Both my rooms overlook the garden, and catch a glimpse of a diversified horizon, scattered with hamlets, and woods, and fair fields, seen above the old garden wall which in itself, being covered with ivy, is no mean object; and having occupied these rooms for about a month, I sent for those few remembrances of former days, from which I could never part; and having now set them in order, I feel that I shall be grateful if it should please my God that I should be permitted to finish my pilgrimage in this place; and I am the more satisfied in so doing, because that a means of usefulness has lately opened itself to me, which I did not contemplate in coming here. What this is I shall hope immediately to explain; and having so done, I intend to withdraw myself, at least for some time, from the view of my

readers.

I have mentioned above that the venerable mother of the family in which I now reside, is still living. She occupies apartments on the left wing of the house. She is of great age, and had the charge of youth from her twentieth year, always having resided from that period in the White Ladies. She is infirm in body, but has every faculty of the mind in the perfection of youth; and is, I do not hesitate to say, a person from whom every mother might derive lessons of wisdom.

This excellent lady never takes her meals with the family, and is only seen abroad in her garden chair on such days as bees come forth, and halcyons sing; but as she herself says, she has not given up her parties at home. Seldom an evening passes, but she invites her company. There is not a little lady in the house, or an older person under the roof, who is

not invited in her turn, two or more perhaps at a time; and she has such a facility in adapting her conversation to every mind,that all ages are equally delighted in visiting her.

But some of her conversations and anecdotes are so valuable, that we all have agreed-that is her daughters, and granddaughters, and many others who have heard them, that they ought not to be lost to the world; and as I am the only unoccupied person in the family, and am thought to possess the pen of a ready writer, I am engaged by common consent to record such of the conversations of this venerable mother, as may be useful to such as with small experience may be required to carry on the education of youth.

The privilege is also afforded me of communicating these lessons of wisdom, thus dropped from the mouth of pious and wise old age, to any persons who may desire to be benefited by them; and on this account I have chosen the Christian Lady's Magazine as the channel of my intercourse with the world; and have little doubt of the favour of those who are the conductors of this work, unless I fail to be a faithful recorder of these lessons, which are the fruit of the experience of more than half a century.

S.

To be Continued.

ON THE SPIRIT OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP.

Ir was not my purpose to have added more upon the subject now before me, than what was expressed in the July number of our Magazine, but a note added thereto, by the Editor, having led me to fear that I might be generally misunderstood, I am anxious to remove the impression, wherever it may be so received, that I could for one moment underrate, not only the importance, but the blessedness of a gospel ministry. I addressed myself, rather to the consciences of Christian hearers, than to the preachers of the word. These last come not within the criticisms of a female pen. Fain would I honour all who are called to the sacred office, and where they fail in fidelity, I would earnestly pray that they might be awakened from their most dangerous insensibility by the Holy Spirit, who can alone give the wisdom which is from above. Further than this, I have no part to take; on the ecclesiastical heads of our establishment rests the responsibility of placing their charge under a hireling," and the Great Shepherd will, doubtless, require it at their hands in fearful judgment, such as it is not for fallible humanity to pass upon a fellow-creature. But in addressing a warning voice to those who are ensnared by "itching ears," to run from the appointments of Him whom they profess to follow, I address myself, probably for the most part to the young and the enthusiastic, who fancy they are doing God

service, when they are but running counter to His will. That the love of eloquent preaching is becoming an increasing evil, I do not hesitate to affirm; and although I sincerely regret, in any way to differ from our talented editor, I cannot think she has taken a just view of what was stated, nor answered it efficiently upon the grounds of scriptural argument. It was far from my thoughts to say, or even to infer, that the liturgy of our church, was "intended to offer a substitute for that full proclamation of gospel truth, which God has commissioned his ministers to deliver." I would only contend that it does offer a provision against the contingencies of imperfect preaching, and that where God shows forbearance and permits the ministry to fall short of that commission, it behoves us to exert such faith as shall feed patiently, even on the "crumbs" which fall from the "Master's table; and who, that has religiously considered the liturgy as a doctrinal, as well as prayerful, service, shall venture to say, that the soul, sincerely seeking spiritual food, does not there find a banquet enriched with far beyond the mere "crumbs" of divine truth. And to follow the figurative language of our editor, I will even add, that although indeed, for our body's sustenance, we may, doubtless, legitimately choose the "most nourishing and congenial aliment," yet, if for a season God visits us with famine, I see not that we may pine for foreign food.

The Israelites, dissatisfied with the manna of the Lord's providing, lusted for flesh; God granted the boon, and they ate to their destruction! and may we not, let me ask, learn from this a lesson, that the soul too may murmur after strong meat, and languish in its enjoyment? Elijah's faith was sorely tried,

when hungering in the wilderness, but he asked no more than what the ravens brought him, and the spring supplied: for God appointed him that humble fare, and he took it in unshaken dependance upon the promises of his heavenly Father, that he should lack no needful sustenance. Now, this seems to bear upon the case in question.

Indifference to

Yet let me not be misunderstood. the word and ordinances of God, is as widely apart from holiness as impatience under trial can possibly be. We are commanded to " hunger and to thirst after righteousness," as if it were impossible to ask too much of this: but, in asking, we are also to believe that, hungering after bread, God will not give us "a stone," and when we ask "a fish," He will not give us "a serpent." Scripture is wonderfully clear against these two extremes,—a want of zeal in seeking a want of faith in receiving. But to return to the subject of public worship. Preaching is not now, what it was in the apostolic days, when no other outward means existed, of obtaining evangelical instruction. Then indeed, faith in Christ, came only through the preaching of Christ; but, now, we have every doctrine necessary to salvation and to sanctification concentrated in the Bible; and blessed be God, no one, or a very few, in this favoured land, can plead ignorance of these doctrines, unless they wilfully neglect the study of the Scriptures. In making these remarks, I am, of course, addressing myself to professing Christians; as it is scarcely to be imagined that the readers of a Magazine claiming an exclusively religious character, will be of any other class; and therefore, in speaking against the snares of popular preaching, I set aside the question