contemplate it we can hardly persuade ourselves that we are looking at the conduct of any thing that bears' the name of man. The wretch would almost appear to be beneath the notice of his Creator.

Thank God, this species of offence, this kind of human depravity, but rarely makes its appearance in the world. Amongst other murderers, however, the barbarous Husband was not to be omitted, lest it should be supposed that this enormous sin had not awarded to it a suitable punishment. It is these unseen, these disguised marders, that are most worthy of our attention. For the common cut-throat, the laws of every country provide speedy reprobation and punishment; but, the secret, the disguised, the slow-moving, the persevering, the smiling murderer is to be punished, in this world, only by the just opinions, the deep hatred, and the general execration of mankind; to form, therefore, those opinions, to entertain that hatred and to pour forth those execrations is a sacred duty towards God and towards our neighbour.

THE GAMESTER.

"Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour." Leviticus, Chap. xix. v. 13.

VARIOUS are the modes which bad men pursue in order to possess themselves unjustly of that which belongs to others. These modes may be classed under three general heads, which, each having its different degrees of guilt, are usually denominated, Robbery, Theft, and Fraud. When the act is perpetrated by open violence, it is robbery; where it conceals itself under the garb of secrecy, it is theft; where the act itself is

done with the knowledge of the party injured, (though, by means of falsehood and deceit, the intent and end are disguised from him,) it is fraud

The inventions of the fraudulent mind are innumerable. False pretences of all sorts present themselves to it in succession. Feigned distress, feigned friendship, false accounts, false vouchers, forgery, pretended piety, and even pretended love. But, perhaps, of ail the fraudulent practices of which we have any knowledge, those of the gamester are the most odious in themselves, and most baneful in their consequences; and, if upon examination, we find this to be the case, it is, surely, our duty, not only to refrain from gaming ourselves, but, according to the degree of our power, to prevent it in others, and espe cially in those who may be under our controul, or who are likely to be influenced by our example.

Gaming is sometimes called play; but, what is it in reality? What is the object of every game

ster? It is to gain by the loss of another. The object is not to effect an exchange of one thing for another. It is not to render value for value, in any way or under any form. The object of every gamester is, to get by doing injury to his neighbour. It is to get his money or goods from him without yielding him any thing in return; and this, disguise it under what name we may, is extortion and fraud.

This is not less its character because it as often fails of success as it succeeds in its purpose. The thief is not less a thief when he fail than when he succeed. It is the intention in both cases that constitutes the crime; and, as to the chance, that you give your neighbour, you think that it is not so good as your chance; for this is the very principle upon which you proceed. This thought must necessarily exist in your mind, or you are destitute of motive altogether. You conceal from your neighbour the fact, that you have reason for expecting to get his money from him. You practise deceit from the first to the

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