failings than even his accusers afcribe to him, but he will own what they do not always charge him with-fins. - fins. He will acknow. ledge that there is no natural difference be tween himself and his cenfurer, but that, through divine grace, the one prays and struggles against thofe corruptions, the very existence of which the other does not fufpect.

The peace of the confirmed Christian lies not at the mercy of events. As on the agitated ocean, storms and tempefts never divert the faithful needle from its invariable object, fo the distractions of the world shake not his confidence in Him who governs it. He remembers that these winds and waves are still bearing him onward to his haven, while, on the ftormy paffage, they enable him to exhibit a trying but a constant evidence that God may be honoured in all, even in the moft unpromifing, fituations. Even in the worst condition, a real Christian is fure of the presence of his Maker, not only of his effential prefence, which he has

in

in common with all, but the presence of his

grace; not only the sense of his being, but the fupport of his promise. God never appoints his fervants to a difficult station, but he gives them the affurance of affiftance in it, and of fupport under it. The folemn injunction, "Be strong and work," thrice repeated by the prophet, to reprove the dilatory builders of the fecond temple, was effectually enforced by the animating promife which followed it; I will be with you. When the Disciples were fent forth by their divine Master to the grandeft, but most perilous task, to which ambaffadors were ever appointed, they must have funk under the conflicts which awaited, the dangers which threatened, and the deaths which met them; but the fingle promife, I will be with you, was to them ftrength, and light, and life. The Chriftian militant, though called to a milder warfare, has the fame reiterated affurance; I will be with you always even to the end of the world.

CHAP. XXV.

Candidus.

CANDIDUS is a genuine fon of the Reformation; but being a layman, he does not think it neceffary to define his faith fo constantly as fome others do, by an inceffant reference to the Liturgy, Articles, and Homilies; though this reference would accurately exprefs his fentiments: but, he obferves, that it is become a kind of party ftandard equally erected by each fide in intended oppofition to the other, so that the equivocal enfign would not determine to which he belongs. He gives, however, the most indifputable proof of his zeal for thefe formularies, by the invariable conformity of his life and language to their principles.

From the warmth of his feelings, and the strength of his attachment to the church which foftered him, Candidus was once in

VOL. II.

N

no

no little danger of becoming a vehement party-man; he was, however, cured by a certain reluctance he found in his heart to undertake to hate half the world, which he found must be a neceffary confequence. Obfervation foon taught him, that Christians would be far more likely to escape the attacks of unbelievers, if they could be brought to agree among themselves; but he faw with regret, that religion, instead of being confidered as a common caufe, was split into factions, fo that the general interest was neglected, not to fay, in fome instances, nearly betrayed. And while the liege fubjects of the fame fovereign are carrying on civil war for petty objects and inconfiderable fpots of ground, that strength, which fhould have been concentrated for the general defence, is spent in mutual fkirmishes, and mischievous though unimportant hoftilities ; and that veneration of course forfeited, with which even the acknowledged enemy would have been compelled to behold an united Church.

Candidus

Candidus is, however, firm in his attach ments, though not exacting in his requifitions; catholic, but not latitudinarian ; tolerant, not from indifference, but principle. He contemplates, with admiration, the venerable fabric under whofe fhelter he is protected. He adheres to it, not fo much from habit as affection. His adherence is the effect of conviction, otherwise his tenacity might be prejudice. It is founded in education, strengthened by reflection, and confirmed by experience. But though he contemplates our ecclefiaftical inftitutions with filial reverence himself, he allows for the effect of education, habit and conscience in others, who do not view them with his eyes. He is forry for those who refuse to enter into her portal; he is more forry for those who depart out of it, but far more concerned is he, for those who remain within her pale, with a temper hostile to her interefts, with principles foreign to her genius; with a conduct unfanctified by her fpirit.