are in a dreadful state. Here, Richard, is a book for you, "A compassionate Address ;" and Thomas Newman, who is almost your next neighbour, can read very well, and I dare say he will be so kind as to read it to you.

Tho. Why, Richard knows I would be glad to read to him for his good, whenever I can spare time.

Loveg. Well, Thomas, we will next hear what improvement your boy has made.-[To young Thomas.]-By whom were all things created, and by whom are they upheld and preserved ? Tho. By the Almighty God.

Loveg. And who is the Almighty God?
Tho. He is a most holy Spirit.

Loveg. And how should you serve him?
Tho." In spirit and in truth."

Loveg. And do

you you think do your duty as

God demands; for you know at all times he sees and hears all you say and do.

Tho. Sir, I know I often forget God, though he knows me much better than I know myself.

Loveg. What do you mean by saying God is Almighty?

Tho. I believe he is Almighty, because he can do every thing, and that he sees and knows the ways and hearts of all.

Loveg. What do you mean by saying he is holy? Tho. Why, he is holy because he loves nothing but that which is good, like himself. All holy men and holy angels are his delight.

Loveg. But my good boy, what do you mean by holiness?

Tho. It is loving God with all our hearts, with all our minds, and souis and strength, and our neighbours as ourselves.

Loveg. What is sin then, my child?

Tho. Why, whenever we neglect to love and fear and trust in God, and pray to him, and serve him, we sin against him; and whenever we are angry, unjust, and neglectful in our duty towards our parents, our governors, and our neighbours, we do wrong, because we sin against his holy and just commands.

Loveg. But if God be so very holy, are not we all very miserable sinners before him?

Tho. Yes. The Bible says, "there is none righteous, no not one;" but I think my father and mother are very good, and so are you and 'Squire Worthy. Loveg. Well, but you know we must all say, "By the grace of God I am what I am."

Tho. Yes, sir; and my father always says such sort of words when he prays with us.

Loveg. What do you mean by the grace of God? Tho. Why, my father has taught me this text, "You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ; though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor, that we through his poverty might be made rich."

Loveg. What do you mean by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ?

Tho. That he died for us poor sinners on the

cross.

Loveg. What then, are all poor sinners to be saved, because Christ died on the cross?

You

Tho. O no, sir, for you tell us from the pulpit, that if we reject Christ, Christ will reject us; and that all sinners who come to Christ will have their hearts changed and purified by his Spirit; and that without holiness no man shall see the Lord. have been just now saying to us, that every child must know the way of sin to be the high road to hell: but I pray the Lord to convert me by his grace, that may live to his glory..

I

Loveg. The Lord bless you, my good boy. I am very glad you have been able to attend so well to the instruction of your father, and that you get so much good by coming to the Sunday school: and as our worthy Esquire has given me some Bibles to distribute among the children who know how to make a good use of them, I shall give you one of the best of them. [Mr. Lovegood gives him a Bible.]— Remember now that this is your own book, and the book of God's own writing, to make us wise unto salvation. Now turn round and thank the 'Squire for his present.

Tho. [With a bow down to the ground.] I thank your honour a thousand times.

The reader is to take this as a brief sample among many, how Mr. Lovegood examined some of the children; and as an illustration of what he conceived to be the wisest way to impress the truths of religion on their young minds. He was well convinced that a mere catechism enforced upon a child's memory by painful exertions, however good in its place, was likely to produce but a slender effect, without a more familiar method of instruction, administered according to the ability and disposition of each child. After a considerable time being employed in examining several of the girls, as well as the boys, they were all led through the park to Brookfield Hall, where they found a bountiful, but plain feast provided for them, with plenty of pies and puddings for the children.

Supper being ended, the following hymn was sung.

CHRIST'S CARE FOR HIS LAMBS.

LET praise to our Shepherd begin,
Who tenderly makes us his care;

Who came to redeem us from sin,

And guard us from every snare.

Then helpless and weak as we are,
O let us for ever abide

Close under the eye of his care,

Feed all the day long at his side!
He will not at a moment depart;
O why from his side should we rove;
Or grieve his compassionate heart,
So plenteous in mercy and love!

After this, young Mr. Merryman, by Mr. Lovegood's desire, concluded the festivity with a tender and affectionate prayer, while his heart was much impressed with the recollection of what a different course he once pursued, before, by Mr. Lovegood's. ministry, he was brought to know the grace of God in truth. Mr. Littleworth's flitch was next produced, and after such apologies as might be expected from the Farmer to his honour and madam Worthy, it was catered among the children, according to the size of the families: though, when he was carving for young Thomas, it evidently appeared that the Farmer's knife very favourably slipped aside, through a little partiality on his behalf.

The Farmer and his family were next ushered into the parlour to tea. Miss Polly and Miss Patty continued to expose themselves by pretending to talk about fashions, and by making use of fine words, which they ill understood, while Mr. Lovegood constantly aimed at giving a more profitable turTE

to the conversation, which was easily done between the Farmer and Miss Nancy. Henry's conversion, and the fears and hopes concerning his return, still engrossed the substance of all he had to say; the anxiety of his heart for his beloved Henry being now the first subject on every occasion. On their return home Miss Polly and Miss Patty had enough to do in finding fault with each other respecting manners and dress, and such trifling subjects, while the simple, yet profitable, conversation between the Farmer, Miss Nancy, and Thomas, proved their hearts were truly fixed on "the one thing needful." Thomas, however, had abundance of fault to find with himself, being full of fears lest the condescending familiarity of the 'Squire had thrown him off his guard; he being unacquainted with the unaffected simplicity and real courtesy of his own manners, was not sensible that the best Christian is the best gentleman, all over the world.