"that we were not to resist the workings of good in our hearts, wrought there by God's Holy Spirit; but that we were to foster and cherish them, and to use every means which He had graciously given us for the securing to ourselves that salvation, for the attainment of which He had himself given us the desire."

“Your view exactly corresponds with mine in this respect," observed Mr. Compton, "inasmuch as faith itself is the gift of God, and we cannot believe unless God enables us to do so: hence the prayers, 'Lord increase our faith,' and help thou my unbelief." "

"Here," added Mrs. Woodville, "the passages which I have so often quoted to my dear Miss Morland naturally suggest themselves,— 'By grace are ye saved through faith; Not of works, lest any man should boast.''

6

The discussion was maintained with great spirit between Mr. Newton and his worthy host, till the powerful arguments of the latter, based on the Word of the living God, all but convinced the mind of his opponent, and were sufficiently weighty to demolish his sentiments. Salvation by grace, he proved to be the grand doctrine of the Bible, and the staple principle of the Church to which he belonged; and though good works followed the reception of

divine grace into the heart, and were manifested in the life and conduct; yet that, as they were produced by such grace, they possessed no innate merit, and therefore could not win for their possessor eternal life.

The Sabbath was closed as usual by "reading the Scriptures and prayer," and at an early hour the occupants of Merton Lodge retired to their several apartments.

CHAPTER XVII.

"Still I behold him, every thought employed
On one dire view! all others are destroyed:
This makes his features ghastly, gives the tone
Of his few words resemblance to a groan;
For expectation is on time intent,

Whether he brings him joy or punishment."

CRABBE.

It was the day before the trial, and very early in the morning, soon after sunrise, the reverend Vicar of Orpington directed his steps towards the prison of the unhappy Hutchinson. Throughout the whole period of his confinement hitherto, Arthur had felt some share of hope that, through the interest of Mr. Woodville, whose son Theodore he had been the means of saving, and through that of Mr. Walsinghame, his treatment might be less severe. When, therefore, the clergyman entered his cell on the morning in question, he L 8

ventured to express his entreaty that he would do all in his power to recommend him to

mercy.

Mr. Walsinghame found him writhing under the feelings of fear and suspense as to the issue of the trial, and contrasting his present disgraceful and wretched condition with that of former days; but no true signs of penitence, no tracing of effects to their cause, no consciousness of the evil of little sins leading on to the perpetration of frightful enormities, marked the state of the criminal's mind.

The excellent minister faithfully set before him the connection of his early departure from truth, with his subsequent course of crime and misery, and exhorted him to seek for the favour and mercy of the Almighty, to pardon his sins, and to prepare him for whatsoever awaited him on the coming day. He spake to him solemnly of that tribunal of unerring truth before which all men must appear, that they might receive according to the things done in the body, whether they be good or evil. He affectionately forewarned him to "fear Him who, after He hath killed the body, can cast both body and soul into hell;" and the good man wept as he proceeded to dwell upon the unbounded love and compassion of God, through Jesus

Christ; and when he told the touching story of the dying thief, and repeated those words of earnest importunity, "Lord remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom," and then, the gracious answer of the Saviour-a tear trembled in the eye of Hutchinson, and with a fervour he had not before evinced, he thanked the Vicar for his kindness, which he felt was so totally undeserved on his part.

He then entreated the favour of Mr. Walsinghame's attention, to some few particulars, which it was his wish to reveal to his ear alone prior to the period appointed for the trial: the clergyman having assented, Arthur Hutchinson began.

"You are aware that I fell into the society of an extravagant class of individuals, who were the means of completely altering my course of life, and which eventually compelled me to sell my paternal home. Soon after, as you know, I was reduced to comparative want; while my companions, like myself, were too much shattered in their means to assist me. Having been instrumental in bringing me to a state of ruin, and having caused me to make shipwreck of every mode of gaining a respectable subsistence, they left me to my penury and my shame.

"In such a condition what was I to do?—

M