influence than what is human, can gain admission for them at the first, or cause them to be cherished when received. And this explains why it is that false impressions, from being more congenial to our nature, are more easy of access, and more pérmanent in their duration, than the true.

I know not, reader what your feelings on this point are; but with me, I confess, this is quite the case. It is a work of much difficulty with me to keep alive in my mind the remembrance of some sweet portion of Scripture, or some delightful verse in a psalm or hymn, to help me on to the hour of meditation and prayer. Whereas the . idle, corrupt jingle, of some unmeaning song, which was lodged in the memory of my boyish days, too frequently rises to my recollection, in spite of all my endeavours to suppress it; and I fear that, if encouraged, I could repeat it with the greatest exactness.-Pause, to observe with me what a decisive proof this is of the remains of indwelling corruption !

It was an ill effect of this kind, which the sceptical conversation of the brothers left upon my mind. By the ludicrous turn which they gave to some portions of Scripture,

and the impious and bold reasonings which they made on others, they gave birth to a train of images within me, which, like a spectre, arose continually to my view.

I stop the reader one moment again, to remark, (and what, I humbly conceive, if closely adopted, will not prove an unprofitable remark,) how little they consult their own happiness, who mix indiscriminately with the world, and who are not sensible of the dreadful consequences of seeing and hearing the corruptions which are going on in life. What, from the lightness and indifference to divine things, with which some treat the truths of God; and what from the open contempt poured upon them. by others, it is really like running into the midst of pestilence, to come within the circle of their society. Our eyes are purveyors of the evil, and our ears inlets of the corruption. And never was that aphorism of Solomon more necessary to be observed, than the present moment: Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it; pass not by it; turn from it and pass away.'* For my own part, I have never found my peace of *Prov. iv. 14.

mind so unbroken, as since I have totally withdrawn myself from all but the necessary and unavoidable intercourse with men of the world. By ceasing from their communion, we live out of the reach of the contagion of their principles, and we live above the influence of their good or bad opinion. And it is a maxim of as much salutary con sequence to the mind, as it is to the body, to breathe a pure atmosphere. You cannot come within the region of any thing filthy and corrupt, but its poisonous effluvia will attach themselves to you.

I have often thought what a peculiar providence it was, that while my mind was under the impression of such accumulated trials, God should direct my steps towards the means of relief. But so it was, that in prosecuting the path of my pilgrimage, as I passed the road, there stood an house on my right hand with this inscription in the front of it :

The House of the Interpreter.

I CONSIDERED it then, as experience hath taught me to regard it many times since, as

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among the special appointments of a covenant God, than my path was directed this way. He hath promised to bring the blind by the way that they know not ;' and in this instance nothing could be more pointed.

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I pity the man from my heart, who passeth through life, and discovers nothing of divine wisdom arranging and ordering all the events of it; and particularly in those instances where the Lord's enemies are promoting and forwarding by their unconscious conduct, the very designs, which they are seemingly opposing. There is something very striking in proof of a divine superintendance, when men unintentionally fulfil that will, which all their designs and actions áre directed purposely to thwart. When the sons of Jacob sold their brother for a slave, little did they dream that Joseph's future dignity and Israel's salvation were to result from this cruelty. Nay, (what is infinitely more important, and an higher testimony than this,) when the Jews had nailed the Lord of life and glory to the cross; who should have thought, that from that very cross all the everlasting happiness of his people was to spring? And, (to compare small things with great,) when the per

secutions of my relations, the false reasonings of the author whose book I had read, and the conversation of the infidel brothers, which all conspired to give me such distress, became the very foundation under God of my establishment in grace; who will but conclude, that such a peculiar coincidence of circumstances cannot be the result of any thing fortuitous, but cometh forth, (as the prophet speaks,) from the Lord of Hosts, who is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.'*

It will be, no doubt, one portion of the felicity of heaven, to look back and trace the whole of our eventful history to the full. But it is now, in my esteem, walking in the highway of communion with God, when at any time we are enabled to trace it in part here below.

The house of the Interpreter.-I have read of such an house, and of such a character, as being in the pilgrim's path, when in my days of childhood. But I knew not at that time, that I should myself live to behold either of them realized. A thought, however, struck me, as I read the inscription: Perhaps I may find here some help to explain

* Isaiah xxxviii. 29.

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