LETTER XVIII.

From Mrs. Worthington to Miss Eusebia Neville.

MY DEAR MISS NEVILLE,

YOUR letters came to hand, as did also those of my niece. I have, I thank God, been pretty well; but the loss which I have so unexpectedly sustained has fluttered my spirits, and rather indisposed me for writing, which is the only reason you have not heard from me before.

My dear children, I have been reading again your five letters, and wish to say a great deal in answer; but I cannot write a long letter at present. Let me not omit, however, to tell my dear niece, that the person her father has pointed out to her for a husband, notwithstanding his riches, is by no means qualified for that relation; and that I am glad to find she has given him such a peremptory denial. If indeed what either of you said has had a good effect on him, as his father has intimated, there is no doubt but she will have his company again: if not, she is better without him. There are many instances where God makes such persons monuments of his mercy; but, generally speaking, I believe the most High chooses the vessels he intends for his heavenly temple from the families of his servants. When he acts differently, there is singular reason to adore his goodness; and I have observed, that such persons, generally speaking, have a deeper sense of his distinguishing mercy than others. This was remarkably the case with the apostle Paul; who, though religiously educated, yet, on account of his having persecuted Christ in his members, was ever after filled with self-abasement. That abiding sense which he had of God's electing love is conspicuous in almost every page of his writings.

To take irreligious husbands or wives, and trust to what God may afterwards do, is highly presumptuous. The world, our own innate depravity, and the wicked spirit, will be continually hindering us in our pilgrimage to the heavenly Canaan: and be assured, my dear friend, we shall all find in the way difficulties sufficiently numerous, without adding to their number by our imprudence. sides, if we are sincere in our prayers, that God would

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deliver us from temptations, or trials, we shall endeavour to avoid them as much as lies in our power.

In the choice of our occupations, of our acquaintance, of the place where we worship God, and especially of so near a friend as a husband, it should be our earnest desire that God may be glorified, which he will be if the good of our own souls is promoted. No part of our conduct in relation to these things ought to be passed over with inattention. It becomes us to honour God respecting our time, our houses, our furniture, our dress, our food, and our expenses of every kind. My children, there are no little sins: the least can only be expiated by the blood of Christ. We can be at no loss how to act in every sta tion of life, if we are willing to regulate our conduct by God's word. I am pleased with your telling me in what manner you dress your heads. Let the world laugh on. The holy Spirit has not neglected to inform us in what manner women professing godliness ought to adorn themselves. Whose adorning, says the apostle Peter, let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, or of wearing of god, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. This ornament is not only valuable in the sight of God, but it will make us far more esteemed by our fellow-mortals than that levity in dress which characterizes the women of the present day. When I say esteemed by our fellow-mortals, I mean the wise and valuable part of them, whose good opinion alone can be an honour to us. With regard to the world, let us do nothing intentionally to offend them: at the same time I would not go one step out of my road to heaven to oblige them.

I am pleased with the easy, yet effectual method which you took to silence the clamours of infidelity. Mr. Clifford thought the wicked lives of pretended Christians an unanswerable objection against Christianity itself; not considering that none are in reality Christians, but they who walk in measure as Christ walked. The argument taken from the harmony among the different nations and sects of pagans (which Mr. Clifford told you was so great as even to extend to the worshipping of each other's gods) only proves that they were all under the dominion of Satan, and that his kingdom was not divided against itself. When

one arose among them who taught the unity of the divine Being, and the immortality of the soul, which spark of light he most probably had struck from divine revelation, we find them not so complaisant to him. The inoffensive Socrates is first held up to ridicule by Aristophanes, (the Foote of Athens,) and then condemned to death by his fellow-citizens, for teaching what our modern deists would persuade us the light of nature teaches every man. Some of the heathens, indeed, were less addicted to vice than others; but the best of them were very wicked, and the worst were bad beyond any description. Thousands of gladiators were slain in their public shows; and they also beheld with pleasure their fellow-creatures engaged in combat with lions and tigers, to make them sport, though it was done always at the extreme hazard, and frequently with the loss of their lives. Time, indeed, would fail me were I to enumerate one half of the crimes commonly practised by those who, either through their own impiety, or that of their ancestors, had lost the knowledge of the true God.

Infidels very frequently, and very ignorantly, ask What is the difference whether we worship the supreme Being, under the name of Jupiter or Jehovah, or any other appellation which different ages and nations may have thought fit to adopt? They seem not to know that the Gentiles attributed such characters to their gods, and worshipped them with such rites, as are shocking to humanity. By some the grossest obscenities were practised; others, devesting themselves of that tenderness which the brute creation show to their young, sacrificed their children to Saturn, inclosing them in a brazen statue, and causing them to perish in the midst of the fire. They who prefer, or even equal any other religion to Christianity, either betray their own ignorance, or manifest that Satan has filled their minds with so much malevolence against its author, who is love itself, that they quarrel with the sunshine, and take pains to shut out the light.

The religion of Jesus Christ contains the most excellent system of morality that ever appeared. Where it has had its due influence on the minds of men, it has caused them to be a blessing to every society and family to which they belonged: and, through the providence of God, in those countries which are called Christian, the very fear

that after all it might prove true has been such a restraint upon the inhabitants, that they have dreaded to run into those excesses they would have otherwise committed: so that Christianity, in every view of it, has been greatly instrumental in both the civilization and reformation of mankind. And I am persuaded that mere nominal Christians would not suffer by an impartial comparison with pagans and Mahometans; those of them perhaps excepted who have made a trade of religion, and have used it as a steppingstone to wealth and power. These are the men who are chiefly answerable for all the cruelties and murders which have been perpetrated in the name of the Prince of Peace, and (as they would insinuate) in support of his authority. The scandalous lives of such persons have been a bar to the reformation of mankind, and the principal medium by which infidels have thrown an odium upon our most excellent religion.

I quite approve of the arguments made use of by my niece against Mr. Law. He could say very little in behalf of his national church: and indeed where truth is not on our side, our arguments naturally move on very slowly. But I dare say he will console himself with the consideration, that his income has not been lessened by any thing which has been said. That gentleman, speaking to me once about my being a dissenter, remarked, that if he were in France he should choose to conform to the national religion for undoubtedly, added he, the church of Rome is the mother church. I must not, however, omit, that he said he did not approve of transubstantiation, and a few other things. Indeed it is my opinion that if popery were to be established by act of parliament, the great majority of both priests and people would go back very tractably to Rome for those who have been brought to bow toward the east, and at the name of Jesus; to kneel before what is called the alter; and to suppose that days set apart by fallible men are holy on that account; might with little trouble be made very good catholics.

I have reserved to the last the consideration of Mr. Barnwell's intended marriage, because I thought it possible that I might otherwise fill my paper with that disagreeable subject. Such unnatural marriages are generally unhappy. He cannot suppose that Miss Pink would have him if she had a fortune. It cannot be doubted that

her views are mercenary. But it will be in vain for my niece to say any thing to her father: he will not bear contradiction. I fear she will have but little comfort at home after her father is married. It is evident he only wants her to be married, in order that his house may be more at liberty to receive his new wife. Well, she will be welcome to live with me. The little I have left, with economy and a thankful heart, is sufficient to make us very comfortable, Instead of thinking with dissatisfaction, that there are others in more exalted stations, it becomes us to consider how many millions there are in a much worse condition than ourselves. Numberless are the calamities from which, through the kind providence of God, we are exempted. How many do we see with emaciated constitutions, or in want of the necessaries of life, or blind, or lame! Sometimes a variety of evils afflict the same person, How many also in affluent circumstances are suffering from drunken, cruel, or unchaste husbands; or from equally bad wives; or undutiful children; or from their own ignorance of God, and of eternal life by Jesus Christ, which, though they feel it not, is worse than all the other calamities put together! As Christians, therefore, we never can be in such circumstances in this world as to have reason to complain.

With regard to you, my dear child, I advise you to do as you intend. I have no doubt but your father will be exceedingly exasperated: it becomes us, however, at all times, to do that which is right, and to leave the event with God. If I can be of any assistance to you, nothing shall be wanting that I can perform. It is not impossible that you may be utterly rejected and abandoned by your parent in such case you are welcome to partake with me of my pittance. Remember, my dear friend, how many thousands have suffered the loss of their goods, of their liberty, and even of their lives, rather than make shipwreck of faith and a good conscience.

I shall direct this letter to you; but my dear neice must consider it as equally intended for her. My prayers are continually offered up for you both, that the Shepherd of Israel may watch over you for good.

I am, my dear young friend,

Yours very sincerely,

MARY WORTHINGTON.