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Voltaire to sup with him, and with rant, than in the present day. I Madame C. The conversation hap- think myself happy to live in a time pening to turn upon the affairs of when there are so many wise, excelEngland, "I think, my Lord," said lent, and faithful ministers, such a Madam C. "that the parliament of multitude of serious people, so many England consists of five or six hun- Bibles and other good books distribudred of the best informed and most ted, and so great a number of public sensible men in the kingdom." societies for the purpose of concert"True, madam, they are generally ing schemes and adopting plans for supposed to be so."-" What, then, the general good. my Lord, can be the reason that they tolerate so great an absurdity as the Christian religion?" "I suppose, madam," replied his Lordship, "it is because they have not been able to substitute any thing better in its stead: when they can, I don't doubt but in their wisdom they will readily adopt it."

CIVILITY.

RUDENESS ill becomes men possessed of ability, power, riches, or religion. It is a law, not to be dispensed with-"To honour all men." Christians especially are called upon to show respect and kindness to mankind. "Sanctified civility is a great Christianity is the best system for ornament to Christianity." Piety of raising the standard of morals, and disposition, connected with urbanity promoting the happiness of a go- of manners, characterize both the vernment. The French, after mak-Christian and the gentleman. We ing the boldest experiment in profaneness ever made by a nation in casting off its God, and who for a time seriously deliberated whether there should be any god at all; who, after madly stamping on the yoke of Christ, attempted to establish order on the basis of a wild and profligate philosophy; was obliged at length to bid an orator tell the abused multitude, that, under a philosophical religion, every social bond was broken in "If a civil word or two will render pieces; and that Christianity, or a man happy," said a French king, something like it, must be re-estab-"he must be a wretch indeed who lished to preserve any degree of order or decency.

should always be careful not to hurt or injure others by a careless, wanton, or unkind conduct. "As every action may produce effects over which human power has no influence, and which human sagacity cannot foresee, we should not lightly venture to the verge of evil, nor strike at others, though with a reed, lest, like the rod of Moses it become a serpent in our hand."

will not give them to him." Were superiors to keep this in view, yea, With respect to the propagation of were all mankind to observe it, how Christianity, it is with pleasure I ob- much happier would the world be serve, that though some of its pro- than what it is? We may say of this fessors are nominal, yet there is every disposition, "that it is like lighting reason to believe that it is making another man's candle by one's own, progress in the world. The judg-which loses none of its light by what ments of God, indeed, are in the the other gains."

earth, but his love and mercy are Frederic II. King of Prussia, there also. The various commotions made it a point to return every mark among the different states render the of respect or civility shewn him in book of Providence difficult to be the street by those who met him. read in many respects; but it cer- He one day observed at table, that, tainly must be pleasing to consider, whenever he rode through the streets that there never, perhaps, was a of Berlin, his hat was always in his more general zeal, or greater efforts hand. Baron Polnitz, who was made for the instruction of the igno-present, said, "That his Majesty had

no occasion to notice the civility of every one who pulled his hat off to him in the street." "And why not?" said the King, in a lively tone: " are they not all human beings as well as myself?"

The following, we are informed, is a true relation of an event which happened in a neighbouring state, not many years ago:-A jeweller, a man of good character and considerable wealth, having occasion, in the way of business, to travel some distance from the place of his abode, took along with him a servant: he had with him some of his best jew

It was a maxim of a celebrated minister, "that if a child but lisped to give you pleasure, you ought to be pleased." When occasionally preaching in the villages, he used to be de-els, and a large sum of money, to lighted in visiting the poor, and, when solicited, would regale himself with their brown bread and black tea; but took care, at the same time, that they should lose nothing by their attention. "When a poor person shows anxiety to administer to your comfort," he would say, "do not interrupt him. Why deprive him of the pleasure of expressing his friendship?"

CONSCIENCE.

which his servant was likewise privy. The master having occasion to dismount on the road, the servant watched his opportunity, took a pistol from the master's saddle, and shot him dead on the spot; then, rifling him of his jewels and money, and hanging a large stone to his neck, he threw him into the nearest canal. With this booty he made off to a distant part of the country, where he had reason to believe that neither he nor his master were known. There he began to trade, Of all the horrors human beings in a very low way at first, that his can feel, none perhaps are equal to obscurity might screen him from obthose of a guilty conscience. It em-servation; and in the course of many bitters every comfort, it dashes every years seemed to rise up, by the natu pleasure with sorrow, it fills the mind ral progress of business, into wealth with despair, and produces wretch-and consideration; so that his good edness in the greatest degree. "To fortune appeared at once the effect live under such disquietude," says of industry and the reward of virtue. Blair, "is already to undergo one of Of these he counterfeited the appearthe most severe punishments which ance so well, that he grew into great human nature can suffer. When credit, married into a good family, the world threatens us with any of and, by laying out his hidden stores its evils, we know the extent and dis- discreetly, as he saw occasion, and cern the limits of the danger. We joining to all an universal affability, see the quarter on which we are ex- he was at length admitted to a share posed to its attack. We measure of the government of the town, and our own strength with that of our ad- rose from one post to another, till at versary, and can take precautions last he was chosen chief magistrate. either for making resistance, or for In this office he maintained a fair contriving escape. But when an awa- character, and continued to fill it kened conscience places before the with no small applause, both as gosinner the just vengeance of the Al-vernor and judge; till one day, as he mighty, the prospect is confounding, sat on the bench with some of his brebecause the danger is boundless. It thren, a criminal was brought before is a dark unknown which threatens him, who was accused of murdering him. The arm that is stretched over his master. The evidence came out him he can neither see nor resist. full; the jury brought in their verNo wonder that the lonesome soli-dict that the prisoner was guilty, and tude, or the midnight hour, should the whole assembly waited the senstrike him with horror." tence of the president of the Court

ner."

(which happened to be himself) in |sion, and he became, from that time, great suspense. Meanwhile he appear- a serious good man. ed to be in unusual disorder and agi- The famous Mr. Gilpin, who was tation of mind; his colour changed of- called the Father of the Poor, and ten; at length he arose from his seat, the Apostle of the North, once had and,coming down from the bench, pla- his horses stolen. The news was ced himself just by the unfortunate quickly propagated, and every one man at the bar, to the no small astonish-expressed the highest indignation at ment of all present. "You see be-it. The thief, however, was rejoicfore you, (said he, addressing him- ing over his prize, when, by the reself to those who had sat on the port of the country, he found whose bench with him,) a striking instance horses he had taken. Terrified at of the just awards of Heaven, which what he had done, he instantly came this day, after thirty years' conceal-trembling back, confessed the fact, rement, presents to you a greater crimi- turned the horses, and declared he nal than the man just now found believed the devil would have seized guilty." Then he made an ample him directly, had he carried them off confession of his heinous offence, when he knew they belonged to Mr. with all its peculiar aggravations: Gilpin. "Nor can I," continued he, "feel any Experienced ministers sometimes relief from the agonies of an awaken- describe the feelings and situations ed conscience, but by requiring that of their hearers so exact, that, while justice be forthwith done against me, the serious part are profited, the ignoin the most public and solemn man rant are astonished. It is related of We may easily imagine the Mr. Richard Garrat, that he used to amazement of all, especially his fel-walk to Petworth, every Monday. low judges. They accordingly pro- In one of these walks, a country felceeded, upon his confession, to pass low, that had been his hearer the day sentence upon him, and he died with before, and had been cut to the heart all the symptoms of a penitent mind. by somewhat he had delivered, came See Fordyce's Dialogue on Educa- up to him with his scythe upon his tion, and Encyclopædia Britannica. shoulders, and in mighty rage, told A Mr. Thoroughgood, of the 17th him," he would be the death of him, for century, having reproved the sin of he was sure he was a witch, he havswearing, one of his hearers, sensible ing told him the day before what no of his guilt, and thinking he was the one in the world knew of him but person particularly intended, resolved God and the devil, and, therefore, he to kill him; and in order to do it, he most certainly dealt with the devil.” hid himself behind a hedge, which he One of the most sensible men I knew Mr. Thoroughgood would ride ever knew, says one, but whose life by when he went to preach his weekly as well as creed had been rather eclecture. When Mr. T, came to the centric, returned me the following anplace, he offered to shoot him, but his swer, not many months before his piece failed, and only flashed in the death, when I asked him, "Whether pan. The next week he lay in the his former irregularities were not both same place, with the same intent. accompanied at the time, and succeedWhen Mr. T. came up, the wretched afterwards, by some sense of menoffered to fire again; but the piece tal pain ?" "Yes," said he; "but I would not go off. Upon this, his have scarce ever owned it until now. conscience accusing him for such a We (meaning we infidels and men wickedness, he went after him, and, of fashionable morals) do not tell you falling down on his knees, with tears all that passes in our hearts!" in his eyes, related the whole to him, and begged his pardon. This Providence was the mean of his conver

James Le Fevre, of Etaples, did not outwardly depart from the Church of Rome, but at the bottom of his

heart was a Protestant. He was pro- Upon which Sir Matthew interrupttected by the Queen of Navarre, sis-ed him, and said, "He did not deal ter to Francis I.; and, dining with fairly, to come to his chamber about her in company with some other learn- such affairs, for he never received any ed men, whose conversation pleased information of causes but in open the Queen, he began to weep; and, court, where both parties were to be when the Queen asked him the rea- heard alike," so he would not suffer son of it, he answered, "the enormi-him to go on. Whereupon his Grace ty of his sins threw him into that (for he was a Duke) went away not grief! It was not the remembrance à little dissatisfied, and complained of any lewdness he had been guilty of it to the King, as a rudeness that of, and with regard to other vices he was not to be endured. But his Mafelt his conscience easy enough: but he was pricked in his conscience, that, having known the truth and taught it to several persons who had sealed it with their blood, he had the weakness to keep himself in an asylum far from the places where crowns of martyrdom were distributed." He went to bed, where he was found dead a few hours after.

jesty bade him content himself that he was no worse used, and said," He verily believed he would have used himself no better, if he had gone to solicit him in any of his own causes."

Another passage fell out in one of his circuits, which was somewhat censured as an affectation of unreasonable strictness; but it flowed from his exactness to the rules he had set An instance of the power of con- himself. A gentleman had sent him science we have in Lord Rochester. a buck for his table that had a trial "One day," says he, "I was at an at the Assizes; so, when he heard atheistical meeting at a person's of his name, he asked, "If he was not quality: I undertook to manage the the same person that had sent him cause, and was the principal disputant against God and piety, and for my performance received the applause of the whole company; upon which my mind was terribly struck, and I immediately replied thus to myself

Good God! that a man that walks upright, that sees the wonderful works of God, and has the use of his senses and reason, should use them to the defying of his Creator!'"

venison ?" "And finding he was the same, he told him, "He could not suffer the trial to go on, till he had paid him for his buck." To which the gentleman answered, "That he never sold his venison, and that he had done nothing to him which he did not do to every Judge that had gone that circuit," which was confirmed by several gentlemen then present; but all would not do, for the Lord Chief Baron had learned from Solomon, that "a gift perverteth the THE CONSCIENTIOUS JUDGE. ways of judgment;" and therefore SIR Matthew Hale, when Chief he would not suffer the trial to go on Baron of the Exchequer, was very till he had paid for the present; upon exact and impartial in his administra- which the gentleman withdrew the tion of justice. He would never re-record. And at Salisbury, the Dean ceive any private addresses or recom- and Chapter having, according to mendations from the greatest persons, custom, presented him with six sugar in any matter in which justice was loaves in his circuit, he made his concerned. One of the first Peers of servants pay for the sugar before he England went once to his chamber, would try their cause.

and told him, "That, having a suit in law to be tried before him, he was then to acquaint him with it, that he might the better understand it when

CONTENTMENT.

Dr. Hammond, it is said, was

it should come to be heard in Court." troubled with a complication of dis

When Archbishop Fenelon's library was on fire-"God be praised," said he, "that it is not the habitation of some poor man,"

orders, and, when he had got the gout | meant to maintain them all, he cheerupon him, he used to thank God that fully replied, "They must all live on it was not the stone; and when he Matthew, vi. 34: Take therehad the stone, that he had not both fore no thought for the morrow,'" &c. these distempers on him at the same Contentment and resignation, in time. Thus we see how Christiani- such trying circumstances, are not ty influences the mind, and learns us only blessings to the possessors, but to be submissive and resigned under they fill by-standers with astonishadverse providences; and, indeed, ment. Hence, said Dr. W. to a however men may boast of their cou- poor minister, "I wonder, Mr. W., rage or fortitude, they must be stran- how you do to live so comfortably; gers to genuine and lasting peace, if methinks you, with your numerous they are unacquainted with religion. family, live more plentifully on the "Poets, indeed, and novelists, have providence of God than I can with beautifully described contentment, the benefits of the parish." and have often charmed their admirers into a momentary oblivion of their sorrows: but this has made way for subsequent dissatisfaction with every situation and employment It is our interest as well as our in real life. The citizen fancies that duty cheerfully to acquiesce in the contentment dwells in rural obscuri- will of God, whatever befalls us.ty; the rustic concludes that it may "That we may not complain of what be found in the splendour and plea- is, let us see God's hand in all events; sures of the metropolis. Courtiers and that we may not be afraid of what pretend to think that this pleasing shall be, let us see all events in God's companion is inseparable from retire- hands."-"When I was rich," says ment; the poor erroneously imagine one, "I possessed God in all; and that it may be found in palaces. Bri- now I am poor, I possess all in tons amuse themselves with descrip- God." Thus a right temper of mind tions of Arcadian groves; the Arca-involves blessedness in itself. dians probably conclude that none carry all my goods with me wherever are so happy as the inhabitants of I go,” said a philosopher. So a this favoured isle. They who have Christian may truly say. it in their power are continually While Dr. Doddridge was at Bath shifting from one place and pursuit on his way to Falmouth, (from which to another and such as are exclu- latter place he embarked for Lisbon, ded from this privilege, envy, grudge, for the recovery of his health,) Lady and murmur. The world resembles H-'s house at Bath was his home. a number of people in a fever, who In the morning of the day on relish nothing are always restless, which he set out from thence for and try by incessant change of place Falmouth, Lady H. came into the or posture to escape from their unea- room, and found him weeping over sy sensations; but all their efforts are that passage in Daniel, chap. 11 in vain. Does not this single consi- and 12 verses-"O Daniel, a man deration prove that godliness is the greatly beloved," &c. “You are in health of the soul, and that without it tears, Sir," said Lady H. "I am there can be no abiding contentment?" weeping, Madam," answered the A Mr. Lawrence, who was a suf-good Loctor; " but they are tears of ferer for conscience sake, if he would comfort and joy. I can give up my have consulted with flesh and blood, country, my relations, and friends, as was said of one of the martyrs, into the hands of God; and as to myhad eleven good arguments against self, I can as well go to heaven from suffering; viz. a wife and ten chil-Lisbon as from my own study at dren. Being once asked how he Northampton."

"I

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