ledge than some of his neighbours, so that very many of his sins were committed against the light of his own conscience, which made them the more dreadful unto him. But the chief reason is, God doth sometimes alarm the conscience of a departing sinner, that he may manifest his judgments for the convincing of some, and leaving of others without excuse.

If you please, I would have you observe yonder woman, who sits pensive at the other end of the room: perhaps her conversion is one end which the Lord proposed by his judgments manifested in this unhappy man; and let me tell you, Novitio, I am of opinion, that she will never forget this awful providence whilst she herself is continued in being. Believe me, Jehovah's ways are in the deep waters, and by far more intricate than the paths of the whirlwind. The great, the sovereign Householder, hath an indisputable right, if he sees meet, to burn his wooden vessels, that with their ashes he may brighten vessels of gold and silver. Now you have seen this man, and his end; come along with me, and another scene shall be unfolded.

PART III.

I THOUGHT in my dream, that according to his directions, I followed my guide through divers turnings in this stately mansion, till we arrived in an apartment, where was an old gentleman, laid on a couch, dictating to an attorney, who sat by him, writing his last will and testament. He signed, sealed, and delivered the deed, and then with the greatest vivacity proceeded to relate the various virtues of his life, seemingly extremely pleased with the recapitulation.

He willed his children to follow his example; and, the better to encourage them to such an imitation, he told them, that it was but a small sum of money which he and their mother possessed at their first entrance on the marriage state; and how, by their diligence and frugality, they had saved so and so, mentioning the legacies which he had bequeathed in his will; adding, that if they were diligent and frugal, they might also, proportionably, increase that which, he blessed God, he had procured for them. He added farther," My children, I am very ill, and doubt I cannot recover; the doctor gives me but little hope; but it is what we must all to, and you are witnesses of my conduct ever since you were capable of discerning betwixt right and wrong. I have been just in all my dealings; never imposed on any man; and now, God help me, I am dying, none that ever I dealt with can say to me, Thou didst me wrong, or thou hast cheated me in this or that. This gives me great satisfaction in my present case, I thank God, I can now say, that I never swore an oath in my days, but have often been angry with that wicked practice in others. I never was drunk, but always detested that

beastly and wasteful sin; nor, as I remember, did I ever tell a lie; but have always minded my duty to God, attended at church and sacrament duly; and if ever I sinned at any time, I was careful to pray for mercy, was sorry for it, and confessed to God, who is merciful, and will, I hope, pardon the frailties to which we are all subject. If at any time I sinned, it was not with a wicked design, for, I thank God, I have always had a good heart, and and meant well in what I did; and it were a great sin to disbelieve in the mercy of God. I hope that, seeing I have always believed in Christ, been diligent in providing for my. family, have carefully husbanded what I got by my business, and have been mindful of my duty to God, I have little reason to fear but it will be well with me; and now, as in all probability I cannot recover, I have settled every thing, I hope, to your satisfaction, as well as my own, and can die in peace." Thus it was that he instructed his children in his latest hours, and some of them confirmed all that he said, by applauding the truth of every sentence. . However, I thought all along that I discerned a secret joy amongst the young people; notwithstanding, for decency's sake, they assumed several of the symptoms of grief; and was confirmed in my opinion, by overhearing the eldest son, when the father said, " In all probability, I cannot recover," to whisper secretly to himself, I hope you cannot ;" and when the old man said he had settled every thing to his children's satisfaction, the son whispered again, " Aye, if you would make quick work of dying." I then thought how foolish it is in those parents who snatch at every opportunity of amassing wealth for their children, seeing that thereby they are so far from gaining their love and esteem, that they become impatient for their death in order to be possessed of their subtance.

In the meanwhile, the visitants of the old gentleman comforted him against the fears of death, by putting him often in mind of his life so well spent, which will, said they, no doubt, make you a happy

man, as soon as you are delivered from this afficted body.

Notwithstanding, I was greatly surprised at the ingratitude of young Phylargyrus in wishing the death of his father: I could not help being well pleased with the disposition of the old gentleman's affairs: and turning my guide, with satisfaction visi ble on my countenance, I said

Ah, sir! what a happiness is it to be rich in good works! O, with what pleasure may this man die, when he looks back, and takes a view of a life spent to such great advantage! How vast is the difference betwixt this and the other man's estate! Contumacio went distracted to hell; but Avaro will, doubtless, go joyfully to heaven the next moment after his dissolution.

To which my guide replied, I see, Novitio, you are too prone to judge according to outward appearance; not considering, that appearance and reality are, very often, two different things: but wait with patience only a little while, and you shall see an end of Avaro, with all his happiness, which you so much admire.

By this time I thought that old Avaro declined a pace, and ever-watchful Death, who attended on his bed, imposed a fatal weight on his heavy eyes, and a cold dew rested clammy on his forehead, so that every pulse was expected to beat a finis; but, as there yet remained a few sands in the mortal end of his glass, he recovered a little, and, after some time, he said-I thought I should have spoken no more, but I have yet time to bid you farewel; farewel, my dear children! I must pay this debt of nature; but my peace is made with God, and I die comfortable. This said, his head declined, his eyes became fixed, and all the symptoms of immediate death were upon him.

It was now that my venerable guide bid me to mind well who were in the chamber with us; on which, lending a close attention, I beheld several ghastly furies, in all the deformities of reprobation, silently

lurking round the bed of the sick man; but none of them offered to come near to disturb his peace. The good Veratio, my benevolent guide, perceiving that the discovery had struck me with horror, willed me not to be afraid, for, said he, they will all be very quiet till the old man's departure, and even then, they will discover themselves to none but him.

You will easily believe, that I now began to change my opinion of Avaro, having seen who were his silent attendants. The moment of separation come, the beguiled soul took a kind farewel of the body, and came forth from the interior regions, smiling with hopes of the divine reward; and as soon as she ascended to the lifeless lips, she looked around to espy her tutelar angel, but dreadful was her astonishment when she perceived that there was no guardian near, to bear her thence in safety, but a train of relentless furies, waiting to carry her to their dark abode! With infinite terror she turned about, and strove to regain her former possession; but now, alas! the gates of mortality were shut, and the body refused to admit, its former tenant. The sly seducers, as so many merciless tygers, leaping upon and seized her in the midst of her horror and distraction. O, what heart can conceive, what pen can describe, the dreary distraction of the dismayed spectres, when she found herself shackeled by those cruel tormentors! A faint description thereof would make the stoutest heart to tremble, and the ruddiest countenance to gather blackness. The sly seducers, who attended him incognito during life, remained quiet as possible till the deceived ghost was safely dislogded, and then they assumed the devil in all his infernal forms and tyranny; seized, fettered, and bore her away, notwithstanding she resisted their fury with inexpressible struggles. O my soul, how dreadful must the disappointment of that man be at death, who in his lifetime feeds upon the transient hope of an hypocrite, and builds his expectance of future happiness on a sandy foundation! Instead of being caressed in the bosom of everlasting love, he is enfolded in the arms