where, was, as of a joyous meeting, a holiday—an occasion of recreation-a social gathering. I saw the clerical man the religious teacher, by his habit, with his family, evidently, of several children-his three sons, apparently, approaching the susceptible, for impressions, the youthful period of manhood-in the joyousness of his heart, accompanying them apparently into the fields: their hearts were light:they all bore the general indication of the hilarious feeling which I had observed throughout that city. I observed them: I reflected: I thought, oh! how should he, the professed teacher of the love of God, by the Gospel, have used, to his children, the lesson, which had been given that morning! I hastened to leave the city: I stayed not to partake of the refreshment I needed: I felt forcibly to come to my mind, the words which I have used for my text: I saw their applicability; and, as I left, I appreciated their wisdom, for I descried, that in my yearning, I shook off the dust of my feet of that city: that it was needful, that in my watchfulness, I might not be tainted by the demeanour that had been to me so prominent: that my principles might not be loosened: that I might not be drawn by what I had observed, and with which in some degree I had mixed, into a laxity of conduct, or have my faith, in the eventual living by man as did Christ, modified.*

Only one other evidence, of the deleterious effect wrought by Death Punishment, will I adduce. Its apparance occurred on a former occasion in the same town.

* See Note 1, at the end.

Probably, now, about sixteen years ago, I went, with three friends, for the purpose of observation, of instruction, to be present during the assize. I can appreciate, that the few days were profitably spent. I could dilate, I think, on their incidences, with much improvement to you. But I confine myself to one. On the last day, I went into a confectioner's shop, opposite the Court-house. It was attended by an elderly, apparently, a superior woman. I remarked, in congratulation, though one man had had sentence of death recorded against him, that I thought they would have no execution from the assize; which opinion subsequent results showed to be correct. Never shall I forget the sharpness, the acerbity, with which she replied to me. I saw, that with her it was a matter of business-that to have no one hanged, was a loss of so much profit to her shop. much in this, at such places. shall the perpetuation of these things, render us obtuse to their consideration? As a matter of business, as a trade calculation, shall we wish for their recurrence ?*

Oh! I fear, there is And shall habitude,

I refrain. I enjoin you, only,-Think for yourselves. Have industry, have principle, have courage, have meekness of character, to have opinions of your own-derived from calm, patient, assiduous research. Though you be singular in an opinion, if it be the fruit of your mind, retain it; with the placidity of truth, teach it. Applying the opinion, for which on an important subject I have been endeavouring to give to you reasons, to the test of all things in life, if we will

* See Note 2, at the end.

be observant, if we will be judicious, how is it borne out, or established, by experience! The concerns and circumstances of human being, attendant in nature, what are they? Oh! there is needed no harshness, no violence, no giving of pain; but, in love move they, accomplishing the reward of much blessing, where in love they reign. To rear to virtue, is not to be forcing in your means. In domestic life, with children, it is not the blow, but the judicious word— children feeling your love,-never being made to regard it with suspicion-but it being with them an inhalement, an habiliment,-their having faith in you, whereby they shall return your love. So, through every degree of society, must such a conduct arise. Oh! take the verifications of this from Jesus. Through all the elements of the past, as history has preserved them, gather ye it. Take ye that sublime testimony furnished by Jesus of the wrongs of woman, when he was appealed to, his appellants justifying their conduct from the allowance of Moses-Jesus responding-Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, suffered you so to do; but from the beginning it was not so justifying God in having made man male and female, they twain, without any disparity, constituting but the one being, So, in his exemplification of God, in his paternal character, that they should do good to those who injured them: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust: that they should no longer exact an eye for an eye, retaliate injury, as by earth's legislatures; or mistakingly suppose that they should thus enforce virtue: that their

conduct should be a blessing, not a cursing; a weaning, a withdrawing from vice-with a sympathy, a securing of others in righteousness: that they should be truth; that they should be love; that they should be MEN-GOD'S WELL-BELOVED CHILDREN-for that in HIS IMAGE (which, oh ! let none desecrate!) made He MAN.

NOTES.

Note 1.-On my return, I stopped at a friend's about twelve miles distant. I mentioned the circumstance of what I had witnessed. Ah! little thought I with what result. He had known the pitiable creature who had been that morning executed. She had been of his immediate neighbourhood: and the whole was in gloom at the sad, and, as was generally felt to be, reprehensible carrying out of the law-the wrong that had been done to her. His narration was mainly as follows; though by me very much circumscribed. I must say, it was an agricultural district.

She was the daughter of very respectable parents; in comfortable small farming circumstances. She had always been an exemplary girl. An acquaintance with a young man in the neighbourhood, had, during some time, existed with her. It was considered a suitable and promising connection of them both. Marriage had been for some time spoken of, and was being looked forward to, by both their families. The young man had becomė negligent of her, and at a time when their wedding day, which had been mentioned, was expected. He had seduced her. In course of time it became apparent, and a child was eventually born. He had deserted her. Very great sympathy in the neighbourhood was expressed for her, and especially by both their families. She was heart broken. Everything was done,

by relatives and acquaintances, and neighbours who knew the circumstances, to soothe her. But she never recovered from her poignancy of grief, into which she had sunken. Every expression, possible, was made to assure her of esteem, and to mitigate her suffering condition. Yet which was of no avail. It made her anguish more exquisite. Her friends were alarmed at her sinking health, in the impossibility to raise her from her brooding sadness. One day she was discovered floating in the canal, which was near, with her child clasped to her bosom-her arms round it. They were immediately taken out, and means used to restore them to animation. In the case of the child uselessly, but successfully-yet not congratulatorily surely we will say with her. From apparent death she was brought to life. Her child was dead.

In process-for I cannot dwell on the interim-she was arraigned for the murder of her child. The sequel we know by the mention in the previous discourse. Oh! was not the greater wrong that which was committed on her in her death-in her execution? Was it not, by the legal form of law, the vilest of murder? In her case, in particular, should not society have taken her to its arms, and endeavoured to soothe her, for the wrong which had been done her; but which wrong society tolerated, and of which, visited upon her all its sad consequences. There is a great sin lying at society's door, or to the charge of society, in its dealing, in such respects, between man and woman. The one condemned-and there being visited upon her the direst of retribution, it may, be for her sin, but, oftener, more justly might we say, her fault: the other tolerated, and received scatheless, in his sin but let us defer the two to God, and be more just, and therein merciful.

The fact was, the unhappy creature had walked into the canal, (she confessed,) intending to drown herself and her child; for she had felt, that she could no longer live in her circumstances. Pitiable creature! thou hadst a Father in heaven who knew thy heart's bitterness, and who is in all circumstances just.

About two years since, I was at my friend's on several occasions-during a lingering illness with him, and of which he died-to whom I had been indebted for the preceding narration: and on one of the occasions the circumstance was spoken of. "Ah! poor -," said he, "that was a sad circumstance!" and his eyes filled with tears, as he spoke of her, and the consequences to her family. I will say no more. The wrong is irretrievable: her afflicted parents were then dead!