metropolis, among the higher and middle classes of society, not more than half a century ago. At that time, and for a long period previous, the classes I refer to universally indulged in practices now as universally proscribed. They did not, to be sure, cheat, lie, and steal, but they did their utmost to injure their health and destroy their intellects, by habitual and excessive drinking. Hardly an entertainment took place at which the majority of the male guests did not drink to intoxication. It was thought a disgrace to the landlord if any of them went away sober, and the mark of a mean and cowardly spirit, if any one attempted to shy his glass, or to escape the scene of inebriety. This feeling is graphically described by Sir Walter Scott in his novel of Waverley, in his account of the revels at the Baron of Bradwardine's, and is alluded to by Burns in the well known lines, The first shall rise to gang awa, A silly coward loon is he; ! This picture is not overcharged; on the contrary, the half is not told. It was then no disgrace to a gentleman to be seen, or to be carried home, in a state of intoxication. Now, it will be admitted, such things are not merely rare, but we may say absolutely unknown. But the physical part of the evil was not the worst. The conversation at these nocturnal orgies was even more offensive to moral feeling than the liquor that was swallowed. The topics chosen, and the mode of treating them, were of the grossest description. Not boys, but grave serious men, as they "chirped over their cups," endeavoured to outdo each other in a species of discourse that would not now be tolerated any where. Profanity was, in many cases, added to licentiousness; and with many this became so much a habit, that they hardly ever opened their lips without taking their Maker's name in vain in the most blasphemous and absurd imprecations. This nuisance is also abated, and nothing of the kind is heard in any thing like civilized society. It must not be supposed, however, that our ancestors were so grossly stupid, and so gratuitously wicked, as to love these enormities entirely for their own sake. Many of the men I speak of possessed superior talents and convivial powers of a high order; and amidst their gross licentiousness and profanity, displayed a degree of wild wit, and reckless unrestrained humour, tempered by occasional appeals to better feelings, so as to render the whole not less seductive to the mind, than the wine that sparkled in the cup was tempting to the taste. All this is true; and it may be not less true, that as our entertainments have become more decent, they have, in some degree, also become more dull; but this only enhances the merit of the victory that has undoubtedly been gained over a custom "more honoured in the breach than the observance." It followed, perhaps necessarily, from this state of manners, that among the professions called learned, particularly the gentlemen of the bar, the Sabbath was almost invariably and systematically devoted to secular employment. So little was it regarded by them as a day of rest, that it was actually chosen, as being less liable to interruption, for those parts of business requiring the closest and most unintermitted attention. Frequently, also, the evening was spent in a renewal of the same festive pleasures which had employed the rest of the week, and certainly with no more restraint on the ebullitions of social glee. A worse evil than any I have mentioned, prevailed within the above period. Men were then not satisfied with "walking in the counsel of the ungodly," and "standing in the way of sinners;" but they set themselves, in many instances, in the "chair of the scorner.” There were many at that time who prided themselves in openly avowing their unbelief in, and scoffing at, the doctrines of religion and the persons of its professors. This worst of all nuisances is also completely put down. Even the boldest unbeliever does not now venture publicly on a profane jest; and if he has not learnt to respect religion, he at least does not openly insult the feelings of those who profess it. All these gross, undeniable offences, which within these forty or fifty years were notoriously and habitually indulged in by many among the higher and wealthier classes of society, are now so entirely removed, that some will hardly believe them to have existed; and I conceive it to be equally certain, that their removal has been mainly attributable to the zealous, able, and judicious efforts of our excellent divines. About the commencement of the period we have been considering, although there were many learned and worthy men in the Church, yet there was an apathy and lukewarmness in regard to Christianity among the people, and a want, upon the whole, of zeal and fervency, on the part of the clergy. Since that time a change in these respects has undoubtedly taken place. There has been in some degree a revival of the spirit and knowledge of the true faith. Men have arisen amongst us of energetic minds and splendid talents, who have contributed, as far as their exertions have extended, in removing the veil from men's hearts, and inducing many who "cared for none of these things" to attend to the divine message. The effects of their exertions have appeared not merely in the improvement of manners which has been noticed, but in the more regular attendance on places of worship. There were formerly few males of the higher classes who frequented the churches, which were either attended by women only, or more generally half empty; now there are few of either sex in the higher classes who habitually absent themselves from places of worship-and among all ranks the regular attendance, good order, and decent demeanour of those who attend, must strike every observer. But although our preachers were greatly more eloquent and effective than they are, it is impossible their instructions can benefit those who do not hear them. Those who do attend and listen, are benefited, and it will not be pretended that vice and misery prevail greatly among them, or, at least, that they are not diminished by the influence of preaching; but the class in which vice and misery really prevail, is a class that never enters a church, that has no opportunity of doing so. Our present places of worship are far too few in number for the accommodation of all classes, and these few are closed against the poor by high seat-rents; of course it is the lowest and worst class, those who have most need of instruction, and who are least inclined to seek it, who, under our present arrangements, are necessarily deprived of its benefits. The clergy, seeing how much our population has outgrown the means of instruction, are now anxious to supply this deficiency, and notwithstanding any opposition that may be made, it is hoped that this great desideratum will soon be obtained. After this is the case, and after the influence of preaching has been brought fully and fairly to bear upon the lowest and most degraded class, if it is then found to fail in diminishing vice and misery, it will be time enough to speak of the inefficiency of preaching. What I maintain, and what * 66 * Marry, the immortal part hath need of a physician, but that moves not them. Though that be sick, it dies not." I say is borne out by multiplied facts, is, that it has succeeded as far as it has been tried. If, then, it be true, that all the mighty empires of the old world fell by the force of inherent corruption, and, after a short period of prosperity, continued to decline until they came to utter ruin, it may be asked, why this has not yet been the case with us? We have seen Britain gradually rising, and, amidst many turmoils and revolutions, constantly advancing in prosperity and improvement for eighteen hundred years, till we have reached a pitch of wealth and refinement equal, perhaps, if not surpassing, those of any ancient state. Wealth, we have seen in their case, produced luxury, and luxury led to vice, and vice to total corruption and ruin. Why is not that our case? How does it happen that now, in the midst of all our overflowing wealth, we are still confessedly improving,—that the higher and middle classes are becoming purer instead of being more corrupt, that we are engaged in an attempt to reform all abuses, and that the only contest among our parties is, as to which are the best means of perfecting our institutions? The answer is, that Christianity has been the cause of our preservation. Christianity, taught in a pure and effective form, as it has now been taught among us for two centuries, rendering familiar to the people the sacred and sublime truths of the Gospel, and enforcing by their sanction the simple precepts of morality—calling into activity, and gratifying all the higher and worthier feelings of our nature and calculated, in course of time, to strengthen and improve these feelings, not in individuals merely, but in the race. Well and truly it has been said of the teachers of this divine doctrine, that they are the salt of the earth. H |