heard of this, and it stirred up suspicion in him, which was rather confirmed by the constant visits of Doeg. Little Faith being rather uneasy about this matter, inquired into Doeg's private character; and found, upon inquiry,, that he was one of that sort who creep into houses, and lead captive silly women; such are laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, who are ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth, 2 Tim. iii. 6, 7.

Shepherd. O poor Little Faith! It is a sure omen of perilous days when young princes despises the counsels of the aged. "In the multitude of counsellors is safety, but a child that is left to himself will fall." When Samson refused to hearken to the counsel of his parents, they complied with his own request, and a sea of afflictions followed.

Steward. And so they did here: for, before Little Faith had been married a week, the spirit of jealousy came upon him, and he was jealous of his wife, Numb. v. 14. What to do he knew not: he was doatingly fond of her; yea, his very soul was wrapt up in her. The character of Doeg strengthened his suspicions, and the daily visits that he paid to the bride added fresh fuel to Little Faith's fire; and that which completed the scene of his misery was, that he knew that she was not a virgin when he married her. This was told me by one of the young princes to whom he unburdened his mind; and declared, that nothing but the

pains of hell, or bitter throes of the damned, could equal his present sufferings. He loved her to excess, and was plagued by the constant visits of a suspected rival of vile character. While his soul was scorching in the flames of jealousy, his wife was entertaining Doeg with smiles and amorous stories. And that,' saith he, which makes my case deplorable beyond conception is, that the King's face is hid; my mind is in bondage; my life hangs in doubt; and, with respect to my eternal state, I stand in jeopardy. But the charms of my wife, and the thoughts of a rival, swallow up all; so that, at times, I am regardless what becomes of my soul. Pray I cannot; I dare not face his Majesty, nor even send a thought toward him if I do, it recoils with the disapprobation of Heaven.' He added, 'Had I hearkened to the Steward, I had escaped this snare of the fowler. He cautioned me, and warned me; but others prejudiced my mind against him, accusing him of rancour, and of taking too much upon him. However, his words stuck to my heart, and my own conscience seconded his counsel; and, as soon as I turned my back upon him, the King turned his back upon me. I despised his reproof, and hardened my neck by it. I am a backslider in heart, and shall be filled with my own ways; for it is written, "He that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead."

Shepherd. Married people shall have trouble

in the flesh; but, if believers match with infidels, they shall have trouble on all hands. Samson's match with the Philistine damsel; David's with Michal; Abigail's with Nabal; Solomon's with the Heathens; the Jews with the daughters of Ashdod; Ammon, and Moab, and the Antediluvian professors, with the daughters of Cain; with all their dreadful consequences; are left upon record to caution the child of God. Many are married before their adoption, and one may be taken by the King, and the other left; and the King's choice may set a household at variance: but, both being infidels when married, here is plenty of room for wishes, but none for such reflections as those of Little Faith, who sinned with his eyes open. Pray, had Little Faith any money with her?

Steward. I believe he had a little: but that was not an object with him; it was love to her person, not to her money, that entangled him in this snare.

Shepherd. Pray, how came Little Faith acquainted with those gentlemen that were at the wedding?

Steward. I never knew till a few days ago. One of the princes, to whom Little Faith opened his mind, told me, that he owned to him that he had privately frequented the love-feasts of the Hagarenes during the whole time of his courtship, in order to gain the consent, and to get into

the good graces, of Mara's parents and frients; and by those means he gained their consent, and passed among them for a man of candour and liberal sentiments. Here Little Faith acted with a double face, to gain a wife with a double heart.

Shepherd. Those love-feasts are rightly named, for young lovers are very fond of them. I am informed that many young wantons have begun to love at a love-feast, who have never fasted from strife and debate all their days after. I suppose they are like the Moabitish festivals, to which the men of Israel were invited through the counsel of Balaam.

Steward. Some of them are, for all sorts are admitted; members of the Royal Society, and even members of the Hell-fire Club may get in. Babes in grace, and bucks of the first head, are mixed together; mothers in Israel, and even mother-procurists. Some go to seek a word of exhortation; and, if report be true, some have gone to seek provision for the brothel. All huddle together, all break a bun, and give the right hand of fellowship. Mara and Doeg were remarkably fond of this branch of human religion: These were spots in their feasts of charity, feeding themselves without fear: "Clouds without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots," Jude 12.

Shepherd. Well, as Little Faith went to their

love-feasts, it is right that he should be left to long for a love-fast. He banqueted with them, and he must expect to pay the reckoning.

Steward. He now pays as he goes, poor soul! For I was informed that his flesh is wasted upon his bones he is a mere shadow, and almost frightful to behold; while his soul is like a vessel in a storm, and the daily provocations that he meets with drive him to his wit's end.

Shepherd. Pray, did he ever open his mind to his wife about it?

Steward. About six weeks after the wedding, he did, as I was informed.

Shepherd. And what effect had it?

Steward. He told one of the young princes that, for above a month, he did nothing but weep over her; and that he could not endure her out of his sight, nor even that a person should look at her. She perceiving this, got more and more cold and indifferent to him; and grief of mind rendering him such a ghastly figure, she began to ridicule and despise his person and unsightliness: and he declared to his brother, that he could see the work of the devil on both sides; for he operated upon his inordinate affections, to chain his soul to her; and at the same time worked in her to despise his affections and person. Being unable to hold in any longer, he opened his mind to his wife; told her the cause of all his grief; and begged that, as he could not get over it, notwithstanding all his efforts, she would feel a little for him, shew her