Page:Sketches of conversations with James Wilson, alias M'Lusky.pdf/12

 rapid progress of youthful delinquency, in such large and populous cities as this, is the existence and increase of low tippling pot-houses. Oh! what scenes of wickedness are acted in these. Even on the Lord’s day, in many parts of this city, the serious and well-disposed part of the community cannot walk to the house of God, to join in the solemn services of the sanctuary, without having their ears assailed, and their feelings outraged, with the lan-guage of hell, and the disgusting roar of the drunkard and debauchee. These are hot-beds of vice, nurseries of the wicked one. Surely those who can continue to live and enjoy themselves in such haunts of wretchedness, must be far fallen below the common level of human de-pravity. Oh! what an awful account will such have to render at the great day of retribution. They are ruining souls. blood of many a youth, we fear, will found in their skirts; and, with regard to themselves, they are treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath, and the revelation of the righteous judgment of God.—Hearken, then, to the voice of mercy, ye stout-hearted and far from righteousness, that ye may escape all those things that shall assuredly overwhelm the impenitent; and at last may you, with confidence, stand before the Son of man.

There are other causes of the progress of vice, to which we might allude, but cannot now.

We hope none of the characters alluded to, will con-sider us as actuated by any other feelings towards them than those of love to their souls; and we pray God that what has been written may be blessed for their good, and we shall be thankful.

—One Penny:

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