1 the Christian, the company is edified, their love to the Bible is increased, they learn that religion in all ages has been essentially the same thing, they find increasing attachment to that Saviour to whom they owe all their hopes, and whom not having seen they love, they feel a union of spirit with those whom the Scripture denominates "The excellent of the earth," and they look forward with a delightful hope of at last joining "the general assembly and church of the first-born who are written in heaven."-" Puritanism !"-Be patient, Sir, and allow me to proceed.When the Bible is closed, they bow their knees before the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. The minister speaks in prayer"-he confesses sin-implores mercy-he petitions for grace to live a godly, righteous, and sober life-he intercedes for the heads of the family, that they may be blessed with spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus, that the God of providence would bless them in their basket and their store, and prosper them in all their undertakings. Their offspring are prayed for -that the children, now like olive-branches about their table, may live to be a comfort to their parents, blessings to mankind, and ornaments to the church. The servants are not forgotten--petitions are offered that they may act as the servants of Christ. Supplications are presented for the company in general-that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. The welfare of the town is frequently remembered-that its inhabitants may live in unity, peace, and harmony-that its magistrates may "execute justice and maintain truth"-and that its religion may constantly flourish and increase. The ministers of religion are generally mentioned, and sometimes the different orders in the Establishment are particularly noticed. Intercessions for the welfare of the nation, and for the king and royal family, are seldom forgotten. Finally, the minister thanks God for all the blessings of the present life, for the means of grace and the hope of glory and commits the company to the divine protection for the night, and for the remainder of life.—These, Sir, are the subjects of the prayer offered up to "the Father of all mercies, and God of all grace.” Enthusiasm!"-Permit me, Sir, to go on.These Christian friends on these occasions sometimes make it evident that they are the same sort of people that Pliny describes in his letter to Trajan, when the latter requested of him an account of the primitive Christians-they sing Carmina Christo.*" Fanaticism!"-It appears, likewise, that there is a similarity in these social religionists to a people described by one of the Jewish prophets-" Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance * Verses in honour to Christ-" hymns and spiritual songs." was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels."-" Presumption !" -After these religious exercises, which are generally concluded in half an hour, though they may sometimes be somewhat longer, the company again converse cheerfully for a few minutes; at nine o'clock they separate, and the heads of families" return to bless their own households. 66 In Methodism! Methodism !"—It is not difficult, Sir, to brand good things with bad names. this company you may fancy you discover Puritanism, Enthusiasm, Fanaticism, Presumption, Methodism !-Your correspondent sees Religion habited in one of her lovely garbs, and in whatever company she may be found, he recognizes her as his benefactress and his friend, his guide and his companion through the remainder of his pilgrimage; nor is he ashamed to address her, "Tecum vivere amem, tecum obeam libens." By the means above alluded to, you assert that "many well-meaning persons in the higher ranks are, by degrees, induced to join the Methodists, as well as many of the poorer classes, who are easily converted, as it is called, by the hopes of partaking of the charities founded at these places, for such as attend their meetings." That some persons, by this domestic worship, have been con 1 verted to a different kind of Christianity from that which they previously professed, whether they may have quitted the denomination to which they belonged or not, is a fact, I believe, which cannot be doubted, and which, to those who have any just ideas of the nature and consequences of what the sacred writings term conversion, will demonstrate the utility of these devotional exercises better than an hundred arguments by which they might be defended by a friend to religion, as well as in opposition to as many sophisms or sneers with which they may be attacked by a "Stranger which intermeddleth not with their joys." Whether any of the poorer classes join the Methodists. for the sake of partaking of the charities founded among them, shall be left to the judgment of others. That they would profess conversion for such a purpose, is an obloquy which few besides the Stranger in Reading would venture to charge on them without evidence. The imputation would scarcely deserve notice except in one point of view, in which, indeed, it is of importance, and especially, Sir, to yourself. Do you not perceive that your enmity to the professors of religion has led you to retort on yourself" the lie circumstantial," if not "the lie direct?" In the preceding paragraph, you say "the Methodists profess a religion without morality;" but here you charge them with "founding charities in behalf of the |