lieve me, this same anticipation of evil is no Christian exercise; on the contrary, the Christian is required to rejoice evermore, in the full assurance that all that is, is right, and that everything which happens will sooner or later conduce to the glory of God, and that if some pains must be endured before a child of God is delivered from this present evil world, yet that strength will be given him according to his day. It is, then, a Christian's duty to enjoy the present, as far as is consistent with moderation, and to trust the future to Him "by whom all things were created that are in heaven and that are in earth, and by whom all things consistto Him by whom the Father hath reconciled all things unto himself, whether they be things in heaven or things on earth." (Colos. i.)

"Are you aware, sir," replied Henry, "of the force and extent of the passage you have just quoted ?"

"I think I am," said the old gentleman.

"But, sir," returned Henry, "does it not tend to carry us beyond anything which you have ever yet taught me ?"

"My dear Henry," replied Mr. Dalben, "it is a satisfaction to me that, through the infinite mercy of Almighty God, I have been so far led in the instructions which I have given you, as never to have kept back from you, even in your tenderest years, any doctrine of which I have myself been convinced: as soon as my own mind was made up on any point, no principle of expediency was ever permitted to influence me to keep my opinions back from you-for which glory be given to God. And

although one doctrine, viz. the doctrine of the millennium Sabbath, which I carefully impressed on your mind as a child, is not now held in the abhorrence it then was, yet those further lights which have arisen from the full acceptance of this, would, were I to instruct you in them, probably excite more anger in the professing world than even that did ten or fifteen years ago."

"But if you have more light, dear sir, wherefore do you not open it to me, according to your own principle?" asked Henry.

"Because" replied Mr. Dalben, "I require a little more time for consideration of the views which I think are expanding themselves to my apprehension. Though I cannot suppose that these views are deceitful, inasmuch as each ray of added illumination, as it bursts upon me, shows more and more of the excellency of the work of redemption by the God incarnate,-of the perfection of the divine attributes, of the agreement between justice and mercy,—and of the vileness, the nothingness, the absolute incapacity for all that is good in man: I cannot suppose that the lights which have been vouchsafed me are false, since they all tend to the magnifying of God in my eyes, and the compelling me to see my own littleness— views which are, and ever will be, totally averse to the pride of man, and wholly subversive of all human pretensions."

"Do you, then, uncle," said Henry," think you see more than you did some weeks since ?"

"I know not that I do," replied Mr. Dalben ; "and yet some passages of Scripture have

lately struck me in a new light to what they did only a little while ago; but be assured, my dear boy, that I shall always be open with you, and make you the confidant of any settled opinion of mine which I think worthy of your attention; though, as your mind matures, I shall be disposed rather to lead you to those processes of reasoning upon scripture, which have led me to my present way of thinking, (through divine favour,) by bringing these scriptures before you rather, I repeat, than by giving you the results of my sentiments upon these passages. Our time together may not now be long; at all events, it is probable that you may soon leave me for months at a time; let us, however, be thankful for the many peaceful hours we have already experienced together for the many days in which our steps have been led through green valleys and fair pastures, beside the waters of comfort; and let us not be the more rebellious when our bereavements take place, on account of the long continuance of our mercies. This, indeed, is a piece of ingratitude of which all men are guilty. We think not of the shadow of many days, perchance, which our gourds have given us, but when the worm has destroyed them, cry out with Jonah, It is better for us to die than to live."

Mr. Dalben then, leaving these subjects, began to talk of Lord H. and his family. He told Henry that that nobleman had two sons, the eldest at this time about eleven years of age, and that they were under the tuition of the son of an elder sister of their father. This

elder sister had married very early in life, and somewhat unfortunately as to money, though not otherwise, so that having been left a widow with one son, she had brought him up to the church; and her brother, seeing his deserts, and that the divine blessing had been abundantly poured out upon him, had not only given him a living, but had committed his two sons to his care. "But I should have told you that the late Lord H." continued Mr. Dalben," married twice; by his first lady he had the present Lord, and Lady Maria Falconer; by the second, another daughter, Lady Anne, who married a younger son of an earl, the Hon. Captain Sandys. She also became a widow whilst her two children, a son and a daughter, were in infancy. Captain Sandys' elder brother is dead within a few years, in consequence of which, her son, Alexander, is heir to his grandfather, who is a very old man. Lady Anne," added Mr. Dalben, “is a weak, vain woman, and a great trouble to her noble brother." Mr. Dalben further added, that it was probable that this lady and her daughter would be at Lord H.'s. after Christmas, but not the son, as he was then making the grand tour with his tutor. Neither was it probable that Lord H.'s sons would be at home, as it was the usual plan to have no winter vacation for them, but that they should always spend some months at Woodville in the summer, Lady Maria and Mr. Falconer being also of the party.

In order to finish the outline of the family history, Mr. Dalben informed Henry that Lady

H., who was the daughter of a baronet, had lately adopted two little children, the orphans of her only brother, Sir Edward Harlowe. Sir Edward's death had occurred immediately after the birth of his son, about three years before, and Lady Harlowe's within the last six months.

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"The eldest of these children," said Mr. Dalben, is a daughter, with whom I became acquainted on the continent, where poor Sir Edward had gone for his health. You will like little Lucilla, Henry," continued the old gentleman, "unless she is greatly changedshe is an elegant and holy child."

Henry was then told the name of Lord H.'s seat, and also that of the country in which it is situated-certain pieces of information which will not be given to the reader during the sequel of this history. The place will be called Woodville, and it must also be understood that it is a most magnificent and beautiful residence, respecting which Mr. Dalben added many particulars. As the carriage rolled on towards the metropolis, he spoke of several gentlemen's seats near Woodville-one especially, belonging to Mr. Howard, a gentleman of an old Roman Catholic family, the woods of which formed one mass with those of the Woodville estate,-another, at some distance, belonging to Mr. Clayton, senior, and that of the Appleby family, at an almost equal distance in a contrary direction.

"How singular it is," remarked Henry, "that there should be such a cluster of persons who are somehow connected with Clent Green,