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"makes me ready to fear they lay too much stress on "the mere form of going to a place of worship. Now, "for my part, I always find that it requires a little "time to bring my mind into a state fit to do any "common business well, much more this great and "most necessary business of all."-" Yes, sir," replied the Shepherd; " and then I think too how bu I should be in preparing my mind, if I was going "into the presence of a great gentleman, or a lord, "or the king; and shall the King of kings be treat"ed with less respect? Besides, one likes to see peo"ple feel as if going to church was a thing of choice "and pleasure, as well as a duty, and that they were "as desirous not to be the last there, as if they would "be if they were going to a feast, or a fair.",

After service, Mr. Jenkins the clergyman, who was well acquainted with the character of Mr. Johnson, and had a great .respect for him, accosted him with much civility; expressing his concern that he could not enjoy just now so much of his conversation as he wished, as he was obliged to visit a sick person at a distance, but hoped to have a little talk with him before he left the village. As they walked along together, Mr. Johnson made such inquiries about the Shepherd, as served to confirm him in the high opinion he entertained of his piety, good sense, industry, and self-denial. They parted, the clergyman promising to call in at the cottage in his way home.

The Shepherd, who took it for granted that Mr. Johnson was gone to the parsonage, walked home with his wife and children, and was beginning in his usual way to catechise and instruct his family, when Mr. Johnson came in, and insisted that the Shepherd should go on with his instructions just as if he were not there. This gentleman, who was very desirous of being useful to his own servants and workmen in the way of religious instruction, was sometimes sorry to

find that though he took a good deal of pains, they now and then did not quite understand him; for though his meaning was very good, his language was not always very plain; and though the things he said were not hard to be understood, yet the words were, especially to such as were very ignorant. And he now began to find out that if people were ever so wise and good, yet if they had not a simple, agreeable and familiar way of expressing themselves, some of their plain hearers would not be much the better for them. For this reason he was not above listening to the plain, humble way in which this honest man taught his family; for though he knew that he himself had many advantages over the Shepherd, had more learning, and could teach him many things, yet he was not too proud to learn even of so poor a man, in any point where he thought the Shepherd might have the advantage of him.

This gentleman was much pleased with the knowledge and piety which he discovered in the answers of the children, and desired the Shepherd to tell him how he contrived to keep up a sense of divine things in his own mind, and in that of his family, with so little leisure, and so little reading. "O! as to that, "sir," said the Shepherd, "we do not read much "except in one book to be sure; but with my hear"ty prayer for God's blessing on the use of that book "what little knowledge is needful seems to come of "course, as it were. And my chief study has been "to bring the fruits of the Sunday reading into the "week's business, and to keep up the same sense of "God in the heart, when the Bible is in the cupboard «as when it is in the hand. In short, to apply what "I read in the book to what I meet with in the "field."

“I don't quite understand you," said Mr. Johnson, «Sir," replied the Shepherd, "I have but a poor

"gift

gift at conveying these things to others, though I "have much comfort from them in my own mind; "but I am sure that the most ignorant and hard"working people, who are in earnest about their "salvation, may help to keep up devout thoughts " and good affections during the week, though they "have hardly any time to look at a book; and it will "help them to keep out bad thoughts too, which " is no small matter. But then they must know the

"Bible; they must have read the word of God dili"gently; that is a kind of stock in trade for a Chris "tian to set up with; and it is this which makes me "so careful in teaching it to my children; and even "in storing their memories with psalms and chapters. "This is a great help to a poor hard-working man, "who will scarcely meet with any thing in them but "what he may turn to some good account. If one “lives in the fear and the love of God, almost every "thing one sees abroad will teach one to adore his "power and goodness, and bring to mind some texts "of Scripture, which shall fill the heart with thank"fulness, and the mouth with praise. When I look "upwards the Heavens declare the glory of God; and "shall I be silent and ungrateful? If I look round "and see the valleys standing thick with corn, how

can I help blessing that Power who giveth me ail "things richly to enjoy? I may learn gratitude from "the beasts of the field, for the or knoweth his owner, "and the ass his master's crib, and shall a Christian "not know, shall a Christian not consider what great "things God has done for him? I, who am a Shep

«herd, endeavour to fill my soul with a constant re"membrance of that good Shepherd, who feedeth me "in green pastures, and maketh me to lie down beside "the still waters, and whose rod and staff comfort me. "A religion, sir, which has its seat in the heart, and "its fruits in the life, takes up little time in the study.

"And

"And yet in another sense true religion, which from "sound principle brings forth right practice, fills up "the whole time, and life too as one may say."

"You are happy," said Mr. Johnson, in this re"tired life, by which you escape the corruptions of "the world."" Sir," replied the Shepherd, " I "do not escape the corruptions of my own evil na66 ture. Even there, on that wild solitary hill, "can find out that my heart is prone to evil thoughts. I suppose, sir, that different states have different "temptations. You great folks that live in the world, perhaps, are exposed to some, of which such a poor man as I am, know nothing. But to one "who leads a lonely life like me, evil thoughts are

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a chief besetting sin; and I can no more wit "stand these without the grace of God, than a rich 66 gentleman can withstand the snares of evil company, without the same grace. And I feel that I "stand in need of God's help continually, and if he should give me up to my own evil heart I should "be lost."

Mr. Johnson approved of the Shepherd's sinserity, for he had always observed, that where there was no humility, and no watchfulness against sin, there was no religion, and he said that the man who did not feel himself to be a sinner, in his opinion, could not. be a christian.

Just as they were in this part of their discourse, Mr. Jenkins, the clergyman, came in. After the usual salutations, he said, "Well, Shepherd, I wish

you joy; I know you will be sorry to gain any ad"vantage by the death of a neighbour; but old "Wilson, my clerk, was so infirm, and I trust so "well prepared, that there is no reason to be sorry

for his death. I have been to pray by him, but "he died while I staid. I have always intended you should succeed to his place; 'tis no great matter "of profit, but every little is something."

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"No great matter, Sir!" cried the Shepherd "indeed it is a great thing to me; it will more than 86 pay my rent. Blessed be God for all his good"ness!"-Mary said nothing, but lifted up her eyes full of tears in silent gratitude.

"I am glad of this little circumstance." said Mr. Jenkins, "not only for your sake, but for the sake "of the office itself. I so heartily reverence every "religious institution, that I would never have even "the Amen added to the excellent prayers of our "church, by vain or profane lips, and if it depend"ed on me, there should be no such thing in the ❝ land as an idle, drunken, or irreligious parish clerk, "Sorry I am to say that this matter is not always "sufficiently attended to, and that I know some of a very indifferent character."

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Mr. Johnson now inquired of the clergyman whether there were many children in the parish. "More "than you would expect," replied he, "from the "seeming smallness of it; but there are some little "hamlets which you do not see."-"I think," returned Mr. Johnson, "I recollect that in the conversation "I had with the Shepherd on the hill yonder, he told me you had no Sunday school."-" I am sorry to

say we have none," said the minister; "I do "what I can to remedy this misfortune by public "catechising; but having two or three churches to

serve, I cannot give so much time as I wish to "private instruction; and having a large family of my own, and no assistance from others, I have 66 never been able to establish a school."

"There is an excellent institution in London." said Mr. Johnson, " called the Sunday-school Soci"ety, which kiudly gives books and other helps, on "the application of such pious clergymen as stand "in need of their aid, and which I am sure would "have assisted you; but I think we shall be able to VOL. III.

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