按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
direction； to say nothing of my trade。' 'Thou dost right to say
nothing of thy trade；' said Peter； smiling； 'for thou seemest to
care nothing about it； which has led Winifred and myself to suspect
that thou art not altogether what thou seemest； but； setting that
aside； we should be most happy if thou wouldst go with us into
Wales。' 'I cannot promise to go with you into Wales；' said I；
'but； as you depart to…morrow； I will stay with you through the
day； and on the morrow accompany you part of the way。' 'Do；' said
Peter： 'I have many people to see to…day； and so has Winifred； but
we will both endeavour to have some serious discourse with thee；
which； perhaps； will turn to thy profit in the end。'
In the course of the day the good Peter came to me； as I was seated
beneath the oak； and； placing himself by me； commenced addressing
me in the following manner：…
'I have no doubt； my young friend； that you are willing to admit
that the most important thing which a human being possesses is his
soul； it is of infinitely more importance than the body； which is a
frail substance； and cannot last for many years； but not so the
soul； which； by its nature； is imperishable。 To one of two
mansions the soul is destined to depart； after its separation from
the body； to heaven or hell； to the halls of eternal bliss； where
God and His holy angels dwell； or to the place of endless misery；
inhabited by Satan and his grisly companions。 My friend； if the
joys of heaven are great； unutterably great； so are the torments of
hell unutterably so。 I wish not to speak of them； I wish not to
terrify your imagination with the torments of hell： indeed； I like
not to think of them； but it is necessary to speak of them
sometimes； and to think of them sometimes； lest you should sink
into a state of carnal security。 Authors； friend； and learned men；
are not altogether agreed as to the particulars of hell。 They all
agree； however； in considering it a place of exceeding horror。
Master Ellis Wyn； who by the bye was a churchman； calls it； amongst
other things； a place of strong sighs； and of flaming sparks。
Master Rees Pritchard； who was not only a churchman； but Vicar of
Llandovery； and flourished about two hundred years ago … I wish
many like him flourished now … speaking of hell； in his collection
of sweet hymns called the 〃Welshman's Candle；〃 observes；
'〃The pool is continually blazing； it is very deep； without any
known bottom； and the walls are so high； that there is neither hope
nor possibility of escaping over them。〃
'But； as I told you just now； I have no great pleasure in talking
of hell。 No； friend； no； I would sooner talk of the other place；
and of the goodness and hospitality of God amongst His saints
above。'
And then the excellent man began to dilate upon the joys of heaven；
and the goodness and hospitality of God in the mansions above；
explaining to me； in the clearest way； how I might get there。
And when he had finished what he had to say； he left me； whereupon
Winifred drew nigh； and sitting down by me began to address me。 'I
do not think；' said she； 'from what I have observed of thee； that
thou wouldst wish to be ungrateful； and yet； is not thy whole life
a series of ingratitude； and to whom？ … to thy Maker。 Has He not
endowed thee with a goodly and healthy form； and senses which
enable thee to enjoy the delights of His beautiful universe … the
work of His hands？ Canst thou not enjoy； even to rapture； the
brightness of the sun； the perfume of the meads； and the song of
the dear birds which inhabit among the trees？ Yes； thou canst； for
I have seen thee； and observed thee doing so。 Yet； during the
whole time that I have known thee； I have not heard proceed from
thy lips one single word of praise or thanksgiving to 。 。 。'
And in this manner the admirable woman proceeded for a considerable
time； and to all her discourse I listened with attention； and when
she had concluded； I took her hand and said； 'I thank you；' and
that was all。
On the next day everything was ready for our departure。 The good
family of the house came to bid us farewell。 There were shaking of
hands； and kisses； as on the night of our arrival。
And as I stood somewhat apart； the young girl of whom I have spoken
so often came up to me； and holding out her hand； said； 'Farewell；
young man； wherever thou goest。' Then； after looking around her；
she said； 'It was all true you told me。 Yesterday I received a
letter from him thou wottest of； he is coming soon。 God bless you；
young man； who would have thought thou knewest so much！'
So； after we had taken our farewell of the good family； we
departed； proceeding in the direction of Wales。 Peter was very
cheerful； and enlivened the way with godly discourse and spiritual
hymns； some of which were in the Welsh language。 At length I said；
'It is a pity that you did not continue in the Church； you have a
turn for Psalmody； and I have heard of a man becoming a bishop by
means of a less qualification。'
'Very probably；' said Peter； 'more the pity。 But I have told you
the reason of my forsaking it。 Frequently； when I went to the
church door； I found it barred； and the priest absent； what was I
to do？ My heart was bursting for want of some religious help and
comfort； what could I do？ as good Master Rees Pritchard observes in
his 〃Candle for Welshmen〃：…
'〃It is a doleful thing to see little children burning on the hot
coals for want of help； but yet more doleful to see a flock of
souls falling into the burning lake for want of a priest。〃'
'The Church of England is a fine church；' said I； 'I would not
advise any one to speak ill of the Church of England before me。'
'I have nothing to say against the church；' said Peter； 'all I wish
is that it would fling itself a little more open； and that its
priests would a little more bestir themselves； in a word； that it
would shoulder the cross and become a missionary church。'
'It is too proud for that；' said Winifred。
'You are much more of a Methodist；' said I； 'than your husband。
But tell me；' said I； addressing myself to Peter； 'do you not
differ from the church in some points of doctrine？ I； of course；
as a true member of the church； am quite ignorant of the peculiar
opinions of wandering sectaries。'
'Oh the pride of that church！' said Winifred； half to herself；
'wandering sectaries！'
'We differ in no points of doctrine；' said Peter； 'we believe all
the church believes； though we are not so fond of vain and
superfluous ceremonies； snow…white neckcloths and surplices； as the
church is。 We likewise think that there is no harm in a sermon by
the road…side； or in holding free discourse with a beggar beneath a
hedge； or a tinker；' he added； smiling； 'it was those superfluous
ceremonies； those surplices and white nec