66 66 way to this result is not suggested, in the same spirit in which Satan appealed to Christ. Worship me, and thou shalt succeed." In other words, Banish principle; think only of self. Honesty will be inconvenient; is it not the custom to be dishonest? Who shall dare to condemn, when it is all in the way of business? Does any man make his fortune in these days who sets out upon the principle, ‘Love God with all thy heart, and soul, and strength, and mind, and love thy neighbour as thyself ?' No; you are in the world, you must fall in with the world's ways, or you must be content to bear the reproach of singularity and strangeness all your days, and never to 'get on.'" 66 How much of this talk are our rising generation doomed to hear in workshops and warehouses, in the street and by the fireside! It is the precise counterpart of the last and worst temptation which the prince of darkness addressed to Christ. And it can only be overcome by the power of a reply like his "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." Truth, uprightness, charity, piety, these shall be my principles, and let the world bring or withhold what it may, by these I stand. If through them I fail, I fail; and better so be overcome than gain one jot of advantage by worshipping expediency, self, or Satan! For 'what is a man profited, if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?'" Much more might have been added by way of comment or illustration, but it is believed that the earnest teacher will find in the above sufficient material for a full, intelligible, and not uninstructive exposition of one of the most important and interesting passages of holy scripture. CAN A CHILD BE CONVERTED? YES, dear reader, it can: and yet there are some who tell us that we are not to expect to see immediate fruit, but must go on reading, teaching, catechising, from the first day in January until the close of December, and look for fruit in after years. In after years! Who can venture to say that any-even two, or three children, in a class of scholars, will live to these after years? We know not, on each returning sabbath, but that it may be the last which some are to spend on earth. Well does the writer remember an incident which occurred during the time when the cholera visited this country. A dear boy was somewhat disobedient; the teacher kept him in school after the rest of the scholars had left, and expostulated with him on the folly and sin of disobedience. He appeared affected, but somewhat sullen; and, upon parting with him, the teacher said, "Oh! my dear boy, do pray that God may forgive you; and who knows but that this sabbath may be the last with some of us?" On the next sabbath the lad was not at school, and the first news the teacher heard was, F- E- is dead." 66 Judge of the teacher's feelings at such a statement. The scene of the last sabbath morning passed vividly before him, while he silently prayed that God would make him more in earnest for the salvation of those committed to his care, and trusted that the scholar had gone to the realms of the blest. But, setting aside the important fact that we know not what a day may bring forth, and that our days are but as an handbreadth, we are wrong in not expecting a present blessing. Scripture says nothing for to-morrow. Now is the time appointed; and is there any reason for making exceptions in the case of children? How often do we tell our scholars that the graveyards contain many little graves, and point to them as marks showing that Death makes no distinctions, but extends his ravages in all places, at all times, and amongst all classes? Then how important it is that we should press upon the attention of children the immediate reception of Christ as their Saviour, and urge them to flee from the wrath to come! To do this we need not be always speaking to them of the lake of fire and the torments of the lost; neither should we be always talking of the blest scenes of paradise, of the holy city, and of the beautiful music: but rather let us place before them life and death, and urge them, with all affection and pathos, to shun the pit and gain heaven. To do this effectually much closet study is necessary: the lesson must become, so to speak, a part of the christian teacher's heart and soul; not mere head work, intellect without spirit. Added to this, and in fact blended with it, must be prayer-faithful, agonizing, importunate prayer. In the closet our heavenly Father has promised to meet us, and to reward us openly. And how often has the teacher had to thank God for blessings received in answer to closet breathings? A few moments spent in secret prayer by teachers, before the engagements of the morning and afternoon, will be found of immense advantage. It helps to set the heart and affections right, and is sure to cause hallowed feelings to arise in the breast, and an earnest solicitude to be awakened for the salvation of our scholars. In conclusion, accept a quotation, now very frequently cited, in reference to our important work, from Longfellow"Let us, then, be up and doing, With a heart for any fate, Still achieving, still pursuing, Learn to labour, and to wait." While we agree with the first three lines, we should like to read the last thus: "Learn to labour and expect;" for, be it remembered, the conversion does not come about by natural consequences; it is the work of God—especially, particularly, miraculously. "Tis "not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord." Oh, may we be filled with the Spirit, that our labours may be more abundant and more effectual, to prove to demonstration that it is possible for a child to be converted! A CITY APPRENTICE. TRIAL OF MADAME TONGUE.-Madame Tongue was accused of being an unruly evil which no man could tame, and of being full of deadly poison; and, in order to prove the accusation, the book of the law was produced, and a passage therefrom, Jas. iii. 8, was read. The counsel for the defence answered, that if it could be proved that Monsieur Heart, who lives a little lower down, was principally intended in the said passage, his client would be as innocent as Monsieur the Nose, or Messieurs the Eyes; and he cited, as proof, a passage from the aforesaid book of the law, Matt. xv. 18.' The court decided that the defence was valid, and that no good could be expected from Madame Tongue, until a complete change had taken place in her neighbour, Monsieur Heart.-French Sunday School Magazine. |