ing and endeavoring to be ready, whenever called, to render its account.'*

THE CHAPEL.

I have already gone as far as is consistent with the plan of these articles in describing the influence exerted upon the various classes of the Poor by this Ministry in its Pastoral Visits. In regular course, I must now speak of the moral importance of the Chapel. And this topic would properly require another series of communications. But the whole subject must be brought rapidly to its conclusion. The claims of our Public Worship must therefore be presented in a single statement. Limits so narrow will oblige me to give much of what I have to say in the shape of general remarks rather than that of particular details. I shall hope, however, that these general remarks may be not only consistent with all the details that could be given, but really an extract and condensation from them.

Some seem possessed with the idea, that all the Poor need, as spiritual beings, is to be visited kindly from house to house. And they would suppose the accounts already given embrace all that is needful or profitable to be done. On the contrary, I believe most strongly in the vast importance of the Poor having the 'gospel preached,' proclaimed to them, as they sit in the great congregation. This importance, indeed, presents itself to my mind as swelling out infinitely beyond my power of description. I will, however, just glance at a few particulars. What, then, are some of the benefits of Public Worship to the Poor.

1. It fills out the meaning and power of Holy Writ. The poor man is not compelled to read of the pleasures of the house of God while debarred from their experience, -of the songs of the temple, without joining in their harmony, of the prayers of the great Assembly, while the pulse of devotion in his own heart beats feebly and alone, unquickened by the fervent tones of the pulpit-service,

* Dr Tuckerman's Sermon at the ordination of Messrs Barnard and Gray, pp. 26, 27.

and the sympathy of listening hundreds, whose souls are on these tones borne up to heaven. 'How amiable are thy Tabernacles, O Lord of Hosts!' The words are no mockery to him,—but he can add with the Psalmist, 'Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee!'

2. This Public Worship collects the Poor into one Family,-which visiting alone cannot do. What a sof tening thing to the differences and alienations of life, to bring men as one company of little children to the feet of the great Father, to thank Him for his goodness and supplicate his forgiving mercy,—yes,-and to supplicate in such language as this-'Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.' The Poor of course, as well as the Rich, have their estrangements and enmities, and, like them, need to be humbled in the sense of their common guilt, and be reconciled to each other, as they desire and hope to be reconciled unto God. What a spectacle! Hundreds of families melted into one,baving no longer their separate apartments and yardlimits, (oh what apartments and limits oft-times with the Poor!) but collected in one dwelling,-where we hardly see even the relations of Father and Mother, Brother and Sister, except indeed when alluding to the duties of these relations, but so many of the new-born offspring of God!

3. This Public Worship is a refreshment from, and joyful contrast to, the exhausting labors of the week. I would not have these labors done away. They tend to secure the highest, even the spiritual good of those engaged in them. But if their pressure were constant and unmitigated, they would crush the very powers, which, duly imposed and duly relieved, they strengthen and exalt. The Sabbath-day!-a blessing to all, but a blessing how especial and emphatic to the Poor! It is not only a relief from bodily toil, but a season of spiritual excitement. And, when the instruments of labor have, far over the earth, sunk down from their accustomed motions, and the sounds of business have died away, and leave the air unvexed and still for the Sabbath-morning, how gratefully the dews of Divine grace fall on the tired spir

it of him who has, from day to day, been earning and eating his bread in the sweat of his brow!'

4. This Public Worship is a salvation from the tumults and revelings, the shouts and swearings, which every Sunday sees pent up in many a secret den of iniquity. Strive as good men may, plead as the spirit of all goodness may, hundreds of living souls will persist in being vile; below what would seem the lowest depth of their sin and wretchedness, still finding a lower deep.' Oh,could many a man, who now walks happily through this fine city's fair and beautiful places, be led also through the city's dungeons and subterranean cells, where multitudes, of their own free purpose, imprison and chain their souls; could he hear, as he passed along, each shout of anger, each imprecation of vengeance; could he witness each savage blow, by which the features are disfigured, or covered with blood; could he observe, and pass through the midst of the scenes, to whose actual existence testimony is borne every Monday morning in our Police Court; he would be more wonder-struck in his passage, than if he had gone through every gloomy aisle in the catacombs of Egypt. And shall we allow these creatures, not only to ruin themselves, but to impress others, as yet innocent, into their diabolic service, taking advantage of their want of occupation on the Sabbath-day? Shall we suffer the Lord's day, by being an idle day, to become the chosen time when the monster, SIN, shall bring forth her horrid offspring? While the spirit of our God moves gently at our hearts, lifting us to the joys of heavenly communion, shall thousands be given over to the spirit of evil, to the wiles of their adversary the devil, who as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour?' If not, then let us have a Public Worship for

the Poor.

5. While there are some special reasons showing the moral importance of the Chapel, the whole general argument for uniting the office of preacher to that of pastor remains precisely as strong in respect to the Poor as in respect to the Rich. And I might go on to remark, in the usual strain, upon the strong and natural connection between these two offices, and the aid they render to

each other. I will only say, however, our experience shows that the Visiting to the Poor is carried out and made effectual by the Preaching to the Poor.

Where did the poor woman, in that narrow street, in that low, leaky hovel, last see him who now visits her wretchedness? In the sacred desk, with an open Bible before him, endeavoring to impress on her soul its eternal truths, its solemn and immutable sanctions. His presence darts new light on the letters then engraven in her heart. His familiar illustrations of the lesson he had given, now applied specially to her own case, place her duty boldly before her, and bind it to her conscience and her life.

And there, again, in that filthy lane, a young man is tempted to commit some sin, supposing the eye of detection does not rest upon him. He stops. Why? But the last Sunday, something was said, (it might have been a single phrase, a single word,-the preacher did not suspect it would, like a winged arrow, pierce any heart) -which so troubles his conscience, that he hesitates a moment. He reflects. 'And do I think the eye of detection absent? Did he not tell me in thrilling language, of the eye of God, always open in benevolence, yet always burning to the lowest depths of every soul's iniquity? And besides, he is himself coming soon to renew his admonitions with me face to face. Shall I meet him with crime in my hand, and shame in my face, and guilt in my eye?'-The last thought, perhaps, relaxes the muscles already strained for theft or violence. The arm drops. One prison-cell is left without occupant.

I wish to give very briefly some few instances in which the Chapel has, of itself, exerted a direct influence. A little boy was tempted by some older boys to go away to play with them on the Sabbath. He remembered the text of the last Sabbath: 'If sinners entice thee, consent thou not.' The discourse had given a solemnity in his mind to these words,—and he refused.

A young girl attended at the Chapel, and heard a sermon preached at the close of the year. She was a girl of quick, harsh temper. This fault was touched upon. She was deeply affected,went home, and declared her

purpose to conquer her besetting sin. it, and became kind and gentle.

She did

conquer

A gentleman saw two girls, sisters, go out to walk, and fearing they might expose themselves to harm, followed them. After stopping to converse in the street with some boys, they went into a shop. While there, the gentleman, looking through the window from the outside, saw the elder take privately a pair of gloves, and offer them to the younger to keep. The little girl refused. When they got upon the side-walk again, the elder girl says reproachfully, Why did n't you take them?'Because,' --replied her sister,-'because it is wicked! My Sunday School teacher told me so.'

A little girl eight years old, who had lately commenced attending at the Chapel, began to pray at home one evenning as the children were going to bed. She said to her brother, five years old, she would teach him to say his prayers in the morning.' The father, a strong infidel, -cried out angrily to her, What are you about there!' Yet his little child's hand, notwithstanding his exclamation, was upon his soul. Nor was that hand removed, till it had wrought such a change in his soul, that he himself commenced a willing attendance at the Chapel.

I will give but one more case, which shows the pleasure many of the children take in going to the Chapel.

A mother told the Minister at large, that her little daughter,-eight or nine years old,-was so delighted with the Chapel instructions, that she requested her parents to go. Not being attended to, she repeated her application, and at length became so importunate, that her father thought fit to punish her.

It is but a day or two since that I was conversing with a woman who most strongly felt the great benefits she had received from the Chapel. She said,' It may seem foolish, but I can never pass by the door of that building without being tempted to drop a courtesy in reverence.'

I do not present these cases as giving any worthy idea of the whole beneficial influence of the Chapel. After the great harvest of its good fruits should be reaped, many such things would come in as the mere gleanings. And I would now ask, in view of such considerations