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THE Eastern houses of the wealthy classes are well adapted to the intense heat of the climate; large doors, spacious chambers, marble pavement, a cloistered court, and cooling fountains, are always found. The streets are narrow, and the area or quadrangle spacious. In the hottest season a vellum umbrella, or covering, is thrown across the opening at the top; and it was through this, at one corner, that the paralytic was let down, Mark ii. 4. Large numbers of people dwell in the small chambers surrounding this area, and thus it is that the plague sweeps away periodically so many in their dwellings. The top of the house is flat; and here the linen and flax is NEW SERIES.] [JANUARY, 1848.

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dried, and the figs and raisins prepared; and here the families enjoy the cool breeze of evening, converse with each other, and offer up their devotions. Here it was that Peter had his vision. The house-top was frequently slept upon, Numb. xxii. 19, 20. Samuel called Saul from on the top of the house. Most of the houses were only one story high. The dwellings of the poor were very badly constructed; mud and rushes were the material, Job iv. 19. The grave is the house of al living-the church of God is the house of believers.

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is the house of God, and the home of the blessed. then be "as living stones built up into a spiritual house,' "not made with hands, eternal in the heavens !"

THE CLAIMS OF INFANTS.

THE TEACHER'S COMMISSION.-PART I.

By the REV. EDW. BICKERSTETH, M.A., of Watton.

THE Lord Jesus, in that touching last commission to Pete first commands him, "Feed my lambs," before he bids hin "Feed my sheep."

The word lambs may be thus used, with reference to thos who are young in years or young in grace.

1. THOSE WHO ARE INFANTS IN YEARS.- -In this vie our Lord has a special regard to their feebleness, their igno ance, and their exposure to danger. And though all are bor in sin, and "by nature children of wrath," and "that whic is born of the flesh is flesh," yet is there a comparative inno cency in childhood, not only admitted in the Scriptures, bu made the ground of imitation and exhortation : Except y be converted, and become as little children, ye cannot ente into the kingdom of heaven." "In malice be ye children." There is a special promise also that such shall be taught: "Whom shall he teach knowledge, and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts."

And how beautiful in this view is the figure which our Saviour here uses, calling them "lambs." With all the endearment of tender affection, he thus points them out as special objects of care and regard.

2. THOSE WHO ARE INFANTS IN GRACE. Thus St.

John, in his 1st Epistle, the 2nd chapter, calls all Christians by the endearing name of little children (TEKvia), all being children now when compared with our future state. He then gives three stages of the Christian life; -the fathers, the young men, and the infants (Taidia). There are, he thus

shows, some who are infants compared with more mature Christians; their knowledge is small, their faith is weak, their hopes are dim, and hence they need tender care and forbearance above others. But they are lambs of Christ's flock, they are renewed in heart, meekness and humility are implanted, and there is a docility and readiness for heavenly teaching.

Nor is it unfrequently the case, when the means of grace are early, and diligently, and carefully applied to the young in years, that we have the happiness of seeing the young thus doubly lambs, in the sight of God. How delightful is it to witness the growth and unfolding of the first buds of grace in those at the beginning of life! and when we behold this, they have a double claim and a twofold interest in this tender commission of love given by our Saviour Christ.

1. THE PROPERTY WHICH CHRIST CLAIMS IN THEM. -What a dignity do the Scriptures, then, give to our instruction of the little ones of the flock as belonging to the Lord Jesus Christ, and to be trained up for him! What good seeds have we to sow in their hearts for eternal blessedness to be reaped hereafter! Oh what watchful care and willing sacrifices does such a trust, having these precious gifts of young children deposited with us, claim from us. It is nothing less than the preparation of a people who will be the joy and crown of the Lord of glory in his heavenly and everlasting kingdom.

2. THE DUTY ENJOINED, TO FEED THEM.-" Feed my lambs." There are two opposite errors into which men fall respecting them. One is to STARVE them, by giving them no instruction, leaving them entirely to themselves. Alas! in every part of our kingdom this neglect is but too apparent. Thousands and tens of thousands of the children of Britain are thus neglected.

Another error into which men fall is that, not of starving, but of POISONING their children; and this is also as common, hard as it is to say it, as the neglecting them.

To feed them comprehends the whole of their education for a holy and happy life here, and endless glory hereafter. Let us view this in five plain and practical directions:

1. Train them up in the fear of God.-This, this only, is the right beginning of knowledge. (Prov. i. 6.) And we mean not here the spirit of terror and of bondage, but the spirit of reverence and of confidence-the fear which a child has towards a beloved parent; not the fear with which a guilty criminal is possessed, but the fear which flows from the excellence and goodness, the greatness and glory of our God, and which is greatly increased by the sense of his forgiving grace.

2. Nourish them with the truths of the Gospel.-Little children delight in the sincere milk of the word, and grow thereby. They can enter into the kindness and love of God our Saviour. The most powerful feelings of their hearts are touched by his care for little ones, and his taking them in his arms and blessing them. His dying for them, rising again from the dead, and now reigning the living Saviour of all, both young and old, warm and gladden their young hearts. The Father's love in not sparing his own Son; the Son's grace in becoming poor for us; the Holy Spirit's teaching us and giving us new hearts; these, and a thousand other precious truths, we have for the nourishment of the young.

3. Instruct them in their covenant privileges.- How great they are, flowing from God's free and gracious original promise, "to be not only our God, but the God of our seed after us!" Oh, how much we need, notwithstanding all his promises, and all that our own Church has testified, to be raised to the true faith of the gospel on this very point. How plain is St. Peter's testimony-"The promise is to you and your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord shall call." Teachers, remember, then, your children are to be brought up as the children of God, with full faith in God's gracious promises in their behalf.

4. Fit them for usefulness here.-They have an important part to occupy as citizens of an earthly commonwealth, and need for their duties some knowledge, much patience, selfdenial, much humility, much obedience. Their whole training must have a reference to these duties of their subsequent life. But besides this, they have to be fitted for usefulness as Christians; to fulfil a far more important part as members of the Church, than as members of a society relating only to the things of this world. And, even in the lowest classes, what a blessing are truly Christian servants, in whatever capacity they may serve; a maid-servant, like Naaman's

little maid, may be the greatest of blessings to her master; or a child brought up like Samuel may be the means of innumerable benefits to his country. All this materially depends on their being trained as Christians, and possessed from their earliest years with the sweet truths of Christ that they are "blessed," that they may "be a blessing," and have "freely received," that they may "freely give.' In short, obey the plain direction, "Train up a child in the way he should and obtain thereby the full blessing promised, "when he is old he will not depart from it."

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5. Prepare them for eternal life.-This is the true and full and great end of feeding the lambs, that they may be fitted at length to occupy the fold above, in the immediate presence and perpetual joy of the Chief Shepherd. What an incalculable trust have we in each child, thus given us to educate for eternity! and what an all-sufficient reason have we here for every patient fulfilment of labour and toil, and every self-denying sacrifice of ease and comfort! It is for the judgment-day that is quickly coming; it is for the glorious kingdom that will never end. "He that soweth to the flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption," while "he that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." To be prepared for eternity, nothing less than this, is the noble design of Sundayschool Education.

And oh, how blessed the effects of thus training the infants! Methinks I see the little ones, returning as missionaries to their own home. I behold them attracting and winning the heart of their father, while they sit on his knees, and with their sweet little voices tell him of the love of Jesus to children; I behold them soothing their mother's sorrows, by their ready submission and obedience. I see them rapidly rising to farther knowledge and usefulness in their Sunday-schools. I see them mingling with all the population, spreading the savour of the knowledge of Christ, with all its fulness of holy unction and heavenly influence and peaceful blessings, among our fellowmen, and so making us more and more a people prepared and ready for the Lord, for his coming, kingdom, and glory; and, by faith, looking onward still, I discern them entering into and partaking of that fulness of joy for ever. The Lord so prosper our work more and more, and add to it only the blessedness of ourselves in that bliss, seeing these little ones our joy and crown of rejoicing" for ever, in the day of Christ!

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