glory. And now, brother, let us betake ourselves to reft, with King David, praifing God for all the health and other bleffings we enjoy, which are but as one drop out of that boundless ocean of joy and treasure He will hereafter bestow for a life of holiness. Good night. CHAPTER III. The Hoft conducts the Angler and Painter to Beresford Hall and Mr. Cotton's Fishing Houfe on the River Dove. Angler. Aye, Sir, I have been wakeful this hour and paft; and because I heard you were a-bed, I fauntered out awhile, that I might have the enjoyment of the fresh morning. Painter. And I'll warrant, you wandered down to the banks of the river, like a crane, to look after fishes. : Angler. You have made a wrong guess for this turn because after a while I chanced to find myself in the church-yard, and quietly walked up and down. Painter. Surely that was a fad employment! Angler. Penfive, so please you, but not sad: and there I met the fexton,-not an ill willer to human nature,' but an honest good man, who had the key of the church: and I have seldom seen a country church more embellished with rare carving and joiners' work :-you may believe me, it is quite unmatchable. Painter. Indeed! Angler. And Mr. Cotton's family feat is carved with delicate ornaments; and his armorial bearings chiselled in oak, with a canopy over head, in rich tracery work. Indeed, the whole church, as the baptismal font, and chancel, the pulpit and altar, and a lofty organ, all worthy of those earlier and better ages, when the same spirit pervaded the Church as poffeffed the heart of Mary Magdalene, who bestowed upon her loved Mafter that alabaster box of ointment of spikenard, as the most precious teftimony of her reverence and affection. For then mankind were of opinion that the houses of God, dedicated to His service and worship, were deferving of all the honour they could pay to them, as being His temples who hath confecrated the Church by His own blood. Painter. They were better times indeed.— Alas! the day when the separatists of this nation like the heathen of old, 'raged, and the people imagined a vain thing!' when the rulers took counsel together against the Lord and against 'His anointed'—fad workers of pillage, who defaced the fanctuary, stripped the altars, overturned the holy fonts, broke the ornamental paintings of the windows, and rich tracery work in stone, made free booty of the facramental plate, and stabled their troopers even beneath the holy vaulted roofs, which had wont to refound to the voices of the choirs,-chaunting the praises of God; but then, alas! made to re-echo their unhallowed imprecations against all ordinances and government. Angler. But fear not, brother.—God is ever with His Church; and hath He not faid, 'I 'will restore to you the years that the locust and 'the cankerworm hath eaten?'* Believe me, a bright day of joy shall come, when our village churches, and those fair stately ministers throughout the land, and especially their daily services and the appointed festivals, shall be restored as in ancient times. What! did not God ftir up the spirit of the heathen king of Perfia to cause His holy temple to be rebuilt after the long captivity of His people in Babylon? Then Joshua and Ferubbabel, and their bre * Joel ii. 25. |