent, 30. was it but a fick body's dream?" My poor woman," said she, "depend upon it, it is all truth,”—and then she read to me that wonderful paffage you have often read me from the Job xxxiii. 14- Book of Job, " God Speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vifion of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in lumberings upon the bed; then he openeth the ears of men, inftruction," &c. &c. &c. and fealeth their Though no scholar, Sir, I have learned to repeat it all, and it is the greatest of comforts.—But I forgot, I did not tell you what the lady faid to me on my telling her I was no fcholar. "Never mind that," faid fhe, "call upon the name of Jefus, and the truth AS THE TRUTH IS IN JESUS fhall be revealed to you comfortably. It is feldom you can get as far as Church (three and a half miles), but, whenever you can, go there, pray earnestly, communicate heartily, and be at rest. Your no scholarship is no hindrance you are only faithful. Don't be distressed about putting up long prayers-fay from the if Repent, repent, and from old errors turn. For the Baptista. Ed. P. Cunningham, p. 120. |