one-fourth-I was compelled to say that we could not give more than one-eighth. The distant parish took the lead of the whole, and worked with the utmost diligence; we tried to follow, as well as we could. We told them that we were not able to collect like the others, yet we would do what we could to teach the poor that we were interested in their behalf. We gave the utmost we could, but still we were not so rich in funds as the other parish, which kept on expending money for two or three years, and at last found that they had expended too much. The Treasurer confessed that his imprudence would cost him forty pounds, but he was able to pay it. I will now tell you what took place, as a caution to other Societies. The poor people soon found out the way to make use of the advantage of having one-fourth added to their deposits; if they had not the money ready when the Visitors called, they went to a neighbour and borrowed it, that they might receive, at the end of the year, five shillings in the pound, in addition to their deposits; and they went to shopkeepers, and told them that they had so much money in the savings' banks, and that it would be increased at the rate of five shillings in the pound, and so they ran in debt with the shopkeepers on the faith of that addition. So that, in fact, the benevolence which had been extended to the poor, but not judiciously applied, left them worse off than they were before. The clergymen called the Visitors together, and altered the system, and made it like ours. I have left that parish four or five years, but I am happy to say that the Society has gone on increasing in usefulness; and it was one of my greatest comforts, when I left, to see the work committed to the care of the ladies, who had hitherto conducted it; for this work is much better done by the ladies than by the gentlemen.REV. W. SHORT.

THE GENERAL UTILITY OF DISTRICT
VISITING.

I WOULD mention some reasons which should be strongly
insisted on in support of this Society. The first reason is a
very obvious one;
where there are large masses of persons,
and precious souls congregated together under the super-
intendence of one clergyman only, it is totally impossible

that he can exercise his office. as he ought in diffusing religious instruction among the whole community, Another reason is this; there may exist in the minds of the popula tion certain feelings respecting the clergyman of an unjustifiable character, and prejudice being thus raised, it would militate against his usefulness, in keeping him from getting an introduction into the houses of his parishioners, and inducing them to neglect his public ministrations. I will mention the case of a clergyman who went to a small parish containing not more than 800 persons. It so happened that pecuniary circumstances, and other matters not connected with the spiritual charge of the parish, raised up a very strong feeling indeed amongst the principal persons in the parish, and their number being small-only three or fourthey easily coalesced, and they did coalesce, and threw every possible impediment in the way of the clergyman. The labourers and the poor,, being entirely under their power, they were continually exposed to hearing misrepresentations, both as concerning doctrine and character, levelled at the clergyman, and the result was, that as the principal persons left the church, the labourers followed the example. The clergyman was greatly distressed, but it pleased God, at that crisis, that the idea of forming a District Visiting Society should come into his mind, although the population was quite within his reach, and with good health and sufficient care of his time he was quite able to go into every house, their dwellings being not much scattered. He found one gentleman and four ladies whose hearts were touched with pain at the spiritually dark condition of the people; he called them together, and forming a plan, sent them forth. They were very much discouraged at first; a great many repeated the calumnies against the clergyman, and some would not listen at all, and they went back, month after month, making very discouraging reports. But the clergyman told them this :- "You are to go, and not begin with temporalities which you have been endeavouring to do; you must go to these people and force yourselves there till you make them listen to this one little lesson, and you must tell them it is of great importance that they should learn it themselves, and teach it to their children, namely, to say this short prayer, My God, for Christ's sake, give me thy Holy Spirit." They taught it by rote to the children, and

repeated it to the different adult members of the families of the poor, and they got it printed and distributed amongst them. The result was, that it was used to a great extent, and many interesting events took place which I cannot detail now; but I will venture to assert, that there is not in England a more united, a more church going, and I hope I may say, to a large extent, spiritual population in the country. A singular proof of the importance of District Visiting Societies occurred in the course of Providence there. One family left the parish, and took away two of the Visitors; a third was called away, and there were then but two left, one of whom lost her health, and required the constant care of her relative, so that no one was left, and for two years the parish remained without a District Visiting Society. The people were constantly crying to the clergyman,- "When shall we have somebody come to visit us as we used to have?" Here you see that not only was all disinclination removed, but a desire was kindled for District Visiting. This fact shows how ordinary difficulties may be overcome, and that even strong prejudices may be entirely overcome-prejudices against the clergyman by means of that link between him and the poorer class of his parishioners. I may add that when primarily the matter was brought before them, the temporalities of the poor were regarded, and the farmers became much more liberal, though I am sorry to say it was with a double intention. There ought to be a District Visiting Soeiety in every large town and manufacturing district, and why should there not be one amongst every rural population? By some such system as this Society affords, you may not only meet the wants of the people where the clergyman cannot do so, but you may unite them by those means I have pointed out. I cannot but think that there are many District Visitors present, and therefore I may be justified in relating one circumstance resulting from an attempt to bring before the minds of the people, even of the worst and most depraved character, the simple act of prayer of which I have spoken. It would be impossible, indeed, to detail many of the blessings which I know personally to have resulted from the application of that prayer, even amongst those who do not yet seem to be in a spiritual state, but who have a desire to attend to the utterance of that petition. The circumstance I am about to

relate did not occur in the parish of which I have been speaking, but in a large town in the south of Hampshire. It was reported at a District Visiting Society that a person of the most depraved habits, living at the worst possible part of the town, was lying ill. When the name of the place was mentioned, such was the shameful notoriety it had acquired that there was a shuddering and a drawing back, and I cannot wonder at it; none of the ladies felt that they would be justified in visiting that spot. But it so happened that a nurse was present at the meeting, and she determined to go to this woman, which she did with fear and trembling. She found her miserable in her outward circumstances, and presented her first with a benevolent ticket. She was miserable, both as to the circumstances of vice by which she was surrounded, but still more so in the darkness of her mind and the hardness of her heart, and paid no attention to what was said. But the Visitor had with her that little prayer printed on a card, and she gave it to her saying, “My dear woman, what you want is the spirit of God. Will you read this card over, and learn it by heart, and say it many times a-day?" She said she would, and the Visitor left her. My informant tells me that about six weeks afterwards she called again, and when she went into the room, the woman seemed surprised at her visit, and burst out, "Oh! you are come again! I am glad to see you. Do come and hear what God has done for my soul." She found that the woman had used the prayer, and taken her Bible, which she could read, and made her daughter, who had been to school, read the Bible to her continually. The Spirit of God, in answer to the prayer, blessed His own word, and made it useful in the conversion of that poor, depraved, wretched woman. had had a companion in sin, for whom she felt a deep interest from the very time that she knew the value of her own soul, and she said to my informant, "Do me the favour to take this card to that poor woman I mentioned to you, for I cannot get her to come to me." It appeared that she had sent her daughter to her old companions, many of whom came to see her, and when they came she told them to pray to God for his Spirit to convert them; but she never could get this woman and some others to come. There was a kind of blasphemous joke amongst them on the subject, and the woman was afraid to go alone. The message was under

She

taken, and the nurse took the card to her saying, "I have been sent to you by so and so, and you must let me teach you the words on this card." She did teach her. I heard this about three weeks ago, and at that time more than a month had passed since that visit was made. The result, as far as I know it at present, is that the woman was brought to such a sense of shame that she did not dare to go out of her house to let people look on her, she felt herself so exceedingly sinful. I now turn to you, District Visitors. Remember this story. Store up that prayer in your hearts, and leave it at every lodging, and cottage, and miserable place, wherever you find those that will not listen to you. Just leave them this earnest request, "My poor friend, as often as you can, night and day, say this prayer, My God, for Christ's sake, give me thy Holy Spirit!" You will find that God will bless it as he has done."- -Rev. R. DAllas.

RELIGION EVERYTHING.

THE observation is not more common than just, that if religion be anything, it is everything. If Christianity be true, the consequences of our present conduct are infinitely important; and while the infidel may be more atrociously criminal and extensively mischievous, the professed believer who lives like other men is the most inconsistent character in the world. The language of Scripture does not accord to that of modern times. Wicked Christians and irreligious believers are never mentioned in the sacred volume. Faith is never supposed separable from a holy life. All worldly men are represented as unbelievers, or as possessing a dead faith; and all believers are spoken of as servants of God, who live to his glory, and are distinguished from other men by the whole tenor of their conduct, and not merely by their principles. These things are as observable in the Old as in the New Testament; for true religion has been essentially the same ever since the fall of Adam, though many circumstantial alterations have taken place; and, indeed, the perfections of God, the wants of a sinner, and the nature of holiness and happiness, are in themselves immutable. Let me, then, conclude with the observation which introduced the subject" If religion be anything, it is everything :" it