SCRAPS FROM MY SKETCH-BOOK.

NUMBER FOUR.

BY REV. PETER BENSON.

Wednesday, Sept. 19, 18—. I returned this afternoon from a visit to Boston, where I preached on Sunday last, on exchange with Br.. He has a large congregation, as large, if not the largest of the three Universalist societies in the city. In spite of the power of error and the pride of fashion, he exerts a great influence, and is accomplishing a mighty work for God's blessed truth. however, and what minister has not? not exert the sway in the city which it and though the party walls which divide sects are not so high and strong as they are here, Madam Fashion has more sway there than with us. I may have been unfortunate in the exhibition of her power which I saw; but if not, she is a goddess which reigns supreme in some circles.

He has his trials, Though error does does in the country,

While sitting in my sister's parlor yesterday afternoon, she received a call from Mrs. Lovetruth, a sensible and intelligent lady, who has recently been converted to our faith, and has left one of the most fashionable congregations in the city, and become an attendant at Br. 's meeting. As my sister has long been a member of his church, and is a zealous friend of the truth, she was rejoiced to see the new convert, and to find her strong in faith and happy. She had been sitting with us but a short time, before Mrs. Fashionable and her two daughters called, looking as gay as butterflies. It required but little discernment to see that she was a woman of great pride and little good sense, and though without any grace of manners, she had an ardent desire to be an exquisitely fine lady, and to make her daughters also, one of whom was nineteen and the other seventeen, exquisitely fine ladies. The society to which she had attached herself was the very one which Mrs. L. had just left. As Mrs. Fashionable was unacquainted with the change. that had taken place in her religious opinions, and supposed her still an attendant at her meeting, she began, regardless of my sister's feelings, to speak of the graceful manners of

her new minister, and of the many fashionable people who attended his church! "Why," said she, "he is a charming man, and he looks sweetly in his surplice! And then, his congregation is chiefly composed of the rich!

Does n't

our congregation make a splendid appearance? What an assemblage of rich shawls and fine bonnets! Mrs. M., who sits directly in front of us, wears a shawl that cost $75,00! Such things improve the taste, and add to one's refinement! O, I feel perfectly happy now; and my daughters, I have no doubt, will make more fine acquaintances than they would if we had remained at the meeting we used to attend!" "You surprise me," said Mrs. Lovetruth. "Have you no higher motive than merely to gratify your love of show and your desire for display, in attending church? You have described the attractions of your minister and meeting; but you have not made the slightest reference to religion or religious feeling. For my part, I attend church to hear the truth and to have my devotional feelings awakened, that I may know and perform my duty, and be sustained by faith and hope in the hour of trial.”

"Hear the truth," said Mrs. Fashionable, sneeringly, "hear the truth! I don't care what a man preaches, if he speaks prettily; that is all I ask. I got fairly tired of hearing Parson illustrate the truth. I say with our minister, if we live right, that's enough. Why, I should think you had better join the Universalists; they think we should all cling to what we believe, but I don't. My faith is not changed in the least; I still believe in the salvation of all, and I can enjoy my faith now as well as I ever did; it is over two months that I have heard Mr. R., and he has never said a word against.it. Besides, he has told my husband, who, you know, hated to leave his meeting, that he need not give up his faith."

"I perceive, Mrs. Fashionable," said Mrs. Lovetruth, "that you are not aware that I now attend the meeting you left, and that I have indeed become a Universalist. But such is the fact; and I perceive that the very considerations which were held out to induce me to remain where I was, have been effectual in drawing you away from the truth."

"You astonish me, Mrs. Lovetruth. 'Tis not possible that you have left our fashionable meeting for Parson

's.

"Indeed I have, and I bless God for the change I have made. I now hear the gospel, and in its fulness. My mind is satisfied, and my heart filled with peace."

'Yes, but your daughters, Mrs. Lovetruth, your daugh

ters! Poor creatures! how I shall pity them when they are excluded from the circles in which they have moved!"

"Madam," said Mrs. Lovetruth, "I was once sincerely attached to the religion preached in the church you now attend. My husband was inclined to more enlarged views ; and though he generally went with me, he occasionally attended your old meeting, and, once in a great while, I reluctantly consented to accompany him. Every sermon I heard there awakened my religious feelings; and I soon became more fond of the meeting than my husband. I mentioned to my minister, one day, the pleasure with which I heard the doctrine of Universalism. His reply was, 'It is, no doubt, substantially true, but then it is an unpopular doctrine; and there are not many fashionable people connected with Universalist societies.' I was astonished; I could hardly believe what I had heard; I felt insulted that any should suppose me capable of being influenced by so low a motive; and I was grieved that my minister should appeal to such a motive to retain me in his parish. From that mo

ment I ceased to respect him, and have never heard him preach since. With me, it matters not whether truth is fashionable or unfashionable; I shall go where I believe it is preached, if I sit with beggars and worship in an upper chamber, and I am ashamed of the pretended Christian who

will sacrifice truth at the shrine of fashion."

This last remark was uttered with great warmth, and made the eyes of Mrs. Fashionable's daughters drop with mortification; for though they had a large share of vanity and pride, they inherited some of their father's good sense. At least, so thought my sister. But Mrs. F. was wholly incapable of comprehending the motives by which Mrs. L. was governed, and could see no harm in attaching herself to a church from a love of its fashion and show. She was, however, not a little vexed to find one in whom she expected sympathy, repelling her worldly notions with so much decision; and therefore she immediately left.

I found after the vain woman had gone, that she never made any secret of the motives by which she was actuated, and often made her high expectations of joining a fashionable society the subject of conversation. She thought that she should be introduced into the highest circles, and thus that the way would be open for her daughters to marry genteely. What a fine thing to be a fashionable religionist!

August 22, 18-. I have just returned from the city. While there I inquired after Mrs. Fashionable, whom I saw

nearly two years ago. Poor woman! Her oldest daughter has married a gay spendthrift, without money! She has not yet gained those circles which she then saw opening to receive her, and in which she was to be one of the admired and honored, to which the vulgar multitude would look up with admiration. She is one of a clique, who, like her, hoped to become great ladies by courting the rich. While the rich of the society will not own her as an acquaintance, Mrs. Lovetruth is still the same honored and admired lady among them that she was before she became a Universalist. None whose friendship was worth having loved her the less for being sincere and honest. She has found, too, that there are as respectable persons among Universalists as among any other religious sect.

EDITORS' TABLE.

"BIGOTRY THE OFFSPRING OF PARTIALISM."

WE have received from Br. S. Pope a Sermon bearing the above title, delivered to his congregation in Hyannis, Oct. 19, 1845. The Sermon was called forth by a discourse delivered by a Baptist minister, at the re-dedication of his church. The character of that discourse may be learned from the following classical and Christian expressions, which are a specimen of its general style and spirit.

"Among other topics, the preacher spoke of the necessity of the doctrines of his peculiar creed,-trinity, vicarious atonement, total depravity, endless punishment, &c.,-as means of reforming the community. And while on this topic, he said,—' There are those around us who are attempting to reform the community by other doctrines,''doctrines sophistical, deceptive, and false.' Those engaged in the work deny the divinity of Christ,' the inspiration of the Bible.' They profess great regard for the Scriptures, but are hypocritical,'— they are wolves in sheep's clothing,' they are ROVING VAGABONDS, and, like whited sepulchres, full of all corruption and licentiousness." "-p. 9.

The application of such language to Br. Pope and his people was an outrage so gross and wicked as to call for a faithful rebuke. Silence under such an attack would have been sinful. Br. Pope was bound to speak, and to speak plainly. He has spoken, and spoken plainly.

We thank him for the words he has spoken. He has shown his fidelity to truth.

But Br. Pope was not satisfied with repelling the foul slanders with which the truth and its advocates were assailed. He justly felt it to be his duty to show that the bigoted course of his assailant was in perfect agreement with his narrow creed; and this he has done most conclusively. No one can read his Sermon without saying, Bigotry is indeed the offspring of Partialism. The following extract is a fair specimen of the Sermon. The reasoning is strong and the language forcible.

"There is not a page in the past history of our race, nor in the present aspect of the Christian world, which does not demonstrate the fact, that, in proportion as man's views of God and his designs are partial and restricted, he will be bigoted, and intolerant, and exclusive. Partialism and bigotry are as inseparable in the heart of man as the sun and its light, as cause and effect. One is legitimately the offspring of the other, and both are condemned by the gospel of Christ. You may deem this, perhaps, an uncharitable remark; but though I certainly intend no such thing, yet if speaking a plain, undeniable truth, written out upon the dark page of the world's history, is deemed uncharitable, then I must stand condemned. I would not be understood, however, to mean that every one who professes faith in partial and limited views of God and human destiny, is a bigot,-is intolerant and exclusive. Far be it; I believe there is no sect without its Christians, and its noble and generous hearts; men who are swayed by lofty and divine feelings, by a spirit of broad and expansive charity,-by a deep and living sympathy for humanity, and who would go out like the Master, and love and bless all.

"There are those whose faith 'plays around the head, but comes not near the heart.' They assent to the dogma, because they have heard it asserted from childhood up, without taking the trouble to investigate its foundation, while their hearts are untouched and disenthralled. And all such, were they to give attention to the subject, and had they the moral courage, would soon liberate even their heads from the thraldom, and walk forth Christ's freemen. They are in a similar situation to Peter, when Christ said, The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak.' Such you never hear crying out, Not so, Lord,' when the salvation of the world is proposed; for it is their hearts' desire and prayer to God, that it may be true. But what I mean is, that you let Partialism become rooted and grounded in the heart, and it will make a bigot of the man. He cannot heartily cherish the principles of its doctrines, without being influenced by its spirit. If it has any influence, it must be of its own nature. Like will produce like, and a partial principle will produce a partial spirit, and a partial spirit is the soul of bigotry and intolerance. And I care not where you go for evidence of this fact,-whether you go to the first origin of modern Partialism in the halls of heathen legislation, or to the Jews who were led by its spirit to nail Christ to the cross, for proclaiming that he would draw all men unto him,' and redeem the world, or to those who kindled the martyr's flame, invented the racks and built the dungeons of the Inquisition, and inflicted all their tortures, or whether