light he most probably had struck from divine revelation, we find them not so complaisant to him. The inoffensive Socrates is first held up to ridicule by Aristophanes, (the Foote of Athens,) and then condemned to death by his fellow-citizens, for teaching what our modern deists would persuade us the light of nature teaches every man. Some of the heathens, indeed, were less addicted to vice than others; but the best of them were very wicked, and the worst were bad beyond all description. Thousands of gladiators were slain in their public shows; and they also beheld with pleasure their fellow-creatures engaged in combat with lions and tigers, to make them sport, though it was done always at the extreme hazard, and frequently with the loss of their lives. Time, indeed, would fail me were I to enumerate one half of the crimes commonly practised by those who, either through their own impiety, or that of their ancestors, had lost the knowledge of the true God. Infidels very frequently, and very ignorantly, askWhat is the difference whether we worship the supreme Being under the name of Jupiter or Jehovah, or any other appellation which different ages and nations may have thought fit to adopt? They seem not to know that the Gentiles attributed such characters to their gods, and worshipped them with such rites, as are shocking to humanity. By some the grossest obscenities were practised; others, devesting themselves of that tenderness which the brute creation show to their young, sacrificed their chil dren to Saturn, inclosing them in a brazen statue, and causing them to perish in the midst of the fire. They who prefer, or even equal any other religion to Christianity, either betray their own ignorance, or manifest that Satan has filled their minds with so much malevolence against its author, who is love itself, that they quarrel with the sunshine, and take pains to shut out the light. lent system of morality that ever appeared. Where it has had its due influence on the minds of men, it has caused them to be a blessing to every society and family to which they belonged: and, through the providence of God, in those countries which are called Christian, the very fear that after all it might prove true has been such a restraint upon the inhabitants, that they have dreaded to run into those excesses they would have otherwise committed: so that Christianity, in every view of it, has been greatly instrumental in both the civilization and reformation of mankind. And I am persuaded that mere nominal Christians would not suffer by an impartial comparison with pagans and Mahometans; those of them perhaps excepted who have made a trade of religion, and have used it as a steppingstone to wealth and power. These are the men who are chiefly answerable for all the cruelties and murders which have been perpetrated in the name of the Prince of Peace, and (as they would insinuate) in support of his authority. The scandalous, lives of such persons have been a bar to the reformation of mankind, and the principal medium by which infidels have thrown an odium upon our most excellent religion. I quite approve of the arguments made use of by my niece against Mr. Law. He could say very little in behalf of his national church: and indeed where truth is not on our side, our arguments naturally move on very slowly.. But I dare say he will console himself with the considera-tion, that his income has not been lessened by any thing which has been said. That gentleman, speaking to me once about my being a dissenter, remarked, that if he were in France he should choose to conform to the national religion for undoubtedly, added he, the church of Rome is the mother church. I must not, however, omit, that he said he did not approve of transubstantiation, and a few other things. Indeed it is my opinion that if popery were to be established by act of parliament, the great majority of both priests and people would go back very tractably to Rome: for those who have been brought to bow toward the east, and at the name of Jesus; to kneel before what is called the altar; and to suppose that days set apart by fallible men are holy on that account; might with little trouble be made very good catholics. I have reserved to the last the consideration of Mr. Barnwell's intended marriage, because I thought it possible that I might otherwise fill my paper with that disagreeable subject. Such unnatural marriages are generally unhappy. He cannot suppose that Miss Pink would have him if she had a fortune. It cannot be doubted that her views are mercenary. But it will be in vain for my niece to say any thing to her father: he will not bear contradiction. I fear she will have but little comfort at home after her father is married. It is evident he only wants her to be married, in order that his house may be more at liberty to receive his new wife. Well, she will be welcome to live with me. The little I have left, with economy and a thankful heart, is sufficient to make us very comfortable. Instead of thinking with dissatisfaction, that there are others in more exalted stations, it becomes us to consider how many millions there are in a much worse condition than ourselves. Numberless are the calamities from which, through the kind providence of God, we are exempted. How many do we see with emaciated constitutions, or in want of the necessaries of life, or blind, or lame! Sometimes a variety of evils afflict the same person. How many also in affluent circumstances are suffering from drunken, cruel, or unchaste husbands; or from equally bad wives; or undutiful children; or from their own ignorance of God, and of eternal life by Jesus Christ, which, though they feel it not, is worse than all the other calamities put together! As Christians, therefore, we never can be in such circumstances in this world as to have reason to complain. With regard to you, my dear child, I advise you to do as you intend. I have no doubt but your father will be exceedingly exasperated: it becomes us, however, at all times, to do that which is right, and to leave the event L with God. If I can be of any assistance to you, nothing shall be wanting that I can perform. It is not impossible that you may be utterly rejected and abandoned by your parent in such case you are welcome to partake with me of my pittance. Remember, my dear friend, how many thousands have suffered the loss of their goods, of their liberty, and even of their lives, rather than make shipwreck of faith and a good conscience. I shall direct this letter to you; but my dear niece must consider it as equally intended for her. My prayers are continually offered up for you both, that the Shepherd of Israel may watch over you for good. I am, my dear young friend, Yours very sincerely, MARY WORTHINGTON. LETTER XIX. From Miss Eusebia Neville to Mrs. Worthington. DEAR MADAM, My Y father sent a single horse chair for me three days before the time appointed for my return. This alarmed me, and not without reason. The time, however, I have long wished for is at length arrived: and although I am in much trouble, yet I have reason to bless God who comforteth me in all my affliction; and I have reason to say, with all the children of God who have suffered in his cause, that as the sufferings of Christ abound in me, so my consolation also aboundeth by Christ. The Christian may rest assured, that there is an infinite difference between being corrected for his faults, and his suffering for a good night, while their feet were fastened in the stocks. It is true I have not literally been used like these holy men ; but my name is cast out as evil, and I am looked upon as more vile than the reptile_that crawls on the earth; and by those too whom I affectionately loved, and whom I still love, and pray for daily and hourly. When I arrived in the court, I saw my father look through the window. Always before, if I had been out but for a day, he would hasten to meet me, with a trans port of joy; but now no person came, though I stayed sometime taking my things out of the chaise. I foreboded the reason, yet could not conceive how it could be known that I was a protestant, except Mr. Barnwell had sent my father a letter, which I now began to think must have been the case. I trembled from head to foot, and with difficulty reached the parlour. I sat down; but nobody was there, which astonished me beyond measure. You must know, Madam, that copies of my letters to you and Miss Barnwell, together with your letters to me, were bundled together, and hidden in the drawer of an old table which stood in the lumber-garret. My father, ac companied by signior Albino, entered the parlour with this bundle in his hand. I saw wrath in his countenance; and human nature, unable to sustain the shock, sank beneath the impending stroke. I attempted to get up: that is all I remember. One of the servants tells me that I fell all along on the floor; and indeed my face is much bruised, as well as my arms and one of my elbows. If I had thus gone out of the world, how easy had been the passage! Those words of our Lord have occurred to my mind with much pleasure, Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. The separation of soul and body is not worthy the name of death. The children of God cease to breathe; but they do not cease to live. Life? what is it! displeasure. The favour of God. And death? It is his |