430' MISCELLANEOUS THOUGHTS. that all my devotion was spoiled. I think I went to church with a good heart and desires of improvement, but I had no appetite even to spiritual food, when it was dressed and dished out in so disagreeable a manner. I must confess I came home much out of humour, and found no profit at all. Placentia made but few and gentle replies ; but in order to obtain more conversation on the subject, she invited Critillo to dinner last Wednesday. She provided wholesome and proper food in a becoming variety, but the dishes were of a very antique mold, the disposition of them quite out of fashion, and while the garnish of some was profusely rich and gay, that of others was very coarse and poor. Critillo know- ing his sincere welcome, sat down, and confessed he eat very heartily ; but after dinner he took the freedom to ask the lady whether this was the newest mode of entertainment, or what she meant by such an odd sort of elegance in the economy of her table. I meant, said Placentia, to try whether your stomach was not in a more healthful state than your soul and conscience. You coin - plained last Sunday, that the sermon was so dished and dressed, that yott could not relish it ; and though you confessed that there was much truth and duty contained in it, yet you were so disgust- ed with the style of the preacher and his aukward manner, that you went away fretting at the discourse, and received no profit at all ; but you own you fed heartily upon the provisions of my table to-day, nor Was your stomach so sqeamish as to keep your fast, though the dishes and garniture were inelegant enough, and very much a -kin to the sermon you described. Critillo took the hint, and was convinced of his folly, begged pardon of Placentia, and learnt for the future to attend with a better spirit on public wor- ship : " For you have now taught me, says he, to make this ob- servation, that if the soul of a christian be found in a healthy state, it will not grow peevish and refuse all spiritual food, be- cause it is not surrounded with every proper and modish elegance in the dispensing of it." But this is but one instance of her prudence and address in reclaiming mankind from their follies; those whohave the happi- ness of her intimate acquaintance, have been witnesses to many such pieces of gentle and effectual reproof. A pleasing serenity of soul has run through her whole course : But some years ago, when she was verging towards the decline of life, she happened for several months together to be ruffled and teized with two or three unhappy occurrences, which came upon heaat once, and gave her so much disquietude, as made hercarriage to those round about her savour a little of the inward vexation. She Was soon conscious of the inroad which was made upon her gentle virtues she found the angry ferment arise too often, and work too near her heart she gave herself manysilent rebukes, and by repeated prayer and religious watchfulness, she suppressed the growing evil and reco-
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