the condition of her neighbor, and then may the Lord strengthen her upon the bed of languishing, and by some kind hand like her own, make all her bed in her sickness."

Of genuine Christian goodness such as this, I have no doubt that there is a most honorable amount, constantly wearing away an immense mass of misery unapproachable by any other class or in any other way. Conversing on the subject of this lecture with a friend who himself was trained in the very poorest and lowest ranks of society, who long continued in them, who made his way gradually, by hard but ceaseless exertions, and a never slumbering prudence, to a more elevated condition of life, but without losing the principles, the sympathies, the feelings of his earlier state; he gave me the following testimony of his own experience and observation :

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Every one who speaks about or writes about the 'lower orders,' adopts the cant of disorderly, dissolute, improvident, &c., and finds out, or takes for granted, all the vices or supposed vices of the working people, and for the acts of a few among them, condemns them all. None have any morality much less any virtues. It is time that some, one at least, should do them justice, and show that they have morals and virtues of no ordinary

cases.

"When I was clerk or secretary to several trade clubs, I saw perseverance among a great many of the worst paid, poorest workmen, unequalled among any other class to the same extent.

"I have seen many men toiling on continually, earning the very barest means of subsistence by unremitted labor, and with no enjoyments. I have seen such men go on, never relaxing though never in health, conscious that their means could never be increased, nor their familesi

ever be either adequately supplied; apprehensive of failing altogether to supply them even with food, yet drudging on in this hopeless state, unknown and unheeded, quiet and composed as they are miserable, doing no harm to any and yet ready to advise and assist others in every way men so circumstanced were capable.

"These are moral people.

"And there are hundreds, probably thousands such, not only in London, but everywhere.

"But the women-in all such cases the women are in even a worst condition than the men; they have the care of the children, they are worn to the bone with breeding, nursing, care, anxiety, and privation. Yet it is not more remarkable and true, that with few exceptions they never give up in despair; so long as the man holds on, the woman holds to him and the children, until she is destroyed; even in death she never wholly succumbs, but in the anguish of her heart, amidst all manner of doubts and terrible forebodings, the hope that something good may happen to the children is scarcely ever wholly xtinguished."

"This is no loose sketch, but is true to the letter, and is by far more common than they who are not intimately acquainted with the working people will ever believe. "Are these people moral? Yes, they are according to their very limited means exemplarily moral.

"Their sympathies for persons similarly circumstanced with themselves, are continually shown among all from the very poorest upwards. It diminishes gradually as we approach those who can afford to hire, can command the services of others; among these a desire to some others, or a command to those whose services they can dispose of, enables them to shift actual exertion from themselves, and their sympathies evaporate in a wish or a

lamentation which when once uttered are immediately forgotten.

"If the actually poor and those bordering on poverty did not assist one another, the misery, great as it is which exists among them, would be greatly increased. Their actual services to one another in innumerable cases, is altogether unparalleled; efforts are made which seem incredible; sacrifices are made, of which they who are well off have no sort of conception; trouble is taken -anxiety is endured-gifts are bestowed-privations are borne, with a readiness truly admirable.

"Is a neighbor sick with the most contagious disease, even they will nurse him or her.

"Has some particular misfortune fallen on some one? -they will take away the children for a time, and feed them from their own scanty means; and in proportion to those means contribute in quantity and amount, as none but themselves ever do, or ever contemplate doing."

In this list of influences I have only enumerated those which belong to poverty as it ordinarily exists, which may almost be regarded as a condition of the state itself. In adverting to the means and prospect of improvement, the last topic on which I was to touch, we must rather have reference to those which are peculiar, and which characterize the times and circumstances in which we live. I think that while the last view of influences may teach us to correct the estimate which may be inferred from the former, this is of a description to brighten our hopes, and to animate our exertions.

The first circumstance which I think operated strongly to the amelioration of the condition of the poor in this

country was the rise of Methodism; and this was a heart-stirring influence. Whatever flaws a severe critic may find in the supposed aims, or real proceedings of John Wesley, there can be no doubt that he deserves to be classed among the benefactors, amongst the most illustrious benefactors of the people of this nation. Up to that time the poor seemed utterly below regard, except as they were made the means of answering some purpose or other for their betters; and while scarcely more than a mere animal existence was considered as their best comdition, religious or intellectual instruction was never supposed to require a direction towards them, perhaps not thought capable of descending so low in the scale of society. They were in a state of the most deplorable ignorance that can be imagined, and with that, too generally, in a state of corresponding brutality. It was then that the religious principle impelled so many men to appeal to them in a language which they understood. They were not invited to the repetition of heartless forms or of cold exhortations, and discussions of matters in which they could feel no concern: but whatever were the mysteries of the creed of John Wesley, or whatever irrational principles may have been inculcated by the sect which he established, their first great and good onset upon the poor was distinguished by this character, that it was a speaking from their own hearts, and to the hearts of those whom they addressed. It was an appeal that made tears, blessed tears, roll down many a hardened cheek. It was an appeal that made many a reprobate falter in his course, and taught his tongue a holier language. It was an appeal which showed men that they had friends, and friends of mental and of moral power,

who were placing a lever that would raise them in the scale of being, and give them something like spiritual perception and spiritual existence, enjoyment, and anticipation. And this good I believe that John Wesley and his followers did accomplish for the poor of this country.

I cannot extend the praise to the present condition of that community. I cannot regard the influences which it is now exercising as having retained their primitive brightness, or as worthy of being gazed upon with similar complacency. The obtrusive irrationality; the exercise of priestcraft to a large extent (for priestcraft may co-exist with the character of the humblest dissenting teacher as well as that of the most elevated episcopal or papal dignitary, and may have its throne in a barn as well as in a metropolitan temple) the exercise, I say, of priestcraft; the subjection of the minds of their hearers, which in their expansion have become capable of better things, to dogmas that cripple those minds; the ceaseless occupation of their proselytes with much that is very absurdly called spiritual, to the exclusion of topics of present concern, which should be brought home to their business and bosoms; and the affinity which has been shown for despotism, both political and ecclesiastical, in their body, and for a church establishment which has become altogether unnational in its form and spirit; these indicate, that methodism is worn out as an auxiliary of any importance for ameliorating the condition of the great mass of the community.

A real religion of the people-a religion in the spirit of Christianity, with the modification to present circumstances which that spirit demands. A religion, simple, fervent, expansive, elevated as the spirit of Christ himself-this is needed; toward this, I trust, there is some