who walk about in their sleep, unconscious of danger. Most pitiable state! But a Christian is awakened out of his sleep; and is supposed to be alive to the dangers of the road in which he is to walk, to the importance of his journey, and to the necessity of circumspection and a constant attention to the means of self-preservation in pursuing it. To expose my bodily life to any risk, without a necessity, or some equivalent advantage to be attained by it (even though a moiety of those who had before made the experiment had escaped unhurt,) would be very culpable, and a species of suicide: and, surely, as the wages of sin is eternal death,' any needless exposure of myself to that which is more to be dreaded than the fracture of every bone in my body, must be far more culpable and inexcusable.-Can you suppose, my dear madam, that either our Lord or his apostles ever practised these or such like things; or that, if they were now on earth, they would do so? And is not their example a model for our conduct?

1 Rom. vi. 23.

Can we err in imitating them? May we not err in these instances of non-conformity to the copy which they have set us?1

MRS. DORMER.

But I know, my dear Ann, many persons whom you will consider to be real and exemplary Christians; who, though indeed they do not participate in the amusements I have mentioned, yet occasionally keep worldly company.

MISS NEWMAN.

Do the persons, Mrs. Dormer, whom you mention, voluntarily make choice of worldly associates? It is readily admitted, that it is, in many cases, impossible to avoid some intercourse with the world. Our relatives and acquaintances are many of them in an unconverted state : to shun their company altogether is neither feasible nor desirable. But do you not suppose

1 See note L. in Appendix.

that these excellent persons would, if duty and Christian affection did not induce them to regard such connections, prefer the conversation of spiritual friends? In their interviews do they not wish, and try, on proper occasions, to introduce some remarks which may be profitable? Do they not bear a frequent and pointed testimony against the evil they are obliged at any time to witness? Such an intercourse with the world as that you have now specified, appears to me to differ widely from that voluntary association with it, which is formed for no other purpose than that of squandering time in idle chat or trifling amusements. In the one case, a sense of duty to God and man, and a hope of being useful to others, are the impelling motives and, in the other, worldly society is sought after, for no other reason than the pleasure which is expected from it. And surely an expectation of pleasure from such a source argues, at least, a very low degree of spirituality in the mind, if not a total ignorance of those higher satisfactions which flow from religion.

MRS. DORMER.

If these persons associate with the world with a view to the spiritual benefit of their acquaintance; why may it not charitably be supposed that Mrs. Philmund and myself are influenced by the same motive ?

MISS NEWMAN.

It would ill become me, madam, to make myself a censor of your conduct. But, under similar circumstances, I think I should feel myself obliged to catechise my own conscience very closely as to its motives. I should be bound to ask myself,- Is the glory of God the supreme and governing principle on which I act in this step? Is it with a predominant desire of promoting the conversion of my neighbours, and with a firm resolution of attempting it, that I go into their company ? Do I not deceive myself in these points; and, while the unhallowed pleasure derivable from

1 See note M. in Appendix.

their society is the real cause of my seeking it, do I not make the idea of profiting them a mere pretence for carnal gratification? Have I made any effort to diffuse the savour of religion on these occasions ? Have I been able to reprove sin in the face of a large company; or has not my sinful silence rather sanctioned its commission ? Let me clearly determine these points before I again venture into such company, unless duty evidently calls me thereinto.' Must not all, Mrs. Dormer, who mingle much with the world, frequently hear the blessed name of GOD taken in vain? Is not that which is essential to real godliness, ridiculed as needless scrupulosity in most worldly companies? Are not the comforts of Christianity treated as enthusiastic dreams? Are not the most important doctrines of the glorious Gospel sneered at as methodistical whims ? 1 Are not the characters of Christ's disciples defamed, and idle tales injurious to their reputation received and propagated with delight? And are not the most faithful and upright 1 See note N. in Appendix.