of sin in England present any instances of similar wickedness:one mother, a year ago, who poisoned her four children in succession, for the sake of their burial money; another, within these few days, who held her own daughter alive over the fire until the wretched infant was roasted to death!

To what, Mr. Speaker, will all this grow, if no remedy be applied, or even attempted? If we will not, as a nation, undertake the mighty task, let us not, by a continuance of the present system, render it impossible to private enterprise. Within the last few years, the means of education, though still inadequate, have been greatly diffused; schools are multiplied; and zealous and qualified persons, within and without the Established Church, are ready to devote their energies to this service; but the entire absorption of the children by almost unceasing toil in so many departments of industry, defeats their efforts and breaks all their hopes. Does this state of things afford us any security? Far from it. Time was, when men believed, or rather maintained, that utter ignorance and excessive labour were the best guarantees for the tranquillity of the people-a sad delusion; for the most hardly worked, and the most brutally ignorant, can ever find time and intellect for mischief. Hundreds throng to the beer-shops and pot-houses to listen to seductive compositions in prose and verse, in which vice and violence are dignified into heroism; compositions written with fancy and power, and embellished with all the excellence of modern art. What a monstrous perversion of the noblest faculties, of talents bestowed to refine and elevate mankind! But their guilt is our guilt; we incur it by conniving at it certainly, by not repressing it.

'Oh gracious God! how far have we
Profaned thy heavenly gift of Poesy;
Made prostitute and profligate the Muse,
Debased to each obscene and impious use,
Whose harmony was first ordained above,

For tongues of angels, and for hymns of love!'

Sir, I much fear that I shall appear dogmatic, if I again presume to impress upon this House, the hollowness and danger of our actual position. We may obtain a surplus and reduce taxes,

increase our fleets and extend our commerce-excellent things in their way, but all unavailing, if they rest not on the moral and physical prosperity of the great mass of our people: it may flourish for a while, and we may exchange congratulations; but an hour of difficulty will soon disclose that we have done nothing what ever to assure our external dignity, or internal peace.

But while there is life there is hope; we have little to fear but from indifference or delay: and facilities for mischief, now so rife, are, in the order of a merciful Providence, alike facilities for good. The march of intellect, the restless activity, the railroads and steam-boats, the stimulated energies of mind and body, the very congregating of our people into masses and large towns, may be converted into influences of mighty benefit. Let the state but accomplish her frequent boast; let her show herself a faithful and a pious parent; such efforts, be assured, will not be lost in the sight of God: and her children will speedily," arise up, and call her blessed."

God Almighty open the hearts of our statesmen, and our members of Parliament to establish such righteous and merciful

measures.

INDEX.

Abused Truth, 111.

Achill Missions, 325.

African Slave Trade, 325.
Agricultural Labourers, 338.
Alexander, Bishop, Appendix.
Alison's History, 80.
Ambition, Warlike, 323.
American Indians, 329.
Antichrist, 266.
Armageddon, 38.

Arnold's Life, Preface, 287.
on Prophecy, Preface.
Ashley, Lord, 343, Appendix.
Assurance, 252.
Augustine quoted, 366.

Bajazet, Preface.

Bible Class, 258.
Bibliolatry, 289.
Birks' Elements, 9.
Boastfulness, 101.
Bodily wants, 337.
British Critic, 262.

Brown, Charles, Sermon, 307.
British Nation, 394.
Bunsen, Chevalier, Appendix.
Business, 412.

Camden Society, Preface.
Canning, 156.

Canterbury, Abp., Appendix,
Catlin's Indians, 329.

Chandler, Bp., Preface.

Dr. Sam., Preface.

Character of Trumpets, 1.
China, 327.

Churchman's Review, 288.
Claims of Labour, 391.
Colonies, 397.

Coming of Christ, 168, 302, 349.
Communication of Blessings, 374.
Communion of Holy Ghost, 372.
Compassion of God, 224.
Confession of truth, 196, 319.

Confirmation, 256.

Conscience fresh light, 350.
Conservatism, 81.

Consumption, Hospital for, 335.
Continent, 157, 401.

Continuance to the end, 254, 384.
Convocation, Oxford, Preface.
Coronation Service, 312.
Created in Christ, 383.

Creator, 226.

Crosthwaite's Sermon, 313.

Dangers of Christians, 69.
Daniel the Prophet, Preface.
Defrauding poor, 335.
Dewar, 157.

Diffusion of Truth. 319.
Dingle Mission, 398.
Distress temporal, 395.
District Visiting, 257.
Divisions, 122.
Doctrine of Christ, 246.

129. Drummond, 422.
Drunkenness, 135.
Dublin Review, Preface.
Duties, 175.

Christian Divines, Testimony, Pref.
Church Education Society, 398.
Church Extension, 145.

Duties of Ministers, 243.
towards God, 308.
toward men, 323.

East's Western Africa, 325.