Originally delivered as lectures in the early 19th century, this book by Scottish minister and social reformer Thomas Chalmers examines the problems facing large urban areas and proposes solutions based on Christian principles. Chalmers argues that the provision of education, public spaces, and other resources is essential to creating a healthy and vibrant community. This work is a pioneering example of Christian social thought and remains relevant to contemporary debates about urban planning and policy. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.