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and sat down in the porch。 It was empty； there was no modest
maiden there； as on the preceding Sabbath。 The damsel of the book
had accompanied the rest。 I had seen her in the procession； and
the house appeared quite deserted。 The owners had probably left it
to my custody； so I sat down in the porch； quite alone。 The hours
of the Sabbath passed heavily away。
At last evening came； and with it the party of the morning。 I was
now at my place beneath the oak。 I went forward to meet them。
Peter and his wife received me with a calm and quiet greeting； and
passed forward。 The rest of the party had broken into groups。
There was a kind of excitement amongst them； and much eager
whispering。 I went to one of the groups； the young girl of whom I
have spoken more than once was speaking： 'Such a sermon；' said
she； 'it has never been our lot to hear； Peter never before spoke
as he has done this day … he was always a powerful preacher； but
oh； the unction of the discourse of this morning； and yet more of
that of the afternoon； which was the continuation of it！' 'What
was the subject？' said I； interrupting her。 'Ah！ you should have
been there； young man； to have heard it； it would have made a
lasting impression upon you。 I was bathed in tears all the time；
those who heard it will never forget the preaching of the good
Peter Williams on the Power； Providence； and Goodness of God。'
CHAPTER LXXIX
Deep interest … Goodly country … Two mansions … Welshman's Candle …
Beautiful universe … Godly discourse … Fine church … Points of
doctrine … Strange adventures … Paltry cause … Roman pontiff … Evil
spirit。
ON the morrow I said to my friends； 'I am about to depart；
farewell！' 'Depart！' said Peter and his wife； simultaneously；
'whither wouldst thou go？' 'I can't stay here all my days；' I
replied。 'Of course not；' said Peter； 'but we had no idea of
losing thee so soon： we had almost hoped that thou wouldst join
us； become one of us。 We are under infinite obligations to thee。'
'You mean I am under infinite obligations to you；' said I。 'Did
you not save my life？' 'Perhaps so； under God；' said Peter； 'and
what hast thou not done for me？ Art thou aware that； under God；
thou hast preserved my soul from despair？ But； independent of
that； we like thy company； and feel a deep interest in thee； and
would fain teach thee the way that is right。 Hearken； to…morrow we
go into Wales； go with us。' 'I have no wish to go into Wales；'
said I。 'Why not？' said Peter； with animation。 'Wales is a goodly
country； as the Scripture says … a land of brooks of water； of
fountains and depths； that spring out of valleys and hills； a land
whose stones are iron； and out of whose hills thou mayest dig
lead。'
'I daresay it is a very fine country；' said I； 'but I have no wish
to go there just now； my destiny seems to point in another
direction； to say nothing of my trade。' 'Thou dost right to say
nothing of thy trade；' said Peter； smiling； 'for thou seemest to
care nothing about it； which has led Winifred and myself to suspect
that thou art not altogether what thou seemest； but； setting that
aside； we should be most happy if thou wouldst go with us into
Wales。' 'I cannot promise to go with you into Wales；' said I；
'but； as you depart to…morrow； I will stay with you through the
day； and on the morrow accompany you part of the way。' 'Do；' said
Peter： 'I have many people to see to…day； and so has Winifred； but
we will both endeavour to have some serious discourse with thee；
which； perhaps； will turn to thy profit in the end。'
In the course of the day the good Peter came to me； as I was seated
beneath the oak； and； placing himself by me； commenced addressing
me in the following manner：…
'I have no doubt； my young friend； that you are willing to admit
that the most important thing which a human being possesses is his
soul； it is of infinitely more importance than the body； which is a
frail substance； and cannot last for many years； but not so the
soul； which； by its nature； is imperishable。 To one of two
mansions the soul is destined to depart； after its separation from
the body； to heaven or hell； to the halls of eternal bliss； where
God and His holy angels dwell； or to the place of endless misery；
inhabited by Satan and his grisly companions。 My friend； if the
joys of heaven are great； unutterably great； so are the torments of
hell unutterably so。 I wish not to speak of them； I wish not to
terrify your imagination with the torments of hell： indeed； I like
not to think of them； but it is necessary to speak of them
sometimes； and to think of them sometimes； lest you should sink
into a state of carnal security。 Authors； friend； and learned men；
are not altogether agreed as to the particulars of hell。 They all
agree； however； in considering it a place of exceeding horror。
Master Ellis Wyn； who by the bye was a churchman； calls it； amongst
other things； a place of strong sighs； and of flaming sparks。
Master Rees Pritchard； who was not only a churchman； but Vicar of
Llandovery； and flourished about two hundred years ago … I wish
many like him flourished now … speaking of hell； in his collection
of sweet hymns called the 〃Welshman's Candle；〃 observes；
'〃The pool is continually blazing； it is very deep； without any
known bottom； and the walls are so high； that there is neither hope
nor possibility of escaping over them。〃
'But； as I told you just now； I have no great pleasure in talking
of hell。 No； friend； no； I would sooner talk of the other place；
and of the goodness and hospitality of God amongst His saints
above。'
And then the excellent man began to dilate upon the joys of heaven；
and the goodness and hospitality of God in the mansions above；
explaining to me； in the clearest way； how I might get there。
And when he had finished what he had to say； he left me； whereupon
Winifred drew nigh； and sitting down by me began to address me。 'I
do not think；' said she； 'from what I have observed of thee； that
thou wouldst wish to be ungrateful； and yet； is not thy whole life
a series of ingratitude； and to whom？ … to thy Maker。 Has He not
endowed thee with a goodly and healthy form； and senses which
enable thee to enjoy the delights of His beautiful universe … the
work of His hands？ Canst thou not enjoy； even to rapture； the
brightness of the sun； the perfume of the meads； and the song of
the dear birds which inhabit among the trees？ Yes； thou canst； for
I have seen thee； and observed thee doing so。 Yet； during the
whole time that I have known thee； I have not heard proceed from
thy lips one single word of praise or thanksgiving to 。 。 。'
And in this manner the admirable woman proceeded for a considerable
time； and to all her discourse I listened with attention； and when
she had concluded； I took her hand and said； 'I thank you；' and
that was all。
On the next day everything was ready for our departure。 The good
family of the house came to bid us farewell。 There were shaking of
hands； and kisses； as on the night of our arrival。
And as I stood somewhat apart； the young girl of whom I have spoken
so often came up to me； and holding out her hand； said； 'Farewell；
young man； wherever thou goest。' Then； after looking around her；
she said； 'It was all true you told me。 Yesterday I received a
letter from him thou wottest of； he is coming soon。 God bless you；
young man； who would have thought thou knewest so much！'
So； after we had taken our farewell of the good family； we
departed； proceeding in the direction of Wales。 Peter was very
cheerful； and enlivened the way with godly discourse and spiritual
hymns； some of which were in the Welsh language。 At length I said；
'It is a pity that you did not continue in the Church； you have a
turn for Psalmody； and I have heard of a man becoming a bishop by
means of a less qualification。'
'Very probably；' said Peter； 'more the pity。 But I have told you
the reason of my forsaking it。 Frequently； when I went to the
church door； I found it barred； and the priest absent； what was I
to do？ My heart was bursting for want of some religious help and
comfort； what could I do？ as good Master Rees Pritchard observes in
his 〃Candle for Welshmen〃：…
'〃It is a doleful thing to see little children burning on the hot
coals for want of help； but yet more doleful to see a flock of
souls falling into the burning lake for want of a priest。〃'
'The Church of England is a fine church；' said I； 'I would not
advise any one to speak ill of the Church of England before me。'
'I have nothing to say against the church；' said Peter； 'all I wish
is that it would fling itself a little more open； and that its
priests would a little more bestir t