too far removed from a church for their family to attend public worship, had they leifure enough on a Sunday for this duty; which, however, they seldom have, on account of the general custom of having a large party to dinner on that day *. It is painful to recollect what a fmall portion of the Sabbath goes to religion among many, who still retain a fenfe of the obligation to attend public worship. A fpecimen. of a diary, exhibiting the way in which Sunday frequently paffes with fuch perfons, though in a condition of life that affords fufficient time for recreation on the working days, may impress the reader's mind more than an argument on the fubject. Rofe at 8. Sunday, June 9th. Went to breakfast at 9, that we might be in time for church. At 11 went to church. Heard an excellent fermon from the Rector. Got home before 1. The carriage ordered. Took a delightful airing. Called on the Bartletts-and on the Bride and Bridegroom at Hill-Houfe. Sat an hour with Lady Caroline H. Called on Lindhurst, who fhewed us his new green house. Returned at 4. Had a most agreeable party at dinner. Tea at 7. After which, the heat of the day being over, we had a pleafant ftrole. Much diverted with M.'s oddities. Our party stayed with us till 10 o'clock. Went to bed at 11, being rather overdone with company. I mean not to attempt humour on fo ferious a fubje&t, but to let the reader fee at one view how the account What a mass of people does this contemplation present to us, never coming within the action of any thing adapted to the formation of religious character! and this in the midft of every incentive to vice, every means of unlawful pleasure, and the greatest facilities for the perpetration of every crime by which private happinefs or public safety may be endangered. "Great cities," as a learned Prelate has obferved, "have been properly called the graves of mankind: and they may with equal propriety be called the fepulchres of virtue; the nurseries of vice; the ftands. Out of 15 hours, only 2 of them given to religion! Without infifting on the ftrictness of a Jewish Sabbath, let it be seriously confidered,-whether employing only 2 hours out of 24 in a certain way, can with any propriety of speech be termed keeping a day for that purpose: Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy, Exod. xx. 8.)-Whether independantly of the particularity with which the fourth commandment in the decalogue is worded, (a law for the abrogation of which no man can bring a fingle proof from Scripture) all the religious and moral purpofes which in reafon can be supposed to have been in the view of him who fet apart the day, can in the nature of things be anfwered by the fingle act of attending the morning service at church :—whether fuch a way of disposing of the remainder of the day, as I have reprefented in the form of a diary, be not calculated fo to take the mind off from what was prefented to it at church, as to render attendance on public worship a practice of little effect to the individual, though his example in that act is of great fervice to the community. hot beds of corruption, phyfical, political, and moral *." But it is not in this fituation only that we perceive the diminished influence of our religious inftitutious on the minds of the people. Few of our villages, except fuch as lie at a confiderable distance from the great feats of commerce, manufacture, or fashion, but difcover it. In thefe fecluded fituations, the refident pastor, who with diligence in his function, and fuavity of difpofition, poffeffes -dignity of character, may have that authority over his flock which fhall be fufficient to fecure a very general attendance at church. But in places where there is lefs fimplicity, thefe virtues on the minister's part prove to be a very unequal match for the general and long-existing habits of irreligion which prevail. Here, as in the populous city, though not in equal abundance and variety, we fhall find the means of rendering men irreligious; and these much more operative than thofe which were inftituted for a contrary purpose. Here that bane of all order, all moral improvement, all domeftic virtues, the public-house, itands opposed to the church; and what paffes in the former, counteracts, to a vast extent, whatever is done in the latter. See the Bishop of Landaff's impreffive fermon, preached before the members of that excellent inftitution, the Society for the Suppreffion of Vice. It is well known to thofe who have attended to the habits that prevail in country towns, that in these schools of profligacy, as public-houfes may generally though not univerfally be characterized, the tradefmen, and other inhabitants of the place of their own rank, generally pafs the evening together; as do the labourers with their equals. This cuftom has the power of a tyrannical government in the place; few having refolution enough to refift its inducements; or to fet at defiance the contempt fhewn to him who chooses to spend his evenings at home. The influence it has in forming the character of a neighbourhood is amazingly great. I need not state all the evils, of which it is productive: it will be fufficient to fhow, the prodigious force with which it acts, against all endeavours for the formation of religious character. It fnatches from them, whom the occupations of the day indifpofe for ferious reflection, the only feafon when it is likely to come unfolicited. In the quiet bofom of his family, the wearied tradesman or labourer, would perhaps think a little in the evening of fomething relating to God, or his own foul. He might liften ere he went to rest to a chapter of the Bible, read by one of his children. But the attractions of company leave him no fuch falutary interval. His evening is filled up with noify mirth, or with converfation by which he learns neither to be a good fubject, or a ferious Chriftian: for if either politics, or religion, be the topic, all that he acquires is contained in a threwd objection, with which fome popular corrupter of public opinion has furnished the company; and which from its impofing nature ferves to disaffect his mind to government, or make him regard religion as a juggle. This cuftom is fometimes defended on the plea of its promoting good neighbourhood. But the argument must have little force with them, who know how common it is for men to quarrel in their cups and as for any other good end of fuch meetings, it is not fo much as pretended. The love of pleasure is the motive, by which the parties are led from their families to the publichouse. And here the paffion is increased by ufing the means of its gratification. It acquires a force that at length extinguishes every better defire. By the habit of pleasure, business becomes irkfome to many, and is neglected; or if the abfolute neceffity of attending to it prevent its being neglected, it is followed only as a means of procuring pleasure. Thus all inclination of mind toward the concerns of another life is deftroyed what can be fpared from bufinefs is not given to them, but to the gratification of the ruling paffion. To this, they give all their leifure |