PREFACE.

THE language of the poet,

"Salvation let the echo fly

The spacious world around."

is the earnest wish of the author of the

following work. In conformity with this view and feeling, he judges himself to be acting a consistent part, when he is endeavouring to rouse the Ministers of Christ to increased exertion.

The Established Church, of which he is a member, and to which he feels great attachment, though excellent, he thinks by no means faultless; but believes she is

easily capable of, and calls for considerable

improvement.

With the Evangelical Clergy he is far from being fully satisfied; and considers that, so long as they neglect to form their serious communicants, into private and truly Christian select societies, they will lose much of their labour and be comparatively useless.

In reading the Acts of the Apostles, one thing appears, on the face of the whole, too plain to be mistaken,-that all the new converts to Christianity, not only gave themselves to God, but to each other by the will of God.

Other faults, as well as this neglect of a plain New Testament duty, might be pointed out; but he has rather chosen to hold up before her Ministers the character of a Village Vicar, as he ought to

:

be; and, if this delineation have the least tendency to arouse, to exertion, those who have, of late, been comparatively regardless of their high rank and importance to society if the affectionate regard and esteem his pious conduct invariably excites in the circle, however extensive, in which he moves; the dignified station he holds. in society,-blessed and blessing in life,in death honoured and lamented: if one or all of these considerations be the cause of others imitating him, the author will feel himself gratified. He has yet a more solemn and higher motive of action,-he wishes, to the utmost of his power, to promote the interests of Christianity in every way. How far he may have succeeded in the attempt, the public will judge by his performance.

THE

1

VILLAGE VICAR.

CHAPTER I.

RALPH SPADEMAN AND JONATHAN HEDGEROW.

RALPH. NOW, now, where are you off for? you might let a body go with you. JONATHAN. O dear! I didn't see you, what, you're going my way. You've heard, I should think, that our young maister Charles Monson, is coming to be parson of our church; and preaches, for t' first time, next Sunday. Our poor old maister would have been pleas'd if he'd lived to see this day.

RALPH.Indeed! will he be here on Sunday? I'se heartily glad he's gotten

B