258 THE PASSION-FLOWER. 



yond ihis, I had not examined the subject. The 

 mode pursued wiih me was to extort a promise 

 that 1 would carefully study whatever books the 

 nun should lend me; and I gave it, on condition 

 that I might write out, and that she would read, 

 my opinions on them. A parcel was presently 

 sent, selected by the Jesuits ; and I sat down to 

 examine one of the most specious and dangerous 

 works ever penned ; (Milner's ' End of Contro- 

 versy.') I adhered to my engagement, and thanks 

 be to God for his unspeakable mercy in guarding 

 me as he did ! I could not unravel the artful web 

 of deep and diabolical sophistry : but I saw and 

 felt that it was essentially opposed to the truth of 

 Scripture. I wept over the book, in grief and 

 perplexity, but the Lord led me to pray, and then, 

 as by a bright beam breaking forth, I saw the 

 mystery of iniquity in all its deceivableness of un- 

 righteousness. Prayer had cut the knot which rea- 

 son could not disentangle, and I was enabled to 

 set forth the truth, in a latter, to the poor nun, so 

 as to exhibit the contrasting error in a forcible 

 point of view. Other books were sent and read, 

 and commented on ; and the Lord overruled my 

 perilous course of study to bringing me acquaint- 

 ed with the depths of this fearful delusion ; but, 

 at length, the dear nun, who had been carefully 

 guarded from any private interviews with me, after 

 they commenced operations, managed to let me 



