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of the Church.) These chosen ones of the human race are described in Scripture," added the lady, "to be as numerous as the stars of heaven, and as the sand of the sea: they are elsewhere spoken of, as being clad in robes made white with the blood of the Lamb, and clothed with the righteousness of Christ; whence we are taught to understand somewhat concerning the method of their salvation, the procuring cause of which is not their own works or deservings, but the imputed merits of the Saviour.

Furthermore, we learn from Scripture," continued the lady of the manor, "the different parts which the several Persons of the Trinity have chosen to themselves, in the glorious work of man's salvation: and though I hope to discuss these subjects more at large with you, my young friends, at some future time, yet I feel it necessary in this place to touch slightly upon them.

"And first, I would wish you to be strongly impressed with this sweet and consoling thought-that each Person of the glorious Trinity is equally interested and engaged in the salvation of the redeemed; and that, although they have appropriated unto themselves different offices and distinct parts in this divine work, yet, as acting with one mind and will, they are all inseparably united in one and the same glorious undertaking. First, God the Father loved his people, before they knew how to choose the good from the evil, and appointed his Son to die for them, before the foundation of the world. Therefore the redeemed of the Lord are drawn out in love towards him, because he first loved them. Secondly, God the Son freely gave himself up to be the propitiation for our sins. Lastly, God the Holy Ghost fits the redeemed for the glory prepared for them, by carrying on in their hearts the twofold work of regeneration and sanctification; the first of which is instantaneously effected, while the latter is commonly progressive.

"And now," proceeded the lady of the manor," having given you a short view of these important doctrines, I will endeavour to assist you in examining the state of your souls, with reference to these fundamental points. Have your hearts ever been drawn out in love and gratitude towards your heavenly Father? Have you a becoming sense of his wonderful mercy? And are you aware of the depth, the blackness, and the unpardonable nature

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of that guilt, which required for its obliteration such an inconceivable degree of love in your heavenly Father? you sensible of the worth of that all-sufficient sacrifice, which the Redeemer offered on your account? And are you willing to take up your cross and follow him? Finally, have you perceived within yourselves any tokens of that divine influence, by which the Holy Spirit operates upon the hearts of the righteous? Are your affections renewed or changed? Do you hate sin? and do you loathe and disallow the evil which your corrupt nature too often leads you to commit?"

The lady of the manor here paused a moment; and, the young people remaining silent, she added, "I do not mean, my dear young friends, to induce you to make your confession to me; but I would fain lead you to search and try yourselves, to enter into the secrets of your own hearts, and to begin, with the divine assistance, that most salutary work of self-examination which is now especially necessary before you take upon you your baptismal vow."

The lady of the manor then, taking up a small manuscript which had lain before her on the table, requested the young ladies to listen to a story, "which," said she, "I consider as being particularly applicable to some parts of our discourse this evening."

THE HISTORY OF LOUISA HARLEY.

Louisa Harley was descended from the younger branch of a noble family. Her parents died while she was yet a mere infant, and she was consigned at the same time to the charge of a great aunt, who was also her godmother.

This lady, whose name was Staunton, was a widow; and, being in possession of a considerable jointure, she was enabled to make a somewhat splendid appearance in the little town of D~, in which she resided. And though she associated freely with all her neighbours, yet her house was distinguished, above all others in the town, by the handsome iron gates which opened into the paved court before her door; while her establishment was not less distinguished by the rich liveries of her footmen.

Mrs. Staunton had been a widow for many years; and ever since the period of her widowhood, her mornings

had been almost invariably devoted, excepting for a few months in the summer, to an attendance at the church service, and her evenings as regularly occupied by cards; for which last purpose, she met some or other of her neighbours every afternoon, and remained with them till between nine and ten o'clock at night. While thus engaged, this lady had grown old without acquiring any new ideas, and, in consequence, from the very force of habit, becoming more and more bigoted to her old ones. She had always been in the habit of praying in a building with a steeple at one end of it, in hearing the lessons read by a person in a surplice, and the sermon preached by one in a different garb; and, from this custom, she had learned to attach such amazing importance to these unessential minutiæ, that it would have been infinitely easier to have argued her out of her belief of the divinity of her Saviour, than to have convinced her that a building might afford every necessary convenience for divine service, though it had neither a steeple nor bells.

As soon as Louisa Harley was intrusted to the care of this lady, she was sent to one of the most eminent boarding-schools which the neighbourhood at that time supplied; where she remained till she had entered her seventeenth year; at which time she was brought home, and became an inmate of Mrs. Staunton's house.

The acquirements which this young lady brought with her from school were far from extraordinary, although she had profited as much by the very inferior instruction which she had received as could have been reasonably expected. But had she been favoured with a well-directed education, there are perhaps few young people who would have done more honour to her instructors than Louisa Harley, who was formed by nature to excel most of her sex in bodily and mental perfections-having a tall and graceful person, a fine countenance, a blooming complexion, together with a profusion of glossy auburn hair; her mind being powerful, her imagination lively, and her feelings such as, if properly cultivated, promised to render her the ornament of her family. Unhappily, however, this fine young creature had no director to whom she could look up with sufficient confidence; and, in consequence, on being admitted as the constant inmate of Mrs. Staunton's house, where she was daily condemned

to hear the dull and common-place conversation of the very ordinary characters with whom her aunt associated, she not only became restless and dissatisfied, but, influenced by the usual vivacity of youth, together with the peculiar energy of her own character, she began to plan for herself modes of action, by which she hoped to obtain the happiness she naturally desired. Her first effort was to disencumber herself of those formal religious observances in which her aunt endeavoured to engage her, especially the daily attendance at morningservice; for having no knowledge or feeling of religion, she found nothing in the world so wearisome as sitting for an hour at a time in an almost empty church, while an old clergyman, who was nearly blind, deliberately drawled over the public prayers. She therefore contrived to excuse herself from day to day from this observance, and that with so much art and perseverance, that her aunt at length gave up the point; not omitting however at the same time to remark, though with a coldness which entirely prevented the remark from having the smallest influence, that Louisa was, like almost all other young people, a contemner of religion, and consequently in a state of reprobation.

As Mrs. Staunton regularly attended prayers at half after ten, and from the church went immediately to pay morning-visits till dinner-time, Louisa, by procuring the fore-mentioned exemption, obtained also the whole of the morning to herself; which liberty she did not fail to use in such a way as might be expected -in calling on her young acquaintance in the town, sauntering with them through the streets, or accompanying them to the public walks; a custom, by which she acquired such a habit of dissipation, as speedily rendered her not less. dissatisfied with her aunt's dull evening parties round the whist-table, than she had been with her daily attendance at church. And, as the downward road is always smooth and easy, she failed not to proceed very rapidly to further and more open acts of rebellion against her aunt. She began to form evening as well as morning parties for herself, among her young companions; till, at length, the greater part of her time was spent in one continued round of that kind of petty dissipation, which most country towns can hold out to those who are not very nice

in their company. For example: she would engage herself to a commerce-table one evening; to a young party for a game of blind-man's-buff another evening; to see a play in a barn on a third; and to a little dance on a fourth. Thus, weeks and months went round; and though her aunt sometimes complained, and sometimes expostulated, yet Louisa generally contrived to obtain her acquiescence in these imprudences, by representations to this purpose." Why, aunt, you know I cannot play at whist; nor can I sit evening after evening with those dull old ladies, of whom you are so very fond; and there is always the best company where I go. Mrs. Dalrymple, the surgeon's lady, will be there to-night; and she has promised to take care of me, and to bring me home; and she will never lose sight of me, nor allow me I am sure to do any thing improper for the whole world.” Now Mrs. Staunton was a lover of ease; and it is always more easy to give way to wilful young people than to contend with them. In consequence of this, Louisa always obtained her desires on these occasions of dispute, although Mrs. Staunton seemed to be not wholly satisfied that she was acting right in submitting to her niece; for Miss Louisa Harley being the great grandaughter of an earl, Mrs. Staunton suspected that the persons with whom she permitted her to associate were not of a very suitable description for introducing her niece into life.

Things were in this state, and Miss Louisa Harley in a very fair way of entirely losing her reputation through this want of decision in the conduct of her aunt, when the rector of the parish, whom I have before described as a very old man, being removed by death, the rectory, which was a valuable one, was presented to a relation of Miss Harley's, a gentleman of the name of Holloway, a married man, and one who had a numerous and respectable family. Immediately upon this gentleman's obtaining the benefice, the large and venerable parsonage-house, with its extensive gardens, were put into admirable order; so that, within a few months, the new incumbent and his family had fixed themselves in their new situation.

On the ground of their relationship and former acquaintance, Mrs. Staunton and Miss Harley paid their first visit to Mrs. Holloway before she had made her appear

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