for it matters not in what point we transgress, as the sentence goes forth by pronouncing "Cursed is every one that continueth not (during his whole life) in all things written in the book of the law to do them."

Thus, by the knowledge of the purity and holiness of the Law, the proud notions of merit were soon banished far from my mind; and no other hope was left for me, but the hope of the Gospel; salvation for our ruined race, from his mercy alone, who came to "put away sin by the sacrifice of himself." I am now satisfied that there is no other name given among men, whereby they can be saved, but the name of Jesus Christ our Saviour." Thus Sir, I had been living on the false hope of a mere heathen. and never knew it, till divine mercy convinced me of the purity of God's law, and the impurity of my own nature.While the name of Christ had been sounded in my ears, I had no conception of the need of his salvation in my heart; it was on my own goodness, not on his grace that I fixed my dependance. But now I feel and know that he alone is my peace and salvation; and that without the shedding of his blood, I never can be redeemed from the curse of the law: so that in point of my acceptance and justification before God, I have no other plea left, but his obedience unto death on my behalf. I confess myself a sinner; and while I abhor every comparative idea of merit above others of my fellow sinners, (for we have all sinned and fallen short of his glory,) I trust alone on his mercy for my salvation.

"I was not less ignorant of the nature of that holiness, possessed by every true believer who is thus " accepted in the Beloved." I mistook decency for devotion, and morality before man, for spirituality before God. Never till I knew the evil of sin, as a transgression against God's good and holy law, did I desire to be delivered from its inward dominion and power. I now know "I must be born again," or in other words, "be renewed in the spirit of my mind:" and of this I am persuaded, the pardoned believer has no inclination to live in sin, that grace may abound; for he knows, that

being justified by the redemption that is in Christ, he is dedicated thereby unto God, that he may live to his glory. I had not thus dwelt on my own experience so long had I not conceived, that you also have been unhappily misled from the glorious hope of the Gospel, by the same mistake. I have therefore taken the liberty to transmit to you a few books upon the evangelical, yet not less practical, truths of the Gospel ; and I am sure, most thoroughly consistent with the articles and liturgy of that church of which I am happy to confess myself a minister, and of which also I suppose yourself to be a member.

"Though it grieves us all to see your daughter so excessively overcome by the dangerous state of Mr. Chipman's health, it notwithstanding presents us with a most pleasing sensation, as it respects the tender and blessed state of mind to which, by the grace of God, she seems most graciously to be restored.

"As the most worthy and excellent young man, the bearer of this, will take an opportunity of consulting with you, on what steps may be necessary to be taken on this unhappy event, I shall shorten this address, by subscribing myself,

"Your real friend and servant, for Christ's sake, "BEN. LOVEGOOD."

Brookfield.

MRS. CHIPMAN'S LETTER.

"My dearest Husband,

"If you can admit a wretch, so treacherous and vile, to address you in such terms, will you allow me to implore your pardon, in the most submissive language? Nothing but guilt and confusion fills my heart, exciting at the same time, tears of the deepest contrition from my eyes; while I thus request you to forgive the worst of women, who has been so treacherous and cruel to the best of husbands, and who has also behaved so unnaturally as to forsake her own offspring. My most dear and injured husband, I could not

have presumed on this address, If I had not been taught by divine mercy, to abhor myself for my crimes; but as I am now seeking forgiveness of God, I feel I never can be happy until I am favoured with your forgiveness also, though I justly deserve to be abhorred by you, all the days of my life. I am told with inexpressible grief, by a letter from my father, that you are a dying man, through my most hateful conduct towards you. Is it possible for you to believe, after all that has passed, that I speak the truth when I say, I now feel, since a most merciful God has I trust, convinced me of the evil of my most abominable ways, I feel a love to you, if you can believe me, stronger than I ever felt before; And I could travel a thousand miles to heal a heart that has been so deeply wounded by my vile conduct; the pleasure I should take in each painful step for such a purpose, I cannot express. Yet consider I beseech you, your once dearest Jemima; and recollect how happy we were in the chaster days of our connexion; while I could keep your accounts, post your books, and wait upon you with the most affectionate attention. I cannot tell you how I execrate myself for having forsaken such an office, and for grieving the heart of such a husband. I beg you not however to suppose I mean hereby an excuse for my crimes; they cannot be lessened by any excuse whatever. Yet I trust, having received that grace which makes me shudder at my former conduct, you will remember what a poor Magdalen once felt, when she washed our Saviour's feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. And though I scarcely dare presume to hope that he will forgive a wretch that has been so vile, yet let me humbly request you to consider, what that most affectionate young man has to say to you, who brings you this letter,. and who was not, until a merciful God changed his heart, much less wicked and hateful than myself. O then! let it be believed, that nothing, in a way of mercy, is impossible with God; and surely that mercy is needed by us all, when we

consider what sinful hearts we have before him, who is infinitely holy. Oh! how then shall such a wretch as I have been, appear before him? My only hope is from what Mr. Lovegood, the excellent Minister of the parish in which I now am, has advised me to read, which is still to be found in our old Common Prayer Books, in the lamentation of a sinner.

Mercy, good Lord! mercy I ask,

This is the total sum;

For mercy, Lord is all my suit,
Lord, let thy mercy come.

"Receive these few lines from your truly penitent, and as truly affectionate,

Lower Brookfield, near Mapleton.

"JEMIMA CHIPMAN."

Having thus laid the two letters before my readers, they will naturaly conclude, that somewhat interesting may be the result of Henry's return; and as these events will be detailed in the succeeding Dialogues, I hope they may prove not less instructing than any of the former.

DIALOGUE XX.

MR. WORTHY AND FAMILY, MR. LOVEGOOD, AND MR. MERRYMAN.

THE CHARACTER AND EXPERIENCE OF THE CHRISTIAN MINISTER EXEMPLIFIED.

As Henry Littleworth, from a variety of circumstances, was detained some weeks at Locksbury on Mrs. Chipman's affairs; a detail of other events, during that interval, may not be unaeceptable to the reader.

There were a few serious and godly clergymen, about the neighbourhood of Brookfield, who were in the habit of associating together in rotation, at each other's houses, for the purpose of mutual edification in their sacred work. A meeting of this sort, was held at Mr. Lovegood's, during the time that Mrs. Chipman's affairs were in agitation. At these meetings one of the ministers always preached in his turn. This office now fell to the lot of Mr. Merryman; and an admirable and affecting sermon he preached, in some respects not less suitable to his own experience than to that of Mrs. Chipman, from the following text: "And such were some of you; but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." This sermon was not less grateful to the mind of Mr. Lovegood, than consolatory to the wounded conscience of the unhappy Mrs. Chipman. They say also, that the sermon was blessed to Mr. Gauger,