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26 purged from the corruptions of popery, taking the revealed will of God for its guide.

At this Deidamia pauſed a while—and then taking his Bible, looked over the ſacred proofs he had turned down in order; and her colour went and came ſo, that he eaſily perceived her mind was labouring under ſome difficulties; and ſo, giving him it again, ſhe went away without ſpeaking one word.

This ſomewhat perplexed the Gardener, fearing ſhe was diſpleaſed with what he had ſaid; but, her ſending for him privately to her chamber the next morning, under the notion of bringing her ſome choice flowers, baniſhed all fear in him; when, they two being only left together, ſhe gently led him into the cloſet, and ſhutting the door to be more private, ſaid, Bernard, (fetching a deep ſigh) your yeſterday's diſcourſe has much broken my laſt night's reſt. I have been meditating on it, and I find abundance of reaſon in what you ſay. You have, as St. Paul ſaid in another caſe, almoſt perſuaded me to be of your perſuaſion.

I wiſh to God, moſt virtuous lady, (replied he) I might be a humble inſtrument in God's hand, to do any thing that may redound to his glory, and the good and welfare of your precious and immortal ſoul, without hazarding your temporal quiet and peace, or expoſing you to any danger; though for a crown of life and immortality, all earthly things are to be deſpiſed: And the holy apoſtle accounts all this world's good but as droſs and dung, in compariſon of enjoying Chriſt Jeſus. Well, ſaid ſhe, this is my aim; and if God enables me, with his aſſiſting grace, I hope, thro' his mercy, to attain it. I have, indeed, continued ſhe, to my grief, served