day fairs and markets; which are so general in our nation. Indeed, it can hardly be imagined how this very impolitic practice of holding" Monday fairs and markets for cattle, or even for any thing, should be continued in a country professedly christian; when it invariably, and almost necessarily, makes such work for the preceding Sabbath. The fairs and markets of Saturday too, are equally exceptionable; since they have a similar influence on profaning the following day. Is it not very desirable, then, that the fairs and markets which fall on those days, or on any day which necessarily occasions bustle or travelling on the Sabbath, should be speedily altered? And might not a general arrangement be easily made, that would enable the merchant, drover, farmer, or poor people, to do all their business without infringing on the sacred hours, and the religious duties, of the Lord's day?

But to proceed further as a specimen of Sabbath profanation, hear the following account, from a neighbouring periodical paper: "Being in the habit of attending a country church, not far from this place," says a writer in the Cumberland Pacquet, "I was a little surprised, on Sunday last, to find the congregation much less than usual; and on enquiring into the cause of it, to my great astonishment, was informed, that it was occasioned by an Annual Tup Fair, being held on that day at I was also told, proceeds the writer, by a person of unquestionable veracity, That it

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has, for a number of years, been invariably held on a Sunday. The evil tendency, he adds, of so shameful a profanation of the Sabbath, is obvious; and, one would suppose, that a practice so contrary to civil and religious order, would only need consideration, to be ultimately relinquished.'

(5.) By Tolerating the Printing and Sale of Newspapers on it.-While we cannot suffici ently admire the freedom of the press, and the liberty of circulation, granted to every man's sentiments, not hostile to civil order; at the same time we heartily wish, that a clause were inserted in the act, prohibiting men from using the press on the Sabbath, or from circulating the productions of Sunday printers. "No violation of this sacred day, writes the editor of the Philanthropic Gazette, is so shameful as that of the Sunday newspapers; the numbers. of which is every year encreasing, and now amounts, according to the Monthly Magazine, to twenty more than are published on every other day of the week; morning and evening papers both included. The shameful manner in which the venders cover their shutters with placards, announcing every exhibition of crime and folly, is in the highest degree insulting to the christian name. And while not a bible or prayer-book is to be purchased on this day, treason and infidelity are posted at every corner of the streets." There are, then, at the lowest estimate, twenty Sunday newspapers; and many of the editors boast of

selling eight or ten thousand copies a week. Hence, upwards of a thousand men are employed as compositors, pressmen, venders, hawkers, &c. every Lord's day; and not fewer than two hundred thousand, are more or less engaged in reading them. Also, when a second edition is published on Monday morning, which is the case with some of the papers, the work of the Lord's day evening is considerably encreased.

These papers are profusely spread in every tavern, coffee-room, alehouse, ginshop, or other place of rendezvous, to attract thither the idle and the vain. And the god of this world, as an inspiring spirit, is very careful in choosing the topics to be discussed, and in dictating the language, in which these infernal scriptures shall make their appearance. Thus, saving a few scraps of mongrel divinity, now and then stuck in a corner of a few of them, to be a little in Sunday fashion; they are crammed with all kinds of advertisements, with information of battles fought and won, with criticisms on theatrical performances, pugilistic details, pedestrian exploits, the most indecent debates; and, in fact, with every thing that can poison the minds, and vitiate the morals, of our population. Is not this an evil, of which all the tender feelings of humanity, and the nobler principles of the christian religion, combine to solieit reformation? Is it not alarming to see so many manufactories of moral poison thundering onward during the Lord's day; supply

ing the stupid multitude with passports to the regions of hell, and prompting them thither faster than the devil could otherwise conduct them ?

(6.) By Drilling our Military on it.Thousands of our soldiers, especially of our young regiments and volunteers, on the Sabbath day, when they should retire from the world, and prepare for that disaster and death, to which they are so peculiarly liable; are generally at parade in the field: serving their king, but neglecting their God. And this

exercise is usually accompanied by a martial band, playing (from association of ideas) the most ludicrous and indecent airs. And this, moreover, is constantly attended by a gaping crowd; who are better pleased with the field than the church, with the soldiers than the preachers, and with the foolish rant of a few trumpeters, than the heaven-inspired songs of Zion. In fact, it is a common thing to see multitudes of people, of all ages and stations in life, pressing to view the wonderful feats of our troops; rather than to attend the duties of religion, or to secure an interest in the favour of God. These are proceedings which ery aloud for reform. O! may their voice be heard and heeded through every rank of society. To the arguments, usually adduced in support of drilling on the Sabbath, refutations shall be given in a following Lecture. We will therefore close this particular, in the words of an eminent writer, on a similar occasion: "God

has, it is true, at this time given us peace; it is another trial; it is another call: we indeed may make it a great and a lasting blessing. But, alas! unless a reformation follow, peace does but skin our wounds: we bleed inwardly, and our very vitals waste. What will it avail us to repair our losses, if at the same time we pursue and multiply our sins? What will it signify that we are delivered from the fear of a mortal enemy, when, on this supposal, God must still have a controversy with our land ? A reformation, then, you will all acknowledge necessary; if you neglect it, certainly your honour and prosperity will be very little, or of a short duration. For this is the word of God in a much like case: Them that honour me, I will honour and they that despise me, shall be lightly esteemed."

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(7.) By Allowing Vestries for Business on it. It appears, quite incompatible with the principles of the gospel and the happiness of the people, particularly of the poor, for churchwardens, overseers, or any other parish officers, to have their meetings for business on the evenings of the Lord's day. This practice invariably banishes seriousness from the minds of the conductors of parochial affairs; it gives a bad example to the poor; many of whom it obliges to attend the house of business, when otherwise they might have attended the house of God; and it not seldom presents us with scenes of frivolity, profaneness, and oppression; and that too, often in the sanctuary of God.