them. What proof have we that sacraments administered by unordained persons are not a mere mockery, and incapable of conveying grace ? And if so, how can the Dissenter be sure that he has ever been baptized, or ever really partaken of the body and blood of Christ, without which there is no life in him? Let the Dissenter well consider whether the separation from the Church, of which he thinks so lightly, may not place him in a most awful and perilous position.

CHAPTER IV.

Change of Principle brings with it a change of Associates.

Lay aside

That right-asserting attitude of soul,

Ere in the Christian temple thou abide;

Where he who dwells must dwell on bended knees,
From his own merits praying to be free.

The Cathedral.

NOT a word of the conversation recorded in the last chapter was lost upon little Charles Lever, who sat on a stool before the fire while his parents were discussing the propriety of separation from the Church.

Charles Lever was a quick intelligent lad, inheriting much of his mother's amiableness and strong feeling, but crossed with the dogged temper of his father. Hitherto the maternal influence had predominated, as might have been expected in one of such tender years. He was grieved to see his mother in distress, and was disposed to think her in the right. Still the impression left on his mind, by the conversation which he had heard, was, that religion was a matter of private choice and inclination, and that we are to worship God according to our own will or fancy.

One effect of John Lever's separation from the Church was, that a considerable change took place

in his associates. John had an intimate friend, named Joseph Franklin, a farmer, who lived about a mile from the town. He was a near relation of his wife's, and a constant intimacy had been kept up between them. Franklin was a good specimen of an English yeoman - of what English yeomen once were, and what, I verily believe, many still are. For it is in this class, more than in any other, that, as it would seem by a merciful arrangement of Providence, the old national character is preserved. There it is that much of the real strength and stamina of the nation still dwell. Call their feelings and notions prejudices, if you please; but they are of a thousand times more value than all the new-fangled nonsense of modern days. Franklin was honest, upright, independent, industrious; his character was known and respected in all the country round. If a dispute arose between a landlord and tenant, Franklin was the man to settle it. When Franklin valued an estate, both parties were satisfied; or if one was not, every body was quite sure that he was in the wrong. In one respect, Franklin differed from many of his brother-yeomen, and farmers in general; though it was not any thing in which another may not do just as well as Franklin. He had been accustomed all his life to employ much of his leisure-time in reading, and was well acquainted with many of our English standard authors and divines. This, of course, greatly softened and improved his character, but without making him in the least conceited; for, with

all his practical shrewdness and acquirements, Franklin was a humble-minded Christian.

On the very next market-day after Lever changed his religion, he received a visit from his friend.

"How now, John?" said farmer Franklin; "why, they tell me you have turned meetinger: it is not true, I hope ?"

"It is, though," said John, doggedly, at the same time half ashamed.

"I am heartily sorry for it, then," replied his friend.

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Why?" said Lever; " why should not I go to worship where I choose?"

"Go where you choose?" said Franklin, “that's a bad principle to act on. We ought to worship God as He chooses, not as we choose; and, to my poor judgment, He has appointed His church for us to worship Him in."

"But if I judge otherwise," said Lever, "and choose to go to the chapel instead of the church, what right have you or any other man to call me to account, I would be glad to know?"

This was not said in the most friendly tone; and farmer Franklin saw very plainly that Lever was not in a temper to discuss the matter coolly. When a man more than half suspects he is wrong, but is resolved to stick to his point, he will most commonly, like Lever, bring the aid of passion to reinforce the dubious position occupied by his reason, and cut short all argument by an outburst of ill temper.

Joseph Franklin, perceiving his friend's frame of mind, replied calmly: "My good friend, this is far too serious a matter to be discussed lightly or angrily. I do not claim to have any right to dictate to you, or call you to account; though I should be right glad if I could persuade you to keep to the Church in which you were born and bred, until it shall be proved that she teaches what is contrary to God's word. However, I will not argue the matter with you now, but recommend you to pray to God for His guidance; and I hope He will bring you to a better mind. The time perhaps will come," he concluded emphatically, "when you will be anxious to return to the arms of the Church."

This conversation had a considerable effect on Lever's mind, but he was too proud to confess himself in error. He had left the Church, not because he believed the Church was wrong, but because he chose; and the same temper now made him stick to what he had done, though his conscience strongly remonstrated against it. However, having made up his mind to persist in his dissent, he avoided any further conversation with Franklin, of whose sound judgment and firmness of principle he felt some degree of awe.

Joseph Franklin was not a mere follower of the path in which he had been brought up,—though for an unlearned man, who is unable to inquire for himself, that is at least a safe principle to go upon,but he was one who read his Bible, and, what is