number of persons, whose regular employment, chiefly if not solely, forms a direct encouragement to stealing. Many of this number, also, consist not merely of the men of the world, but of professing members of the Church. In other words, of each of these classes, there are many who are owners of "establishments," whether yclept, in the momenclature of the world, "big pawns" or wee pawns," which are nothing less than nurseries for every kind of theft-pilfering and pocket-picking, robbery and burglary—with all the prey and booty, in the sense of soft goods and hard goods, thus surreptitiously filched.

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Strong as this language is, it is fully borne out by what thieves themselves have declared, whether they have been members of "the Carron Company," or "the Brass Band." For, they have openly confessed, that, "were it not for pawning establishments, as well as resetting houses, there would be fewer thieves;" and not only so, but that, "if such establishments were put down, house-breaking would cease." Such

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a consummation" as this, in each of these respects, is "devoutly to be wished." But, even although these dens of thieves, or refuges of robbers, were at once swept away, while no such Utopian dream is to be cherished as that thieving would then disappear from amongst us, a better

state of things, by way of approximation to that point, might possibly be attained.

Apart, however, from such confessions of criminals, the theft-fostering nature of these establishments is abundantly corroborated by numerous facts which cannot be impugned. For, stringent as legislative enactments and police regulations are, in regard to such places, and strictly as they are carried out by the shrewdest and most lynx-eyed "detectives," ways and means of evasion or concealment are too often and too easily employed, without marring, mutilating, or metamorphosing the articles received. It is also notorious, that, in these establishments, articles the most costly and curious, the richest and rarest, of every kind, as well as of gold and silver, are received as readily from the young as from the old; from the most disreputable in appearance as readily as from the more decent; from the most wretched as readily as from the more respectable. In short, it is “a great fact,” that these articles are too frequently received in the most improper manner; 66 no questions being asked" as to the way in which they came into the possession of such individuals. Or if, for formality's sake, any questions are put, the most unlikely answers are too often accepted as satisfactory. Indeed, the most implausible asnwers

are generally regarded the most palatable; and contradictions pass current for corroborations. In the most suspicious cases, likewise, too many of the proprietors of such places of business, instead of retaining the articles presented, and lodging information with the legal authorities for inquiry, do every thing possible to thwart the course of justice, and to encourage theft. As a necessary consequence of all this, the articles which are offered are parted with, or pawned, not only at a price far below their known worth, but at the merest nominal trifle.

It is, no doubt, true, that, as in other pursuits, some of these establishments differ very much in point of worldly position. So much is this the case, that while some of them are, in appearance, of the meanest kind, others may almost be said to be of the most magnificent description. It is also true, that many in this line of life conduct their occupation, "such as it is," in a manner vastly superior to others. However, whatever be the position which they severally possess, from the lowest to the highest grade, and whatever be the mode in which they generally prosecute their profession, we are warranted to assert, on the authority of criminal statistics, that most, if not all of them, are far from what they should be in point of morality. On this account, the

quests known unto God in prayer?" Yet, how much is prayer restrained by professing Christians in the closet, and in the family? Of how many may it not rather be said, that they have no secret place for prayer by themselves, and that they make no open acknowledgment of God in their families, in lying down or in rising up, or even in partaking of their daily meals, but are as the beasts that perish; or worse than the fowls of the air, that chant their morning and evening songs to the praise of their Creator?

Of all God's true people, may it not, likewise, still be said, that "they that fear the Lord speak often one to another, and God hearkens and hears, and a book of remembrance is written?" Is not the promise, also, still valid, that "where two or three are gathered together in Christ's name, he will be in the midst of them, to bless them, and to do them good;" and, likewise, that "when two or three unite together in asking any thing, he will do it for them," when it is for his glory and their good? Yet, how many are strangers to Christian fellowship, or to any thing like "delight in the saints of the earth," and also to prayer-meetings for themselves and others? At the same time, how true is it of such persons, that, in the most inclement weather, their places are seldom vacant at the weekly,

or monthly, meetings of secular Associations, or Societies? Is this at all consistent, not to say christian-like?

In this manner, has not God "chosen Zion for his habitation," and declared, that he "loveth the gates of Zion more than the dwellings of Jacob;" and are we not commanded "not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is?" Yet, how frequently is the sanctuary forsaken, and its services of praise and prayer, which are the most important parts of divine worship, neglected, for the most frivolous reasons? For, although at the present day church-going is ranked amongst "the recognised proprieties of life," how often are the most pitiful pretences assigned for non-attendance?-such as, that the weather is "too hot or too humid; too cold or too chill; too windy or too wet; too dusty or too damp; too sunny or too sultry!" And, not to speak of the too oft-repeated excuses of taking medicine, or of obtaining medical advice, on the Sabbath, how often is absenteeism from church pleaded on the ground of attending to private affairs, or writing letters to friends; of paying or receiving visits; of dining in or dining out; of walking or riding—as if God's claim to the Sabbath, and to the Sanctuary, were not prior and supreme to all such things? Now, not to