We said that the religion of Mr. Rowley did not go beyond the pious
duties of the Sabbath. This must be amended. His piety flowed into
certain benevolent operations of the day; he contributed to the
support of Indian and Foreign Missions, and was one of the managers
on a Tract Board. In the affairs of the Ceylonese and South-Sea
Islanders he took a warm interest, and could talk eloquently about
the heathen.

Not far from Mr. Brian Rowley's place of business was the store of a
man named Lane, whose character had been cast originally in a
different mould. He was not a church-going man, because, as he said,
he didn't want to be "thought a hypocrite." In this he displayed a
weakness. At one time he owned a pew in the same church to which
Rowley was attached, and attended church regularly, although he did
not attach himself to the church, nor receive its ordinances. His
pew was near that of Mr. Rowley, and he had a good opportunity for
observing the peculiar manner in which the latter performed his
devotions. Unfortunately for his good opinion of the pious Sunday
worshipper, they were brought into rather close contact during the
week in matters of business, when Mr. Lane had opportunities of
contrasting his piety and charity. The want of agreement in these
two pre-requisites of a genuine Christian disgusted Lane, and caused
him so much annoyance on Sunday that he finally determined to give
up his pew and remain at home. A disposition to carp at professors
of religion was manifested from this time; the whole were judged by
Rowley as a sample.

One dull day a man named Gregory, a sort of busybody in the
neighbourhood, came into the store of Mr. Lane and said to