so soon forgotten! Her fine picture in the possession of one, who had not even the curiosity to enquire of whom it was the representative!" What were the mingled feelings to which this little anecdote gave rise, when it was thus related to me! Surely they partook far more of deep regret, than of severe censure; for where is the young, the lively, the inexperienced beauty, whom the enchantress pleasure might not thus have deluded and enchained? How thankful then ought those to be, who have been preserved more by a train of salutary deprivations perhaps, than by their own fortitude and wisdom, from a termination, in respect of this world, so humiliating, and in respect of another, so devoid of consolation!

I would here remark, as obviously arising out of the little history I have just related, the striking coincidence that subsists between the views of human life, and its most important ends and objects, which we obtain from experience and observation, and the precepts and rules laid down for the conduct of it in the Gospel; and more especially, as exemplified in the circumstances and character of its great and illustrious Author. I mean not here to speak of those gross vices, against which the most express prohibitions and the most awful warnings are every where delivered in the New Testament; such as cruelty, sensuality, hypocrisy, or dishonesty; vices, which in the language of an Apostle, ought not so much as to be named among Christians;" but of those things, which although in their own nature not

sinful, yet in their consequences, if earnestly desired, and habitually indulged in, form an insurmountable obstacle to the attainment of eminent virtue. For instance, to live in splendour, to be magnificently adorned, to frequent places of public resort, and to be considered there as leading characters, is not necessarily sinful-yet surely there is the utmost danger to be apprehended, not only lest the vehement desire of these things, which frequent indulgence with respect to them, will greatly increase, should open a door to ambition, to envy, to censoriousness, and discontent, but likewise, lest they should insensibly lead to and exhibit such false views of human life, by the factitious lustre which is continually shed around them, as completely to mislead the unwary pilgrim from the only path which can safely conduct him to the promised land? Is the Author of our being unapprised of this frailty in his feeble offspring; and if he gave them a revelation from Heaven, might we not conclude that he would guard against it? Now what is actually done in the Christian dispensation? Have not all the moral precepts of the New Testament this especial end in view? Are we not exhorted to be "vigilant," to be "sober-minded, not to love the world, nor the things of the world?" And wherefore? but that we may in this present stage of existence, preserve the freedom, the peace, and the tranquillity of our own minds, and be rendered more meet, in that which is to come," for heavenly happiness?"

But, it is not by the precepts of the Gospel

alone, but also by the example of its illustrious Founder, that we are guarded against a judg ment so erroneous, and the evils consequent upon it; for wherefore was it, if not principally for this end, that he appeared upon the stage of this lower world in the humblest station? That his chosen messengers were poor illiterate fishermen ? -wherefore, but to demonstrate in a way, which all may understand, that those things so highly valued among men, are of little account in the sight of God, that they do not confer real dignity, nor can ever lead to substantial happiness?

This remarkable coincidence affords, in my mind, one striking proof among innumerable others, that he who holds in his hand the vast train of causes and effects, who sees at one glance, every result from every possible combination of circumstances; and who therefore, for the wisest and kindest purposes, has ordained that we should be so constituted, and made liable to be thus deceived, thus fascinated, and mistaken, is likewise the Author of the Christian Dispensation. Dwelling upon these ideas, into what strains of holy exultation does not an Apostle break out! "For God hath chosen the weak things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen :"-" That no flesh should glory in his presence."

CHAPTER 49.

The Author's freedom of speaking justified... Her motives for withdrawing from the Established Church ...Objections

answered.

As it is not my intention that these papers should come before the public, until the writer is no longer interested in the opinions that may be formed of them; until she hath past that awful bourne, from which "no traveller returns," and beyond which, the censure or the esteem of her fellow-mortals is of no importance; it has been her earnest endeavour to anticipate, in imagination, that solemn period, (now probably not very far distant) and to conceive of herself as if she were already entered on that station, whatever it may be, for which the goodness of God, and her previous habits, and progress in virtue, and holiness, may have fitted her, and from whence she shall then actually view it.* This endeavour, imperfectly as it may have succeeded, has given

*I would again remark here, as I have observed already, p. 363, that the hypothesis of a state of non-existence until a general resurrection, makes no sort of difference in this case; as the judgment which we shall hereafter form of human life, and of the part which we ourselves have acted in it, will not be at all affected by the length of time which may have elapsed in the estimation of some orders of beings, between the events themselves, and the period when the power of consciousness and of retrospect shall be restored to us.

her a freedom in speaking of herself and others, to which she could not otherwise have attained. Whilst we remain in this world, we cannot be wholly abstracted from its influences; but she who considers herself as if she were already removed beyond them, has little reluctance in disclosing the most secret recesses of the heart, if thereby some future fellow-traveller may be benefited: neither does she feel abashed, however moderate her talents, few her mental acquire-, ments, or obscure her station, by any consciousness of impropriety, in thus obtruding herself upon the public; well knowing that whatever passes in the mind of one human being, must excite some interest in the minds of others, who are subjected to the like influences, and exposed to similar trials.

I

There is one action of my life in particular, to which I must here advert, as having, I doubt not, been censured by some, ridiculed perhaps by others, and lamented it may be, by more: I mean that of dissenting from what is commonly called the Orthodox creed, and consequently of withdrawing from the Established Church. mean not however, to offer an apology; for had I done otherwise, although I might have escaped the anathemas of articles and creeds, and steered clear of the odium attached to heresy and schism, I could not, with my present convictions, have approved myself in his sight, "who seeth not as man seeth, who regardeth not the outward appearance, but who looketh on the heart."

The doctrine of the strict unity, the incom