must, however, do him the justice to remark, that he would sometimes have acted a more consistent part, had it not been for the advice and interference of his lady, who was one of those accommodating female professors, equally familiar with the chapel and the càrd-table, and at home in all companies. They had a daughter, just at the age to be, as it is called, introduced into life, and Mrs. Warian contended it was proper that she should mix with genteel society, and who so qualified to accompany her to gay scenes as herself? Mr. W. did not always see the propriety of the argument, but he had accustomed himself to yield in all matters of doubtful disputation, and if a serious friend remonstrated with him on the subject, his usual answer was, "I fear, as you say, this is not quite right, but my wife, and my daughter, will have it so."

The minister who officiated at the old meeting, the abolition of which was now the object of contemplation, was of the good old school. He preached the doctrine of justification through faith, and salvation procured by the merits and death of Christ: but in most of his discourses he took care to guard doctrines so replete with comfort from the unhallowed conclusions those might draw, who wished to make Christ the minister of sin, and to continue therein, because

grace abounds. If his subject was the righteousness of the Saviour imputed to the believer, in which he was to be adorned at the last day of final accounts, he never forgot to insist on that rigteousness imparted also, as the necessary consequence, and as expected evidence from all those who hoped to be partakers of that unspeakable privilege. His mode of delivery, partook more of the affectionate than the energetic, and his language was more to be commended for its perspicuity than its elegance. His manner of preaching, added to the well-known purity of his life and conversation, rendered him a blessing to the narrow circle in which he moved. His congregation was like his meeting, very small; but in that small number was found, perhaps, more spirituality and vital religion than many larger communities can boast. He was esteemed, and his preaching commended by all his hearers, except the Warian family. By them he was called a good man who meant well, and therefore they gave him their constant attendance, no other meeting being in the neighbourhood; but they never failed to add-his views are dark on doctrinal points, much inclined to legality. A deep blush would often suffuse itself over their cheeks, whilst he was descanting on the duties of charity, spiritual mindedness, abstraction from the world, &c., and the conclusion of

the discourse was expected with impatience. If the hymn after sermon contained such words as the following, they never failed to return home extremely disconcerted with the preacher's legality.

So let our lips and lives express
The Holy Gospel we profess;
So let our works and virtues shine,
To prove the doctrines all divine.

The Preacher and the Warian family being such as we have described, it was not surprising that the language of the latter should be, "we hate this Micaiah, for he doth not prophesy good concerning us, but evil." The instant Sir Charles's proposal was mentioned to Mrs. Warian, the thought occurred, that this would be an opportunity of ridding themselves from a style of preaching, under which they suffered some uneasiness. Without however communicating to her husband this idea (for she almost feared to avow, even to him, the sentiment) she seconded Sir Charles's argument so warmly, and added so many of her own, that Mr. Warian's scruples were, at length, overcome. As usual, he acquiesced in her opinion, and after making investigation into his absolute right to dispose of the meeting as well as the land, he yielded the premises to Sir Charles.

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"See," cried Sir Charles, with an air of triumph, to Mr. D---," the high sense of principle entertained by these specious professors! attack them where interest, or any other favourite passion is concerned, and their boasted integrity is forfeited." His friend acquiesced in his opinion, and thus was religion wounded in the house of her friends. Oh! that selfish woridly-minded professors would lay to heart the evils their inconsistent conduct is calculated to produce. The deist may injure the cause of Christianity by his profane sec fings, and false representations: the bigot may do the same by his furious contention for points of doctrine, unessential or speculative; and the weak-headed and injudicious believer may subject it to the contempt of the undiscerning, by his ill-directed zeal and enthusiasm, but neither the deist, the bigot, nor the fanatic, is half so injurious to the cause of Christian truth as is the faise professor.

Preparations were immediately made to accomplish the scheme proposed. When Roger Trusty beheld the meeting stripped of its roof, and about to be lain in ruins, he sighed deeply. Not because he was a dissenter, and had lost his place of worship, for he was a church-man, and a zealous one too, but because he was a liberalminded Christian, who believed that the preaching of the Gospel was not confined within the

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walls of the established church, but was dispensed in this building, and accompanied with the divine blessing. As he stood musing, with fixed attention upon the scene before him, he was accosted by the minister of the now useless meeting-house, who had strolled to the spot, and was agitated with similar feelings to those which now occupied the mind of Roger. "Ah! my friend," said the pious man," how much is it to be lamented, that the benevolent projectors of this scheme should see it unnecessary to rebuild, in some more convenient spot the meeting which they are demolishing, now become doubly desirable from the increasing number of inhabitants, their plan will admit into the town. It is true our worthy Rector will do all in his power to promote religious instruction, but his increasing years, and declining health, will prove great impediments to his usefulness; and added to this, the extreme smallness of the church will prevent the possibility of numbers partaking the benefit of his public instructions."

They conversed for some time on the subject. The minister now heard from Roger, for the first time, the grand defect in Sir Charles's education, which solved the mystery, in some degree, for so early a prepossession against Christianity, which he, in all companies, scrupled not to avow. Whilst they were regretting the circumstance,