more active; to render their lives more useful, by making
them the immediate instruments of her charity; to take them out of
themselves, and teach them to compare their fictitious distresses with
real substantial misery, and to make them feel grateful for the power
and the privilege of relieving it.

"As Dr. Barlow has two parishes which join, and we had pre-occupied the
ground in our own, I advised them to found a school in the next, for the
instruction of the young, and a friendly society for the aged of their
own sex. We prevailed on them to be themselves not the nominal but the
active patronesses; to take the measure of all the wants and all the
merit of their immediate neighborhood; to do every thing under the
advice and superintendence of Dr. Barlow, and to make him their 'guide,
philosopher, and friend.' By adopting this plan, they now see the
poverty of which they only used to hear, and know personally the
dependants whom they protect.

"Dr. Barlow took infinite pains to correct Lady Aston's views of
religion. 'Let your notions of God,' said he, 'be founded, not on your
own gloomy apprehensions, and visionary imaginations, but on what is
revealed in his word, else the very intenseness of your feelings, the
very sincerity of your devotion, may betray you into enthusiasm, into
error, into superstition, into despair. Spiritual notions which are not
grounded on scriptural truth, and directed and guarded by a close
adherence to it, mislead tender hearts and warm imaginations. But while
you rest on the sure unperverted foundation of the word of God, and pray
for his Spirit to assist you in the use of his word, you will have
little cause to dread that you shall fear him too much, or serve him too
well. I earnestly exhort you,' continued he, 'not to take the measure of
your spiritual state from circumstances which have nothing to do with
it. Be not dismayed at an incidental depression which may depend on the
state of your health, or your spirits, or your affairs. Look not for
sensible communications. Do not consider rapturous feelings as any
criterion of the favor of your Maker, nor the absence of them as any
indication of his displeasure. An increasing desire to know him more,
and serve him better; an increasing desire to do, and to suffer his
whole will; a growing resignation to his providential dispensations is a
much surer, a much more unequivocal test.'

"I next," continued Mr. Stanley, "carried our worthy curat