person of common decency can for a moment listen to them.

Will. Well, waster, I am sure that was a very pretty song I was singing when you came in, and a song which very sober good people sing.

Stock. Do they? Then I will be bold to say, that singing such songs is no part of their goodness. I heard indeed but two lines of it, but they were so heathenish that I desire to hear no more.

Will. Now you are really too hard. What harm could there be in it? there was not one indecent word.

Stock. Well then. Of whom does the Scripture speak when it says, Let us eat and drink for to-morrow we die?

Will. Why of heathens to be sure, not of Christians.

Stock. And of whom when it says, Let us crown ourselves with rosebuds before they are withered?

Will. O that is Solomon's worldly fool.
Stock. You disapprove of both then.
Will. To be sure I do. I should not be a
Christian if I did not.

Stock. And yet, though a Christian, you are admiring the very same thought in the song you were singing. How do you reconcile this?

I

Now I

Stock. I own, indeed, that indecent words are particularly offensive. But, as I said before,though immodest expressions offend the Will. O there is no comparison between ear more, they do not corrupt the heart, per-them. These several texts are designed to haps, much more than songs of which the describe loose wicked heathens. words are decent, and the principle vicious. learn texts as part of my religion. But reliIn the latter case, because there is nothing gion you know has nothing to do with a song. that shocks his ear, a man listens till the sen- sing a song for my pleasure. timent has so corrupted his heart, that his Stock. In our last night's talk, Will, I enear grows hardened too, and by long custom deavoured to prove to you that religion was he loses all sense of the danger of profane to be brought into our business. I wish now diversions; and I must say I have often to let you see that it is to be brought into our heard young women of character sing songs pleasure also. And that he who is really a in company, which I should be ashamed to Christian, must be a Christian in his very read by myself. But come, as we work, let diversions. us talk over this business a little; and first let us stick to this sober song of yours, that you boast so much about, (repeats.)

'Since life is no more than a passage at best, Let us strew the way over with flowers.

Now what do you learn by this?
Will. Why, master, I don't pretend to
learn much by it. But 'tis a pretty tune and
pretty words.

Stock. But what do these pretty words

mean?

Will. That we must make ourselves merry because life is short..

Stock. Will! Of what religion are you? Will. You are always asking one such odd questions, master; why a Christian to be

sure.

Will. Now you are too strict again, master; as you last night declared, that in our business you would not have us always praying, so I hope that in our pleasure you would not have us always psalm-singing. I hope you would not have all one's singing to be about good things.

Stock. Not so, Will; but I would not have any part either of our business or our pleasure to be about evil things. It is one thing to be singing about religion, it is another thing to be singing against it. Saint Peter, I fancy, would not much have approved your favourite song. He, at least, seemed to have another view of the matter, when he said, The end of all things is at hand. Now this text teaches much the same awful truth with the first line of your song. But let us see to what different purposes the apostle Stock. If I often ask you, or others this and the poet turn the very same thought. question, it is only because I like to know Your song says, because life is so short, let what grounds I am to go upon when I am us make it merry. Let us divert ourselves talking with you, or them. I conceive that so much on the road, that we may forget there are, in this country two sorts of people, the end. Now what says the apostle, BeChristians and no Christians. Now, if peo-cause the end of all things is at hand, be ye ple profess to be of this first description, I expect one kind of notions, opinions, and behaviour from them; if they say they are of the latter, then I look for another set of notions and actions from them. I compel no man to think with me. I take every man at his word. I only expect him to think and believe according to the character he takes upon himself, and to act on the principles of that character which he professes to

maintain.

Will. That's fair enough; I can't say but it is, to take a man at his own word, and on his own grounds.

therefore sober and watch unto prayer.

Will. Why master, I like to be sober too, and have left off drinking. But still I never thought that we were obliged to carry texts out of the Bible to try the soundness of a song; and to enable us to judge if we might be both merry and wise in singing it.

Stock. Providence has not so stinted our enjoyments, Will, but he has left us many subjects of harmless merriment: but, for my own part, I am never certain that any one is quite harmless till I have tried it by this rule that you seem to think so strict. There is Janother favourite catch which I heard you

and some of the workmen humming yester- in rioting and drunkenness, not in clamberday.

Will. I will prove to you that there is not a word of harm in that; pray listen now. (sings.)

ing and wantonness, but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Will. I am afraid then, master, you would not much approve of what I used to think a very pretty song, which begins with,

'A plague on those musty old lubbers,
Who teach us to fast and to think."

Stock. Will, what would you think of any one who should sit down and write a book or a song to abuse the clergy?

Will. Why I should think he was a very wicked fellow, and I hope no one would look into such a book, or sing such a song.

Which is the best day to drink-Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday? Stock. Now, Will, do you really find your unwillingness to drink is so great that you stand in need of all these incentives to provoke you to it? Do you not find temptation strong enough without exciting your inclinations, and whetting your appetites in this manner? Can any thing be more unchristian than to persuade youth by pleasant words, set to the most alluring music, that the pleasures of drinking are so great, that every day in the week, naming them all successively, by way of fixing and enlarging the idea, is equally fit, equally proper, and Will. Ay, master, and now you have equally delightful, for what?-for the low opened my eyes, I think I can make some and sensual purpose of getting drunk. Tell of those comparisons myself between the me, Will, are you so very averse to plea- spirit of the Bible, and the spirit of these sure? Are you naturally so cold and dead songs. to all passion and temptation, that you really find it necessary to inflame your imagination, and disorder your senses, in order to excite a quicker relish for the pleasures of sin?

Will. All this is true enough, indeed; but I never saw it in this light before.

Stock. As I passed by the Grayhound last night, in my way to my evening's walk in the fields, I caught this one verse of a song which the club were singing:

Bring the flask, the music bring,
Joy shall quickly find us;
Drink and dance, and laugh and sing,
And cast dull care behind us.'

When I got into the fields, I could not for-
bear comparing this song with the second
lesson last Sunday evening at church; these
were the words: Take heed lest at any time
your heart be overcharged with drunken-
ness, and so that day come upon you una-
wares, for as a snare shail it come upon all
them that are on the face of the earth.

Will. Why, to be sure, if the second lesson was right, the song must be wrong. Stock. I ran over in my mind also a comparison between such songs as that which begins with

Drink and drive care away,'

with those injunctions of holy writ, Watch
and pray therefore, that you enter not into
temptation; and again, Watch and pray that
you may escape all these things. I say I
compared this with the song I allude to,

'Drink and drive care away,
Drink and be merry;
You'll ne'er go the faster

To the Stygian ferry.'

I compared this with that awful admonition of Scripture how to pass the time. Not

Stock. And yet it must certainly be the clergy, who are scoffed at in that verse, it being their professed business to teach us to think and be serious.

'Bring the flask, the goblet bring,'

won't stand very well in company with the threat of the prophet: Wo unto them that rise up early, that they may mingle strong drink.

Stock. Ay, Will; and these thoughtless people who live up to their singing, seem to be the very people described in another place as giorying in their intemperance, and acting what their songs describe:They look at the wine, and say it is red, it moveth itself aright in the cup.

Will. I do hope I shall for the future not only become more careful what songs I sing myself, but also not to keep company with those who sing nothing else but what in my sober judgment, I now see to be wrong.

Stock. As we shall have no body in the world to come, it is a pity not only to make our pleasures here consist entirely in the delights of animal life, but to make our very songs consist in extolling and exalting those delights which are unworthy of the man as well as of the Christian. If, through temptation or weakness, we fall into errors, let us not establish and confirm them by picking up all the songs and scraps of verses which excuse, justify, and commend sin. That time is short, is a reason given by these song mongers why we should give into greater indulgences. That time is short, is a reason given by the apostle why we should enjoy our dearest comforts as if we enjoyed them not

Now, Will, I hope you will see the importance of so managing, that our diversions (for diversions of some kind we all require,) may be as carefully chosen as our other employments. For to make them such as effectually drive out of our minds all that the Bible and the minister have been putting into them, seems to me as imprudent as it is

It is with regret I have lately observed, that the fa

unchristian. But this is not all. Such sen- | love songs, or drinking songs, will not, cantiments as these songs contain, set off by the not be sung by any man or any woman who prettiest music, heightened by liquor, and makes a serious profession of Christianity.* all the noise and spirit of what is called jovial company, all this, I say, not only puts every thing that is right out of the mind, but puts shionable author and singer of songs more loose, proevery thing that is wrong into it. Such fane, and corrupt, than any of those here noticed, not songs, therefore, as tend to promote levity, only received a prize as the reward of his important serthoughtlessness, loose imaginations, false vices, but received also the public acknowledgments of views of life, forgetfulness of death, con-an illustrious society for having contributed to the haptempt of whatever is serious, and neglect piness of their country!

of whatever is sober, whether they bel

THE HISTORY OF TOM WHITE, THE POST BOY.

PART. I.

IN TWO PARTS.

prove it, and the next step to being easy at seeing others sin is to sin ourselves. By deTOM WHITE Was one of the best drivers grees he began to think it manly, and a mark of a post-chaise on the Bath road. Tom of spirit in others to swear; though the force was the son of an honest labourer at a little of good habits was so strong, that at first village in Wiltshire: he was an active in- when he ventured to swear himself it was dustrious boy, and as soon as he was old with fear, and in a low voice. But he was enough he left his father, who was burthen-soon laughed out of his sheepishness, as they ed with a numerous family, and went to live with farmer Hodges, a sober worthy man in the same village. He drove the wagon all the week; and on Sundays, though he was now grown up, the farmer required him to attend the Sunday school, carried on under the inspection of Dr. Shepherd, the worthy vicar, and always made him read his Bible in the evening after he had served his cattle; and would have turned him out of his service if he had ever gone to the ale-house for his own pleasure.

Tom by carrying some wagon loads of fagots to the Bear inn, at Devizes, made many acquaintance in the stable-yard. He soon learnt to compare his own carter's frock, and shoes thick set with nails, with the smart red jacket, and tight boots of the post-boys, and grew ashamed of his own homely dress; he was resolved to drive a chaise, to get money, and to see the world. Foolish fellow! he never considered that, though it is true, a wagoner works hard all day, yet he gets a quiet evening at home, and undisturbed rest at night. However, as there must be chaise-boys as well as ploughboys, there was no great harm in the change. The evil company to which it exposed him, was the chief mischief. He left farmer Hodges, though not without sorrow at quitting so kind a master, and got himself hired at the Black Bear.

called it; and though he never became so profane and blasphemous as some of his companions (for he never swore in cool blood, or in mirth, as so many do) yet he would too often use a dreadful bad word when he was in a passion with his horses. And here I cannot but drop a hint on the deep folly as well as wigkedness, of being in a great rage with poor beasts, who, not having the gift of reason, cannot be moved like human creatures, with all the wicked words that are said to them; though these dumb creatures, unhappily, having the gift of feeling, suffer as much as human creatures can do, at the cruel and unnecessary beatings given them. Tom had been bred up to think that drunkenness was a great sin, for he never saw farmer Hodges drunk in his life, and where a farmer is sober himself his men are less likely to drink, or if they do the master can reprove them with the better grace.

Tom was not naturally fond of drink, yet for the sake of being thought merry company, and a hearty fellow, he often drank more than he ought. As he had been used to go to church twice on a Sunday, while he lived with the farmer (who seldom used his horses on that day, except to carry his wife to church behind him) Tom felt a little uneasy when he was sent the very first Sunday a long journey with a great family; for I canNotwithstanding the temptations to which not conceal the truth, that too many gentlehe was now exposed, Tom's good education folks will travel, when there is no necessity stood by him for some time. At first he was for it, on a Sunday, and when Monday would frightened to hear the oaths and wicked answer the end just as well. This is a great words which are too often uttered in a sta-grief to all good and sober people, both rich ble-yard. However, though he thought it and poor; and is still more inexcusable in very wrong, he had not the courage to re-the great, who have every day at their comVOL. I.

32

manding this savage, inquired who he was, wrote to inform his master, and got him discharged: resolving that neither they nor any of their friends would ever employ him, and he was long out of place, and nobody ever cared to be driven by him.

mand. However, he kept his thoughts to himself, though he could not now and then help thinking how quietly things were going on at the farmer's, whose wagoner on a Sunday led as easy life as if he had been a gentleman. But he soon lost all thoughts of this kind, and in time did not know a Sun- Tom was taken to one of those excellent day from a Monday. Tom went on pros hospitals with which London abounds. His perously, as it is called, for three or four agonies were dreadful, his leg was set, and a years, got plenty of money, but saved not a high fever came on. As soon as he was left shilling. As soon as his horses were once in alone to reflect on his condition, his first the stable, whoever would might see them thought was that he should die, and his hor fed for Tom. He had other fish to fry.-ror was inconceivable. Alas! said he, what Fives, cards, cudgel-playing, laying wagers, will become of my poor soul? I am cut off and keeping loose company, cach of which in the very commission of three great sins: he at first disliked, and each of which he -I was drunk, I was in a horrible passion, soon learned to practice, ran away with all and I had oaths and blasphemies in my his money, and all his spare time; and mouth. He tried to pray, but he could not; though he was generally in the way as soon his mind was all distraction, and he thought as the horses were ready (because if there he was so very wicked that God would not was no driving there was no pay) yet he did forgive him; because, says he, I have sinned not care whether the carriage was clean or against light and knowledge; I have had a dirty, if the horses looked well or ill, if the sober education, and good examples; I was harness was whole, or the horses were shod. bred in the fear of God, and the knowledge The certainty that the gains of to-morrow of Christ, and I deserve nothing but punishwould make up for the extravagance of to- ment. At length he grew light-headed, and day, made him quite thoughtless and hap- there was little hope of his life. Whenever py; for he was young, active, and healthy, he came to his senses for a few minutes, he and never foresaw that a rainy day might cried out, O! that my old companions could come, when he would want what he now now see me, surely they would take warnsquandered. ing by my sad fate, and repent before it is

One day being a little flustered with liquor too late. as he was driving his return chaise through By the blessing of God on the skill of the Brentford, he saw just before him another surgeon, and the care of the nurses, he howempty carriage, driven by one of his ac-ever, grew better in a few days. And here quaintance: he whipped up his horses, re- let me stop to remark, what a mercy it is solving to outstrip the other, and swearing that we live in a christian country, where dreadfully that he would be at the Red Lion the poor, when sick, or lame, or wounded, first-for a pint-Done,' cried the other are taken as much care of as any gentry; a wager. Both cut and spurred the poor nay, in some respects more, because in hosbeasts with the usual fury, as if their credit pitals and infirmaries there are more dochad been really at stake, or their lives had tors and surgeons to attend, than most pridepended on this foolish contest. Tom's vate gentlefolks can afford to have at their chaise had now got up to that of his rival, own houses, whereas there never was an and they drove along side of each other with hospital in the whole heathen world. Blessgreat fury and many imprecations. But in ed be God for this, among the thousand a narrow part Tom's chaise being in the other excellent fruits of the christian relimiddle, with his antagonist on one side, and gion! A religion which, like its Divine a cart driving against him on the other, the Founder, while its grand object is the salvahorses reared, the carriages got entangled; tion of men's souls, teaches us also to relieve Tom roared out a great oath to the other to stop, which he either could not, or would not do, but returned an horrid imprecation that he would win the wager if he was alive. -Tom's horses took fright, and he himself It was eight weeks before Tom could be was thrown to the ground with great vio- taken out of bed. This was a happy afflic lence. As soon as he could be got from un- tion; for by the grace of God, this long sickder the wheels, he was taken up senseless,ness and solitude gave him time to reflect on his leg was broke in two places, and his bo-his past life. He began seriously to hate dy much bruised. Some people whom the those darling sins which had brought him to noise had brought together, put him in the the brink of ruin. He could now pray hearpost-chaise in which the wagoner kindly as-tily; he confessed and lamented his iniquisisted, but the other driver seemed careless ties, with many tears, and began to hope and indifferent, and drove off, observing with that the mercies of God, through the merits a brutal coolness, I am sorry I have lost my of a Redeemer, might yet be extended to pint; I should have beat him hollow, had it him on his sincere repentance. He resolved not been for this little accident. Some gen-never more to return to the same evil courtlemen who came out of the inn, after reprises, but he did not trust in his own strength,

their bodily wants. It directs us never to forget that He who forgave sins, healed diseases, and while he preached the Gospel, fed the multitude.

but prayed that God would give him grace it shall please God to call us; and to leave for the future, as well as pardon for the events in God's hand. Tom had rubbed up past. He remembered, and he was hum- his catechim at the hospital, and 'tis a pity bled at the thought, that he used to have that people don't look at their catechism short fits of repentance, and to form resolu- sometimes when they are grown up; for it tions of amendment, in his wild and thought- is full as good for men and women as it is for less days; and often when he had a bad head- children; nay, better; for though the anach after a drinking bout, or had lost his swers contained in it are intended for chilmoney at all-fours, he vowed never to drink dren to repeat, yet the duties enjoined in it or play again. But as soon as his head was are intended for men and women to put in well and his pockets recruited, he forgot all practice. It is, if I may so speak, the very his resolutions. And how should it be other-grammar of Christianity and of our church, wise? for he trusted in his own strength, he and they who understand every part of their never prayed to God to strengthen him, nor catechism thoroughly, will not be ignorant ever avoided the next temptation. He of any thing which a plain Christian need thought that amendment was a thing to be set about at any time; he did not know that it is the grace of God which bringeth us to repentance.

know.

Tom now felt grieved that he was obliged to drive on Sundays. But people who are in earnest and have their hearts in a The case was now different. Tom began thing, can find helps in all cases. As soon to find that his strength was perfect weak- as he had set down his company at their ness, and that he could do nothing without stage, and had seen his horses fed, says the divine assistance, for which he prayed Tom, a man who takes care of his horses, heartily and constantly. He sent home for will generally think it right to let them rest his Bible and Prayer-book, which he had an hour or two at least. In every town it is not opened for two years, and which had a chance but there may be a church open been given him when he left the Sunday- during part of that time. If the prayers school. He spent the chief part of his time should be over, I'll try hard for the sermon; in reading them, and derived great comfort, and if I dare not stay to the sermon it is a as well as great knowledge, from this em- chance but I may catch the prayers; it is ployment of his time. The study of the Bi- worth trying for, however; and as I used to ble filled his heart with gratitude to God, think nothing of making a push, for the sake who had not cut him off in the midst of his of getting an hour to gamble, I need not sins; but had given him space for repent- grudge to take a little pains extraordinary ancce; and the agonies he had lately suffer-to serve God. By this watchfulness he soon ed with his broken leg increased his thank- got to know the hours of service at all the fulness, that he had escaped the more dread-towns on the road he travelled; and while ful pain of eternal misery. And here let me the horses fed, Tom went to church; and it remark what encouragement this is for rich became a favourite proverb with him, that people to give away Bibles and good books, prayers and provender hinder no man's and not to lose all hope, though, for a time, journey; and I beg leave to recommend they see little or no good effect from it. Ac- Tom's maxim to all travellers: whether cording to all appearance, Tom's books master or servant, carrier or coachman. -were never likely to do him any good, and At first his companions wanted to laugh yet his generous benefactor, who had cast his and make sport of this-but when they saw bread upon the waters, found it after many that no lad on the road was up so early or days; for this Bible, which had lain untouch- worked so hard as Tom; when they saw no ed for years, was at last made the instru-chaise so neat, no glasses so bright, no harment of his reformation. God will work in his own good time, and in his own way, but our zeal and our exertions are the means by which he commonly chooses to work.

ness so tight, no driver so diligent, so clean, or so civil, they found he was no subject to make sport at. Tom indeed was very careful in looking after the linch pins; in never As soon as he got well, and was dischar- giving his horses too much water when they ged from the hospital, Tom began to think were hot; nor whatever was his haste, he must return to get his bread. An first would he ever gallop them up hill, strike he had some scruples about going back to his them across the head, or when tired, cut and old employ but, says he sensibly enough, slash them, or gallop over the stones, as soon gentlefolks must travel, travellers must have as he got into town, as some foolish fellows chaises, and chaises must have drivers: 'tis do. What helped to cure Tom of these bad a very honest calling, and I don't know that practices, was that remark he met with in goodness belongs to one sort of business more the Bible, that a good man is merciful to his than another; and he who can be good in a beast. He was much moved one day on state of great temptation, provided the calling be lawful, and the temptations are not of his own seeking, and he be diligent in prayer, may be better than another man for aught I know and all that belongs to us is, to do our duty in that state of life in which

reading the prophet Jonah, to observe what compassion the great God of Heaven and earth had for poor beasts: for one of the reasons there given why the Almighty was unwilling to destroy the great city of Ninevah was, because there was much cattle in it.