quently seen at church, though not regular in their attendance there. They were welcome as companions in parties of pleasure, for they were always ready for anything in the way of amusement; but no one placed much confidence in them. One day Ruth was much struck by something Mr. Howard said in a sermon; I suppose it came particularly home to her, and made her think more seriously than she had ever done before. From that time, she began earnestly to seek the truth; and they who seek in earnest seldom fail to find. You may think what an advantage it must have been to be near Mr. Howard, always kind and ready to help persons in any difficulty. He soon observed that Ruth's attendance at church was more constant, and how very serious and attentive she had become, instead of the light, careless manner of behaviour she had before, when there. He took no notice at first; he waited till he saw that she was really improving, and felt sure that she would not take offence at having it observed. Then how seasonably were his words of advice spoken! How clearly and kindly he explained all the difficulties of her mind! This she often told me afterwards. Ruth's family laughed at her for becoming, as they in contempt called it, a saint; and many other things they said in ridicule. Her parents particularly took every opportunity of annoying her; but when they saw that she was a far more useful daughter at home than she had used to be that she was active, industrious, and willing to oblige them all whenever she could; when they found that though Ruth's voice was not as loud as formerly in any wild mirth, neither was it now raised in disputes and angry words, in which it had formerly been but too much heard ; when they found she was cheerful and patient when rebuked-they ceased to upbraid her for her religious whim, as they at first deridingly called it. Her brothers and sisters, finding they could not vex her, left off teazing her, and only wondered what could make Ruth, of all people, become so good-tempered. Afterwards, Ruth told me what a hard struggle it was, though at the time she never complained; and it was only by praying constantly and trusting in her Saviour to help her, that she was enabled to conquer herself. She did not take upon herself to dictate, advise, or censure her own family; but the influence of her gentleness, so different from what her disposition had formerly been, won upon them, and her good example was gradually followed by all of them, not excepting her parents." Jane. "That is being indeed a Christian! How happy she must have felt to have been the means of making religion so inviting to her family." Mary. "We learn from the Catechism that, besides honouring our parents, to order ourselves lowly and reverently to all our betters; to honour and obey the Queen, and all that are put in authority under her; to submit ourselves to all our governors, teachers, spiritual pastors and masters,' is also taught by the Fifth Commandment, not in the letter K only, but in the spirit; as we may deduce from the Gospels and Epistles, where the same obedience to all in authority is inculcated, our Saviour Himself setting us the example. He who placed the beings of His own creation in the high offices they filled, submitted to their authority while walking on earth as man. He paid the tribute money Himself,1 and enjoined others to pay it: 'Render unto Cæsar the things that are Cæsar's." We see that it is our duty to obey the Sovereign, from this and other passages which I am going to show you." 12 At Mary's suggestion, her cousins then read the following texts: "Fear God. Honour the King." "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers.' "Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work."5 "Submit yourselves to every ordi nance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be unto the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers, and for the praise of them that do well." Bessy. "I heard father say, the other day, that we have Scripture authority for obeying the Queen and the laws made by Parliament; And no hard matter either,' he said, 'as no tyrannical laws are in force now."" Mary. "No indeed. It would be impossible for but very wicked persons not to honour this ex any 1 Matt. xvii. 27. 4 Rom. xiii. 1. 2 Matt. xxii. 21. 3 1 Pet. ii. 17. 61 Pet. ii. 13, 14. cellent Queen, whom it has pleased God to place over this kingdom. Every loyal heart must wish and pray that it may please the Almighty long to preserve her on her throne, and to strengthen her to be the supporter and defender of His holy Church, which may be called the very heart of Britain. To it we owe reverence and love; and to the ministers of the Church respect and deference, as our spiritual pastors. We should esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake.' They are 'the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God,' 'ambassadors for Christ.' And St. Paul says, 'For this cause pay ye tribute also for they are God's ministers, attending continually on this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.' St. Paul also teaches the obedience of servants to their masters: Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as unto Christ; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.'5 And St. Peter, in the same spirit, Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward."" 6 4 Bessy. "I think I could more easily obey an illtempered, bad master or mistress, because one need 1 1 Thess. v. 13. 2 1 Cor. iv. 1. 3 2 Cor. v. 20. not expect them to be better than other people, than I could respect and submit to a spiritual pastor, who might not be a good man, for one does expect clergymen to be patterns to their flocks." Mary. "And so they are for the most part. Very unfortunate is it where it is not so. But we cannot, at least ought not, to expect any human being to be faultless; and if people would be more attentive to listen to and profit by what the ministers preach from the pulpit, instead of prying into and scanning the conduct of those ministers, we should all be better Christians, searching out our own faults, and endeavouring to amend them, rather than seeking for errors in others, especially those placed above us. St. Peter, threatening sinners with condemnation at the day of judgment, says, 'chiefly those that walk after the flesh, and despise governments. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.' The neglect of this injunction has made many more dissenters than any fault in the Church or its ministers. St. Paul says, 'The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.' Jane. "I heard father last week, in reply to a dissenting neighbour of ours, who was hoping the 'downfall of the Church might be near at hand, say very warmly, 'There is not a chance of it; it is firm in its foundation, for it is founded on the rock of 1 2 Pet. ii. 10. 2 2 Tim. iv. 3. |