their charity in the far West. Also, I am requested to present to the Society the thanks of the schools, both parents, and teachers, and scholars, for the libraries deposited among them.

I am advancing far into the evening of my life. My desire is to work on, and to be found at my post when called home.

There have been a number of inquiries for libraries since the above schools have been in operation. I would therefore renew my solicitations for more libraries for the far West. Could our friends have witnessed some of the scenes at the organization of the schools-when I lectured from the first. seven verses of the 78th Psalm, and when I read your letter, informing them how these books were obtained, while parents, and children, and strangers, looked on more books than they had seen at one time before in all their lives-could they be made sensible of the effects of their Christian charity on. the interests of the rising generation, I am sure they would. cause the stream to become perennial. I therefore request. more libraries."

BRIEF HINTS TO SCRIPTURE TEACHERS.

The September number of the London Teachers' Magazine, contains the following judicious hints to Scripture Teachers, by the Rev. C. R. Alford, of Doncaster. We commend them to all teachers and readers of the Bible.

1. In reading Scripture, always examine the context of a passage. Never build important doctrines upon abstract clauses; numbers in ignorance and carelessness do this, and thereby greatly injure the cause of truth. Read the whole passage, or parable, or discourse, and read it carefully; examine the connection of its every part, and so will you best. understand its plain and obvious meaning.

2. Compare Scripture with Scripture; not only the text

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Brief Hints to Scripture Teachers.

[Νον. with the context, but with passages of similar import throughout the Bible. Thus you will find the New Testament explain the Old, and the Epistles the Gospels, in a very striking manner. For this purpose let me recommend to you Bibles with marginal references, which form a very valuable commentary of Scripture upon Scripture.

Perhaps the best

3. Nor neglect the labors of pious men. There is a right and a wrong way of using a commentary: some neglect the advantages such works afford, in pride and folly; and others depend too greatly upon their instructions. way of using a commentary, is first to read the chapter carefully-diligently comparing the text with the context, and Scripture with Scripture-and then turn for explanation or correction to those who are wiser and better than yourselves.

4. Read the Bible for yourselves. It speaks to you—to you as though it spoke to none beside—to teach you, to warn you, to encourage you, to bring you to Jesus Christ for pardon and grace; and thus read your Bible with prayer for the enlightening, converting, sanctifying grace of the eternal Spirit. Remember the natural man is blind and dead to spiritual things, and it is the Spirit that quickens and applies

the word.

5. Let your instruction be distinctively Scriptural instruction. The object of Sabbath schools is to teach Scripture history, Scripture doctrine, Scripture' precept as connected with the salvation of the soul, not to teach writing and reading, and secular knowledge. Nor think yourselves competent to instruct your class in any passage of Scripture without previous meditation, and study, and prayer. First, read the passage-mark, learn, and inwardly digest it for yourselves; make yourselves complete masters of it in all its bearings, and then teach it in as lively a way as you are able to your class. Thus, then, as Christians, and as Sabbath school teachers, study the Scriptures.

When thus you read God's word, how will you learn to love it! What great things will it do for you! How will it convert, and save, and bless you; once darkness, but now light in the Lord; once dead in sin and guilt, and awaiting eternal destruction, now alive to God and eternity, pardoned and the heir of endless bliss! What new creatures does God's word make all who truly believe its record. Suffer me to inquire (surely the question can never be out of place), has the Bible made you a new creature? Unconverted persons scoff at such a question. They have read the book occasionally, they have heard it read and preached from; but there they are at this moment, living in sin, without hope and without God in the world. The Bible is to convert the soul, and if it has not done this for you, it has as yet done nothing for you to any saving purpose. And why not? Why has

it been blessed of God to the conversion and salvation of thousands and tens of thousands in every land and every age ---perhaps of the children whom you teach-and why has it not converted you? Let me faithfully answer that question ; because you have not faith; because you love sin and live in sin, whatever that sin may be. O! turn with full purpose of heart from every evil way; take the Scriptures as a lamp in a dark world-your guide in life, your hope in death. Try it; see what the Bible, rightly used, can do for youhow happy, how holy, how blessed it can make you; and soon with the Psalmist will your grateful confession be, “O, how love I thy law, all the day long is my study in it.". "Thy word is tried to the uttermost, and thy servant loveth it."

"I wonder how many hours of the Sabbath are devoted to the instruction of children, by those parents who make the necessity of attending to the religious culture of their fanilies, an apology for not entering the Sabbath school."

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Painful.

PAINFUL.

[Nov.

There is a teacher who has but two scholars in his class today. He sits in the middle of the seat with the Bible closed before him, perfectly silent. On the right is a lad six or eight years of age, as far removed from the teacher as the seat will allow, with his face turned from him. On the left sits another of the same age at the other extremity of the seat playing with a string, making curious knots. All seem to be waiting to hear the bell ring, which to them is a signal of release. The rest of the class are absent, perhaps standing about the door, preferring liberty to such restraint. Has that teacher nothing to say? Does he know that the minds and hearts before him are more susceptible than at any period of life, and · that should he make a good impression, its effects might be as lasting as eternity? Does he know that an impression will be made by his silence and coldness, which will be as lasting for evil, perhaps the ruin of that soul? Could angels be silent with such an opportunity to do good? Will not a half hour thrown away, be found in his account at the final reckoning? Brother, awake! Why sit idle when there is so much to do? Do you wish the children committed to your care, to be saved? Who believes it? Who can believe it? What evidence is there of it? Go, confess your indifference to your master-to your children. Let them see that you have a heart, large, generous, and full of sympathy, and they will gather around you to hear the words of eternal life. But how shall they hear without one to speak? Your silence is painful.-S. S. Treasury.

"The rose is sweetest when it first opens, and the spikenard root when the herb dies. Beauty belongs to youth and dies with it, but the color of piety survives death and perfumes the tomb."

THE

CONGREGATIONAL VISITER.

NO. 12....DECEMBER, 1846....VOL. III.

CONGREGATIONAL VISITER.

With this number the third volume of the CONGREGATIONAL VISITER closes; and the Committee avail themselves. of this opportunity, to commend this work anew to the patronage of the churches and Sabbath schools for whose bencfit it was established.

If it has been the means of promoting, in any degree, the Sabbath school cause, or of exerting a good influence upon the minds of its readers, let God be praised. If it has, for any reason, or in any measure, failed to realize the expectations of its patrons, the failure will be a subject of deep regret, and a stimulus to increased effort in future to remove all defects, and to make it, what from the outset it was designed to be, a valuable auxiliary to those who are directly engaged in Sabbath school instruction, and a profitable visiter to the firesides of all classes in our religious community.

It is obvious that the Visiter has to share the patronage of the public with many religious periodicals; and some persons may regard the times as demanding a reduction of the number. But the Committee feel an increasing conviction

VOL. III.

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