ability, that were sufficient to command the attention of the loftiest intellect, whilst they were intelligible to the humblest. The subject was not uncommon, for it was that which has, in every age, been the theme of poet and philosopher, -of heathen sage and Christian moralist, -"the uses of adversity." At this present moment, no theme could have been more adapted to rouse the attention of Camilla, or, on her account, to excite mine. There were ears there that drank in greedily the wisdom that is from on high; and hearts that throbbed, whilst the beautiful tenderness of the Christian revelation was illustrated and enforced with the sublimest, because the simplest eloquence. There was no converting of the pulpit into a theatre of display, -no rendering unto Cæsar more than the things that are Cæsar's, even those which belong to God. There was no forward exhibition of the orator, in place of the truths it was incumbent on

him to promulgate. He was there on the mission of his Master; it was his part to procure attention to his embassy; and he was evidently not regardless — but forgetful that any homage could be paid either to the intellect or the manner of the ambassador.

He had been a very popular preacher in the metropolis; but he had found his office there abundant in temptation; and, with a devotedness of piety which none can appreciate but those capable of similar sacrifices, he had relinquished his engagement, and had accepted in exchange the comparatively obscure situation of the neighbouring vicarage.

On our return home, Camilla bestowed on the clergyman so warm and animated an eulogium, as excited in me a momentary wish that I had been even as he is. But he procured for me a pleasure of the highest order. Having once touched on the characteristic graces and errors of religous functionaries, we were

led into an extensive range of discussion. To speak of Chalmers, when discoursing on such a theme, was almost a thing of course. A volume of his sermons was at hand, and Camilla opening it, read the following extract :

"With the many brilliant and imposing things which he [a preacher] may have, there is one thing which he may not have, and the want of that one thing may form an invincible barrier to his usefulness in the vineyard of Christ. If, conscious that he wants it, he seek to obtain from God the sufficiency which is not in himself, then he is in a likely way to be put in possession of that power, which alone is mighty to the pulling down of strong holds. But if he, on the one hand, proudly conceiving the sufficiency to be in himself, enters with aspiring confidence into the field of argument, and thinks that he is to carry all before him by a series of invincible demonstrations; or, if his people, on the

other hand, ever ready to be set in motion by the idle impulse of novelty, or to be seduced by the glare of human accomplishments, come in trooping multitudes around him, and hang on the eloquence of his lips, or the wisdom of his able and profound understanding; a more unchristian attitude cannot be conceived, nor shall we venture to compute the weekly accumulation of guilt which may come upon the parties, when such a business as this is going on. How little must the presence of God be felt in that place, where the high functions of the pulpit are degraded into a stipulated exchange of entertainment on the one side, and of admiration on the other; and surely it were a sight to make angels weep, when a weak and vapouring mortal, surrounded by his fellow sinners, and hastening to the grave and the judgment along with them, finds it a dearer object to his bosom to regale his hearers by the exhibition of himself, than to do in

plain earnest the work of his Master, and urge on the business of repentance and of faith, by the impressive simplicities of the Gospel."

Camilla reads as if her whole heart and understanding were impressed with the sentiments of the author she admires. There is eloquence and significance in every look and tone. Every new attitude in which I see her, tends to illustrate more forcibly the perfect transparency of her mind.

In speaking of the sermon we had heard, she uttered one sentiment which is invaluable to me: "There is no affliction," she said, "which is beyond the power of time. It is shameful to a Christian to be contented with an alleviation accessible even to the infidel, when, by the force of faith, he may find one so much more speedy and effectual. It is incalculable in how many ways the sorrowing person is made to feel the truth of that affirmation of our Lord, "Bless