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; " 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.

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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 ance, 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

strictest police surveillance requires to be exercised over them all. And on this account, among persons engaged in such pursuits, more than in any other, "Business morality," in contrast to "Bible morality," may be said to be at the lowest ebb.

All this being indisputable, whether these "establishments" be high or low, need we add, is the occupation connected with them such in general, that any who are called Christians can rightly or lawfully engage in it? Are not all who name the name of Christ to "provide things honest in the sight of all men?" And can such an occupation be said to be either strictly honourable or honest? Is not the "resetter," or receiver, according to the proverb, "as bad as the thief?" Is it not, also, declared in Scripture, that "whoso is a partner with a thief hateth his own soul?" For, does he not court his own destruction for time, as well as eternity? And participating, as he does, in the thief's sin, must he not also participate in his suffering? Accordingly, if the pickpocket and thief, the robber and burglar, are taken and tried, and, when found guilty, condemned, can those who are engaged in the aforesaid employment, and who are virtually the accomplices of such evil-doers, be regarded innocent? Is the one to be branded with the

blackest stigma, and the other to be deemed an honest man? Is the one to be punished, and the other acquitted? Or, are men to be called upon to guard against committing any thing like peculation and theft, robbery and burglary, and not, also, against aiding and abetting peculators and thieves, robbers and burglars?

Not to enlarge upon the "hidden things of darkness" connected with this demoralizing system, to all who name the name of Christ may it not justly be said, as to every pursuit which fosters, or facilitates, any kind of stealing, or receiving what is stolen, "be not conformed to this world?" In regard to their daily pursuit in all its branches, as well as in regard to their daily practice in all things, should there not exist an unquestionable difference between them and the men of the world? With you, my dear readers, who profess to be Christ's, is it so in this respect; and that, not merely publicly but privately; not merely occasionally but constantly? If not, you are nothing like true practical non-conformists to the world, nor true Christians.

K