~ knitted ones. 
~ several steps. 
130 
be the holy garment, thrice blessed be 
the holy seamless garment, which en- 
dureth for ever and ever! glory to -the 
loom which weaveth without a seam !” 
and a number of similar expressions, to 
my imagination equally foolish and pro- 
fane. The service was ended by a pro- 
cession with three or four ragged shirts 
like that I had met with in the street. 
I quitted the church along with the 
multitude, the greater part of whom, 
whose nakedness was but half concealed 
by their ragged and tattered cloaths, 
were occypied in exclamations about 
“‘ everlasting garments,” that to my ap- 
prehension seemed peculiarly ridiculous. 
I thought they were all mad, or that I 
myself was under the influence of some 
horrible delirium. My attention was 
soon turned to the state of my own ha- 
biliments, which hung but imperfectly 
upon me, and I took refuge in a shop, 
that seemed likely to supply my wants. 
The charitable donations I had received, 
now afforded me a welcome assistance. 
I was shewn various ready-made cloaths, 
of linen and woollen, but mostly of a bad 
quality, and very rude imitations of arti- 
cles that had in my youth been made in 
great perfection here, and the sale of 
which, all over the world, had for ages 
rendered this city as opulent and flou- 
rishing, as it was now evidently mpove- 
rished and decayed. What struck me as 
very remarkable in these garments was, 
that all the seams were most carefully 
concealed with something like paint or 
wax; and when I expressed an appre- 
hension that this was done to conceal the 
badness of the neediework, such a tor- 
rent of abuse flowed upon me, that, 
dreading I knew not what, I was obliged 
to make the most humble submissions 
and apologies. To change the subject, [ 
enquired tor shoes. They brought me 
wooden ones only; and wnen | asked for 
Yeather shoes, my auditors were-at a loss 
to understand me, and testified total ig- 
norance. They shewed me a rude kind 
of stockings made of cloth, with the 
seams entirely covered with a filthy var- 
nish, like cobler’s wax. I enquired for 
At this unfortunate de- 
mand all the people in the shop locked 
at me asif I had uttered the most atro- 
cious wickedness. They started back 
The cloaths | was about 
to purchase were removed. I wasthrust 
jato the street, with exclamations of 
“ wretch, monster!” and what most 
amazed me, repeated cries éf “ infidel, 
heretic, deist, and atheist !” 
oe) 1 
- 
Fanaticism = 
a Vision. - - [March ], 
I could now gladly have dashed myself 
upon the broken pavement, and submit- 
ted to the iron maces I had seen in the 
morning, to put an end to my wretched 
existence. What can be more deploras 
ble than to find all the feelings of humae 
nity perverted, all the intercourse of so- 
ciety misunderstood, as among the inha+ 
bitants of a madhouse? Still I dragged 
my weary limbs to a solitary corner, 
where, sitting on a stone, I attempted to 
form some conjectures of what might be 
my future destiny. JI had not sat long 
when a man passed me a few steps, and 
then returned again. He looked at me 
with affected indifference, but with 4 
scrutinizing eye. He was aged like my- 
self, and if possible more squalid and 
mean in his apparel; but I thought I re- 
cognized in his features the countenance 
of a former acquaintance, eminent for 
sense, virtue, and every thing great and 
amiable. My heart misgave me. Could 
this be the man? It was; and I flew to 
embrace him. He looked around him, 
shunned my approach, and hastily passed 
on. My eyes followed him to an obscure 
alley which he entered, and, as I thought, 
beckoned me to follow. I soon came 
up with hinf, and we proceeded along 
the passage together, Various excla- 
mations of mutual surprize ensued. My 
eager questions and unaffected ignorance 
soon led my friend to lay aside his cau- 
tion and suspicions, and after many ques- 
tions and replies on both sides, we contie 
nued our walk together into the country, 
that our conversation might be uninter- 
rupted. He delivered himself nearly as 
follows: 
“If the unaccountable ignorance in 
which you appear to have lived, concern- 
ing the transactions of -your native town 
for forty years past, had continued, you 
might censider as your most cruel enemy 
any person who should endeavaurto give 
you information on the subject; but the 
events which you have encountered this 
day must, without explanation, leave your. 
min‘ in a state of amazement more paln- 
ful than even the tale of horrer and de- 
pravity I am about to relate, Youknow 
the flourishing and happy state of this ang 
cient city in the early part of your own 
life, and particularly how peaceably and 
even harmenioysly its inhabitants liv 
together on the score of religion, C 
tiaus of various denominations h 
their churches, their chapels, 
meecting-houses, and in the. 
tercourse of life all cor 
selves as brethren, Th 
