Yet, my dear Sir, in all this there is no invention, there is nothing more than a discovery.

Mr. A. Well, Sir, what you call a discovery I call an invention, that is all the difference.

M. But, Sir, invention attaches, inseparably attaches, the idea of some thing of our own, not the testimony of Jesus. But when he says, "Search the scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me," should I after obeying his voice, and diligently searching, find what I sought, surely it cannot be called an invention; but if he were not there, and we pretended to point him out, then indeed it might be termed an invention, as when leaving the true God, the people sought out to themselves many inventions. Suppose, Sir, on being told there was a pot of money hid in your field, I should search there very diligently, until I had found it, would it be quite right to say, I had invented a pot of money? or a new coinage of money? Certainly not, yet I should rejoice exceedingly, that I had made so very valuable a discovery.

Thus then I consider our friend, not as an inventor; he has invented nothing, but he has found much, and he is very rich in the discovery.

Mr. A. Well, Sir, a discovery let it be; but be it what it will, he has gone farther in that part of the Bible, called the Old Testament, than almost any man I know.

M. Yes, Sir, he is mighty in that part of the Bible, and it should always be remembered, that only the Old Testament was written, when our Saviour directed his disciples, saying, John v. 39. "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me."

This ended the conversation.

in his own apprehension at He is full of the praises of

Our landlord is a great talker, and least, a very wise and a very good man. his spiritual guide, who he pronounces the greatest man in the world; for he has written a book upon infant baptism. The poor landlord is like a good parrot, he chatters of our inability, and of our wretchedness, if we do not perform, although we can do nothing without the assistance of God, but his assistance will never be wanting, though it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy; thus he retails this Babel jargon, in and out, backward and forward. But for a long time he knew nothing of me, nor did I intend he should; I had requested my

companion not to mention my name; but as the landlord knew my companion, he said, "They tell me, Sir, you have got one Murray among you at who preaches a fine easy way of going to heav en." Yes, said I, for B. was dumb, yes, said I, such a man does occasionally preach in, and I think he does preach a very easy way of going to heaven. For he says, we shall obtain entrance into heaven, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, and not by works of righteousness as done by us." Well, to be sure, that is true, but I hear, that he preaches up that all shall be saved, and that there shall nobody be lost." Yes, he preaches up that Jesus is the Saviour of all men. "Well, that I say too." B. good honest soul, then observed; that no man ought to judge before they hear. "Aye, very true, I do not pretend to judge the man, not I. It is true I have heard much of him, but that signifies nothing." I remarked there were very few able to form a right judgment when they did hear; much less could they form a judgment without hearing. He said a great deal in his own way, which for want of his way I will not repeat; until B. going to the window and not recollecting my caution, said, "I am afraid, Mr. Murray, we shall have no weather for travelling this day."

This was enough. The landlord started from his seat-" Gracious, pity me, is this the man himself?" B. was confounded, and I was seized with a violent fit of laughter-I find, B. there is no such thing as travelling with you incog." The landlord immediately commenced an attack, but I stopped him, by telling him I had letters to write.

A benevolent divine met me on my road to this place, and humanely urged me and my friend to take lodgings under his roof, notwithstanding, he added, I am not there, but you will find the same heart; this was tantamount to assuring me it was a good heart. "My family," he continued, "is not in a very good state; I have had much affliction. I have a son, a man grown, who is an idiot, a daughter very much afflicted, and my wife not well. However, you will find good beds for yourselves, and a very good pasture for your horses. I shall exceedingly regret it if you do not make my house your home. Had I known you were coming along, I should have put off my journey until I had seen you." Thus we parted mutually regretting our disappointed expectations and after travelling over an extreme bad road, reached his habitation.

There was no detaining B. in the tavern, where we had taken refuge from the storm; and I confess I was the more resigned to leave it, the continuance of wet weather notwithstanding, on account of the growing curiosity of the people. The landlord having stumbled upon, in his own apprehension, an important discovery, and meeting with a repulse, went forth, and informed his neighbours, who he had at his house. One old disciple accompanied him home, and entering my apartment sat down, remaining silent for a few moments, eying me from head to foot; at last, without directing himself particularly to me, he said,

"Is there any necessity to be under concern and distress?"

I was just finishing my writing, and took no notice of the question, and my friend B. and the landlord, supposing it addressed to me, of course made no reply; so that we had for a considerable space a silent meeting, when the good man once more repeated, "I hope I give no offence?"-Having finished my letter I replied, Not to me, my friend.

"I asked if there were any necessity for being under distress or concern?"

Murray. Did you ask me, my friend?

"Yes, if you please."

M. Then I will ask you, if you please, whether you have ever been under any concern and distress?

"Y-e-s, as much as any, I believe." M. Well, and did it do you any good?

"Yes, I am sure it did."

M. Then, my friend, the question is answered, you see there was a necessity for it, as it was of so much advantage to you.

"Well, you have really brought me to answer my own question." M. I would always do so if I could, as I am persuaded people in general are fonder of their own ideas, than of any one's else.

"I am a poor miserable creature, my heart is full of hypocrisy, I see nobody worse than myself.”

M. May be so, you ought to know best; I do not doubt you are quite as bad as you suppose.

"Do not you think a man may deceive himself, and think worse of himself than he really is?"

M. I think, Sir, men very rarely deceive themselves in this respect; they generally think more highly of themselves than they ought, and should you ever deceive yourself, I think it will be by undue exaltation.

But it would be tedious to detail the whole of this conversation. I shall only observe, and that for the sake of introducing my good friend B. that after the man had worked his way to the main point, universal salvation, and, with a very sagacious look, seemed to imagine himself more than a match for any body on that subject, although with the same breath he declared himself a friend to mankind, and that if he had his will, all mankind should be happy, he pronounced his opinion that not one in a thousand would ever see the face of God in heaven.-Upon which my good friend B. with the tear starting in his eye exclaimed, "O my God! can you possibly think God Almighty has not more compassion on the human race than you? You would save them if you could, and you think he can, and will not."

The man was really confounded, and after a long pause made an observation upon the justice of God, and great sins and sinners,

&c. &c.

I then took up the matter, and began to talk very seriously in the presence of this man and several others, upon the justice, the mercy, and the magnitude of the great salvation, the eyes of my honest friend B. glistening with pleasure all the time, nor do I know that the opportunity was wholly lost upon any of my hearers.

The family in this house are like the principal, the good divine, whom I met on the road. Their path through this world hath not been strewed with roses, yet is the lady, like her venerable husband, sweet tempered and tranquil. He who fixeth the bounds of our habitation, hath planted them here, when it should seem that their talents, and virtues merited a higher standing. They find it hard to live. The poor lady, speaking this morning of the difficulties they have to encounter, with her usual cheerfulness of countenance, not an unmeaning vacant cheerfulness such as we have witnessed, nor a frantic despairing kind of laugh,-no, it was a sentimental complacent smile or laugh, for it is both by turns, and it seemed to say, I have nothing, and yet I possess all things; in this preposses sing manner, I say, she poured into my listening ear what some would have entitled a tale of sorrow, but ever and anon, as she vindicated the ways of Providence, I thought of Shakespeare's Patience, stationed upon a monument, to smile at grief. She seemed as if fearful I should arraign the justice of heaven, or suspect her of complaining. In short, this poor, rich family, enjoy more than many of the sons of affluence.

My pilgrimage is really a fatiguing pilgrimage; the toils of travelling are often burdensome to me. Well, I shall by and by finish my course, and, as I trust, with joy; and I shall then lay hold of eternal life. I shall take up my residence where, although there shall be no more going out, we shall have a range sufficient to gratify the boundless wishes of the immortal spirit. And where the contemplation of the world's Saviour shall fill every faculty of my soul.

I preached morning and evening yesterday, and after church waited, by invitation, upon a Madam S. She is remarkable for her devotion to the established religion of her country, and yet was extremely desirous to hear me, and having thus done, she was quite as anxious I should hear her. This of course produced an invitation, and, as in duty bound, I did not hesitate in my obedience to her summons. She appeared perfectly unacquainted with the gospel plan, and like all of her class, who converse with me, seemed to conceive of me as totally ignorant of every argument made use of against the religion of my Redeemer. They are not aware of the advantages, which in this respect, are indubitably all my own. I have occupied the ground on which they stand, and by long and thorough investigation I am perfectly acquainted with every avenue, and the most remote recesses in which they are accustomed to take refuge.

Many a time have I trodden this crooked winding, and most uncertain path. Blessed be God, that I have escaped from a labyrinth which pointeth to destruction. Yes, in those very strong holds, which they suppose invulnerable, I myself have been attacked, and after disputing every inch of the ground, compelled to surrender.

I know therefore the whole extent of their power, and I feel, that armed with the sword of the spirit, and strong in the Lord, I cannot be overcome.

My opponents, on the contrary, march forward without the smallest knowledge of my mode of defence. They know not the strength of that rock upon which I stand, the impenetrable phalanx which a consistent range of scripture testimonies embodies for the believer of the doctrines of God our Saviour, by the aid of which he fearlessly encounters whatever forces can be raised against him; and hence it is that the pean of victory is ever upon his lips.

VOL.II