Page:Records of the Life of the Rev. John Murray.djvu/169

Rh our Lord cautioned his disciples to beware. "Well, there is something ingenious in that, I confess." We reached the ferry a little before sunset, and on landing at Newport: "There," said Mr. H, pointing to a small shop, "If you will call on that man, he will give you direction." I walked on, stopped at the door, and holding the bridle in my hand, asked the man behind the counter, if he would be so obliging as to inform me, which was the best inn for keeping horses? "Please to walk in, sir." I fastened my horse and entered the shop, and seeing the man look very gloomy, and hearing him sigh very bitterly, I concluded he must be under the pressure of some heavy calamity; and, as no woman appeared, I suspected the poor fellow must have lost his wife, and my sympathies were very powerfully excited. I was, however, solicitous about my horse, and again requested the requisite information. "Do not make yourself uneasy, sir, my little boy will be here in a few moments, when I will send him with your horse, and you will be so obliging as to tarry here, and drink tea; my wife is out of town, and of course things will not be so well, as if she were here." I was very much relieved by this intelligence, and sat down. "How far have you travelled to-day, sir?" From Preston, in Connecticut, sir. "Did you come alone, sir?" No, sir, I came in company with a Mr. H, one of your Teachers; I parted with him at the ferry. "Did he not ask you to his house?" No, sir. "Well, sir, I hope you will believe, there is not another man in this town, who would have been so deficient; you must, however, tarry here to-night, and we will take especial care of your horse." You are very obliging, sir; but I had rather, if you please, attend to my horse myself. "Will you, sir, be so good, as to leave this matter to me, and take some refreshment yourself? You are a public character, and I have been accustomed to attend to public characters." How do you know I am a public character? there is nothing in my appearance, which indicates it. "The moment you came to my door, it seemed as if some one had said, The person who addresses you is a preacher; take kind notice of him; and I immediately determined to obey the impulse." This instance of providential care nearly overpowered me, I was the more affected by this bright manifestation, as it closed a very dark day. It spoke, to my wounded mind, the language of assurance; my Divine Master was with me, and had prepared the heart of this man to receive me, and this soothing consideration gave me inexpressible pleasure. Had I been in a clerical dress, or had the smallest vestige of those habiliments been discernible, I should have believed those externals had produced their effect. But, divested as I