"I think," said Mrs. Stevens, on our resuming our seats, "that all the pleasures of religion are not reserved for another world. There are some which we may partake of in this, and one of the most gratifying is, the pleasure of doing good to others. By your permission, I will read to you a very interesting letter which I lately received from a dissenting minister in Wales: 'Dear Madam-I am fully persuaded that you will look upon this my poor letter, a very strange thing, because it comes from a real stranger in a distant land. I am an old Dissenting Minister, near sixty years of age, labouring in my master's vineyard since thirty-five years. A father to fourteen children. Eleven are alive. The eldest two are gospel ministers. One in America, and the other in the extremity of South Wales. Three others are common tradesmen in Land have families to support. My two eldest girls are in service. And four young girls at home incapable yet to get their bread. My labour was too heavy for my weak constitution; since many years past, travelling twelve or fifteen miles every Lord's day, through every weather, preaching thrice; attending three private meetings every week: keeping a day school continually during twenty-three years; reading and studying by night, till at last 1 am confined to my bed of severe affliction since October. A most severe complication of disorders, viz. the bile, nervous to the highest degree, loss of appetite, voice, and hearing very far. The doctor gave me over and told me that he never saw a man gone so far and live. And all was the effect of too much labour and too low living. I never dealt but very sparingly in malt liquor, every sort of spirits was my mortal enemy, and a little wine is not my friend, at all; only spring water is my common drink; but all is well while my thirsty soul is favoured, I hope, with crystal streams of the fountain of life. It is a very great honour to wear out a frail body to a mere skeleton, and fall in the field in the battles of the unconquered Captain of my salvation. I have resigned my ministerial labours up entirely, and have no property to support myself and a decayed wife, and four little girls,but bare Providence only. The congregation is very poor surely, and must try to support another minister.

Now, Madam, I beg leave to add the following lines to this long and dismal letter. A minister did encourage me to presume to send you this statement of my distressed circumstances. These are his very words, viz. 'I think would be as likely to

assist you as any one. I know she is a lady distinguished for her benevolence and great piety!' In whatever light my poor letter shall be looked upon, I am confident to say that I am no impostor, for I have nothing to live upon but my Bible and my God., I lost the chief support of my numerous family, when the late Rev. Captain Scott, Mr, Jones, of Chester, and Mr. Parry, of Shrewsbury, went to heaven, and the Lord has not raised any one to fill their place yet. If the Lord will incline your generous heart to do unto me the least good, the smallest crumb will be received with feeling thanks, and you may, rest satisfied that you do not misplace your charity, nor miss your object; but if not, I hope the Lord will prolong your useful life to do good to others.

From my bed of sickness, Your humble Servant, 'J. P."

'N. B. Please to excuse bad English. “I am” said Mr. Guion, “a minister of the Established Church, and feel no disposition to leave it; but I know how to respect a dissenting minister, and to sympathize with him in his afflictions. But this good man wants something more than sympathy; and I feel thankful that it is in my power to offer it." "I have already collected a few pounds," said Mrs. Stevens," which with the addition of your liberal donation will be a very acceptable present."

"The charity of bigotry," said Mr. Lewellin, "is restricted in its sympathies, and like the Levite, will pass by the sufferer, if he belong to another denomination, without extending relief; but the benevolence of the gospel, like the good Samaritan, asks no invidious questions, weeps with them that weep, and rejoices with them that rejoice; and, rising to an elevation which renders the land-marks of the religious distinc

*This poor minister is still living, and if any of the readers of the Rambler wish for his address, it may be had at the Publisher's; or if they will remit any sum directed to the Author f the Rambler, to be left at the Publisher's, it shall be sent.

tions invisible, pours down its charities upon all who are in trouble." "I assure you, Sir," replied Mr. Guion," that as I advance in life, and become more imbued with the love of the truth, I feel an increasing attachment to real Christians of every denomination, particularly the faithful ministers of Jesus Christ. When I first took orders, I was a first-rate bigot; I resolved to have nothing to do with the Dissenters. I despised them. I condemned our venerable friend Mr. Ingleby, for his liberality, and refused to associate with him, because he associated with some pious Dissenters. I thought that as they left the church, they should be banished from all intercourse with society; and such was the degree of my hostility towards them, that it would have given me pleasure to have seen them sent to some distant colony, where they could neither hurt nor destroy. But since it hath pleased God to call me out of the darkness of ignorance in which I was involved into his marvellous light, and shed abroad his love in my soul, by the power of the Holy Ghost, I have cherished the pure benevolence of the gospel, and recognize all as fellow heirs of the grace of life, who bear the image, and breath the spirit of Jesus Christ.” “I think,” said Mr. Stevens, “ that the spirit of bigotry is decidedly anti-christian; as it separates those from each other, who are redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, and has a natural tendency to excite disgust in the minds of unbelievers against religion. Hence we ought to watch and pray, lest we should be imperceptibly injured by it." "But do you think," said Miss Roscoe," that it is possible for a real Christian to possess an atom of bigotry?" "An atom! I know some who are enslaved by it." What! and Christians?" "Yes." "Indeed! I should have thought it impossible. But, Sir, you would not adduce their bigotry as an evidence of their personal religion?" "Oh, no, only an evidence of their personal weakness. "From such a spirit," observed Miss Roscoe, "I hope ever to be preserved. I abhor it as much for its meanness, as I do for its malignity; and look on it as the wolf in the fold, which destroys the harmony of peace, and makes innocence assume the appearance of terror."

Stereotyped by 1. HADDON ; and Printed by 3. 8. HUGHES, 63, Paternoster Row,

No. 19.

"I have no doubt," said Mrs. Stevens, "but this letter will have a good effect. Your parents are labouring under a delusion which your open and frank statement will dispel; and while they must admire the independence which claims its native rights, they will respect those religious principles which no human authority can subdue, and which no human authority ought even to attempt to subdue." page 8.

London:

MISS ROSCO E.

PART III.

"A real Christian, whose heart is once thoroughly imbued with the love and fear of God, can no more return to the amusements of the world, than a philosopher can be refreshed with the diversions of the vulgar, or a man be amused with the recreations of a child." MRS. HANNAH More.

"SINCE I had the pleasure of seeing you last week," said Miss Roscoe to her amiable friend, Mrs. Stevens, "I have felt the extremes of anguish and of joy. My life is indeed a chequered life, and 1 often wonder where the scene will end." "Yes,"replied Mrs.Stevens, "the life of every christian is a chequered life. He is liable to a constant alternation of feeling, and the scene of providence is ever shifting. The current of his history may run on for a season in a smooth and even course, but it is constantly exposed to obstructions. Joy and grief are very delicate passions; and as they are permitted to have such a powerful influence over us, it is wisely ordained that they shall not be kept in a state of perpetual excitement. They come in as with a flood of feeling; but, instead of laying waste the mind, they often become the means of enriching it with the most nutritious consolations." "But," observed Miss Roscoe, "how difficult to controul the passion of grief, when it springs out of a domestic calamity." "I hope, my dear, you have no new domestic trial." "I am not aware, that I have a new one, but I have one, that has inflicted a most poignant wound, and I know not what steps to take. My dear parents manifest the most decided hostility to my religious opinions and habits. When they confined their hostility within the bounds of argument and persuasion, I found it comparatively

J. S. Hughes, Printer, 66, Paternoster Row.