sure of the Almighty to employ me on this occasion, I feel so entirely assured of his readiness to fit me for it, that I will not hesitate to cast all my care upon him respecting this matter. If therefore you still continue desirous of my services, I promise you to use my utmost endeavours to promote your wishes."

The note concluded by appointing the place and hour when and where the lady wished to receive the young people; to which she added a request that Mr. Vernon would open the matter to the parents.

Mr. Vernon having carried this special point with the lady of the manor, had no difficulty, either with the young ladies his parishioners, or with their parents, since the lady of the manor was sincerely honoured and beloved by every family in the parish; and the young ladies were quite impatient for the arrival of the appointed day, that should introduce them to the manorhouse.

CHAPTER II.

CONTAINING A GENERAL ADDRESS TO YOUNG PERSONS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF CONFIRMATION.

ON the appointed evening, between twelve and twenty young ladies, all of whom had given in their names as candidates for confirmation, assembled at the manorhouse. They were affectionately received by the lady of the manor, who led them into her favourite room, where a large table was set out with preparations for tea; intending, after this refreshment, to enter upon the business which had called them together.

The apartment in which this party were assembled was a library, fitted up with book-cases containing most of the favourite authors of the lady of the manor: it was also her work-room, in which she had neat cabinets, containing materials for work of various kinds, with stores of ready-made garments for the poor. The walls, instead of being hung with looking-glasses and gilt ornaments, were decorated with a few fine old prints, the designs of which were taken from sacred subjects. And at one end of this room were five windows, three of which were in front, and one on each side, descending to the floor, and presenting, from their several aspects, three distinct and very beautiful prospects.

From the front windows was seen a dingle of the park, formed by two considerable eminences, on whose sloping sides were lofty trees combined in picturesque groups, In the depth of this dingle a small stream, that came murmuring from the heights, collected itself into a clear lake, which added not a little to the beauty of the scenery; the prospect terminating with a remote view of the ocean. From the window on the right hand was seen

the ornamented part of the garden and shrubbery; and on the left, a kind of wilderness of flowering shrubs and aromatic herbs, inclosed with a slight iron railing, in which were many winding walks and garden-seats, inviting to study and contemplation-though both of these views were somewhat artificial, yet neither of them was without its peculiar charms.

The young ladies, while tea was preparing, had leisure to admire this varied scenery, and to observe the last rays of the departing sun, as it disappeared behind the trees. Before the evening closed in, candles being lighted and the hissing urns placed upon the table, the lady of the manor summoned her young visitors to tea, and requesting some of the elder ones to relieve her from the charge of preparing it, she exerted herself to remove that embarrassment which young persons are too apt to exhibit on occasions when they should endeavour to make themselves agreeable. She asked several questions, and made many remarks, with little success: a simple negative or affirmative, with a corresponding grave and formal deportment, was all that she could, for some time, obtain from them. Not, however, quite disheartened by these difficulties, she at length observed something in the countenance of one of the younger ladies, whom we shall call Sophia, of a nature particularly prepossessing. To this young person she then addressed her discourse, and receiving from her a calm and unembarrassed answer, was enabled to support a conversation with her till the ceremony of tea-drinking was over.

During this conversation the young Sophia (for she was one of the youngest of the party) said nothing very brilliant or remarkable. But she spoke with good sense, and without any awkward or affected airs; being guided by the simple desire of doing or saying what was proper, neither discovering any forwardness, nor seeking to shew herself off to advantage: by which means she succeeded in rendering herself far more agreeable than any of her elders then present. And here, as in many other instances, we see the lovely effects of humility. Humility becomes our fallen nature, and our blessed Saviour himself assumed this garb when he put on the nature of For this blessed and holy One, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; but

man.

made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. (Phil. ii. 6, 7.) But we will speak further on this subject in its place, and proceed here to the business for which the party were assembled.

As soon as the tea-things were removed, and the doors shut, the lady of the manor thus addressed the young people: "My dear young friends, the subject which now calls us together is of such importance, that in comparison with it nothing merely temporal can bear the smallest proportion. You are not now called to observe a certain form, which may be omitted without peril to your souls; but you are required, by a solemn voice from the holy Church of Christ, to declare whether you will, in the presence of God and of the Church, renew the awful promise and vow that was made for you by your sponsors in your baptism; and whether you will ratify and confirm the same in your own persons, acknowledging yourselves bound to believe and to do all those things which your godfathers and godmothers then undertook for you."

The lady of the manor then stated to the young people a certain fact; which was, that they had all, as members of the Established Church of this kingdom, been devoted to Christ in their infancy, in baptism, and that intercessions had been made and vows undertaken on their account; the Established Church agreeing to accept the suretiship of elder persons on behalf of its infant members. "But," added she, "inasmuch as the Church considers the responsibility of the sponsor to cease when the person answered for arrives at a competent age, which is generally understood to be about the fifteenth year, it then, in the rite of confirmation, solemnly calls upon the individual to confirm the vow made for him in his baptism. It is impossible," continued the lady of the manor, "to say at what period a child becomes capable of wilful sin, or at what time of life a young person first becomes accountable; but all denominations of Christians, I doubt not, would agree, that this takes place at a much earlier age than that in which the Church of England calls upon its members to confirm the vow made at their baptism. And though individuals under the age of ten or twelve may plead the heedlessness

of childhood as some excuse for the neglect of their spiritual concerns; yet, after that time, it is very certain that young people are capable of attending to the affairs of their souls, inasmuch as at that period they often become exceedingly eager to procure for themselves the good things of this world, and are fully alive to what they conceive to be their present interests. We cannot therefore attribute the too frequent neglect of religion which is so observable at this season of life, to any other cause than the natural depravity of the human heart, and to that enmity against God which exists in every unconverted character.

"This being the case," continued the lady, "it can hardly be doubted but that every young person who continues after a competent time to shut his ears against instruction, is in danger of eternal condemnation; so that if such young person should die in that state, there would be great cause of apprehension on his account.

"It is commonly said, by the profane and thoughtless, that youth is the time for pleasure, and the enjoyment of life. We will not now stay to decide whether what the world calls pleasure is the same thing with the true enjoyment of life, but we will ask these questions-if young persons at your age despise the voice of the Church, which at this time calls upon them to repent and turn unto the Lord, are they assured that they will ever again hear the like gracious calls? and can they be quite certain that, having neglected this opportunity of coming to their God, other opportunities may still be allowed them? Repentance is the gift of God; and those only follow after the Lord who are first drawn by him. If we say

to those who address us in the name of Christ, Depart, and come at a more convenient time;' they may perhaps depart, but the time of their return may never arrive. Life is uncertain; opportunity may never again be offered; and though, under the terrors of approaching death, we may seek repentance, even with tears, as Esau did, it may never be granted unto us."

that as

The lady of the manor then proceeded to say, she hoped to spend many evenings with these young people, and intended (the Lord permitting) to enter with them into an explanation of most of the important doctrines of Christianity, she should content herself on this