such inquiries about the shepherd, as served to confirm him in the high opinion he entertained of his piety, good sense, industry, and self denial. They parted, the clergyman promising to call at the cottage in his way home.

The shepherd, who took it for granted that Mr. Johnson had gone to the minister's house, walked home with his wife and children, and was beginning in his usual way to catechise and instruct his family, when Mr. Johnson came in, and insisted that the shepherd should go on with his instructions, just as if he were not there. This gentleman, who was very desirous of being useful to his own servants and workmen in the way of religious instruction, was sometimes sorry to find that though he took a great deal of pains, they now and then did not quite understand him, for though his meaning was very good, the language was not always very plain; and though the things he said were not hard to be understood, yet the words were, especially to such as were very ignorant. And he now began to find out that if people were ever so wise

and good, yet if they had not a simple, agreeable and familiar way of expressing themselves, some of their plain hearers would not be much the better for them. For this reason he was not above listening to the plain, humble way in which this honest man taught his family, for though he knew that he himself had many advantages over the shepherd, had more learning, and could teach him many things, yet he was not too proud to learn even of so poor a man, in any point where he thought the shepherd might have the advantage of him.

This gentleman was much pleased with the knowledge and piety he discovered in the answers of the children; and desired the shepherd to tell him how he contrived to keep up a sense of divine things in his own mind and in that of his family with so little leisure and so little reading. "O, as to that, sir," said the shepherd, 66 we do not read much except in one book to be sure; but by hearty prayer for God's blessing on the use of that book, what little knowledge is needful seems to come of course. And my chief

study has been to bring the fruits of the Sunday reading into the week's business, and to keep up the same sense of God in the heart, when the Bible is in the cupboard as when it is in the hand. In short, to apply what I read in the book, to what I meet with in the field."

"I don't quite understand you,” said Mr. Johnson. "Sir," replied the shepherd, "I have but a poor gift at conveying these things to others, though I have much comfort from them in my own mind; but I am sure that the most ignorant and hard working people, who are in earnest about their salvation, may help to keep up devout thoughts and good affections during the week, though they have hardly any time to look at a book.-And it will help them to keep out bad thoughts too, which is no small matter. But then they must know the Bible; they must have read the word of God diligently; that is a kind of stock in trade for a Christian to set up with; and it is this which makes me so careful in teaching it to my children; and even in storing their memories with Psalms and

Chapters. This is a great help to a poor hard-working man, who will scarcely meet with any thing but what he may turn to some good account. If one lives in the fear and the love of God, almost every thing one sees abroad will teach one to adore his power and goodness, and bring to mind some texts of Scripture, which shall fill the heart with thankfulness, and the mouth with praise. When I look upwards the Heavens declare the glory of God; and shall I be silent and ungrateful? if I look round and see the valleys standing thick with corn, how can I help blessing that Power, who giveth me all things richly to enjoy? I may learn gratitude from the beasts of the field, for the ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib, and shall a Christian not know, shall a Christian not consider, what great things God has done. or him? I, who am a shepherd, endeavour to fill my soul with a constant remembrance of that good shepherd, who 'feedeth me in green pastures, and maketh me to lie down beside the still waters, and whose rod and staff comfort me.'

"A religion, sir, which has its seat in the heart, and its fruits in the life, takes up little time in the study. And yet in another sense, true religion, which from sound principle brings forth right practice, fills up the whole time, and life too, as one may say.”

"You are happy," said Mr. Johnson, “in this retired life, by which you escape the corruptions of the world." "Sir," said the shepherd, "I do not escape the corruptions of my own evil nature. Even there on that wild solitary hill, I can find out that my heart is prone to evil thoughts. I suppose, sir, that different states have different temptations. You g great folks that live in the world, perhaps are exposed to some, of which such a poor man as I am, knows nothing. But to one who leads a lonely life like me, evil thoughts are a chief besetting sin; and I can no more withstand these without the grace of God, than a rich man can withstand the snares of evil company, without the same grace. And I feel that I stand in need of God's help continually, and if he should give