direct thy paths.'* Private judgment will as surely lead astray, as will the decision of an apostate church, if it be not constantly influenced by the Holy Spirit, if it does not sit constantly at the feet of Jesus. The Arian, for instance, contends for the right of private judgment, and dares to decide by that frail rule, which parts of the sacred book he will accept as genuine, and which reject."

"How different," said Barbara, "is the plan pursued by the Peytons to that by which Miss Adams (another of the maiden sisterhood) shows her opposition to doctrinal error. She paid me a long visit to-day, for the express purpose of declaiming against Mrs. Dalton and her party."

"We should warn each other of every effort made in the cause of evil," said Ridley Seldon. "It was from Miss Adams I first heard of the Sunday morning singing class which Mrs. Dalton attempted to form; and was, by her timely information, enabled to stop that desecration of the sabbath day."

"They sang nothing but psalms and hymns, I believe, said Mrs. Seldon.

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"I do not refer so much to what they sang," said Ridley, as to the manner of the singing; sabbath music should be devotional music. But the one— two-three-four, of the teacher, and the puzzling * Prov. iii. 5, 6.

over crotchets and quavers of the learner, must mar all inward melody. Let the practice of singing be, as you had long made it, the work of a leisure hour during the week. On the sabbath let the voice be the ready instrument of the heart."

"We have run away from our subject-the old maids," said Barbara smiling. "I must call you back to Miss Adams."

"I am almost afraid of our subject, Barbara,” replied her husband. We, too, must beware of a

censorious spirit, or a slandering tongue."

"Enter her name then at once in your memoranda,” said Barbara,

66 as one to whom open rebuke' will be better than secret love ;'* and remember that she professes evangelical doctrine, and admits into her creed-justification by faith-the new birth, and the fruits of the Spirit."

"I have been for some days seeking how best I may bring home to her heart the deep realities of those much talked of parts of God's treasury," said Ridley, "and at the same time quietly whisper to her conscience, Withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle but tatlers also, and busy bodies, speaking things which they ought not."+

"Nay, nay," interrupted Barbara; "her speech

Prov. xxii. 5.

+1 Tim. v. 13.

is correct enough; at least as far as sound opinions can make it so. But the words Puseyism and ninetieth Tract are never out of her mouth. A new story of apostacy to Puseyism, or of candles set upon some Protestant communion-table, seems, unawares, to give her pleasure by her eagerness to tell the fact, or her excitement on hearing it."

"There is but one more, and she the eldest of the maiden tribe," said Ridley. Miss Fielding is a

member of the old high church party. Nevertheless she is not too high for the Spirit of God to bring down as low as the foot of the cross."

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CHAPTER VIII.

"Can infallibility change? By making all her vassals believe and own her by oath to be infallible, Rome hath incarcerated herself in error, and thrown the key away. In this prison she has rivetted fast her own chains, so as, of necessity, to perish in her sins."

BISHOP CHASE.

“TUESDAY, the 14th-A large party at Mrs. Dalon's. Among the company I observed Mr. Bboth of the Tractarian party, besides

and Mr. C

a young French lady, a friend of Elizabeth Dalton, but likely, I fear, by her superior attractions, to supplant the latter in the affections of the wealthy Philip Seldon." This extract from Miss Adams' letter to her friend and confidant in a distant county, will make known the principal event which took place in Bexham on another day in Lent.

Tuesday was a day of relaxation from the severe fast which Philip kept, and the select party assembled at Mrs. Dalton's had been invited on purpose to meet him. With two exceptions (besides the French lady already mentioned) the party was Anglo-Catholic. The exceptions were Miss Adams, who, for some reason best known to the initiated, was considered hopeful, and Miss Fielding, whose fondness for Nelson's "Fasts and Festivals" made Mrs. Dalton, at least on this occasion, forget her deep-rooted prejudices against anything like change or novelty.

Elizabeth Dalton looked pale and ill at ease; and Miss Adams mentioned the fact to her correspondent, with a shrewd guess at the reason of her paleness. But Miss Adams was wrong; Philip Seldon had no place in Elizabeth Dalton's thoughts that night. She even felt relief when Clotilde had so completely engrossed his attention that she could escape the necessity of continued conversation. It was not sickness-it was not weariness-it was not even the Lent fast that had paled her cheeks. A text had fastened on her conscience, and was uttering thunders there that would not be hushed.

She tried to mingle in the entertainment of the evening. She moved from guest to guest, talking for awhile with each but mechanically, as if her thoughts were far away. Tired at last of the vain effort to