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Demas, where it is stated in the same passage that it had been the cause of his apostacy.

Demas hath

forsaken me, having loved this present world.'* And remember also what our Lord declared of such individuals, that no man, having put his hand to the gospel plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.'"+

heart, and was

The quotation of this passage made Henry start, as if he had never heard it before. The truth was, he had heard it indeed with his outward ears, but its force, and self-application, was quite new to him. He felt that he had undertaken to guide the gospel plough, and was unfit for the trust. His friend perceived the blow had reached his silent, lest the impression might be weakened by human attempts to make it stronger. But he walked on silently beside him, earnestly beseeching the Lord, the giver of every good and perfect gift, to shine forth with his awakening light on young Henry's understanding, to make him fully sensible of the plague of his fallen nature, and the insufficiency of every step which could be taken, till his soul was new created from above.

* 2 Tim. iv. 10.

+ Luke ix. 22.

40

CHAPTER III.

"We glorify God, both by conforming our conduct to His character and pleasure, and by exhibiting this conformity to the view of our fellow men."-DWIGHT.

IT is not an easy thing to know the human heart. Truly it is said to be deceitful above all things, for those who suspect its deceptions least, are most generally under a dangerous influence. Henry Villeroi had learned, from a child, to consider himself a depraved and fallen being, in common with the rest of the human race; yet, strange to say, he made no personal application of this broad principle; he never laid it home to his heart in such a manner as to bring self-conviction with it; and the consequence was, that he had a name to live, and even supposed himself to be a living believer, while he was dead. It is true he had been so carefully educated as to be preserved, in a great measure, from evil example. He had never been sent to a public school, but had been instructed at home, under the eye of his father,

by a careful and discreet tutor; his associates had also been selected with great care, and the habits of his father's family were such, as to expose him very little to the contagion of either wickedness or frivolity. Nevertheless, all these circumstances had only affected the outward man, and given him a certain favorable bias towards serious subjects, but they had not extinguished the propensities of an evil nature, nor implanted a heavenly mind. Henry did not sigh for the theatre or the ball-room, because he knew not any one who frequented them; nor did he regret the want of an enjoyment, which his igno-. rance prevented him from estimating. He knew nothing of field sports, or games of hazard, and, therefore, no one ever saw him interested in either; but those who supposed he refrained from principle, were under a mistake. He had been used to pleasures of a more innocent and simple kind; his excursions had been always taken in company with his own family. He and his sisters possessed beautiful little ponies, on which they were accustomed to ride; his father had a small pleasure-boat, in which the family used to enjoy the sea in fine weather, and sometimes make little trips to Blackgang Chine, or Brading, in the Isle of Wight; and when the weather was less favorable, or the family more gravely disposed, they used to enjoy themselves in their own delightful home, with books, drawings, conversation, or music, as the case might be. Henry, therefore, had never felt the want of excitements, and these being of a harmless nature, the

deep pool of sin lay undisturbed at the bottom of his soul, its upper surface being smooth and glassy, scarcely ruffled by a single breeze. But the time was now arrived in which this deadly stillness was to be disturbed, and Henry was to find out the sad truth, that the work of the new birth was yet to be performed within him. The conversation related in the last chapter was the means of making a considerable impression; the more he inquired into the state of his motives and feelings, the less calculated he felt himself to be, for the momentous duty he had so thoughtlessly undertaken; and he now proposed throwing up the plan altogether, as a person unfit and unworthy of such an office. Leighton perceiving that this not unusual effect in youth, of flying to an opposite extreme, when disappointed in some scheme of imagination, would be very injurious to Henry, attempted to reason mildly with him, and to urge the better plan, of not relinquishing his first object, but of endeavouring to make himself more fit for its responsibilities; he pressed upon his attention the high and blessed opportunities he now enjoyed, of devoting himself, body and soul to the Lord; he reminded him of the promises made to those who had no strength, and his duty, in seeking the Divine influence, upon his heart, to renew within him those powers, which would enable him to glorify the Lord Jesus, and be his faithful disciple. "Turn not away, dear Henry," said his friend, "for the Lord may have called you to be a teacher of his gospel, as assuredly he has

called you to give him your whole heart. Decide not, therefore, as to whither you will direct your future steps, till you have put yourself completely under his divine guidance, and then you will find your path made clear, and your doubts and difficulties all removed."

A short time after this conversation, Leighton invited his young friend to accompany him on a visit to his father, who was the rector of a small parish in the northern part of Hampshire. He had farther objects in view than the mere present gratification, or entertainment of his friend, as will appear when we are introduced to the family circle at Lilybrook rectory. Henry accepted the invitation with pleasure, as he was attached to Leighton, and anticipated, with harmless animation, much delight in joining the social circle, in which he expected to find every member as truly amiable and pleasing as Theophilus. Mr. and Mrs. Villeroi were also pleased to see the intimacy deepening between their son and his friend, as they were sensible of the steady, enlightened, and devoted character of the latter, and hoped that his superior principles and conduct would help to confirm in wisdom's ways, the light step of their interesting but versatile boy.

Summer was advanced to its prime when Henry and Leighton set off on their visit to the rectory. A few hours' drive brought them to the entrance of the village, which was situated in a pretty, retired part of the country, shrouded with large trees, and chiefly inhabited by peasantry; the entrance to the

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