that he had gone with Nework unwillingly, and that Nework carried the gun on quitting the house. The Squire's servant swore, that though he was so far behind, having stopped to pick a stone out of his horse's foot, and though Nework was so hid behind a bush that he could not see him whilst he was talking with his master, yet he could see Gudgeon plainly, and could make oath, that he had no gun in his hands till after the shot was fired from the bush where Nework stood. It was proved also, that Gudgeon had often said, that Nework wanted him to do some mischief to Squire Oldcastle, but that he would not consent to it.

Nework endeavoured to throw all the blame on Gudgeon; appealed to the witness of Goodman, that the gun was in Gudgeon's hands when he saw him; asserted that his having been employed by Gudgeon to take only one place in the ship for America, proved who was afraid of staying in England. But this Gudgeon denied, and said that it was a trick of Nework's to get rid of him; he had always thought that Nework took three places in the vessel.

When they came to examine witnesses as to character, those of Nework were so few and so contradictory, and his letter to Gudgeon spoke so clearly against him, that every one was satisfied of his treachery and guilt.

The Jury, after consulting for half an hour, brought in a verdict of guilty against Nework, and acquitted Gudgeon. The charge of the

judge to the prisoners deserves to be long remembered.

You, Thomas Nework, stand here a miserable instance, that great talents will seldom conceal crimes, or protect a man against justice; for sooner or later guilt will be discovered even in this world. You have employed as much art and ability in this wicked action, as might have got you honour and riches, had they been employed in honest endeavours. But it appears from your whole conduct that you hoped to benefit yourself by cunning, treachery, and wickedness, and have neglected the straight plain path of honesty, uprightness, and religion. You see to what such conduct leads in this world; learn now, if you are ignorant of it, that hereafter as well as here, the paths of wickedness lead to misery.

You, James Gudgeon, have put yourself under heavy suspicion and into great danger, by keeping company with wicked and violent men. You now see what is the end of violent feelings and wicked conduct in another, and you must feel that your character has been injured, and your life endangered, by these evil courses. Take warning, whatever irreligious and violent men may say, the only way to be happy is to live according to the laws of God, and to bear with patience those evils, which it is not in our power to mend.

It only remains that I pass the sentence of the law upon you, Thomas Nework, which is, that you shall be carried to the place from

whence you came, and from thence to the place of execution, where you shall be hanged till you are dead, dead, dead; and the Lord have mercy on your soul.

We will only add concerning Nework, that he preserved his impenitent hardness of heart to the last. At the very moment that the executioner was tying the fatal noose, which was to end his existence in this world, he said with a laugh to one of his friends, "Now in ten minutes I shall know whether there is a future state or not.'

Yes, said the Clergyman, you will know indeed, but your state will then be fixed: if, as I believe most firmly, there is a state in which God's rational creatures shall give account how they have used their reason, I tremble to think of your fate: but even if there be no future state, and if you who have reason will die for ever like the brute beasts, still your vices have inade you unhappy in this world, and have brought you to a miserable and untimely end.

This thought seemed when it was too late to strike the unhappy man. "I almost wish," he said, "that I had time to think more on this subject. It is true that I have not been happy in this world; and that seems some proof: but it is too late; I will not die like a coward to be laughed at. And with this foolish speech, in which he shewed more care for the opinion of men, than for the welfare of his own soul; inore cowardly dread of being laughed at by man, than reasonable fear of God; more foolish boast

ing, than true courage; he gave the signal, and was launched into eternity. "O that he could come back, and tell us what is his fate," said one of his old companions. No, said Goodman, ye have Moses and the Prophets; if ye hear not them, neither would you be persuaded though one rose from the dead.

CHAP. VI.

Happy are those who, having found by experience that vice produces misery, learn to act rightly.

THOSE persons who talk of man as if he were only a brute animal, forget that he has reason which knows right from wrong, and which enables him to learn much of the will of his Creator, and obey it if he chooses. Those things the brutes have not.

Those persons who say that man would be happy if he were to be left to his passions and feelings alone, just as brute animals are, speak both foolishly and wickedly. The youngest animal has an instinct which tells it how to take care of itself. A bird will choose such food as is good for it; it will leave a country at the right time of year, when cold weather is coming on; it will choose a proper place for its nest; it will build it in the most wonderful manner. But what can man do of all this? He must be taught every thing that is necessary for his good, before he can practise it. Let us not say then, that he will be happy if he lives according to his passions and feelings.

But if God has not given to men such strong instinct as he has given to the brutes, he has given him something far better. He has given him a rule of life in the holy Scriptures, which