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325

A Providential Journey, or the Two-bedded room.

which lay in their route, at which they were
under the necessity of remaining for the
night. The coachman drove to the prin-
cipal inn, where they alighted; and while
the Captain and his friend walked into a
warm parlour, the horses were conducted
into a comfortable stable. A violent pull
at the bell, by Mr. W, brought in
Bonniface, with more than ordinary speed,
being anxious to meet the wishes of his
important inmates. Refreshments having
been furnished, and cheerfully consumed
by the sharp-appetited guests, the landlord
was again summoned by the vociferation
of the noisy bell, and informed of the
intention of his visitors to become his
tenants for the night. Making an unusu-
ally low congée, he assured them, with un-
assumed sincerity, how much he felt him-
self honoured by their company, and how
gratified he should be in serving them to
the extent of his ability. He regretted,
however, to inform them that his inn did
not afford any other unengaged accom-
modation than a two-bedded room. "A
two-bedded room!" thundered out the
portly rector,—and then with an oath de-
clared he should not be accommodated in
that way.
The poor inn-keeper stood
trembling before his reverend guest, more
alarmed at the prospect of losing two such
valuable customers, than at the sudden
paroxysm of rage into which Mr. W-
had fallen. Captain Arnold noticed his
trepidation; and, feeling for his friend,
mildly desired the innkeeper to withdraw,
and then, in a tone and manner perfectly
easy, observed as follows: "Mr. W.
do not disturb yourself on this subject;
I have frequently, in the campaigus in
which I have been engaged for my king
and country, been obliged to be thankful
for much worse accommodation than this
inn will afford.-A blanket and pillow in
this large arm-chair will serve my purpose,
-where I have no doubt of sleeping
soundly until the morning;-you
therefore occupy the two bedded-room
yourself, and all difficulty on this head
will be immediately removed."

can

326

notwithstanding his powerful objection to a two-bedded room. The Captain was not, however, quite so expeditious; for a difficulty had now presented itself to his mind. His invariable conduct, before he sought

"Nature's sweet restorer, balmy sleep,"
was, to read a chapter either from the Old
or New Testament, and by solemn prayer
commend himself and family to Him,
"whose eyes neither slumber nor sleep."
To do so now, he felt assured would ex-
pose him to the charge of pharisaism
from his reverend friend; and not to do
so, would be to wound his own conscience.
The conflict was short, he determined to
attend to propriety, and leave the result to
the Judge of principle. He accordingly
drew from his pocket his constant com-
panion, a New Testament, and sitting
down, piously read a chapter from one of
the Gospels, after which he bowed his
knees before the Omnipresent Deity, sup-
plicated with fervour his blessing, acknow-
ledged with sorrow his sins, and with gra-
titude reviewed the mercies he had re-
ceived, and then retiring to rest,

"Slept soundly 'till the morning light
As on the bosom of his God."

On drawing aside the curtains which surrounded his bed, he was surprised to find that Mr. W, had already left the room. By referring to his watch, he found it was yet early, and felt some considerable astonishment. He dressed hastily, and, after performing his morning devotions, descended to the parlour, in which he had supped on the past evening. On entering, he was struck at beholding the reverend gentleman walking backwards and forwards with agitated action, while his countenance bore evident expression of restlessness and irritation.

Captain Arnold courteously wished him "a good morning,"-and inquired if he had not slept well? "Slept !"-vociferated his companion, "who the devil could sleep, while you were making a fuss with reading and praying all night?"-He again paced the room with increased agitation, This was language and conduct for while his friend expressed his sincere which Mr. W was not quite pre-regret, if he had disturbed him; accompared, and at first he felt half-ashamed of panied with an assurance, that he was not his own expression, but presently recover- aware his voice had even arisen to a ing himself, he replied, "No, no, Cap-whisper. Such indeed was the fact;tain, I am not to be beaten after that but without regarding the apology offered, fashion, we will share the room between or without answering it,-he rejoined,"This was soon agreed on, and the "I pray as well as you, sir,-I pray once rejoiced tapster speedily furnished them a week, without making all this ado with a guide, who, tripping before, conabout it, and that is sufficient."-The ducted them to their chamber. Captain perceived, that to enter into discussion on the point at issue, for the pre

us."

The incumbent soon disrobed himself,

327

A Providential Journey, or the Two-bedded Room.

sent, would produce no beneficial effects, and therefore softening down his offence as much as possible, and bearing with christian temper the wrath of his fellow, he resolved to watch a favourable opportunity, at some future period, to advert to the subject.

An unusual gloom hung over the countenance of the clergyman during breakfast, and when they entered the carriage, the same feeling was displayed; so that they pursued their journey in silence, excepting at some few intervals, when it was broken by a few disjointed common-place observations.

They were returning from the second day's journey, when Captain Arnold, who had been for some time silently gazing upon and pitying his companion, felt considerably agitated by the thought of losing | the favourable, and, perhaps, only opportunity he might ever have, of speaking closely to him on the subject of religion, He accordingly commenced, and for some time appeared to be heard with cold indifference, when suddenly Mr. Wturned half round, as if indignant at the kindness displayed towards him. The hopes of the Captain appeared all blighted. To pursue his conversation further, he conceived would be vain;—when he perceived his friend place his elbow upon his knee, and leaning his pale cheek upon his hand, tears, which were sought to be concealed, flowed silently down. This caught the attentive gaze of the anxious soldier. Transporting emotions flowed through his soul. He hailed the noiseless stream as a harbinger of coming joy. He did not, however, appear to observe the tears which fell; but left them to work their own effects, not doubting that his prayers and exertions had been rendered instrumental in affecting the mind of his clerical fellow

traveller.

They reached the inn at which they had slept on the last night but one before; when, on entering the parlour, the first question asked of the landlord, by Mr. W. was, "Is your two-bedded room vacant?" On being answered in the affirmative, he turned to the Captain, and with an affectionate smile, inquired, "Will you object, Captain Arnold, to sleep in the two-bedded room?" "Not in the least, my dear sir," replied his friend. "Indeed, if it accord with your wishes, I shall most certainly prefer it."

No further explanation took place; but after supper, they retired, as on the previous evening; when, on being left alone, the clergyman, placing his hand on the

|

328

Captain's shoulder, said, in a tone of the most subdued character, “Captain, you know how to pray for yourself, will you pray for me?"-Astonishment and joy mingled their efforts, and united their influence so powerfully, as nearly to overcome the pious Captain. He was unable immediately to articulate a sound.

Having somewhat recovered himself, he affectionately pressed the hand of Mr. W, at the same time congratulating him on the change which had been wrought on his mind; and kneeling together, he wrestled with God for him,-in all the eloquence of heart-felt sensibility — and with all the irresistibility of vigorous faith. The convulsive emotions of the penitent were seen, and audible. They retired, each to his bed, but not to sleep. No! the desire of Mr. W, for information was astonishing.-A light surpassing the brightness of the mid-day sun had shed its luminous rays across his mind. "Tell me, Captain, about this new-birth, or explain to me what it means," was his continued language. Never was teacher more successful or more happy to instruct, never was pupil more docile and anxious to learn, than the Captain and his friend. The things which had been taught and listened to in former days as a task, now appeared to be remembered and understood. A peculiar aptitude to comprehend the things of God possessed the mind of the convert.

They reached home on the following night, when the first question asked by of his servant, was,-" Is

Mr. W. Mrs. W.

well? how are the children?" The servant stood half confounded, gazing at his master with open eyes and mouth: doubting if he were not suddenly deranged. Had he inquired how Dulo, Scruph, Splash, Fortune, or some other of his dogs or horses, were, no astonishment would have been excited :-but to ask after his wife and children, was past comprehension. It was what had never been heard before. At length the servant stammered out,Mistress, sir, is I believe well; I have not heard of any accident befalling her, sir."

He passed the servant before he had concluded his speech, and with the Captain entered the drawing-room. There sat his too much neglected wife, surrounded by three or four blooming children. With a half frantic eagerness he embraced each in turn, dropping a tear on their cheeks as he kissed them, and then turning to his wife, he said, "My dear, we will have family prayer to-night,"

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The Blessings of Affliction.

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regret that he had not had time to prepare a discourse agreeably to his present views of truth. In undisguised simplicity, he informed them of his recent change, the means, its nature, and its effects, and declared he had been among them as a wolf in sheep's clothing, but that he now determined, by the grace of God, to be a true minister of the gospel which he believed; walking in and out before them in uprightness, and feeding them with knowledge, and with the bread of life.

In a few words an explanation was given to his thankful wife, and the bell was rung.-A servant entered: "John, Thus he continued, for half an hour or said his Master, "go to my study, and more, preaching Christ to the people, bring me the Bible." "The Bible, sir?" without taking a text, or being aware that repeated John, doubting if his ears had he was performing the work which he not deceived him. "Ah, John, you may pledged himself hereafter to accomplish. well ask if I mean the Bible,” replied Mr. | Overpowered at last by his feelings, he W————, “ Yes, go and bring me that too burst into tears, and, descending from the long neglected book."-The servant dis- pulpit, was met by his weeping friends, appeared, and while he was gone for the who, hanging upon his arm, or surrounding Bible, the bell was again rung for the other his person, accompanied him into the servants. They came with some degree vestry. of misgiving into his presence, endeavouring to call to mind what they had done, and to receive, as they expected, a severe reprimand, as was not unusual with him. They were, however, additionally surprised, when he kindly desired them to take each a seat, while he read, with peculiar emphasis and solemnity, a portion from the word of God. The Captain prayed, and the evening closed in a way that none had ever witnessed in that dwelling before.

Friday came, and on the following Sabbath, Mr. Wwould have, as usual, to meet his flock in the church. He entered his study;-turned over a heap of sermons, one by one, exclaiming to himself, as he threw aside his former exhibitions,-"that will not do,--that is not proper, that is wretched."-"Is this (he sighed) the trash with which I have been so long in the habit of feeding the souls of my people, or rather starving them with a shadow of the bread of life?—I will, however, no more so insult God, and ruin the people of my charge."

Perplexed and confounded, he detertermined to offer an apology to his people, on the following Sabbath, for not having a sermon for them, on the ground of his recent journey-and so dismiss them. The day arrived, and he entered the desk in the morning, and in an impressive tone, never before heard from him, read the service. There was something even about his appearance and manner, so perfectly new and strange to the people, that they gaped with wonder, scarcely believing the evidence of their senses. He ascended the pulpit, and commenced by stating his

His church was soon filled with such as worshipped God in spirit and in truth; and he still labours, it is believed, with growing pleasure, and increasing success, in his Master's vineyard, blessing the time that he first met with the pious Captain Arnold, or slept in a TWO-BEDDED room.

THE BLESSINGS OF AFFLICTION.

"It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting."-Ecc. vii. 2.

consolation, as

WHEN perplexed with the cares of this life, or disgusted with its frivolous pursuits, we look around in search of some other a source of happiness. When having drunk deeply of the cup of affliction, the heart is wounded by its sorrows, and the world withdraws its sympathy, then are we best prepared to think seriously of that which appertains to our eternal welfare. But when prosperity holds out her ensnaring hand, and the earth confers all its honours and allurements, then is man too prone to forget that this world is but a caravansary. Then does he cling with a blind affection to that which is deceitful, and build his hopes upon unstable foundations. Then, alas! are the interests of an hereafter banished from the mind, as unwelcome guests of another world. For as Cowper justly sings,

"Pleasure is deaf when told of future pain, And sounds prophetic are too rough to suit Ears long accustomed to the pleasing lute." Julia D-was the gayest of a fashionable and dissipated circle. Deprived of the instructions of a parent at an early age, she had been brought up without restraint, and

331

The Blessings of Affliction.

left to rove at liberty in search of pleasure. In person she was lovely; her sparkling eyes betrayed the intelligent countenance, her smiling lips the heart that was unsoured by mortification. Though her education had imparted much that was showy and superficial, yet she was by no means deficient in intellectual attainments. Beautiful, rich, and amiable, she could not be destitute of admirers, who would pour into her ear the language of flattery. Yet, with all that seemed necessary to confer earthly felicity, she was not what the world called her, or what she herself wished to be, happy. A burst of feeling, an exhilarating flow of spirits, often enlivened her countenance, yet as often would the vacancy of an idle hour, or the silence of solitude, whisper that there was "one thing needful." It was the want of this requisite, that impaired her seeming joy in this moment, and launched her out into all the extravagancies of gaiety in the next.

It was about this period that she was on the eve of being united to one in every respect her equal. Whatever might have been her feelings with regard to the gaiety and dissipation in which she lived, this last circumstance engrossed her utmost soul, and formed one of the strongest ties that bound her to this world. Without narrating all the intermediate incidents, it may only be observed, that when the full consummation of her happiness seemed to be not only in prospect, but near at hand, she was visited with affliction and grief. He, on whom her earthly felicity depended, was suddenly cut off, and carried to the silent grave.

To those who have been brought up in the school of adversity, calamitous events do not excite that unalleviated sorrow, which rends the hearts of those on whom the phial of misery is poured when in the midst of their most joyful prosperity. Julia felt the blow keenly. The chastening hand of Providence had torn away the object of her love, that object which had entwined around her heart's inmost joys. She was like some gay flower on the mountain's brow, on which the unfeeling storm has poured its fury, that still retains existence, even when despoiled of its beauty. She pined in secret. None could sympathize, for none could conceive the ardour of her affection. The condolence of the world was disgusting; it made her deeply sensible of the want of one to whom she could pour out the sorrows of her soul.

The sceptic would have arraigned the decrees of Providence. He would have regarded the bereavement not only as cruel,

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but unjust, and have plunged headlong into the vortex of dissipation.

"One part, one little part, we dimly scan
Thro' the dark medium of life's feverish dream,
Yet dare arraign the whole stupendous plan,
If but that little part incongruous seem."
Beattie's Minstrel.

It is

But God seeth not as man seeth. a good thing to be afflicted; and so Julia felt. The world had lost all its charms Its pleasures had satiated; its frivolities had lost their enchanting spell. With heart broken in affliction, where could she turn, but to that neglected source of all goodness? Well would it be, if all would "consider in the day of adversity," and hail the chastening rod, as that which brings the wandering soul back to its duty. more than this, serious reflection had con. vinced her of the impropriety of the dissipation in which she had lived, and led her to form those resolutions which she has never since broken.

But

Though the expression of her beautiful features is still melancholy, yet it is that of subdued sorrow. Those sparkling eyes that once flashed with the brilliant coruscations of wit and youthful animation, now beam forth with a mild devotional feeling, that indicates the entire change within. She bears in her countenance that humility, seriousness, and sweetness of disposition, which is one of the surest indexes of the Christian's heart. This is not all: her benevolence and charity to the distressed, and her religious consolations to the afflicted, have endeared her virtues to the humble sons of poverty.

Now her heart can adore the mercy of the all-wise Creator in thus weaning man from bis too close affection to the world by the hand of affliction, so that he may approach to behold the neglected face of Him who is ever gracious and long-suffering. And now that she has tasted of the imperishable joys which spring from religion, she can see that the cares and pleasures of this life are indeed "vanity and vexation of spirit." Yea, like the gorgeous ice-bergs of the Arctic seas, that glitter beneath the noontide ray, fretted with pinnacles of every hue, even like this perishable fabric, whose glory is fast dissolving away, are all the honours of wealth, beauty, or grace, that deck the votaries of this world. But the glory of the followers of holiness in this life, is like the lustre of the pale evening star, which sprang into being at the creation, and will beam forth from its silver throne, till the heavens shall pass away as a scroll; while in the world to come, it shall blaze with unextinguished lustre through eternity. Beaconsfield. J. A. B.

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Profanation of the Lord's Day in London.

PROFANATION OF THE LORD'S DAY IN

LONDON.

In col. 1077 of vol. xI. this important ubject was introduced to the notice of our readers, and the picture which a survey of the Metropolis presented, was truly appalling. The secretaries of the same "Christian Instruction Society," having lately published a circular letter, addressed to ministers of the gospel of every denomination, requesting their mutual co-operation in attempting to arrest the progress of this alarming evil, we select from it the following extract. "We address you as Fellow-Christians, greatly esteemed and beloved; but at the same time as Fellow-Christians possessed of commanding influence, and to whom the Head of the church has, in a peculiar manner, entrusted the interests of his kingdom. A mightier power does not exist under heaven than that with which you are invested, and which it is possible for you to exert. Nothing could stand against a combination of evangelical principle and consecrated talent, like that which you might exhibit; nor is there any result, however grand and momentous, which might not be achieved by means of such a confederacy. It is for you to fix the standard of practical virtue.

"The subject upon which we are anxious to fix your immediate and serious consideration, is that of the LORD'S DAY. We make our appeal in its behalf to the impressions and experience of your own bosoms. It is a season hallowed and endeared to your best feelings, by a thousand sublime and delightful associations.

"Of the manner in which the Sabbath is spent in many parts of our city, you are not ignorant. While the appearances presented by a few of the most public and respectable thoroughfares, would seem to intimate that it is a hallowed season, you need only turn into some of the more retired districts during the earlier part of the day, or pay a visit to any of the surrounding suburbs toward its close, in order to receive a widely different impression. At the time when you, and the several flocks over whom the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, are repairing to the Sanctuary, hundreds of thousands are busily employed in worldly avocations, buying and selling and getting gain; and the hours of your evening worship are hours devoted by them to amusement, voluptuousness, and intoxication. The substance acquired in the morning, is, at night, squandered away in the tavern and the brothel; and in this Christian country, and this the most enlightened metropolis of

334

Europe, never are scenes of such gross and appalling wickedness exhibited, and never of human degradation to be witnessed, as are such mournful and disgusting spectacles on the day professedly set apart for religious purposes !

"Surely, Sirs, the consideration of a fact notorious, is calculated to excite alarm; so melancholy, and yet so palpable and and occupying as we do a position, where many of its most flagrant instances are continually coming before us, you cannot feel surprised that we should be the subjects of intense and ever-wakeful anxiety respecting it, and deeply concerned that it should engage the serious attention of others.

"There is, however, reason to apprehend, that the evil we deplore is not confined to the haunts of iniquity, or peculiar to the ignorant and impious. It is greatly to be feared, that even among professors of evangelical religion, ideas and practices, utterly at variance with the sacredness of the Sabbath, have become lamentably prevalent; and that where it may not be openly profaned, it is in innumerable instances, far, very far, from being reverenced and sanctified as it ought. Are not many of those, accustomed to attend upon your holy ministrations, and called too by the name of Jesus, chargeable with spending not a few of its precious hours in idleness, in unprofitable and unseasonable conversation, in paying or receiving visits, and in entertaining company, or seeking to be themselves entertained? Are not many of those who sustain the important character of Masters and Mistresses, guilty of great negligence in their selection of individuals to serve them; and of yet greater negligence in their treatment of the spiritual and eternal interests of such individuals, when brought under their care, and introduced into their households? Are not many of those who keep their shops open on the Lord's Day, and can, without shame, transact their usual business, emboldened by the thought, that much of what they get during that hallowed season, comes from professors of godliness, or, at least, from regular attendants upon the preaching of the gospel; while the godly and conscientious man, who nobly and resolutely refrains from his wonted occupation, and shuts out the world from his house, and would shut it out from his heart, is thus deprived of the gain to which the New Testament declares him entitled? Mark x. 29. 1 Tim. iv. 8. Are not many of those whom we behold, during the intervals of public worship, parading our streets and our squares, and the fields of our vicinity, for the mere sake of personal enjoyment, the

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