" I

visit, the friends rode over to him, and told him the whole of this horrible case, and asked his opinion. cannot give a decided opinion," said this judicious divine, "unless I myself should see the persons, and make my own observations. I understand it has made a great noise all round the neighbourhood, and there are some things, I understand, of a suspicious character in the persons themselves, young as they are; but I think that demoniacal possession is more frequent than is generally supposed; and some cases of epilepsy, lunacy, and madness, which frequently perplex the physician, may, I think, be explained on the supposition of demoniacal agency. I am of the same opinion as good old Mr. Newton, Rector of St. Mary Woolnoth, London, that the human mind is like a piano-forte, of which the Deity holds the key, and if the Divine Sovereign pleases to leave it unlocked, the devil may strum upon it as well as any one else! Before our Lord's coming, and at the time of his appearance, demoniacal possession was by no means uncommon; and one great benefit which he conferred upon the world was, to deliver the children of men from the personal agency of their great adversary over their bodily frames. As he went about doing good, he often put forth his divine power in dispossessing human beings of this malignant spirit; but if he permits the devil to have power, who can say but that this tremendous enemy may have access to our minds and bodies again; but our consolation is, that he can exert his power only as far as God permits; and that when he pleases, that agency will cease. It should teach us, however, to fear offending God, and departing from the faith and practice of the gospel, lest he should commission this evil spirit to harass us both in mind and body. The apostles formerly delivered over certain

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offenders, by the judgment of God, to Satan, to be corrected and punished, that they might be restored, and fear to offend again. I have delivered such an one unto Satan,' said St. Paul,' that he may learn not to blaspheme.""

The friends, taking leave of Mr. Scott, now mounted their horses, and in a few hours arrived at Landham. Mr. Ruby was smoking his pipe, after a cup of tea, at Charles's father's. They related the circumstances, and Mr. Ruby was of the same opinion with Mr. Scott; yet, he said, he thought a little time would shed a light upon the subject; that the people were fond of the marvellous ; and that the dissenters, with whose communion he understood these young girls were connected, too often made the most of such occurrences to excite attention and increase their party; and that he should not wonder, if, after a little, the whole would appear as ridiculous as the world in general treated it. That he had been solicited to go and see them, and attempt something, but he did not choose to risk his credit upon such an errand, nor to give more occasion to the world to pour contempt upon religion, through his appearing to believe such incredible tales.

Little was it thought, at that period, that church people, and some of the clergy, would deal as largely in the marvellous, and countenance the tales of miraculous cures and the gift of tongues and prophecies.

Mrs. Guest, Charles's sister, now observed, that the young girls had been religious characters, and that they seemed to desire deliverance, but their case, she understood, was like that of Esau, who could not obtain the blessing, though he sought it carefully with tears. She added, too, that this passage seemed very discouraging to

humble, timid minds, who trembled lest they should fall away, and bring a disgrace upon their profession of religion, and never be restored to God.

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Yes," said Ruby; "but stay, let us look at the passage, and see if it warrants the conclusion. The blessing Esau sought was the blessing of his father to the firstborn; now he had absolutely sold it to his brother for a mess of pottage; he had rested content without it for forty years, and thought little of its value and importance; but at last, when Isaac was about to bestow the blessing before he left the world, he repented his bargain, and though he had despised it and sold it, and had taken the stipulated price of it, he wished to possess it himself. Now this was unfair and unjust; and, besides, God had resolved, at Jacob's birth, to give the blessing to the younger. And when the patriarch had unconsiously bestowed it, his mind seemed to be opened to view the original purpose of God, and to recollect the oracle which had been delivered eighty years before, and then he acquiesced in the sovereign pleasure of God. It was impossible to overthrow the divine decree, and it was unjust for Esau to retain an honour and a privilege which he had voluntarily surrendered at a stipulated price; it was right and proper, therefore, that he should not regain this forfeited blessing, which had been already bestowed on another, though he sought it carefully with tears.' But this is no argument that should discourage the sincere penitent. God's spiritual blessings are freely offered to all; they are not confined, as Isaac's blessing was, to one individual; and it is never too late to seek the blessing of our heavenly Father. Whosoever will, may come and take this freely.' The best of men may sin. Abraham sinned, Isaac sinned, Rebecca sinned, in not openly pleading the divine promise, which doubtless would have

disposed Isaac as willingly to bestow the blessing, as he was resolute not to revoke it. But though his people sin, God is always willing to pardon them when they truly repent, and seek his mercy through the merits of his beloved Son, our Lord. And the blessing of God was never yet sought carefully with tears,' but it was bestowed; and therefore no humble, penitent, believing soul need ever to be discouraged by any passage of the word of God, if properly examined and compared with the whole tenor of the gospel of peace."

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CHAPTER XXXI.

THE MUSICAL PARTY ON CLEAR CROSS HILL.

CHARLES saw, to his surprise, in a few days, Mr. Hadley come down to pay his country friends a visit, accompanied by two of his daughters. The tidings of his visit was soon spread through the neighbourhood, and every one entertained the most lively expectations of something delightful, improving, and entertaining, as the consequence of the arrival of one so generally beloved and respected, during his residence a few years amongst them.

After several meetings at the farmers around, whose parlours successively resounded with the sacred songs of heavenly melody, it was proposed to pay the annual visit to the Clear Cross Hill, and sing the favourite hymns. Carts and waggons were accordingly put into requisition at an early hour, the dinners of cold meat packed up, and every countenance beamed with light and gladness. The cavalcade grew larger as it proceeded, till at length the hill was covered, as though at a public fair. It was evident that the attraction had drawn together many who would have preferred the songs of Bacchus to those of Messiah. However, they all behaved with decent order, and paid great attention to the sacred music. And now the people, in large multitudes, surrounded the singers, or walked in the groves and alleys green, listening to the strain