eye upon his own behaviour, but must enter fully into the Apostolic sentiment, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."

More prayerful: for prayer is the expression of dependence; the cry of the thief, the supplication of the publican. Acquaintance with our own necessity makes us more urgent in every appeal.

And more useful: for the knowledge of former folly makes us wiser for the future. Our vices become monitors of virtue. Experience is a hard schoolmaster, but he is a very successful one; and if we are better able to exert our energies-more prayerful and more child-like-self-examination will be our greatest delight and best preservative.

J. T.

THE MAIN IDEA.

Matt. xiv. 23-33.

Ir is of great importance in telling Scripture stories to children, that the teacher should have the main idea in the story, clearly before his own mind, that he may give it due prominence. Children will then connect the story with some grand Scripture truth: such, for instance, as that so remarkably pointed out in this passage, viz :the Divinity of the Son of God.

Verse 22.-" Jesus constrained the disciples to get into a ship," &c. Jesus had been surrounded with multitudes of people, 13, 14, v. and now desired to be left alone with God. He therefore sent his

disciples away first, in a ship.

Verse 23.-Then He "sent the multitudes away ;" and when He was alone, prayed to his Father in heaven.

Verse 24.—The disciples had now got into "the midst of the sea" of Galilee, and the wind blew strong against them.

Verse 25.-It was evening when they set out, so that it was getting towards morning, when Jesus "went unto them, walking on the sea."

(The Jewish night began at six in the evening, and ended at six in the morning; being divided into four watches, each three hours. Thus; "the fourth watch" would be from three o'clock to six a. M.)

No man can walk on the water at any time. It was therefore a proof that Jesus was God as well as man, when He walked on the sea. Verse 26.-The disciples were frightened when they saw Him. Verse 27.—But Jesus said, "It is I." (The word "I" was full of comfort, for Jesus was their Friend.)

not.

Verse 28.-Peter thought he would try whether it was Jesus or 'If it be thou." God's word ought to have been enough. Verse 29.-Here was another proof that Jesus was God: He not only walked on the water Himself, but enabled Peter to go to Him too! What can He not do ?

Verse 30.-Peter now lost his confidence in Jesus, and looked at the wind and waves. So he began to sink.

He had faith, for he cried to Jesus to save him, but he had not simple faith to trust his word only.

Verse 31.-In tender love, Jesus "stretched forth his hand and caught him!" He does not deal with us after our sins.

Verse 32.-No sooner had Jesus got into the ship, than "the wind ceased!" Compare Ps. cvii. 25, 29; Ps. lxxxix. 9; Ps. cxlviii. 8. Thus, "the wind" should always make us think of God: He raises it, and He stills it.

Verse 33.-"Of a truth Thou art the Son of God." This is what we are so slow to believe, v. 31. If Jesus is God, and is on our side, we need be afraid of nothing.

THE SUNDAY SCHOOL A BLESSING TO THE PARISH.

MINISTERS and their fellow-workers, the teachers in their Sunday schools, require to have their "hands strengthened" continually, and, of all people, need every whit of encouragement that can be given. They have so many hindrances, so many actual discouragements— oftentimes such almost heart-breaking (apparent) failures in their attempts-such grievous disappointments too, when they see their lambs beyond their reach under the "paw of the lion, and the paw of the bear" that indeed for their comfort, and their stirring up, their hearts want to be cheered and supported by any good news which can be conveyed. We ask for the prayers of all the praying people in our parishes, and we ask their good word, the kindly congratulation on what can be approved of, their sympathy when we are cast down by the errors of those over whom we watch, the " right hand of their fellowship," their help in any way they can render it. Yet all this kind of encouragement would be of little satisfaction, had we not something more real and solid, and decided.

We want results, facts, fruit of our labours, to shew that our "labour is not in vain in the Lord." Results prove the failure or success of any scheme; and when we would most encourage ourselves or others, we ask, are there any results to shew success? for plenty

there are to shew failure. Now, thanks be to Him "whose we are and whom we serve," we do not seek in vain.

We are not to expect that the results of success will equal in extent or number the results of failure; that would be to forget the presence and power of sin, both in ourselves and those with whom we have to do. But we may, and do confidently look for some, and when we find here and there one instance proving God's acceptance of our work, and his blessing upon it, we "thank God and take courage," we go on our way rejoicing; we are incited still to "go forth bearing the precious seed of the Gospel, and though again and again constrained to do so "weeping," yet we are animated to look to the end, to wait on the husbandman for the early and latter rain, and the season of harvest, trusting in the promise that after all we shall, DOUBTLESS come again with rejoicing, bringing our sheaves with us."

Now it seems to the writer of these few lines, that in no way can we look for such encouragement and hope as to this fact respecting the Sunday school, that whatever its present state as to numbers, or extent of education, or lack of teachers-though to the head of it, it may be a continual vexation, and a burden, and a sore distress-if its work is persisted in, if its promoters go on earnestly, anxiously, prayerfully, though they may not see any good fruits either now, or on this side of the grave at all, yet the Sunday school is a blessing to the parish.

But there are few schools in so sad a condition as above described. Then be assured that if the Sunday school is prospering, if it is moving onwards, however slowly, while it is increasing in numbers, while from time to time (though the intervals be long between) teachers come forward to help, and more interest is taken in the work by those who do not actually help in it-be assured, under these circumstances, the Sunday school is PECULIARLY a blessing to the parish.

Now, if we can shew this, we give encouragement to all interested. If we can evidently see it in our own parishes, more abundant help is administered. But there are many who are young in the work, and have as yet had no personal experience of the ultimate influences of the Sabbath school. To such then, we more particularly address our remarks, hoping to shew them the truth of what we assert, and so to help them on their way, and induce them even more earnestly to go onwards in their course, "their labour of love."

Now we think that a glance at the machinery of a Sunday school will show that in the common natural order of consequences, benefits must accrue to the community in which it is situated. But what do we mean by the machinery of a Sunday school? We point you to the

prayers of praying people in the parish, to the well recognised authority of the ministers, to the influence of teachers, (who it is hoped and supposed, are among the praying people just mentioned,) to the example of elder pupils, to the order and arrangement of the school in peculiar reference to the holy day; but most especially to the fact of its being a season used for sowing the seed of the Gospel, and thus doing honour to the command of Christ Jesus, respecting the continual and universal preaching of his Word.

Now, if these things are going on too slowly, and far from what our hearts desire, yet, if such machinery as this is at work every week, can it be asserted that valued blessings are not thus conveyed to the whole parish?

We ask, does not God honour his own work, and is not the work of teaching the religion of the Gospel his work, and especially when the Sabbath is devoted to such exercise? Oh! that Sunday school teachers would more take that text and use it for their great encouragement, "Them that honour Me I will honour." Let them be assured, that if they give themselves up to this work, with earnest and anxious hearts, in faith, with a spirit of prayer, they are doing their part in the delightful duty of honouring God, and none ever did that without receiving abundant blessings on their labours, sooner or later. You may not, and most probably will not see the result of your labour now, perhaps never in this world; and after all, the Gospel you teach may be the "savour of death unto death." Still, you shall be honoured in your work. But on the whole, the point of your efforts shall be manifest in some way, and you shall individually know that you are bearing your part in the labour of conferring a general blessing, of being useful members in your vocation, though the world may be blind to the fact, and some may ridicule and oppose your exertions.

THE SUNDAY SCHOOL IS A BLESSING TO THE PARISH. For it is the principal means of gathering together the majority of children into one place" (and "with one accord" also we trust), and under the direction of those who are competent to give them proper Sabbath education and habits. True, if parents knew their duty, and did their duty, there would be but little need of our exertions. But take a parish. How many parents do you see who are able to instruct their children? How many who are willing to do so, if able? And changing the manner of speech from interrogation to interjection, how many you see who do not care what their children do on Sunday, so that they do not trouble them, but let them lazily enjoy the freedom of the Sabbath!

How often you find that even those parents who go to Church or Chapel themselves, content themselves by merely giving the children

a command to go to some place of worship; instead of taking them with themselves, and seeing that their behaviour is what it should be! Then comes our work. The greater part of our parish children would be utterly neglected were it not for the Sunday school. They would run wild as the few do who are not compelled to come, and will not be invited. They would grow up with the lowest ideas of religion and its requirements. They would soon learn to profane the Sabbath altogether; and I ask, can you have in your parish a more dangerous set of people than those who profanely and wantonly despise and dishonour the holy Sabbath day?

If therefore, we are are able to collect two-thirds of the children in our Sabbath schools, and keep them there till they get to some thirteen, fourteen, or sixteen years old, are we not, under the guidance of Almighty God, the means of conferring a general BLESSING ON THE PARISH?

But look further on; let your parish children grow up and leave you; you perhaps lose all influence over them; the whole generation you have been training, become men and women, fathers and mothers. Has your work all been in vain? NO; any minister will testify to the contrary. Then, if not before, your old pupils will see the benefits of the Sunday school, and very forward will they be that their children should reap the same advantages; then will they give you their help too; they will look to the children themselves; they will do all they can to further your endeavours, and depend upon it, when you have in your parish people who are anxious that their children should be brought up in the fear of God, you have much to praise Him for, and if we show you that individually the Sunday school produces these, we show you that it is a BLESSING TO THE PARISH.

But let us now take another instance. Suppose your school contains fifty children; or twenty-five children. Is it not most probable, that there will be at least one child, male or female, to whom you will be imparting the truth of the Gospel in reality; whose heart the Lord either at present is opening, or will shortly do so, to receive effectually the Gospel of salvation? We think more than one.

But twenty-five and fifty are small numbers, where the population is an average one for a parish. Then we hope there are more than one, or two, or three. But suppose only one. Suppose, (rather believe) you are under God, training this one for eternal life. Then remember, that before such an one reaps the recompense of reward," he or she, according to God's general providence, has to glorify his name here; to settle in your parish actually a fellow-helper, to be an example to others; to go home with a sermon in every hour's conduct, perhaps to become a parent, and if so, one who will strive to bring up the children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord;