Page:History of Charles Jones, the footman (2).pdf/12

12 diligence, and piety, were virtues. I therefore never swore, I never got drunk, I never gamed, I went to church as often as I could, I said my prayers night and morning, and on Sunday at least, if not on other days I read a little in my good old master's Bible. But here I soon found that all this was the worst vice I could be guilty of. As soon as they found me out, it seemed to be a trial of skill amongst them who should plague me most. One called me a Parson ; another, a Methodist ; a third, a conceited Prig ; a fourth, a canting Hypocrite. If I went into any other gentleman's kitchen it was all the same ; my character flew before me, and many were the jests and laughs raised both at home and abroad at my expence. In short, during three months, my life was a constant anxiety and torment ; so that at last I was almost tempted, God forgive me for the thought, to do as they did, and forfeit my everlasting soul in order to avoid the present uneasiness. But while things were in this state, I felt myself greatly and unexpectedly relieved one Sunday morning by a Sermon which I happened to hear from our Parish Minister, on the following text : ' Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil of you falsely for my sake, for great is your reward in heaven.' The excellent discourse which this pious man delivered on these words was so exactly suited to my circumstances and feelings, that it seemed as if it had been addressed solely to me ; and it pleased God so to apply what had been said to my heart and