the invigorating collifion of congenial fociety. Edward adapted his behaviour to the rules which this difcovery pointed out, and he feized the opportunity which Mr. Evans had given, by leading the converfation to the finiteness of human comprehenfion, to make what appeared like a candid difclofure of his fentiments.

"I perceive, fir," faid he, " that

you are anxious to difcover my opi"nions; and instead of blaming, I "highly admire the integrity of mind " which fuch curiofity evinces. I will "own, that during my refidence upon "the Continent I was fomewhat tinc"tured with the fcepticifm fo prevalent "there and I will confefs too, that "the converfation of the higher circles "in my own country, and above all "the manners of many of the clergy, "have not tended to c 3

remove my

" doubts.

" doubts. While the church appears "to be more affiduous to defend its

emoluments, than to promote the "falvation of its members, no wonder "if we reject its meagre doctrines. "The character of the gentleman and "the divine are not often feen in "unifon. If I had early poffeffed the "opportunity of contemplating the

happy mixture, religion would have "appeared to me more attractive from "the reflected beauty of its minifters;

but, instead of lamenting what is paft, "let me, by propitiating your candour, "improve my prefent happy acquaint

"ance."

Religion," faid Mr. Evans, returning Fitzofborne's bow," cannot "really fuffer by the mifconduct of its "officials in the opinion of any well difpofed, confiderate mind. Our at "tendance at the altar does not remove

us from human temptations; and "with respect to the fault to which

you allude, a too great pertinacity "refpecting our temporal rights, can"dour will remember that our pof"feffions are not hereditary. Most of "us have united ourfelves to fociety "by the ftrong ties of hufband and "father; and the ftudy of thofe divine

precepts which were meant to enlarge "the focial affections may, by the in

firmity of human nature, which mixes "error with our faireft aims,' fome"times extend to a culpable folicitude " for the fortunes of thofe dear connec"tions, and abate the reliance which a "Chriftian ought to place in the direc"tion and support of the friend of the "friendless."

"I admit that your apology has weight," refumed Fitzofborne ; " but "what will you fay of that avidity for "field

C 4

"field fports and love of diffipation "which fo ftrongly characterize the "divines of this age, and which you, "fir, condemn by your own example ?"

"I blame every particular inftance,” replied Mr Evans, "without admit"ting the cenfure to be determinate "against the whole order. We are "marked by our habits from the rest "of fociety; and the fox-hunting "parfon,' or the infignificant Bob

Jerome,' is pointed out to fatire, "while the pale ftudent, who confumes "his health over the midnight lamp in "the most important refearches, or "the laborious inftructor of his village "flock, are prevented by their obfcu

66

rity from counterpoizing the weight "of public odium by their useful unobtrufive virtues: but, granting the general conduct of the clergy to be

<< as

"as bad as their flanderers intimate, "the fervice to which we are confe"crated partakes not of our depravity."

"Perhaps not in minds endued with "ftrong powers of reflection," returned Fitzofborne: " but as the christian

fyftem feems beft adapted for the "lower orders of fociety, it is much "to be lamented, that any thing should "impede its progrefs where it has "the best chance of fuccefs. Perhaps "the rules by which I would eftimate "the conduct of its minifters are too ftrict, and though, unhappily, my

own principles have inclined to deifin, "I have candour enough to regret, "that while law and phyfic are per"mitted to escape uncontaminated by "the knavery of pettifoggers or the ig "norance of empirics, divinity imposes perfection upon its students.