ing that you have spent your strength for nought. If we take, however, a comprehensive view of all that has been accomplished by your instrumentality, it will be seen that the voice of complaint should not be yours. The recent attempt of the government, under the influence of state-church advocates, to neutralize the glorious effects of Sabbath-school instruction, shows plainly that if you do not appreciate the results of your labours, others do. Truly we may regard this movement as the most signal testimony to the excellency and efficiency of the Sunday-school system that was ever witnessed. Thankful, then, for the wonderful interposition of Divine Providence in your behalf at this crisis of our nation's history, the decisive and glorious victory which he has given to the friends of religion and liberty, the record of which I will be read with interest for centuries to come, endeavour to learn fully the important lesson which is here taught, and learn how to use still more effectively the great moral power which it is seen you possess.

There is always a disposition to estimate highly the importance of the particular period in which we live; but surely there never was a time in our country when the friends of the Redeemer were more solemnly called upon to stand up in defence of the pure gospel of Christ and our precious religious liberties. Those in our land who look down with derision and scorn on our disinterested exertions for the good of the young are marshaling their forces against us. Immense sums have been already raised for the purpose of carrying out a system of church education in the manufacturing and mining districts; where, we will undertake to say, there are hundreds of children taught in Sundayschools who understand more clearly the leading doctrines of the Bible than many whose names appear on this splendid subscription list.

Well, the friends of the church have a perfect right to dispose of their money in this way. We love the voluntary principle, which has lately spread so widely as to gain favour even with the bishops of our land. But whilst the supporters of the statechurch are thus preparing to Church-of-Englandize the youth of the nation, let us be on our guard. As the friends of pure and undefiled religion, and as the friends of religious and civil freedom, let us zealously defend the truth.

Whatever others desire to teach, we desire to teach them the

"This

word of God. By the word of God we take our stand. is our only touchstone, by which all opinions are to be tried; this is our test of orthodoxy, this the fountain whence we draw all our religious knowledge." Seek, dear friends, to understand aright the philosophy of teaching; for unless the children of our schools understand the truths of the scripture, our labours are in vain. They must not merely have the words of scripture on their tongues, but the ideas of scripture in their minds. Dr Watts has well said, "that words are only the shells, which contain within them the divine food for the mind. Now these shells may be too hard to open, and we do not think of giving young children nuts to crack that they may be able to crack them when their teeth come." In the use, then, of the most simple and intelligible language, let us seek gently to let into their minds the beams of that truth which is able to save their souls.

We cannot contemplate the awful ignorance which still prevails in this highly favoured land, on subjects connected with eternal peace, without deep sorrow. Whilst it is the duty of every sincere Christian to devote his energies to the removal of this tremendous evil, it seems to be especially the duty of Sabbath-school teachers, from their office and position, to unite with one heart and soul, and with ever-increasing earnestness and energy, in this godlike work. Dear fellow-labourers, no tongue can tell, no imagination conceive, to what an extent the future prosperity and happiness of Britain is, under God, dependent on you. What a tremendous responsibility rests here! Let us then buckle on our armour afresh, and by fervent prayer, and the diligent use of appropriate means, seek that God may so imprint the great truths of the everlasting gospel on the minds of the rising youth of our country, as to render them legible in their lives; that thus the coming generation may have their minds inlaid with the sacred truths of our holy religion, and become ornaments of the church of God, valiant defenders of the truth, able to withstand the shocks of temptation that may assail them on every side, boldly confessing and practically adorning those great and holy principles which are identified with the glory of God and the best interests of men.

A SUPERINTENDENT.

BRIEF NOTES ON THE CHRISTIAN'S POSITION AND DUTY.

I. In the church.

His position there is exceedingly interesting. He stands there a son of God—a member of the Saviour's family—an expectant of eternal bliss! Delightful thought, that such a worthless being should enjoy such privileges. What, then, is his duty? 1. To live in close communion with his heavenly Father. What an unnatural child is he who holds little intercourse with an earthly parent! A hundredfold more so is the professor who seldom approaches a throne of grace, and neglects divinely appointed ordinances. Christians, remember that the very life of Christianity consists in fellowship with God.

An idle professor

2. Active exertion in the Saviour's cause. is a cold Christian, and likely to become a backsliding one. Every member of a Christian church is bound by his vows to aim at increasing the extent of that church's borders. Never is there time for sleeping; for Satan is ever at work, and we must imitate him in assiduity.

3. To exercise a spirit of love towards the brethren. Love was our Saviour's governing principle, and we must cultivate his graces. Love is the silken cord which ties the heart of every true Christian to the Saviour and his disciples. A Christian without love cannot be, for love is the first principle of Christianity. Your love must be pure, not assumed or with dissimu lation. Imitate the Saviour as far as possible, and you will not only love, but be loved also.

II. In the world.

Here the Christian's position is highly important. According to the example he sets before men, will they judge of his reli gion; and being enemies, we need not wonder at their oft misconstruing the words and actions of professors.

The Christian is described as the "salt of the earth." Salt is an exceedingly useful article when good, but when bad perfectly useless. So with the Christian; an exemplary professor is useful, while an inconsistent one is worse than useless, for he is an injury to Christ's cause. Be ye then consistent in your profession

before the world.

The Christian is compared to a "city set on a hill, that cannot

be hid." As a city on a high hill is seen by all around it for many miles, so the professor is seen and watched by all his worldly neighbours. Every word is noted down, especially an inconsistent one. Every action is watched with an eagle eye. Scarcely anything escapes their notice. As the hawk eyes his prey that he may dart upon it, so with these worldlings. Remember, then, Christian, that you are specially exposed to view.

Again, the Christian "is a light." As such it is your duty to keep that light clear and steady, that it may not delude the anxious inquirer after truth. Let it shine forth as the sun when he is in the meridian of his glory. Your light is needed by the world, not by the church; it is the world that is in darkness. How careful, then, should you be to keep your light shining in the path to heaven and God! Let your light increase in refulgence the more you know of Jesus, and as you increase in years. Remember that you are to the world what the eastern star was to the magi, a guide to the Saviour. Imitate that star, and point by your character and conduct to the cross of Christ. In business, as a Christian, be diligent, faithful, and scrupulous in your dealings with men of the world. Never be seen condescending to trickery, or over-reaching. Such conduct is worthy of Satan's followers, not those of Jesus. Never say anything that bears the least semblance of untruth, remembering that God knoweth all things, and judges the thoughts and intents of the heart. In your conversation be cautious. Seek to glorify God and benefit souls by your speech as well as your deeds. Let it be solid and useful; not light and trifling, tending to no useful end; for such weakens the mental capacity, and, above all, dishonours God. Never wink at the worldling's lewd conversation; but use your best efforts to check it, when you happen to be cast in his way. Be charitable to the world. Speak not harshly, neither treat them unkindly, remembering that once you were like them. Your great duty is to be watchful and prayerful. Watch your actions and speech, that you cast no dishonour on your profession. Pray that when surrounded by temptations you may be strengthened to resist them; that when taunted and jeered by the gay and trifling, you may bear it patiently; looking forward to that time when you shall be freed from all annoyance of man and Satan, and surrounded by pure and holy beings alone. Pray

for the wicked. Never miss an opportunity of doing good to their souls; but be careful to speak at seasonable times, for " word in season how good is it!"

a

S. H,

SELECT SENTIMENTS.

V.

A FRIEND gives me a ring, I wear it for his sake; a book, I use it for his sake; a jewel, I keep it for his sake; that is, so as may best express my love and report his goodness: and were we truly thankful to our God, we should then use all his tokens for his sake, and do all things for his glory; we should eat our meals to him, wear our clothes to him, spend our strength for him, live to him, sleep to him, die for him, &c. Thus we should do; but alas! we use his blessings as Jehu did Jehoram's messenger, and David, Goliath's sword; men turn them against their master, and fight against heaven with their health, wit, wealth, friends, means, and mercies, that they have from thence received.

VI.

Fire is known to be no painted or imaginary fire by two notes-by heat, and by the flame.. Now if the case so fall out that the fire wants a flame, it is still known by the heat. In like manner there are two witnesses of our adoption or sanctification-God's spirit and our spirit. Now, if it so fall out, that a man feels not the principle which is the spirit of adoption, he must then have recourse to the second witness, and search out in himself the signs and tokens of the sanctification of his own spirit, by which he may certainly assure himself of his own adoption, as fire may be known to be fire by the heat, though it want a flame.

VII.

I have often seen young and unskilful persons sitting in a little boat, when every little wave sporting about the sides of the vessel, and every motion and dancing of the barque, seemed a danger, and made them cling fast upon their fellows, and yet all the while they were as safe as if they sat under a tree, in a refreshing and cooling shade. And the unskilful, inexperienced