Circumstances which happened upon his arrival at
Home.

AFTER a fatiguing journey I arrived at Dover, from whence I wrote to my father, specifying the day I expected to reach home. Upon my arrival, my friends came all around me, expressing the greatest happiness at seeing me again. In an hour or two a large company assembled to dinner according to my father's invitation, and the evening was spent in feasting and dancing.

Next morning at breakfast, I took the opportunity, when all our family were present to tell my father I was become a Christian. When were you otherwise? said he; I got you baptized before you were a week old. No matter, I was not a Christian till about the latter end of last year. What! are not we all Christians? It is since I left home, for there surely was not one under this roof when I left it. Do you not think me a Christian, said my father, very tenderly

and lovingly. O no, father, I do not. If I had, I should not have left Switzerland so soon; but being afraid you might die in your present deplorable situation, I hastened home to warn you of your danger, and point out to you the only way of escape. Pray, said he, point out a more charitable man in the country than I am; I am sure you cannot. Father, pride, or mere humanity, or a desire to recommend one's self to the favour of God, may prompt a man to all that you do. But that is not all the religion of the Bible. You are conscious yourself, that there never was a Christian conversation at your table. Was the grace, compassion, or tender mercy of God, ever the topic of our table talk? Did we ever converse of the glory, righteousness, or kingdom of Jesus Christ? Never, never. If any of us had been Christians, we must have spoken about Christ. Not that the mere act of speaking about Jesus makes us Christians, but a disposition to do it, and delight in it, shews that we are his disciples.

I do not well understand you John; define to me a Christian according to your standard. The Bible, father, is the standard of character; it is written by the God of truth; and that book expressly asserts, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God; also, if any man be in Christ he is a new creature; that it is not by works of righteousness which we have done, but of God's own mercy he saves us, by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Spirit. The Scriptures assure us, that the natural man is full of enmity, in his heart, against God, that he does not consider himself subject to God's authority. Well, (said my father,) I consider myself subject to God's law, that God has a right to be my law-giver. Father, I hardly ever heard of your consulting God's law to know whether a thing was sin or duty, but you generally

consulted your own inclination, pleasure and interest. For instance, you do not worship God in your family, you associate with drunkards and swearers, and all the gay and foolish people about the country spend whole days in your house; if you knew and loved God, you would have no taste for their trifling tittle tattle. John, said he, you know but little of the world yet, or you would see a necessity for keeping up a connection with our neighbours. Father, God assures us, (James iv. 4.) that the friendship of the world is enmity against God, and that if any man will be the friend of worldly people he is the enemy of God. Would it not look very ill, if this country was at war with France, and you were seen walking continually with Frenchmen, and making them your bosom friends? would there not be reason to suspect your loyalty? Just so unholy people are in actual rebellion against the God of heaven, they will not have Jesus the Son of God to reign over them. Is it possible, then, that a man possessing superlative love to Jesus (which every Christian ought to possess) can prefer the company of his enemies to that of his friends? It is not possible.

But, John, you are very uncharitable. No, father, it is no breach of charity to judge men by their works, by the evidence they give of what they are, and whom they serve. When I see a black man, I conclude at once that he is an African, or descended from Africans. When I see a swearer or a drunkard I have equal, yea, more, and better grounds to go upon, to conclude that he is an enemy to God; for no such man can belong to be kingdom of God.

A COMPANY came to sup with us in the evening, to whom my father related the substance of our morning's conversation. They appeared quite astonished that one who had seen so much of the world as I had, should be taking up his head with such things. They warned me lest I should turn out a disgrace to the family. Then they attempted to turn all into ridicule, and would not allow themselves to think I was serious. Every person present had some ludicrous story to tell about methodism or enthusiasm. At the conclusion, they hinted that they had hardly ever seen a person attached to such principles, as they understood I maintained, who was not verging on insanity.

Upon this, I begged the indulgence of the company for a few minutes, as I had listened to all they had to say. This being granted, and a general silence obtained,. I assured them I never was more collected in mind than at present, nor less tinctured with enthusiasm, nor more open to conviction; that I could bear contradiction from a child, if it could throw light. upon truth. But hear me, Mr. Boyle, addressing myself to the oldest person present, I believe that all of us are the workmanship of God, and that he had some object in view in making us. I believe the Scriptures alone can give us information on that point. I perceive that very few consult that book for such information. I was long amongst this class, living to myself, without considering whether I was pleasing God or the devil. At last a certain occurrence led me to peruse the Bible with considerable attention. There I discovered that man was ruined, and without obtaining an interest in redemption, he must be ruined for ever. This discovery created immense uneasiness in my mind, which continued for some time, till I believed in the Son of God for the remission of my sins; this was succeeded by a serenity, a peace of mind which passes all understanding. When I came to believe that God loved me, that his Son laid down his life for me, was it not natural for me to inquire what kind of a life God wished me to live? I found that the life I was accustomed to live, and which most of this company live, was abominable in his sight. Indeed it appeared mean and contemptible in my own opinion, unworthy an immortal creature.Here I was stopped by the gentleman to whom I addressed myself saying that I insulted the company.