two days after, as much as poſſible he could, ſhunned coming into her preſence, which much pleaſed her; for ſhe could not behold him, but with horror and deteſtation.
This attempt, however, in one ſenſe, (thro' the over-ruling providence and goodneſs of God, who is wonderful in counſel, and excellent in working, and can make the greateſt wickedneſs of his creatures, ſerve the purpoſes of his own glory,) worked to her advantage; for ſhe believed now all true which the Gardener had told her, about the wicked debauched lives of the Romiſh clergy, ſince this villainous prieſt had not ſcrupled to proffer the Pope's pardon for no leſs than adultery, and that before it was committed; by which means or encouragement, ſhe plainly ſaw, it muſt conſequently be, that they frequently tempted eaſy and ignorant people to the commiſſion of many ſins: Therefore, she reſolved to leave theſe blind guides, and take the word of God for her leader and inſtructor; forbearing to come to confeſſion, or to hear maſs, ſometimes upon pretence of indiſpoſition, and at other times, purpoſely, by going abroad, at the uſual times of either, and holding ſome other conferences with the Gardener; which (as to particulars) for brevity's ſake, I muſt of neceſſity paſs over.
She found in herſelf a ſtrange averſion to the religion ſhe had been brought up in; and having procured a Bible in the French tongue, took ſuch delight in reading it, that whenever ſhe had time to retire, it was not out of her hand: yet ſhe kept this as ſecret as poſſible; and not being ready at it herſelf, got the Gardener to turn her down ſuch proofs, as were the ſtrongeſt arguments againſt the errors of Popery,
and
