314 THE COUNTRY CLERGYMAN. 



stable as the sands, and veering as the winds of 

 heaven. He had the highest idea of the mental 

 powers of the human race ; they were born ; they 

 toiled; they were learned and ingenious; they 

 fretted their little hour, and then died, and perhaps 

 they had another existence. The same chance 

 which breathed them into life, might continue the 

 blessing, if blessing it could be called, in another 

 shape and form. Such were the reasonings which 

 Dr. Hastings was so anxious effectually to gainsay, 

 and he found a favourable moment to commence 

 his arguments. The mind of Mr. Eames was 

 softened by the view of Nature's works, the s\\eet 

 song of birds, the perfume of the evening flowers, 

 and by all the thousand delightful ways which 

 Nature has of appealing to the senses of man. As 

 he lay for hours musing by the banks of the sunny 

 stream, shaded from the burning rays by the thick 

 branches covered with summer foliage which over- 

 hung his head, his thoughts were directed to the 

 nee and attributes of the Creator, by reflect- 

 ing on the beauty and variety of the works of 

 creation. How different were his thoughts from 

 those which occupied his mind in a crowded city ! 

 He felt that there must be a cause, an omnipotent 

 and benevolent cause, for all he saw. This thought 

 produced enquiry, and who that ever sought for 

 such knowledge with a wish for success ever failed 

 in its acquirement ? Again and again he applied 



