to the same point again-the Bible, nothing but the Bible.

How. Yes, dear Conway; the revelation from God, and nothing but that, to inform us of what we cannot otherwise know, is, I confess, my only guide in finding truth respecting God, and our relation to him.

Con. Well, my friend, I think I am now master of that part of your ereed. I beg I may not interrupt your mind's history any farther.

How. I struggled hard, Conway, to obey those laws of God, which in my conscience, and soul, and heart, I approved of as altogether good and right. You have only heard truth respecting my attempts to worship God in my family. I did determine, that whatever others did, I and my house would serve the Lord.' I had been loved and honoured by them as their head and guide in earthly things, and I resolved, late as it was in my course, to attempt to fulfil

my duty as their parent and master in heavenly things. As soon as I was able to join my family, I plainly told them the truth, that I had before neglected my duty, from having been most blameably ignorant on the subject. I laid down rules, to which I intended they should conform; and gave my domestics a fortnight to think on the subject, promising to those who disliked the strictness of my plans, characters as faithful servants to an earthly master, and remuneration for sudden dismissal, but positively making it a condition, that no servant should remain under my roof, who did not strictly conform to my regulations.

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Con. And what were those regulations ?

How It would be tedious to mention them in detail, but the amount of them was, that all should keep regular hours, and meet me at prayers morning and evening,-that perfect tem

perance and order should reign in every department, and that the Sabbath should be kept to the letter of the commandment, as explained by Christ. In so doing, my dear Conway, it was impossible to avoid being singular; I am, therefore, not the least surprised at your having heard that I was so.

Con. But why such sudden extremes, Howard? Why not adopt gradually, and shall I say unostentatiously, such revolting singularity?

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How. Those impressions of unseen things, Conway, which you consider as visionary, were too powerfully present to my mind, to suffer me to shrink from plain duty from the dread of ridicule or contempt. I knew I should provoke both; but, when compared to the displeasure or approbation of God, they were nothing to me.

Con. And yet your conscience was unsatisfied?

How. It was, because I attempted in

this way to make out a righteousness, in which I might appear with an expectation of everlasting reward at the bar of God.

A firm belief of the scripturedoctrine, that I should appear there, to give account of the deeds done in the body,' led me, at the close of day after day, to examine by the test of scripture, and with an anxiety proportioned to the clearness with which I at the time viewed the importance of the result, whether I had indeed fulfilled what I considered to be the conditions of acceptance with God; and the examination of the conduct of each day proved to me, that I had come short in every particular, and that there was a mixture of some unholy principle in all my thoughts, words, and actions. When we attempt, in this sincere manner, to obey God, we find, Conway, that his commandment is' indeed. 'exceeding broad,' and his word pure, -pure as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.'

Con. But, my dear Howard, do not even the strictest religionists allow that it will be by the sincerity, not by the perfection of our obedience, that we shall be judged at the last day?

How. No, Conway; that is one of those glosses in explaining scripture of which I spoke, and one which has completely established itself as an undeniable religious truth, while there is not a shadow of ground for it in the Bible. Can you, Conway, recollect any passage in scripture, which implies that our omniscient Judge will accept of a sincere but unsuccessful attempt to obey, in the place of exact obedience?

Con. Does not Christ himself make an excuse for his disciples, when, instead of watching with him, as he had requested in his hour of agony, they fell asleep? He said, in pity of their weakness, and aware of their sincerity,

The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.' I have always admired