ings for the habitual worship of God. They promote social and friendly intercourse among neighbours, acquaintances, and fellow-citizens; they serve to refresh and renovate the mind, after its labor and perplexity through the six days of the week; they tend to the formation of moral and religious character, assist in the attainment of religious truth, and the cultivation of religious thoughts and feelings. He who lightly esteems these advantages can lay no claim to the character of a true philanthropist or Christian philosopher. Let the Sabbath, and its institutions of worship, be banished from among us, and what should we realize? A state of things which would not only fill the Christian with horror, but which would cause the very Sabbathbreaker and scoffer at religion himself to exclaim, "What meaneth this desolation?"

Before speaking of attendance on public worship, I would direct the reader's attention to one of the main pillars in the Christian temple; the Christian Ministry. My limits will not permit me to go into any elaborate defence of religious teachers. They were appointed anciently; they are needed now; and they will be needed until Christian truth shall be so universally diffused, and so well understood, that none shall have occasion to say to his brother, "Know the Lord; for all shall know him from the least to the greatest."

While then we have need of a Christian ministry, it is necessary that this ministry be duly supported. This introduces a delicate subject; not to those who are ever ready in every good word and work, for the promotion of religious truth, but to those whose love of money is too strong to permit them to contribute to the support of ministers. Let me speak, however, with all plainness. In

many religious societies, and among the professed friends of gospel truth where no society exists, are to be found certain narrow-minded brethren, who can talk much about "the glorious Gospel," and tell of their devotion to its cause, and how long they have striven to support it against all the powers of the enemy, and how refreshing it is to them to hear the "glad tidings" proclaimed; but who never seem to think, that five dollars will go further than five dimes in the payment of the preacher, when they are amply able to pay ten times the former sum every year! Many examples of this kind might be enumerated, but these pages would be disgraced by such a black list. I have known a society completely paralyzed by three or four such flint-souled members. They had enough of property, but could not spare it to aid in sustaining the ministry; while those in more limited circumstances were doing their utmost for the support of the Gospel.

It is well known, that in many places, throughout our country, where itinerant preachers, of some denominations, have been; where people have had but little to pay for preaching hardly worth the pains taken to go and hear it, a kind of antipathy to the payment of salaries has been engendered. And some honest-minded preachers of the Gospel have suffered themselves to encourage this disposition, till they found they were making themselves liable to the imputation conveyed in the apostle's language, "He that provideth not for his own, hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." This has opened their eyes, and led them to change their course. I have often been struck with the following section in Murray's "Letters and Sketches." He is writing to a friend.

"The money enclosed in your letter was opportune,

and I cordially thank you for it. When you first knew me, money was not in all my thoughts; I regret that I have lived to see the time when a variety of pressing wants oblige me to think so much of it; but I shall have less of these wants every day. Say what they will of money, we cannot pass through life with comfort or peace without it. I do not say the possession of money always gives happiness and peace; I am persuaded it does not ; but our blessed Master taught his disciples, that if they would make friends in this world, it must be by the mammon of unrighteousness. We must, while we live in this world, buy and sell, and this cannot be done without the mark of the beast. We cannot answer the demands

made upon us, without money, and we are not blessed with the privilege of repairing to the margin of the deep, and there receiving it from the mouth of a fish."*

One truth is clear. If people believe preaching is worth nothing, they will pay accordingly; and if this is the price demanded, they will not seek to raise it. Heaven save our religious societies and communities from the soporific influence of those who are wondering why ministers cannot preach for nothing and support themselves! Ministers are men; they have wants like others, and must be provided for. And they must have time for study, or they cannot make useful and acceptable preachers at the present day. Working on the farm, or in the workshop, or actively pursuing any secular business all the week, and then preaching on the Sabbath, may answer for a time, under certain circumstances; but such preaching will not keep pace with the times; and this the preacher must do, if he would be "a good minister of the Lord

* Letters and Sketches, Vol. II. p. 395.

Jesus." Religious truth should not be behind every thing else, as it has been for ages past. Preachers must study; therefore they need support. And friends of gospel truth should contribute liberally. Every one ought to make a just estimate of his property, and ask himself how much he is able to give, yearly, for preaching. And when he subscribes, he should also ask himself how the amount set off against his name, on paper, will affect the minds of others. If he is illiberal in this respect, poorer members may be; and thus a society will not do justice to its powers.

Punctual payments are necessary. Whoever subscribes, or agrees to pay his proportion, should calculate to be ready to make payment when it is due; for the salary is the preacher's living. He has earned it, and it belongs to him; and if, instead of receiving it, he is put off with mere promises, it serves to discourage him. Let a minister's friends evince their attachment to him, not by mere words and professions, but by giving him substantial proof that they are determined to make his situation with them a happy one. Promises are poor articles for food or clothing.

Some societies of believers are very much given to hearing noted preachers; neglecting, at the same time to encourage those who are just going forward in the ministry. This, in many cases, is wrong. There may be instances, we know, where it is better, that some experienced pioneer should lead the way in preaching to a people; but then he may be safely followed, under favorable circumstances, by one of less note, but yet who possesses good talents and a warm heart. I am always interested in those societies who are willing to encourage

young preachers. Such a disposition shows, that they are aware of the importance of having "more laborers in the vineyard."

Let the close-fisted professor, who will say, that preachers ought not to receive large salaries, and who acts as though he believed his saying; and the captious infidel, who accuses ministers of laboring solely for money, talk as they will, the minister, like every other teacher and workman, must be supported. Those who appreciate gospel truth, understand this; and from them it should be made known, that their ministers shall never suffer nor mourn in secret of their coldness and neglect, while they have the means of supporting them. "God loveth a cheerful giver."

We now speak of attendance on public worship. In vain are temples erected to the worship of God, and ministers chosen to officiate therein, if those who profess to interest themselves in these subjects, exercise all their influence away from the house of worship. It is necessary that a strict attendance at the public sanctuary be maintained. Preaching without hearers will do but little good.

The neglect of public worship is a great evil in many religious societies. It has a direct tendency to make enemies to Christianity. Unbelievers and indifferent ones will say, "If those who are members of Christian societies and churches, do not feel interested enough in their own doctrines to go and hear them proclaimed, they need not accuse others of stupidity and sin." This is the influence; and let those who stay away from public worship without a cause, think of it.

Half-day worshippers set a bad example. I mean those