⚫ courage, and refolved not to part with his companion, till he should have learned the meaning of what paffed fo much to his difturbance. And the • other immediately promised to demonftrate to him, that in reality nothing could be more just and equi⚫ table than all this, which, for want of a right understanding, had been fo great, and almost infuperable an offence to him. For, faid he, As to the first man, from whom the glided cup was taken, he had the best compenfation made him for all his kindneffes, the cup having been an unhappy occafion of great mifchief to him whilft he had it. He is a perfon of divers excellent qualifications, and • exceedingly beloved amongft his neighbours, who are continually partaking of his bounty and friendfhip. But he has one failing that tarnishes all his good deeds, and that is, an inclination to company • and drinking, more than becomes him, and efpecially, whenever this cup is brought forth: fo that the beft office I could do him, was effectually to • remove this temptation out of the way, that by this • means he may be brought to a better government

of himself; which is the greateft happiness that ⚫ can befal him in this world, and moft highly beneficial in order to another. For this reason I took " care to ease this our worthy friend of what had been fo unfortunate a fnare to him. And I left it with the other rough, morofe, inhofpitable man, as a means of his deftruction, and fo a juft reward of all his inhumanity, that by it he may fall into intemperance, diseases, and death itself; there being that inchantment in this cup, that whosoever hath it, will be in danger of being thus bewitched by it. But perhaps you are at a ftand to think of the little innocent babe, fo unexpectedly ftrangled in the cradle, and at a place too, where we had been fo civily entertained. Know then, that this was done in great mercy to the parents, and no real hurt to the child, who is now with God in bliss and happiness,

happiness. This gentleman, and his wife, had hitherto lived in great reputation for their piety, juftice, fobriety, and other chriftian virtues. But, above all, their charity was moft confpicuously eminent; divers of their infirm and indigent, neighbours owing their fubfiftence, next under God, to • their beneficence. But, fince the birth of this child, ⚫ their minds have, by degrees, degenerated and funk ⚫ into a love of this world; and, instead of provid

ing for the poor and helpless, as formerly, their ⚫ thoughts have been employed how to enrich themfelves, and leave a plentiful fortune to this infant, and its pofterity. Hence it was, that I took away ⚫ this momentary life from the body of the child, ⚫ that the fouls of the parents might live for ever. • And I appeal to yourself, whether, all things con

fider'd, this was not an immense kindness, and an ⚫act of the truest friendship to them? But ftill there • remains one thing more to be accounted for; this

laft fact against which you have declared such a • violent deteftation. And, as bad a notion as you ⚫ have of it, this let me tell you, was the most faithful inftance of gratitude I could pay, to one who had used us with the utmost humanity and kindnefs. For this fervant, whom his mafter fo highly ‹ valued, was a very rogue; and was in a confpiracy. to have, this very night, let in a company of thieves, ⚫ to rob and kill his mafter; and, perhaps, his whole family. Which having faid, he immediately vanished, leaving the good man to meditate with ⚫ himself upon what had paffed, and the reasons given. for it: who, hereupon, transported with joy and amazement, lifted up his hands and eyes to Heaven, and gave glory to God, who had thus unexpectedly deliver'd him from any farther anxiety touching the ways of his Providence. And, being now fully fatisfied, as to the Wisdom of all God's dealings with us, and thofe unfeen reafons of them, which fo far furpass the bounds of our finite fhallow understand

⚫ings,

ings, he returned with chearfulness to his forfaken cell, and spent the residue of his days there, in piety and peace.

Philog. It is an excellent ftory, indeed, Theophilus; and fo much to the purpose, that nothing could be

more.

Eufeb. This fhews, beyond all contradiction, how fhort-fighted we poor mortals are; and how unable to judge of the aim, and intent, of the Divine difpenfations towards either ourselves, or others. We are apt to think ourselves very wife; but, alas! fhould God fee fit to leave us, but a very little time, to our own management and choice, we fhould quickly fee cause to bewail our folly; and beg, and pray, and intreat of him, to take the care of us again into his hand. We think ourselves, with Phaeton, able to govern the chariot of the fun; but, if entrusted with it, fhould find the effect of our prefumption, as he did of his, to be only ruin and destruction. As also, on the other hand, when we think ourselves in the moft forlorn circumftances, we yet know not what bleffings are reserved for us; and how even these our calamities may be made a step and introduction to them.

Anchith. You fay very true, Eufebius; and Theophilus's story has fo clearly illuftrated the matter, that I most heartily return him my thanks for it.

Theoph. I am very glad to hear this from you, be cause I was afraid I had quite tired you with it; efpecially fince coming at the latter end of the day, when you might be prefumed defirous to be left to yourfelf. But now it is time for us to retire, and wish you a good night's reft, and that you may find no inconvenience by the long disturbance we have given you.

Anchith. Pray, good Theophilus, let me intreat you by no means to think that a disturbance to me, which I frankly acknowledge to have been a favour and a kindness.

Eufeb.

Eufeb. I hope you will pardon us, if we have made too bold with you, confidering your prefent indifpofition, fince you know we could have no other defign in it but to serve you.

Anchith. Indeed, gentlemen, I cannot think of parting with you yet. I am very fenfible of the kindness of this charitable vifit, and own myself to be highly obliged to you for it. And I must confefs, I find myfelf refresh'd and enliven❜d to a great degree, by your useful and instructive discourse, ever fince you came, and your feasonable application of fo many paffages of Scripture to my circumstances; for which I heartily thank you all. Yet this I must add, that I am much. afraid, left the application belong not to me. For I dare by no means compare myself to thofe famous worthies you have been mentioning, Jofeph, David, and Job. These were illuftrious fervants of God, and eminently religious in their generations; whereas my confcience tells me, that I, being a poor, wretched, guilty finner, who from time to time have highly offended my good and gracious God, can have no title to thofe promifes which were made to fuch as thefe, nor any just ground to expect the like favourable ufage with them. Thefe holy men were afflicted out of pure kindness and mercy, for the vindication of their faith and conftancy, and that they might appear noble examples of an unwearied fidelity to those that fhould come after them. But alas! what am I, poor creature, that the Lord, whom have I fo provok'd, fhould have any regard for me? This uncomfortable reflection damps my joy, and robs me of that ineftimable fatisfaction I muft needs otherwife have found, in what you have fo pertinently fuggefted. Not that I do now doubt, in the leaft, of God's goodness to his faithful fervants, but only that I fee too much caufe to distrust my own qualifications for his favour. The best of my performances have been fo lame and imperfect, and the whole courfe of my life has been fo defil'd with blacker and too, too oft with wilful and

known

known fins, that I have too much reason to suspect this fickness to be laid upon me as a punishment for fuch my guilt. And I cannot perceive why you fhould not also be of the fame opinion.

Eufeb. Admit it: yet you have no reason to conclude it fent only for this end.

Philog. It is not above a fortnight or three weeks, fince I heard our doctor preaching upon thefe words, Rom. iv. 7. Bleffed are they whofe iniquities are forgiven, and whofe fins are covered. And what he said made fuch an impreffion upon me, that I could not forget it, and I hope I never fhall. His difcourfe was, as you may eafily fuppofe, concerning remiffion of fins. And fhewed us, first, That it is God alone who forgives fins; he can and does forgive them, when he fees juft occafion for it, and he alone can do it. Secondly, That Christ is the only meritorious cause of this forgivenefs; and it is purely through his mediation that we can hope to obtain it. Thirdly, That however such a faith in him, as produces a true and unfeigned repentance on our part, is requir'd as an abfolute indifpenfible condition of this forgiveness. And here he made these two farther obfervations: First, That without repentance there is no hope of pardon, even though a man had not fallen into grofs and fcandalous fins, but only gone on in the heedlefs neglect of his duty, (d) like the foolish virgins, in our Saviour's parable; (e) or the unprofitable fervant, who hid his master's talent in a napkin. And then, fecondly, That though a man had been a great finner, yet upon a true repentance he might promife himself forgivenefs. Though he had been guilty of grofs and enormous crimes, (Such as we can none of us conceive Anchithanes to have ever been guilty of) yet, upon his forfaking them, his fight of and forrow for them, and a care to walk more uprightly for the future, together with a ferious and fteady dependence upon God's mercy, through the merits and interceffion of our bleffed Redeemer, God (d) Matth. xxv. 3, &c. (e) Ver. 24, 25.