In addition to Sabbath schools, ragged schools have been established by such men as Dr. Guthrie and Dr. Robertson; orphanages by such men as Müller of Bristol, Barnardo and Spurgeon of London, and your own Quarrier; "Foundry Boys" and kindred societies; and industrial schools and reformatory schools by Government. The children have also been cared for by the legislature through such measures as the Factories Act, forbidding the employment of children under a certain age in our various factories; and the Education Act, which provides that each child shall receive at least an elementary education.

In literature, also, we see the children occupying a most important place. Up to the present century the children received scarcely any recognition at the hands of our best authors. Milton, e. g., has nothing to say of them; ; and even Shakespeare, who held the mirror up to nature, has introduced only two children in his works the princes in "Richard III.” It is very different now-a-days. Who has not been moved by the sweet story of Little Nell, told with such pathos by Dickens; or of Eva in "Uncle Tom's Cabin;" or of Pit Marjorie, by the author of "Rab and His Friends;" or of "Wee Davie," by Norman Macleod? And who has not enjoyed the story of Budge and Toddie, as told by the author of "Helen's Babies?" The books which have been written for children are legion,-they appear by the hundred, one might almost say by the thousand, every year. The issue of a few years would soon stock a large library. Besides books for children, how many periodicals for children, such as "The Child's Own," "The Dayspring," ," "The Adviser," are published monthly! In how many more magazines, moreover, is a column or a page reserved for "The Young Folks!"

Besides these, think of the provision made in our schools in the matter of text-books for the young. In the old days, I believe, only three text-books were known :-The Shorter Catechism, the Bible, (specially the Book of Proverbs,) and "The Collection ;" and these did duty for all classes. Now, we have text-books done up according to standards in the most enticing form, with illustrations, which are, indeed, works of art, issuing from such well-known printing offices as those of Nelson and Blackie, and of our distinguished Chairman, (Sir William Collins.)

In a hundred directions we find a care for the children manifesting itself. There is, however, a danger attaching to these outside agencies, that they are apt to distract attention from the divinely appointed and primarily responsible medium of instruction-the family. The very multiplication of these, thankful as we ought to be for them, is apt to make us lose sight of what is the first, and what ought to be, and might be, the best school of instruction-THE HOME. I do not know whether there was some idea of this kind in the minds of those who drew out the programme for this evening, for you will observe that they have placed this subject first on the list. They may have desired to emphasize the fact that the family should go before the Sabbath school, and that it is only as the duty of the family is faithfully discharged that the work of the Sabbath school can reach its ideal, and discharge its function to the highest advantage.

The question which we are called to consider is, "How can parents

obtain the largest benefit for their children from the Sabbath school?" I shall endeavour to answer the question in a few simple propositions.

(1.) BY SECURING THEIR REGULAR AND PUNCTUAL ATTENDANCE. Regularity and punctuality in connection with attendance upon the Sabbath school should be as much considered as in connection with the day school. I had almost said more so, because while one day's absence from the ordinary school implies the loss of only one day, absence from the Sabbath school implies the loss of seven, for the latter meets only one day in seven. If a child be irregular there is loss in two directionsthe loss of the day's instruction, and what is even more serious, the loss of interest on the part of the child. If a child be unpunctual, dropping in occasionally during the singing of the first hymn, or after the first prayer, or, as sometimes happens, after the lessons are begun, the child, the teacher, and the other members of the class, are, to some extent, thrown out of gear; and as the time at their disposal is limited, this is frequently a somewhat serious matter. To get the full benefit from the Sabbath school, the family arrangements should be such as will secure that the child be sent off to the Sabbath school so as to be in good time to shake hands with the teacher, and feel quite comfortable in his seat before the opening services begin. Surely there ought to be no difficulty in carrying out such arrangements, if parents were but anxious to see the Sabbath school rise to the full measure of efficiency.

Besides, trivial excuses should not be accepted for absence. I am afraid, judging from the large percentage of absenteeism in most of our schools, that this rule is not sufficiently acted upon. Attendance at the Sabbath school should be seen to, and with at least as much care as attendance on the day school; and if the excuse for non-attendance would not be accepted in the one, it should not be recognised in the other. If you would have your children profit by the Sabbath school, you ought to secure their regular and punctual attendance.

(2.) BY TAKING AN INTEREST IN THE PREPARATION OF THE

PRESCRIBED WORK.

I have the impression that the work prescribed is much better prepared than it used to be. Not many years ago it was no unusual thing for a percentage of the pupils to get up their memory work from hearing it repeated by the other members of the class, or by committing it before the teacher had reached them. I daresay we are all familiar with the story of the boy who was badly prepared, saying to the teacher, "Just gie me a wee keek and I'll say it." Now, by the introduction of a system of marking, or by some other device, a larger amount of preparation is secured. But is it too much to ask that in the family some provision should be made for getting up the Sabbath school work? The father or mother might make it a point to say, early on the Saturday evening, “Well, Johnnie, have you learned your lessons for the Sabbath school?" or, better still, one or other of them might go over the work with them, trying to make it as interesting as they possibly could. If it be said that they get more than enough of this to do during the week in connection with the ordinary school work, I would say that any father

or mother in earnest regarding the religious training of their family, will not grudge the time, or allow care for the lower to crush out care for the higher. If they feel the importance of things divine, it will be a pleasure rather than a task to devote a little time to this important work. Let parents try it-let them get over the trouble implied in the removal of the vis inertiae-and I am persuaded that they will soon experience pleasure as well as profit in the effort; and I am sure that they will thereby help on the work of the Sabbath school to the increased wellbeing of their children.

(3.) BY SETTING BEFORE THEM AN EXAMPLE WHICH WILL REFLECT THE

BEST TEACHING OF THE SABBATH SCHOOL.

It is to be feared that much of the good effect produced in the Sabbath school is neutralized by the example set before the children in many professedly Christian homes. We know that this is the case in connection with homes which are not Christian-as, e. g., in mission districts; but I make this statement now in relation to professedly Christian homes.

The children, e. g., are taught in the Sabbath school that the thought of God and of His will should be with them in all the affairs of life—that their daily prayer should be, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?"and that their daily effort should be after what pleaseth Him. But in many a home they find no trace of a reference to God and His will in the common affairs of life. For anything they see in the every-day life of the family, there might be no God at all. attendance upon God's house, they sometimes see excuses acted upon which would never be accepted in relation to a concert. What are they

Even in connection with

to think of this? They look up to their parents, and, consciously and unconsciously, imitate them. Should we be surprised if we find that the teaching of the Sabbath school is lost by witnessing the daily practice of the home?

Or take the illustration of God's love under the similitude of a Father, so frequently presented in God's Word and in the Sabbath school. How much of the beauty, and pathos, and power of the illustration is lost by the father not manifesting a loving, thoughtful, gentle care over his children! Do not some children, at least, go from our Sabbath schools to homes where, from week's end to week's end, they seldom hear a loving word from a father's lips, and know him only as gruff, and grim, and sour -a man who does not like to be troubled with what troubles them, and who is sometimes unjust and cruel? With rude hands we ofttimes tear out of the Bible the very sweetest and most comforting truths by our daily conduct.

And so of temperance, truthfulness, honesty, purity, and other virtues is not the teaching of the Sabbath schools on these points not unfrequently neutralized by the example of the family? In the old days it was customary to end each sermon with a number of practical applications, as they were called; and it was noticed that the congregation began to wake up when these were reached, either because the - sermon, they knew, was drawing to a close, or because the points there adverted to had a human interest which was sometimes lacking in the sermon, or perhaps for both reasons. Where do we find the practical

application of the truths communicated in the Sabbath school? Where do the children look for them? Is it not in the family? Let parents rest assured that they are wide awake there, and that much of the teaching will go for nothing if the "practical application" is not to the point.

In a book recently published, and now in its third edition, bearing the title of "Natural Law in the Spiritual World," by Mr. Henry Drummond, lecturer, &c., I find the following interesting observations under the head of "Parasitism" :

"One notices with a frequency which may well excite alarm that the children of church-going parents often break away as they grow in intelligence—not only from church connection, but from the whole system of family religion. In some cases this is, doubtless, due to natural perversity, but in others it certainly arises from the hollowness of the outward forms which pass current in society and at home for vital Christianity. Those spurious forms, fortunately or unfortunately, soon betray themselves. How little there is in them becomes gradually apparent; and rather than indulge in a sham, the budding sceptic, as the first step, parts with the form, and in nine cases out of ten concerns himself no further to find a substitute. Quite deliberately, quite honestly, sometimes with real regret, and even at personal sacrifice, he takes up his position; and to his parents' sorrow and his church's dishonour, forsakes for ever the faith and religion of his fathers. Who will deny that this is a true account of the natural history of much modern scepticism? A formal religion can never hold its own in the 19th century. It is better that it should not. We must either be real or cease to be. We must either give up our Parasitism or our sons."

It is a striking fact, that a large number among our criminals have actually passed through our Sabbath schools. How are you to account for it, save by the fact that the family has not given a true application of the lessons of the Sabbath school throughout the week? And so, I say, if the Sabbath school is to be fruitful in good results, the family must follow up and exemplify the lessons communicated by the teachers.

(4.) BY THE OBSERVANCE OF FAMILY WORSHIP.

We are told that one who visited Scotland towards the close of last century testifies, that in passing through our villages he heard the voice of praise ascending in the evening from almost every house. Such testimony could not be borne in the present day. In too many cases the family altar has never been erected, and no sacrifice of praise and prayer ascends to God. In view of this fact, can we say that in the family there is that recognition of obligation to God which there ought to be? If parents recognised the fact that their children have been given them by God, each with the message, "Take this child, and nurse it for Me, and I will give you wages," would there not be the public and grateful recognition of this goodness, and the earnest prayer for grace to train them aright? It is only as there is an altar in the home that the service of the Church and of the Sabbath school can produce the highest and best results.

What a beautiful picture of a Christian family is that which is presented by Burns in his "Cottars' Saturday Night!"

"Wi' joy unfeign'd, brothers and sisters meet,
And each for other's welfare kindly spiers;
The social hours, swift-wing'd, unnotic'd fleet :
Each tells the uncos that he sees or hears;
The parents, partial, eye their hopeful years;
Anticipation forward points the view.

The mother, wi' her needle and her sheers,
Gars auld claes look amaist as weel's the new;
The father mixes a' wi' admonition due.

Their master's and their mistress's command
The younkers a' are warned to obey;
'And mind their labours wi' an eydent hand,
And ne'er, though out o' sicht, to jauk or play:
And oh, be sure to fear the Lord alway!
And mind your duty, duly, morn and night!'
Lest in temptation's path ye gang astray,
Implore His counsel and assisting might:

They never sought in vain that sought the Lord aright.'

The cheerfu' supper done, wi' serious face,
They, round the ingle, form a circle wide;
The sire turns o'er, wi' patriarchal grace,
The big ha' Bible, ance his father's pride:
His bonnet reverently is laid aside,
His lyart haffets, wearing thin and bare;

Those strains that ance did sweet in Zion glide,
He wales a portion wi' judicious care;

And "Let us worship God!" he says wi' solemn air.

Then, kneeling down to heaven's eternal King,
The saint, the father, and the husband prays;
Hope springs exulting on triumphant wing,'
That thus they all shall meet in future days:
There ever bask in uncreated rays,

No more to sigh, or shed the bitter tear;
Together hymning their Creator's praise,

In such society, yet still more dear;

While circling time moves round in an eternal sphere.

From scenes like these old Scotia's grandeur springs,
That makes her loved at home, revered abroad."

Such is the family that maintains a true relation to the Sabbath school. And if there be one thing more than another to prompt all Christian parents to realize it in their own family, surely it is the thought of the momentous issue at stake.

It is said that upon one occasion Dean Church had engaged to preach a sermon on behalf of charity schools. The children were seated partly in the area and partly in the gallery of the church, and there was also a large congregation; but the old man was unable for the task. He was, however, taken into the church, and all that he could say was, "Here they are, there they are, yonder they are." Oh let us all-teachers, parents, and ministers-think of the yonder, so that we may be able to say, "Here am I, and the children Thou didst give me."