THE VISITER'S MISCELLANEOUS QUESTIONS TO SABBATH SCHOLARS. NO. IV.

NAME of the first father in the human family? First mother? First child? First shepherd recorded in the Bible? First agriculturalist? First musician? First Jewish high priest? First king? First martyr? First city? First country? First mountain? First ship?

First command recorded in Scripture? First blessing? First curse? First question? First intimation of Christ? First appearance of an angel? First use of written language? First use of iron? First instance of intemperance? First wicked thought'? First song First miracle? First worship of images? First lie? First prayer?

In what respect should you be like a lion? Like a lamb? Like a dove? Like an ant? Even the ox and the ass may be your instructors. How?

What is the language of the rainbow?

What illus

How can you heap coals of fire upon the head of an enemy? What did Solomon say was the pioneer of destruction? tration of this?

What is like the shining light? What is like darkness? What is like a hammer? What is like grass? What is like choice silver? How should you be like a little new born babe ?

There is a weapon that is sharper than a two edged sword, and what is very wonderful, it heals as well as wounds. What is it? Has it ever wounded and healed you?

What is that choice comfort of life, which Solomon said the laboring man alone enjoys?

BE SURE YOUR SIN WILL FIND YOU OUT. What illustrations of this does the Bible furnish?

Who was an eminent pattern of patience? For what other good qualities was he distinguished?

What monument did God miraculously erect near an ancient city? Which way did the figure look, and what was doubtless the expression of countenance? How did our Saviour refer to this monument?

Many years ago, the keeper of a large gate, at a certain city, on awaking one morning, found to his surprise, that, during the night, the whole gate, including the two doors, posts and bars, had been carried off. Search being made, they were found at the distance of several miles, on the top of a hill; and it was ascertained to have been done at once, by a single man! What city was this? Who was the man? What word denotes a great and strong man? better than strength?

What is

NOTICES OF NEW PUBLICATIONS.

By

The Harbinger of the Millennium, with an Appendix. William Cogswell, Secretary of the American Education Society. Boston: Peirce & Parker, 1833. pp. 362.

A portion of this interesting and valuable work, is taken up with the subject of "the religious education of children," showing " the

nature of," "and reasons for," "such an education." The discussion of this subject, very naturally led Mr. Cogswell to speak of Sabbath schools. And here he speaks to effect; he speaks as one fully satisfied, that if the world is ever supplied with ministers of the gospel, the young must be gathered into the Sabbath school, and taught the Scriptures, which are able to make them wise unto salvation. Those who are to be set apart to the holy ministry, must be converted while young. But to look for early conversions among those who are not trained up under religious instruction, or among those who neglect the Sabbath school, would be like looking for figs on thorns, and for grapes on bramble-bushes. We do not say, that those who neglect the Sabbath school, cannot be converted; but we do say, when God is pleased to bless a system of instruction, as he has been this, those who neglect it, stand on fearful ground, and if God neglects them, if he lets them alone, would it be strange? How can it be otherwise?

"I would," says Mr. Cogswell, "speak_particularly of those who have the charge of our Sabbath schools. They are subalterns in the army of the Great Captain of salvation, and have an important part to perform in training up the sacramental host of God's elect." These schools will be nurseries for the church-nurseries from which multitudes will be transplanted into the garden of the Lord."-" Here will be trained up the Brainerds, Buchanans, Careys, and Martyns, of future ages, who shall carry the Bible and preach it on the banks of the Ganges, on the shores of the Pacific, and on the islands of the This society is not insulated, it is a part of one stupendous whole. In connection with the other benevolent enterprizes of the day, it is working wonders."

seas.

Then follow a great number of interesting facts, facts which can be relied on, gathered from Sabbath school addresses, sermons, reports and journals, going to show that "the Holy Spirit has remarkably set his seal upon the institution of Sabbath schools."

"We have the most abundant testimony to their blessed effects. Revivals of religion follow in their train. They replenish the churches, and furnish a multitude of young men for the service of pastors and missionaries.-This Christian enterprize is one of the most efficient instruments, chosen of God, for the advancement of his kingdom. This is the uniform feeling and acknowledgment of the friends of Christ."

We are heartily glad to see Sabbath schools occupy so prominent a place in Mr. Cogswell's "Harbinger of the Millennium." Let no one think he overrates this institution. How can that be overrated, which lays at the very foundations of all those great enterprizes, which are to fill the world with the knowledge and glory of God? Contemplate, for a moment, the four million of children and youth,

who are rising up in our country, and then tell us where will be our Tract, and Bible, and Education, and Missionary Societies, in twentyfive or thirty years, unless these millions are gathered into Sabbath schools, and trained up under the influence of the truth of God?

The Clinton Family; or, The History of the Temperance Reformation. By the Rev. Cyrus Mann, author of the Memoir of Mrs. Allen, and an Epitome of the Evidences of Christianity. The public were told, several months since, such a work would be published soon, by the Massachusetts Sabbath School Society. Its delay has been unavoidable. But now it is published, we hope every friend of temperance will read it. The following cut, represents the clergyman disposing of his demijohn of brandy, which had been sent him as a present from some anti-temperance persons. Finding that neither his horse, nor cow, nor hog, would drink it, he returned it to the donors, as useless.

Where learn'd your skilful hands

To strike celestial strings?

Who taught with such high strains to praise

The King of kings?

"On earth, on earth we learn'd

Our need of atoning blood;

The Sabbath school, the teacher's voice,

Wak'd in our hearts these holy joys

Glory to God!"

Teacher of deathless souls,

Heard ye those thrilling tones?

Go, and be faithful-feed those lambs,

Christ's little ones.

For the Sabbath School Visiter.

LETTERS FROM CHINA. NO. XVII.

Canton, (China,) Dec. 20, 1831.

To the children of the Sabbath school in Middleton, Mass.

My Dear Young Friends,-When I have given you a short account of Canton city, and told you a few things about my boys, then I must close these letters. Canton is a very large city, situated in 23° 7 north latitude, 1130 14' east longitude, from Greenwich. It is distant from the open sea, about 70 or 80 miles, and stands on the north bank of the Jahe, which the Chinese call Chookeany, that is, the Pearl river. The city is built wholly on one side of the river. Opposite to Canton, is the island of Honam, on which stands the celebrated Honam Joshouse. Indeed, all the way from Canton to the open sea, is part land and part water, and forms a great number of islands. A part of Canton is inclosed by a wall built of brick and stone, about 20 or 25 feet high, and 10 or 15 feet thick. The part of the city which is inclosed by the wall, is nearly square. Each of the four sides of the city, I should think, measures about two miles, perhaps less, perhaps more. On each side, there are three or four gates, these are always guarded by day, and shut and barred by night. Foreigners may not enter the gates. On the south, the wall ex