times casting a glance, with unprofitable regret, on the happy tenants, among whom he recognized the old steward, with many others who had once been his companions. He had even the mortification to recollect in one of them the individual whom he had known a criminal, and under sentence of death. To increase his misery, an occurrence, the evil arising from which might have been foreseen and provided against, prevented his return to the country where he had lived in service before, and also his availing himself by remittances of the savings on which he had placed such undue reliance.

Glad would he now have been, to have become a dependant on one of those whose equal he had once been; but no one had the power, if he had had the inclination, to hire him.* In this extremity, he withdrew to a spot, where the people proved to be not only strangers, but enemies. After treating him in the most opprobrious and injurious manner, they seized upon his person, and imprisoned him for life.

* Luke xiii. 28. Isa. lxv. 13, 14.

144

ALLEGORY VII.

THE LOYALISTS.

MALACHI iii. 16.

CERTAIN KING not only possessed extraordinary means for promoting the happiness of his subjects, but diligently availed himself of those means. His power, which was absolute, solely enabled him to execute his wise, just, and benevolent projects, with greater certainty, frequency, and speed. His immense wealth, on every proper occasion, bestowed affluence, as well as relieved indigence, or alleviated distress; it was made the instrument of exempting his subjects from the burden of contributing either to his subsistence, or to the support of his dignity; it furnished, in short, the resources from which he made valuable presents to thousands of the lower orders in the state, who had equal access to his presence and his favours with those of the higher orders.

That a prince of this eminence and character should have loyal and affectionate people, creates no surprise.

In fact, among some of them, his distinguished greatness and merits were the favourite themes of cursory remark, and of protracted discussion. Scarcely did they ever see or speak to one another, without introducing something to his praise. They seldom terminated a meeting held for business before honourable mention had been made of him. Even in their parties of pleasure, an allusion to his greatness or goodness was thought to improve, not interrupt, the hilarity of the moment.

But it was at the seasons agreed on by them for the express purpose of conversing about him, that their esteem for him and their attachment to him shone forth with the brightest lustre. These seasons were not confined to twice or thrice a year, like those at which the people of other countries may be supposed to honour their sovereigns with their particular notice, when the anniversary of a royal birth, or of a coronation, returns. The portions of time employed in this way by the loyalists of whom I am now speaking, recurred frequently in some instances; and where they did not, the want of opportunity, not of inclination, was the cause. * At these

*The pious of low degree can scarcely, perhaps, meet together at one another's houses, for 'godly conference,' at any

H

times, as the company came prepared, the individuals who spoke were less at a loss for suitable matter, through want of recollection. Even those who through incapacity or timidity were most accustomed to keep silence, could not avoid saying something on the delighful topic, 'out of the abundance of their hearts.' Those whose knowledge and eloquence best qualified them for speaking, expressed themselves with their usual fluency and vivacity but they spoke with a view to the honour of the prince and the good of their fellow-subjects, not to feed their own vanity. As all took similar interest in the theme, no one was likely either to experience weariness, or to occasion it; and as what was said proceeded not from speculation or compliment, but from observation and feeling, inaccuracies did not offend the judicious, nor did prolixity fatigue the volatile. Indeed, they were each of them so much in the habit of inquiring into the acts of the king; of noticing the particulars of his conduct-especially toward themselves; and of re

other time except on a sabbath-evening, now and then, during the summer. Real Christians who are rich in this world,' can of course meet on other days, and oftener, for the same pur

pose.

flecting on the discoveries made by them relative to this subject in their retirements, that the conversation was in little danger of wanting either variety or importance. A successor in speaking seldom failed of receiving an accession of light and warmth from his predecessors. In short, however they might differ in abilities or station, a sense of equal dependance upon the sovereign, of obligation to him, and of expectation from him, produced among them somewhat of that freedom of speech, which exists among brethren.*

The parties consisting of these worthy persons assembled, of course, in different places. Their numbers, too, differed widely, according as remoteness or proximity. of abode, and other circumstances, rendered attendance convenient for individuals. They were all of them, however, of one mind and of one heart. I must likewise add, that their conferences usually ended with drawing up, with unanimous consent, an address to the monarch, expressive, in the strongest terms, of their admiration,

* The practice, or at least the true spirit, of religious conversation, it is to be feared, prevails less in these times, than it did a century or two ago, and especially in the apostolic age. But its obligations, pleasures, and advantages, remain unaltered.