all remedies, that best calculated to remove the visionary pursuits of an inflamed-imagination;......and of converting the principles of a Platonic enthusiast, without either his knowledge or concurrence.

But such was the perverseness of my fate, that the contrast......between the interested......worldly.....views of such people as I was now cast among; ......and the simple,....artless.....friendship of those benevolent beings in the forest......served only to give firmness to my determination of returning the first opportunity to the bosom of pure, unclouded, tranquillity.

My temper was certainly altered.... and so were my wishes...The magical enthusiasm which led me into the wiles of the villa of Mamilia, were metamorphosed into the moral enthusiasm which harmonized my feelings, and left me no other desire than that of

ending my days in the society of an undisguised, harmless, people, with whom I could indulge the full complacency and affections of my soul, free from all apprehension of decep

tion or art.

Nearly half a year had now elapsed without my hearing from either the Stranger.....or the guide.

At length I received a letter from the latter....with some goods that were consigned to me from Smyrna........in which he told me he should soon visit me at Parium......He shortly afterward came to our house, by the name of Hegesias......a tradesman of Ægina...... and brought several commissions from our correspondent....In these affairs he discovered so much intelligence and capacity, that he won my father's heart ........who readily accepted his offers to execute some commissions we had on the Ionian coast.

This intercourse naturally produced intimacy.....and I had as many private opportunities as I could wish, of discoursing with him..........I obtained from him some books.......at that time highly prized and difficult to be had.... containing the three last years of the life of their Master......his miraculous actions.......public prophecies and exhortations,.....with his private instructions to his chosen followers.

These books,.....you may believe,.... lost none of their effect with me....... I conceived the most exalted passion for this Son of Man.......which was strengthened by Hegesias.......and so successful were his lessons,.......and so docile his pupil........that he consented the night before he left Parium, to initiate me into the first degrees of their concealed rites.

The act was simple.....but awful...... I contracted my vows in the solemn

stillness of midnight.......and in a dark dreary spot which he had chosen for the occasion.

My zeal......by this time.......became so immoderate, it required all the eloquence of Hegesias to keep it within bounds.......I should have deserted my father.....my country.....my fortune.... But he restrained my impetuosity...... and.....with inflexible sternness,....forbid my leaving my father while he had occasion for my services.

"It is unlawful," said he...." Thou "dost but deceive thyself in suppo

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sing thou makest an acceptable offer

ing to the Lord, by abandoning thy "all for his sake........No......Thou art simply gratifying thy own ardent propensities....To prove thy zeal..... "sacrifice this unseasonable desire.

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.......return to thy home......and be "assured, that by a fulfilment of the duty thou owest to thy parent.........

"thou dost best prosecute the service " of the Most High.........As thou art "faithful in this.....so shalt thou be "called to higher duties.”

This reproof was given with a tone so austere and authorative.......I trembled...He accepted my humble regrets .....blessed me..... and departed.

A year had now elapsed......During this period I afforded so many proofs of my zeal and attachment, that I was admitted to an audience with the great Kerinthus........So was my Stranger called....under whose protection I was received to a second degree of initiation....in a full assembly....before whom Kerinthus officiated in person.

All I saw,....and all I heard,....penetrated to my inmost soul!

Addressing himself to me......he exclaimed,...." Thou canst alone.......by "the most intrepid fortitude....and by "determined resolution,...devote thy