endeavoured to amuse! Surely, if the first part of this discourse be not out of order, the second is glaringly so. And, possibly, the speaker, being of that opinion or feeling, turns to lower topics of address, to weaker arguments and motives, and delivers himself of a half-moral, half-philosophical address, of which his hearers have no difficulty in disposing. Thus the afternoon lecture to the working classes comes to an end. But if this be so,—that the great evangelical topics are left aside in addresses to the common people intended for their religious good,—is it surprising that they are hard to win, and still more difficult to keep? If "Christ crucified" will not win and hold the attention of vagrant sinners to their religious concerns, what else will? Truly, Christ Himself must be preached by those who know Him, love Him, love the souls that He has bought, and have a holy and earnest compassion for them, with confidence in the competency of the Gospel, preached with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven, to their recovery. And is it not more of Christ, and of a Divine unction in preaching Christ, that is needed, rather than these very equivocal enticements, to bring careless men within reach of hearing? It is not more “slang,” but—let us put the words apart as far as may be more " unction," ," "the unction of the Holy One," that is wanted in our pulpits. To gain this, Ministers must pray more earnestly, live yet more holily, and be "instant in season, out of season."

We also suggest, whether there is not danger lest steady and serious hearers (especially the young) should think more lightly than heretofore of Divine things, and of "preaching" as a Divine ordinance. Can they listen to their own Minister with the same respect and deference, after seeing these announcements, and listening to these lectures? If not, more may be lost than gained.

An able correspondent of one of the public journals, after giving some of the above headings, proceeds thus :

"It really strikes me that this sort of thing is beginning to go too far. Not that the supply of grotesque titles is at all likely to run short. A large pile of tracts which I have gradually accumulated, as well as the weekly announcements of which the foregoing are but specimens, quite prevent any such apprehension. But the novelty is passing off, and the device is getting flat....... Perhaps the climax was attained the other day, in one of the northern manufacturing towns, when a worthy Minister published as his subject for the next Sunday, 'DIRT PIES.' In this instance the Preacher's brethren took alarm, and succeeded in persuading him that, even for the working classes,' the dish was too unsavoury. A milder repast was therefore substituted.......But a greater danger still is, that the lecturer will frequently and sometimes unconsciously be led into the attempt to follow up his piquant announcement by an equally spicy discourse. The reader of Mr. -'s lectures, at will understand what

I mean. It is astonishing that so acute a man should not know that his richly-humorous and highly-flavoured pictures of vice must make his succeeding moral lessons tame. After all,' the comment will be, these

Parsons are not such bad fellows: they are up to life, you see; and, if they liked, could talk our slang with the best of us.' But here the approbation will stop. The laugh excited has not been a manly contemptuous derision of vice, but a mirthful appreciation of the genius that has so delineated it; and a permanent reformation might as soon be expected to follow the perusal of the 'Sketches by Boz.'

"The gravest question follows. In all this teaching where is the Gospel? It will be replied, that the way for this is being prepared : First secure the ear of the people.' It may be so; and yet the evangelical sequel seems long in coming. Will it ever come? In lecture after lecture that I have read, there is not an intelligible word of the Redeemer of men, nor a single announcement of the only way to everlasting life. The series most distinguished by intellectual power, that of Mr. ——, of is greatly open to this objection. True, there is little flippancy, or attempt at mere raciness in his descriptions of vice. Here he is always stern and solemn, and speaks with noble crushing indignation. But the great remedy for the evil is withheld, or indicated with a mysterious and unaccountable reserve. In a word, the Cross is veiled; and that, where its exhibition would have been often not only appropriate, but fraught with deepest pathos and overwhelming power."

Marvellous it is to us that intelligent men should not perceive that "the working classes," above all others, are uninfluenced toward religion by any but the highest class of motives. They have little incentive from taste, from enthusiasm, from the love of activity and the want of occupation; and but little, in general, from the "habits and prejudices" of early training. Religion is no "profession" to them; no means of getting a living; it offers no respectability of which they are emulous, and no pleasures which they desire. They wish their pursuits and amusements and indulgences to be altogether unrestrained, except where the order of society, and some still higher interests of their own, (interests higher than their amusements and indulgences,) imperatively demand control. Unless, therefore, religion can be shown to them to be an urgent necessity, they excuse themselves for all other reasons. They prefer what they have, with all its drawbacks and inconveniences, to what you recommend; and, as the matter is one of option, they let your religion alone, its many advantages notwithstanding. Be it also borne in mind, that the " common people" have a very good share of common sense. This sort of sense is in constant activity in relation to their immediate interests and tastes; and scholastic deficiencies do not impede its application to matters of religion. How then will you make religion a matter of urgent necessity to those who do not desire it, but by producing and making clear and unquestionable ▲ DIVINE AUTHORITY Which claims absolute, irresistible, and unchallengeable control over them; which finds and declares them guilty of sin; which reserves inevitable and terrific punishment for that sin in eternity; and which also sets forth the compassion of God, the yearning and suffering love of Christ, the pleasure of God that all contrite sinners should have pardon for the

Saviour's sake, and eternal life and happiness; the tender, urgent, and oft repeated invitations of the Gospel; the long-suffering of the Great Ruler with impenitent men, and the awful and certain doom awaiting perseverance in sin;—and which encompasses the whole of these communications with a power and fidelity that will leave nothing unaccomplished? The gracious and urgent exhibition of all these may bring the sinner, long heedless but now listening, to bay. His common sense, aided by his conscience, (and, above all, by the Holy Spirit, who is specially with these topics of address,) may here discern a point of commanding interest. There is a choice, it is true; but it is only between obedience and destruction, between everlasting life and everlasting damnation. And the opportunity of decision is short and uncertain. So the case is serious and immediate ; and the interest, individual. These topics and these alone-great things, on a great Authority-will pin down the attention, and, by grace, win the concurrence and solicitude of working sinners, having common sense and the common conscience. But they are not to be turned from their delights and preferences by weaker arguments; by less authority, or less compassion. They are not to be caught with chaff. The compassions of God and His incarnate Son, and their own interests in eternity united therewith,these, and nothing meaner,-will open the ear, and awe the mind, of rebellious and contemptuous man. And can we, who still require the conjoint force of all these things to keep us steady in the way, and sustain us that our footsteps slip not, wonder that it should be so?-we, who, under the spiritual temptations and bodily weaknesses of life, find it necessary to feel again and again the pillars and foundations on which everything rests?

This recent revival of effort to reach "the people" began, if we mistake not, with the Established Church; and, so far as we have observed, the announcements of the Episcopalian Clergy have been modest, dignified, and not unbecoming themselves or their cause. Some of the Nonconformist Clergy have stepped beyond due bounds in this matter, seeming to say, with a flourish, to their forerunners, "O, we can do that better-more boldly, more takingly, with better knowledge of mankind—than you.” But we say this with no unkindness. They are good men, and will cease from these things. We believe our Methodist brethren have not been much in fault, if at all; and we trust that, in this direction, they never will be. Matters, however, have come to such a pass, that it seemed necessary to remonstrate; not only to check the evil, but to save the public taste from depravation, and the pulpit from contempt.

To bring this long paper to a close :-The course of remark which has been pursued must not lead anyone to suppose that Methodism is in any sad predicament, or has any threatening weakness or infirmity. Far from it. Rather let him suppose the opposite. A falling church will not readily call general attention to its own decay. But when a church can look its own errors and dangers in the face, and make more rather than

less of them, by way of being fully warned; and when, moreover, it invites public attention to the process of examination; it may generally be presumed that such a church is conscious of stamina,-of inherent strength. The openness with which it reproves its own faults, and contemplates its own dangers, will by no means lower it in public estimation. It is only a man conscious of resources by which he can hold or regain respect, who can afford to speak frankly of his real infirmities, and, if need be, to reduce the estimation in which he is held, and which he conceives to be excessive. And so with a church. Methodism is still, by God's grace, "a strong tower." But, to keep it such, the watchmen need to go round about it from time to time; to mark the first indications of wear or decay, where the mortar crumbles, where a stone is loose, where the foundation yields; and, by prompt and efficient repair, to keep it in stability and beauty: yea, to "mark well her bulwarks," and "consider her palaces;" so that the "generations following" may know that the great Being who dwells there, and who is the ornament and glory of the place, is the God of Zion, and that He will be "our God," and their God, "for ever and ever," and the "Guide" of His people, and the upholder of His church, from one generation to another, throughout all ages, and world without end.

"This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by MY SPIRIT, saith the LORD OF HOSTS."

"HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY."

A RECENT EXAMPLE IN PROOF.

In these days of gigantic frauds, extensive embezzlements, and shamefully reckless proceedings, we are reminded of the story of Diogenes, who, furnished with a lantern, set off at noonday in search of an honest man. If anyone is at present bent upon a similar errand, the following narrative may point to the whereabouts of such a person; or, at any rate, may prove that individuals of inflexible integrity are yet to be found, who firmly believe the truth of the old axiom which stands at the head of this page.

In the early part of the year 1855, a station-master in the service of the Midland Railway Company, located in a mining district, saw, upon opening the door of a first-class carriage, a small pocket-book lying in one corner. He picked it up, unobserved by any human eye, and placed it carefully in his pocket. As a prudential measure, he then requested a gentleman, well known to him, to step into his office and witness the opening of the pocket-book. It was found, upon examination, to contain thirty pounds in notes, bankers' receipts for thousands, and many other valuable papers. Here would have been a prize for an unfaithful servant, or any dishonest man. The conscientious station-master, however, upon discovering the name of the owner, immediately communicated with that gentleman; informing him that the lost treasure was safe, and at his com

mand, whether he chose to fetch it or to have it transmitted. The latter course was decided upon. Some weeks elapsed after this, without an acknowledgment of safe receipt. Various and conflicting thoughts revolved, during this interval, in the mind of the honest station-master.

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Surely," thought he, "the gentleman must have received the parcel. How can it be? Strange-unbusiness-like-not to say, ungentlemanly!" Such reflections were quickly dispersed one morning by the appearance of the gentleman in question, who had come down by train. Inquiring for the station-master, he wished to speak to him privately; when, without hesitation, he offered him a lucrative situation, as agent at a neighbouring colliery. Salary, more than was wished for; and the amount to increase with the number of years of service. "What testimonials shall you require, Sir?" asked the astonished railway-official. "None," rejoined the other: "I will take you without any. I am perfectly satisfied in reference both to your integrity and your capability." The station-master (happily a Christian man) was filled with deep gratitude to God. He clearly saw the finger of Providence. He found the inspired truth illustrated in his own case: "In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." Resigning the situation he then held under the Midland Railway Company, he soon after removed to his new sphere of employment, in which he still moves with great credit and respectability. He enjoys the full confidence of his employer, of which he has had many pleasing and substantial proofs. Respect and esteem are reciprocated betwixt master and servant.

Comment is scarcely necessary. The narrative will speak best for itself. Is not such an example of uprightness worthy the imitation of all, and especially of young men, who are placed in situations of trust and responsibility? A contrary course, in which there has been a departure-slow and measured, it may be, at first-from rectitude of principle, has ruined its thousands and tens of thousands. The conduct of the station-master ought, of course, to have been just what it was, had there been no possibility of pecuniary benefit resulting; and it would have been so. But is not the prosperous agent one of many living witnesses that "honesty is the best policy?" J. B.

COMMUNION WITH THE TRI-UNE GOD.* CLEVEDON, September 16th, 1832.-During the greater part of the past night I was unwell and wakeful; but was filled with the spirit of praise, and was delightfully conscious of the Divine presence. By faith I joined the heavenly choir,-the first-born sons of light; and, though utterly unworthy, echoed back their ascriptions of glory, honour, and power to the Great THREE-ONE. I rose in the morning indisposed in body, but my soul was calm and peaceful as the still waters. At family-worship I was

* "Love made Perfect." See SELECT LITERARY NOTICES.