"St. Paul de

"Nay," said I, interrupting him, termined to know nothing save Christ, and Him crucified.' I trust that my sermons are not only three parts, but entirely devoted to that all-pervading doctrine. And surely we cannot do better than follow the example of St. Paul himself, and may safely preach on all the topics which he introduces; all of which, he declares, are connected with that which is the centre of his system."

"You do not understand me, sir," said Mr. O'Brien, with the greatest coolness, and all the air of superiority which his celebrity at Market Ashford warranted. "The whole Christian scheme lies in a nutshell. You should stick to the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans. If you did not know a word of Scripture besides, that would be enough. I have it all at my finger-ends. First, you know, the corruption of man, Jew and Gentile, all under sin; none righteous, no not one; all our righteousness filthy rags; then salvation, full and free, offered to the worst of sinners, according to the predeterminated counsel of God. This is the plan, sir; stick to this, and you are sure to be right. Down with the sinner, and exalt the Saviour. Besides, sir, I find it very useful in preaching extempore (which, I observe, sir, you do not do), to have something always to come back to. Sometimes, indeed, I take a ride on the black horse in the Revelations. I did

so a Sunday or two ago; and you should have seen how the people pricked up their ears!"

"Better to prick their hearts," thought I.

"Have you ever read Dwight?" said my friend, rather abruptly, after a short pause.

I answered in the negative.

Irish

"What! not read Dwight? If you don't know Dwight, you know nothing. (I felt much flattered by this remark.) Dwight's system of theology contains all that is worth knowing-every subject is treated as it should be. A man who knows Dwight's theology knows enough for a bishop."

Dwight, it should be observed, was a very good man in some respects, but an American Dissenter.

Mr. O'Brien then took down one of five wellthumbed volumes, which constituted nearly the whole of his library, and begged that I would take it with me to read. "I cannot let you have the others until you have done with that, as I am wanting them every day."

I promised to read the volume as soon as I could make opportunity.

"And do you find," I asked, thinking that my new friend might assist me in my difficulties—" do you find that the people who attend your preaching-the people of Market Ashford, I mean-lead godly lives, and avoid that tittle- tattle and jealousy for which country towns so generally have the credit?"

"I am sorry to say (but you must not tell them who said it) that there is not a more gossipping, talebearing, quarrelsome set in England than the people

of this town.

There is scarcely one of those who praise me most to my face in whom I can place the slightest confidence. I can assure you, sir, I am heartily sick, and wish I was well rid of them."

It did not seem to occur to Mr. O'Brien that the condition of his parish in these respects was any test of the benefit of his preaching. His only notion of the use of preaching was to obtain the admiration of a large congregation; and I afterwards heard that his popularity had been somewhat on the decline.

me.

"I will tell you what," said he, looking very mysterious; "I have got a little scheme for you and What do you say," he continued, drawing his chair nearer, and speaking in a lower tone, as if he was afraid some one should hear-" what do you say to trying your fortune in London ?"

"In what way?" I inquired.

“Why, suppose you and I were to go and take

a chapel between us?"

I

This he said with the greatest earnestness. answered, that I had not any intention at that time of leaving my present situation.

66

Why, how much do you get?" asked Mr. O'Brien.

I stated that I had a good house and fifty pounds a year.

"Och, a poor fifty pounds a year!" said he, with a sneer; 66 why, I'd warrant that if you would go with me, we'd make 600l. a piece the first year.

I'll tell you what, sir; we'd fill all the pews in a fortnight, and bring the people from all parts of London."

"I should be sorry to draw people away from their own parishes, and interfere with the congregations of other clergymen."

"Other clergymen! I'll tell you what, sir; we'd preach them all out of their pulpits in no time."

As I had no ambition to preach my brotherclergy out of their pulpits, I declined accepting Mr. O'Brien's flattering proposal. Yet it certainly had a little effect on my mind; it made me rather vain of my preaching, and ambitious schemes began to float in my head.

Mr. Theodosius O'Brien was quite in earnest about his scheme; for, not many months afterwards, he packed up his Dwight, and set off for the metropolis, with a view to exercise his functions as a popular preacher-for which occupation there is no denying that he had a good deal of talent, being fluent and confident, his voice good, and his person handsome; though it must be confessed he was very scantily furnished with the doctrines of the English Church.

Not long after the commencement of my acquaintance with Mr. Flavel, I received from him a very friendly invitation to become a member of a small clerical association, consisting of a few of the neighbouring clergy; the object of which, as he informed me, was, that we might meet together to read the Bible, and discuss points of Christian doctrine and practice. Of this proposal I gladly availed myself, and was duly proposed and elected. The society was conducted, ostensibly, on very liberal principles. Each member, even the youngest, was requested in his turn to propose a subject for discussion; and every one had an opportunity of delivering his opinion. I soon found, however, that instead of discussion, the meetings afforded an opportunity for my friend Mr. Flavel to inculcate his own views amongst the young clergy of the neighbourhood.