I
thought this a bad mark of a man seemingly so much set on
inculcating certain important points of religion, and resolved next
day to put him to the test, and request him to perform that sacred
duty in name of us both. He objected boldly; saying there were
very few people indeed with whom he could join in prayer, and
he made a point of never doing it, as he was sure they were to ask
many things of which he disapproved, and that, if he were to
officiate himself, he was as certain to allude to many things that
came not within the range of their faith. He disapproved of prayer
altogether in the manner it was generally gone about, he said.
Man made it merely a selfish concern, and was constantly
employed asking, asking, for everything. Whereas it became all
God's creatures to be content with their lot, and only to kneel
before him in order to thank him for such benefits as he saw meet
to bestow. In short, he argued with such energy that before we
parted I acquiesced, as usual, in his position, and never
mentioned prayer to him any more.
Having been so frequently seen in his company, several people
happened to mention the circumstance to my mother and
reverend father; but at the same time had all described him
differently.
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