informed that he had left them the preceding evening, and had not yet returned. A week elapsed, and no tidings came of Mr. Trap. The Sunday arrived, and no preacher made his appearance. In short Mr. Trap was heard of no

more.

It is impossible to describe the vexation of Mr. Warian on this occasion, a vexation in which few sympathised. The loss of eighty guineas to him was not of so much consequence as the few pounds Mr. Trap owed to poor trades-people in the town, and to his landlord. The latter had been one of his warmest friends; and had been heard to speak very disrespectfully of the parish rector, in his zeal for Mr. Trap, and the dissenting interest. But no sooner did his mifortune reach the ears of that gentleman, than he mentioned his case to a few friends, and raised a subscription to repair his loss, as he had a large family. Thus giving a convincing proof that genuine Christian benevolence is superior to the consideration of party prejudices, or even personal affront.

This event was followed by another of a more serious, and interesting nature to Mr. Warian-the sudden death of his wife. Awful consideration! Without a moments warning, she was summoned to that tribunal before which all hearts are open, all desires known, and where no secret is hid.

At this part of our narrative let the reader as well as the writer pause. Let each ask these important questions. Is there any part of my character which bears a resemblance to Mrs. Warian's? Am I professing religion amongst its friends, and expressing no regard for its honour amongst its enemies? Am I conforming to the vanities and fashion of the world, yet affecting an approbation of Scripture, which declares "that the friendship of the world is enmity with God; and that whosoever will be a friend of the world, is the enemy of God?" Is my heart right with the Searcher of spirits; and do I really feel those important subjects which my understanding is convinced are true, and my judgment assures me are necessary to be experimentally known by the consistent believer?

These are momentous inquiries, for Scripture informs us, that the "hope of the hypocrite shall fail." But some persons may, perhaps, congratulate themselves that they are not professors, and therefore shall escape the condemnation of the hypocrite. Strange inconsistency! for were we to tell them they were not Christians, they would be offended. Yet what is a Christian but a professor of the Gospel? To say I am no professor, is in other words to say I am no Christian; and to be a stranger to Christianity in Great Britain, will certainly involve consequences of

the most awful nature. But this extreme strictness of religious profession, says another, it is that I disclaim; this rigid morality, this constant church-going, and above all this conversing on the subject; surely all this is not necessary, any more than it is agreeable. This is the language of every unconverted heart, without a single exception. But let it be understood, that is the language of the unconverted only. Christianity acknowledges no votary who is not rigidly moral, who does not delight to frequent the assemblies of the saints, account them the excellent of the earth, and wish to unite with them in friendly society and conversation, on those themes eternity will be spent in contemplating.

What! does a member of the church of England inveigh against rigid morality, renunciation of the world, and faith in all the articles of the Christian faith? The dissenter who vents his contempt of these things, we can comparatively excuse; but no epithet of folly and inconsistency is too strong to use against those who act in opposition to that solemn engagement of Godfathers, and God-mothers, ratisfied by themselves when arrived at years of discretion. Let not the charge of hypocrisy then be confined to such characters as Mr. Warian, and Mr. Trap. All must partake of the disgrace, who have dared to inform a confirming bishop, that they believe

the articles of the established Church, if they do not truly believe them, and have declared, at the same time, that they have renounced the pomps, the vanities, and the lusts of the flesh, and of the world, if their conduct do not coincide with the declaration.

It may be supposed that Mr. Warian's grief for the loss of his wife was not extreme, as they were not altogether united in taste and disposition. But it really was so, for notwithstanding these differences, he loved her greatly. He had married her from pure affection; and she had, on the whole, proved herself worthy of it (at least she had managed so well his temper, and peculiarities as to deceive him into that opinion); but especially since the sad event of his daughter's elopement, she had been valuable, as being the only domestic comfort remaining.

The promises of support and consolation under afflictions given in Scripture are innumerable, and the experience of numbers can attest their faithfulness. But all the precious promises contained in the word of God, suppose some peculiar disposition in those to whom they are addressed, and can only be applied to a certain description of recipients. The table of beatitudes in the fifth chapter of St. Matthew will explain our meaning, and exactly in unison with them are all the consolatory assurances to the distressed in body, mind, or estate.

Now, for the first time, Mr. Warian felt the inefficacy of his religious principles, in the hour he most needed their assistance. He found that controversial knowledge was a poor substitute for heart-felt experience; and that neglected prayer, was followed by desertion in the time of need. He found that solid hope, could only be built on the fruits of faith; and that a confident assurance of being "accepted in the beloved," must be accompanied with holy dispositions, as substantial evidences. What he had formerly termed legality, he would now have given the world to have been able to produce in his own favour at the bar of an accusing conscience, and to have dissipated the clouds of doubt and anxiety which involved him on every side.

In this miserable state he might justly have been permitted to remain as a punishment for those errors he had allowed himself to contract. But He who is rich in mercy, and does not willingly afflict, interposed; in the course of his over-ruling providence, he appointed some serious friends and relatives to administer consolation to the unhappy Mr. Warian. They pointed out to him the cause of his distress, and the method of deliverance. They prevailed on him to relinquish his favourite studies, and devote the remainder of his life to devotion and practical religion. Oh what a happy change did he