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the house. Some very appropriate hymns were sung; an exhortation was given by Mr. Lovegood, principally upon the duties of the marriage state; while he still kept up his constant rule, never to expatiate upon moral duties, but upon gospel principles. Thus the writer concludes the present Dialogue, with an additional request to his young readers, that whenever they may be called in Providence into the marriage state, they would not forget at least to take this leaf out of his book; that their marriage may be conducted with the like solemnity, and equally in the fear of God.

'DIALOGUE XXXVI.

MR. LOVEGOOD, AND THE FAMILY OF THE
WORTHYS.

AN ACCOUNT OF THE MINISTERIAL CHARACTERS OF MR. DELIBERATE, AND MR. LEGAL-DEFINITION: TOGETHER WITH A FURTHER NARRATION OF THE AFFAIRS OF MRS. CHIPMAN AND THE RESULT OF MR. LOVEGOOD'S VISIT TO LOCKSBURY.

THE reader will remember, that he has been twice interrupted in the narration of the affairs of the unhappy Mrs. Chipman. It has been thought most advisable to attend to the chronology of events, rather than regularly to detail each subject by itself. Whatever is done by Providence, has in it abundantly more beauty of design, than that which is dressed by art. To refresh the reader's memory, he is requested to recollect the conclusion of Dialogue the Twenty-ninth: he will there find, that Mrs. Chipman was left perfectly deranged, in which state she continued for full six weeks.

After her recovery, she was still bent upon the idea, that she could never more make her appearance at Locksbury, where her conduct, as she conceived, had rendered her the object of universal disgust. She wished rather to keep a school where she was: but still the yearnings of a mother's bowels over the fatherless, and forsaken child would not suffer her to be happy, till she had it under her immediate care. However, Mr. Reader was as unwilling to part with his grand-child, as his daughter was to live without it; and other circumstances turning up in Providence, demanded that Mrs. Chipman should forego her feelings, and return to her na

tive home. Mr. Chipman had a younger brother; an attentive, decent young man. The neighbourhood advised that the business should not be dropped; and Mr. Reader agreed that the deceased brother's property should be continued in the business, provided his daughter, for the sake of the child, should be a partner in the concern. Matters being thus settled, she had no other alternative, than to leave Brookfield, and undertake the charge of the partnership assigned to her care.

Her father, therefore, wrote to her after her recovery, begging her to submit to the plan; persuading himself that their happiness with each other, being now founded on the solid basis of their union with Christ, and consequently on the best of principles, would be far superior to what can be enjoyed from mere natural affection, independent of the loving influences which are experienced in the hearts of all those, who "love the Lord Jesus in sincerity."

Mr. Reader at the same time strongly urged, that Mr. Lovegood should attend her, in order that he might accept Mr. Fribble's offer of the pulpit, that his neighbours might have an opportunity of hearing the same glorious truths, whereby such wonders of grace had been felt, not only on the hearts of his daughter and her husband, but he humbly trusted on his own heart also. Mr. Worthy was equally desirous that Mr. Lovegood should attend the call, though his congregation at all times parted with him with much regret: while Mr. Lovegood felt himself more at liberty to make a second excursion, though so speedily after the former, under the consideration that a serious clergyman, Mr. Deliberate, was then upon a visit in that neighbourhood. Perceiving, therefore, that he should not leave his beloved flock under the care of Mr. John Nokes, or Mr. Thomas Styles, provided he was but in holy orders; he concluded it was again the call of Providence, that he should make his second ex

cursion from his congregation and family. He allowed himself only one Sunday's absence for this journey. From this, his domestic disposition, many have lamented that one of the best of ministers has been prevented from shining among others, equal to the full lustre of that character, which he ever appeared to possess, in the retired situation he filled with such dignity and devotedness of heart. Matters being thus settled, Mrs. Chipman, with many tears and the strongest expressions of gratitude and thankfulness to her kind benefactors, departed from Brookfield, in one of the stages which goes within a short distance of Locksbury, attended by Mr. Lovegood-giving leave for Mr. Spiteful to say, that Lovegood had left the country, and was gone nobody knew were, with the woman he had so marvellously converted: insinuating much by saying little. Such were the speeches of this wretched creature; himself being such a miserable composition of jealousy, craft, and spleen.

Mr. Lovegood's journey, to and from Locksbury, occupied nearly a fortnight of his time. The reader shall be acquainted with the result of this visit, in the conversation which took place between him and the family of the Worthys at Brookfield Hall, on his return on the Saturday afternoon.

Wor. Well, Sir, we are glad to see you home again, though we had two very judicious sermons from Mr. Deliberate: He is a serious and solid divine, yet I wish he was not so dry and formal.

'Mrs. Wor. His sermons may be good but I cannot admire for myself, such a formal, cold, systematic method of preaching.

Loveg. Mr. Deliberate is an excellent chamber divine, if I may so speak, and capable of writing good sound

lectures in divinity; but that which is delivered with greater, simplicity, and which comes more to the point, so as to reach the conscience, certainly does most good.

Wor. I confess that the heart should be affected, as well as the head instructed: our affections should be enlivened, while our judgments are enlightened; though Mr. Deliberate is certainly a man of a very deep understanding.

Mrs. Wor. My dear, I do not pretend to be a judge of the depth of his understanding; but it appeared to me, that though the people continued gaping at him through half his sermon, yet, before he concluded, some of the congregation seemed to be half asleep.

Wor. They are certainly the most useful preachers who can argue and deal with the people in a warm, lively, animated manner, as if in personal conversation with them, and then apply it to the heart. Long deduced arguments are sure to lose their force before they are half.concluded.

Loveg. Mr. Deliberate however has his admirers; he is highly in the esteem of Mr. Considerate for his strong and correct mind, and judicious remarks: he has taken down many of his wise observations.

Wor. Yes, but how many are there of Mr. Considerate's argumentative turn of mind who come to Brookfield Church; when good honest Mr. Slapdash comes among us, we are all alive.

Loveg. Ah! good Mr. Slapdash! I wish I had half his animation and zeal. It is astonishing that one of such a rapid turn of mind, should still be so guarded and correct if ever by the sprightliness of his imagination he excites a smile of approbation without the least degree of levity he knows how very soon afterwards to excite a tear. Dear man! though our dispositions are so various, I love him cordially; he is so correct and good.

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