Mr. Roscoe. "" Being a virtuous man he had no sins to confess, and therefore did not need to implore mercy."

Miss Roscoe. "He did not feel the guilt of his sins; nor did he feel the need of mercy; but his insensibility was no proof of his innocence. The Publican was in the temple at the same time; but how different the spirit which he discovered, and the language which he breathed: And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me, a sinner!' Luke xviii. 13. And if you read the following verse, you will perceive the judgment which Jesus Christ pronounced on the state of these two men.' Mrs. Roscoe. 66 I am sorry, my dear, that you have taken such gloomy views of human nature; I do not think that they will contribute to your happiness; and I very much regret, that you should ever have imbibed them. We were once happy and united, but now we are a divided family; the introduction of religion among us has broken up our peace, and we are censured by many of our friends for permitting you to follow your present bias. We did hope, when the fervour subsided, you would return to your former course of life, but I begin to despair."

Miss Roscoe. "The views of human nature, which I have taken, are scriptural, and in strict accordance with the language of the Prayers, and Articles, and Homilies of our Church. If I am mistaken, I wish to be convinced of my error; but, on a question of such magnitude, I can receive only the most substantial proof. You charge me with breaking up the peace of the family; this charge possesses a keen point, and it has deeply wounded me. My peace was broken, and left a wreck, as the tempest of woe raged over my mind. I wandered almost a forlorn object of grief, without hope, because I had no prospect of bliss, till I was led to embrace my present religious opinions, which have acted on my perturbed spirits, as the command of the Saviour did on the agitated waters of Genneseret, and I enjoy an internal calm; and must the restoration of my mind to bliss, be regarded as the destroyer of domestic happiness?"

Mrs. Roscoe. " Why, you know, my dear, that your views on religious subjects differ from ours; indeed, I think them very eccentric, and we cannot approve of them; and our friends make many remarks, which are not pleasant. Some say that you are a Methodist; some, that you are a Calvinist; and many say, that you are become quite a fanatic. These things are unpleasant; they mortify us. We think it quite a disgrace to our family, that you should have such things said about you. I hope you will consent to go with us to Mr. Denham's concert; it is held, I assure you, principally on your account: there is to be a large party; all will be delighted to see you. You then will wipe off all the odium which your eccentric views have brought on your family. Your father has made a very handsome purchase for the occasion, which he intends to present to you. know it will not prevent your being very religious." Miss Roscoe. "To please you is to gratify myself; but I know you will not press me to a compliance which I cannot make without making a sacrifice of principle." Mr. Roscoe. "But what principle would you sacrifice by complying with such a request?"

You

Miss Roscoe. "If I were to go, I should feel no interest in the ceremonies; and the marked expression of my countenance, which no artifice could conceal, would throw a gloom over the happiness of others;-I should render myself the object of satirical remark, rendered keener than any which has yet been directed against me, on account of my inconsistency; for those who are so anxious to get me among them, well know, that I must first abandon my religious principles before I can consent."

Mrs. Roscoe. "O no, my dear, they will receive you with more delight than they would an angel; and when you get among them, you will disengage your mind from your religious meditations, which you will find a great relief, I have no doubt."

Miss Roscoe. "Yes, I must disengage my mind. from all religious recollections, or anticipations, to be happy on such an occasion; but such a disengagement would be the entire destruction of my happiness in this world, and the prospect of it hereafter."

Mrs. Roscoe. "Then, must we go without

you?" Miss Roscoe. "I cannot consent to go, unless you insist on it; and, even then, I should go with reluctance, and my presence would disturb the harmony of the evening."

Mr. Roscoe." It is, I assure you, with the deepest regret, that I witness the pernicious infatuation under which you are labouring. Fitted to move in any rank of life, and to command the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends, who would feel proud to enjoy your friendship and society, you seem determined to descend even to the lowest and gather up the fragments of a fanatical felicity among the evangelical professors who abound among us. My peace is gone, because yours is wrecked;-my hopes of your future respectability are all vanished. I certainly did expect, that you would have complied with my request to have accompanied us to Mr. Denham's, when I solicited it as a personal favour; but I now perceive that your religion has taught you how to refuse a parent's request; and if the first fruits are disobedience, what will be the issue? After all the pains which I have bestowed on the cultivation of your mind, and the bleeding anxiety of my heart, during your protracted illness, to see you now come forth to contemn the elegant accomplishments of social life, and the society of those with whom you have been accustomed to mingle with so much delight, is a calamity more painful than the loss of life, and one which will bring down my grey hairs with sorrow to the grave!"

Miss Roscoe was too much affected by this severe and unexpected address, to make any reply; and, though she endeavoured to suppress her feelings, yet, she was obliged to retire to her own room, where a flood of tears gave her some relief. When somewhat composed, she opened her Bible, and the following passage struck her eye: ،، Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But who

soever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I come not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set

man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household." Matthew x. 32-36. The remarks of her favourite commentator, Scott, (whose volume was laying before her on the table) gave her great pleasure; and she felt that it was her duty to act consistently with her religious principles, though she might incur the displeasure of her parents.

A select party came to spend the evening at the Roscoes'; and, after tea, the cards were introduced as usual. "I shall be happy," said the Rev. Mr. C- —, (addressing himself to Miss Roscoe,)" to have you for a partner." "I am sorry, Sir," replied Miss Roscoe, to deny you any request, but I cannot comply with the one which you have just urged, without doing violence to my feelings." "Indeed! why we have often spent the evening in this amusing exercise, and I hope we shall spend many more. "Yes, Sir, we have; but it is not my intention to consume any future portion of my time in such an exercise." "But do you think that there is any moral evil in it?" "It has, in my opinion, the appearance of evil, from which you know, Sir, we are commanded to abstain." "But, of two evils, is it not the wisest maxim to choose the least?-And is it not a smaller evil, to amuse ourselves at cards, than to defame the reputation of others?" Unquestionably, Sir; but, I presume, that a wise and good man would avoid both these evils." "But I am not aware, that any evil can arise from this amusing exercise?" "Does it not, Sir, consume that time which ought to be devoted to a more profitable purpose?-Does it not frequently give excitement to those passions of our nature which ought to be repressed?-Does it not sometimes cherish a passion for gaming; which we know has involved many in entire ruin?" that, Madam, is the abuse of the exercise." Sir, I think it is the natural tendency of it." are we to have no amusements?-Is life to pass away in a dull, monotonous routine of duty ?-Are we always to live as in a state of exile from the charms and fascinations of social intercourse?-Is the mind

66

But

Nay, "But

66

never to relax itself amidst the diversions of polished society?-Must we ever keep up our attention to the high claims of religion, and always think, and speak, and act, as though we were treading on the verge of an awful eternity? Indeed, I give it as my decided opinion, that, that species of religion which interdicts these amusements, cannot claim a divine origin because it is opposed to human happiness." "It certainly does claim a divine origin; and perhaps if you, Sir, examine its claims, you will find them attested by the spirit of the New Testament. Can you suppose, if Jesus Christ or any of his Apostles, were now present, that they would consent to pass away_the hours of this evening in such an exercise?" "Perhaps not, Madam, but they were extraordinary persons, and their virtue would keep them from many sources of amusement, from which we, who are more frail, may very innocently draw a portion of our pleasure." Then, Sir, you will admit that it is our frailty that leads us to such amusements, and that, if we possessed more exalted virtue, we should avoid them?" "You reason excellently well, Madam, against the amusement; but, such is the frailty of our nature, that I fear the passion cannot be subdued with such a weapon." Perhaps not, Sir." 66 Pray, Madam, what amusements would you sanction?" 66 Those, Sir, which would afford me pleasure on reflection, and in which I could be engaged in my last moments." "The apparent delight with which you evangelical professors anticipate your last moments, is a tacit acknowledgment, that the present are dull and insipid." "We anticipate our last moments, Sir, with awe, mingled with delight, and, though you may imagine that our present are dull and insipid, yet, I assure you, that you are mistaken. We have our sources of felicity; but the one to which you have invited me, is not included in the number.” "I cannot but think, Madam, that evangelical religion has an anti-social tendency; and would, if generally prevalent, deprive us of all our innocent recreations." "Ivangelical religion certainly requires us not to be anned to this world, but to be transformed in the renewing of our mind! and it produces a distaste for those