tion which ingratitude, disobedience and annoyance should only concentrate into more definite yearnings, more earnest efforts on behalf of the erring lamb who needs to be sought, and, if it may be, reclaimed. The child cannot in its youth, perhaps may never in mortal life, appreciate the love manifested by the teacher in the act of instruction; but when that love extends itself, as it may naturally do, into temporal concerns, it wakes a readier sympathy, and the feelings kindled by acts of aid, by tokens of gentleness and consideration, even by the kindly look and word, may be raised by degrees to follow those of the teacher in his desire to promote eternal interests. But there is perhaps no qualification in a teacher more conducive to the gaining of influence, and securing respect among his scholars, than soundness of mind, a constant readiness of all the faculties required in the work of instruction and training, a cautious regulation of the exercise of power and of love, and a steady endeavour to promote the desired object by judicious means, a quick perception of the dispositions, feelings and claims of individuals, and a due regard to each.

Let it then be the teacher's aim to overcome the faults, the tendencies, the habits which impair the sound health and vigour of mind, to dispel vain desires, selfish interests, and groundless or romantic expectations; that proportioning and regulating his work by the standard of God's Word, he may be restrained from error; while he strives to exercise to the utmost, the power and love wherewith God has endowed him, to qualify and stimulate him for the work intrusted to his hand.

"It's only a child," said a young woman to her companion, as they hastily withdrew their gaze from a coffin containing the remains of a departed one, which was being borne to its last resting place, in the Cemetery at L- -: but not so hastily did the impression this remark made upon me, vanish from my mind. I was myself awaiting the arrival of the remains of a dear scholar from our own school, hoping that my presence might be a little comfort to the sorrowing relations; and how different were my feelings with regard to this little one, to those which the expression "It's only a child," seemed to indicate as existing in the mind of this young person!

"It's only a child." Truly is it written in the inspired page, that God's thoughts are not as our thoughts. What different feelings animated the heart of our dear Redeemer, when He said, "Suffer little children to come unto Me," and, how different also should be

the feelings of a teacher towards his scholars. True, they are children; but they are perishing children, for, as in the case of this little one, death may lay upon them its icy hand and bring them to an early grave. They are of the fallen race of Adam, and possess a nature as corrupt as his; they need to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit's power, and to be made new creatures in Christ Jesus. To this end the Son of God has given Himself a free and willing sacrifice; and it is the privilege, the high privilege of the teacher, to seek by the Spirit's help to gather those little ones into the bosom of their Saviour, though they are but children.

"It's only a child." True, but how different is its state now, to what it was whilst it tabernacled here; here, a child, in sinful fleshnow, (may we not hope ?) a child in glory; here it was heir to all the troubles which await us in our earthly pilgrimage-but now, freed from trouble, because freed from sin, and accounted holy through the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ, this little one occupies a place among the redeemed of the Lord. Oh, let each teacher, when he meets his class, remember that his children are immortal, and however he may desire their temporal good, may he make the soul the chief concern. This little one, soon to be forgotten among men, had gone into the presence of the Lamb, whose blood had recorded its name in the "Book of life," and whose love towards it will continue throughout eternity. Let the thought on the one hand, that our children may die, and on the other, that though they die, they are immortal, stir us up to be faithful to them, though they are but children.

"It's only a child." Ah! dear reader, this is true, but, "Of such is the kingdom of heaven;" and such an one must you become, before you can enter its blessed portals. Are you such an one? Have you experienced this second childhood, which is expressed in our catechism as “a death unto sin, and a new birth unto righteousness "? Are you willing to cast away any pretended title to the pardon of your guilt and your acceptance before God, and stripped of every garment of your own weaving, to be clad in the robe of innocence which Christ has dyed for you? Remember, though it is but the state of a child, yet a second nature being formed within you, you will have become a child of God, and an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven.

W. C.

HOW I FIRST BECAME A SUNDAY-SCHOOL TEACHER.

WHEN a Christian looks back upon his past life of sinfulness and disobedience to God, what thankfulness must he feel to the Supreme Being, for the change he has undergone.

I, for one, was some few years ago a great sinner, without God in the world, and living only to do the pleasures of this world. I had a friend who was a Sunday-school teacher, one who was like a brother to me, and who oftentimes asked me to go to school with him; but no; like Pharoah, my heart was hardened, and I would not go, and not only that, I endeavoured to persuade him, and laugh him out of it too. During this time I was religious in the eyes of the world; I was in the habit of attending Church three times a day, but I was like the Pharisee, a strict observer of outward duties only, for nothing came from the heart.

About four years ago, the friend I have spoken of was taken ill, and he wished me to take his class on the Sunday. I saw no objection, and went, and thought to myself (at that time)-Who can like Sunday-school teaching? it seemed such an insipid thing to go there and hear boys read, and repeat a few lessons, which I thought they could do in their schools in the week-day.

My friend died. I then felt that I had no further tie to bind me to the school, and that having fulfilled his wish, I had no one else to please.

Soon after this I became a candidate for confirmation, and when I look back and think upon what I then promised, I feel as if I could annihilate myself for my deceit. I feel that I am not worthy of having my sins washed in the blood of Christ. I promised that I would "renounce the devil and all his works, the pomps and vanities of this wicked world, and all the sinful lusts of the flesh," that I would renew this promise by becoming a partaker of the Lord's supper, and that I would take a class in the Sunday-school.

I indeed became a Sunday-school teacher, but not in the true sense of the word, for I had not the heart in the work. 1 was endeavouring to teach others, but wanted teaching myself; my class was the noisiest, most disobedient class in the whole school.

And this is the way in which I was led to see that the work I had in hand was Christ's work. One day when prizes were given away, our worthy pastor related this anecdote :

"There was once a lady who had a very nice class, but the superintendent wished her to give up this class for one which no one could manage; she consented, and she made this note in her diary, Resolved, that I will pray to God for each child separately." There was a great alteration in the class, and from being the most unmanageable class, it became the most obedient. After some time she was persuaded to take another; she did so, and she again made the same note in her diary, and the same change was visible in the class. After some time she had another class given her; she made the same entry in her diary, with this remarkable addition, and I will expect

success.'

Soon after this she died, and then it was found out that she had made the above entries in her diary; and it was seen that she had met with success, because she put her trust in God, and prayed to Him for her children."

:

This shewed me that Sunday-school teaching was something more than to hear boys read. I went home with a heavy heart, with this anecdote still before me, and pondered over what I should do. At night I asked God to direct me in my plans for the future. As I was lying in bed on Saturday night, the thought struck me that if I told these boys some little anecdote, it would perhaps engage their attention, so I rose a little earlier on Sunday morning, and looked out a tale or two to tell them and there certainly was a little difference, for as soon as I began to tell them the anecdote, they were much quieter, and remained so the rest of the morning; and I went on in this way for several Sundays, still asking God's direction. Some Sundays after this it happened in conversation, that the clergyman said, he thought we ought to draw as many lessons (to be applied practically to the children) as we could from the chapter we were reading: so I determined to do this, and the next morning (Monday) I looked out a passage of Scripture, and endeavoured to find all the lessons I could, and I pondered this in my mind all the week, and I found on Sunday that I succeeded much better than I ever did before. And since that I have never gone to school without preparing a lesson. I likewise have followed the example of the young lady in the anecdote, and no one can conceive how much benefit I have received from it myself, for while praying for others I have been led to pray more for myself, and in watering others, I have been watered.

I trust that this may meet the eye of some of your readers, that they may be led to see their utter inability to teach, without having prayed to God for success to attend their work, and putting all their reliance upon Him.

E. R. S. S.

"GOD HEARD THE VOICE OF THE LAD."

Gen. xxi. 17.

What words of encouragement are these even to the very youngest of the flock committed to our charge. Let us glance for a moment at the condition of Ishmael at the time when these very expressive words were made use of :-he, with his mother Hagar, had been cast out of Abraham's house, they were wandering in the wilderness, where no human being could render them any assistance; the water with

which Abraham had provided them was spent, and they knew not where they should obtain a fresh supply; Hagar had laid Ishmael under one of the shrubs and left him, that she might not see his death, and he, in all probability, parched with thirst, wept; and then it is said, "God heard the voice of the lad;" and because of the promise He had made to Abraham, that of Ishmael He would make a great nation, He "opened the eyes of Hagar, and she saw a well of water," and thus his life was saved.

To return to our Sunday scholars: they are not to become a great nation as Ishmael did: nor, it may be, are they to rise to any eminence in this life, (though there are instances of men of the humble classes, who have attained a high position as regards temporal affairs); but one thing we are certain of, they are to be either happy or miserable during a never-ending eternity; and in how many instances are they brought up in the midst of sin and depravity, with no earthly friend to care for them-no one to teach them those things which concern the salvation of their immortal soul, except their Sabbath teachers! Surely then, it becomes those who are entrusted with this high privilege, to lead them to place their simple faith in, and look up to that Saviour, who when upon earth said, "Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not,"-to teach them to offer up, morning and evening, their prayer in behalf of themselves and their parents, that they may be led to see the sinfulness of their ways, and be converted, and turn to God. We cannot tell in how many instances these prayers may be heard and answered, and that it may of a truth be said, "God heard the voice of the lad."

Dux.

SUNDAY SCHOOL ANECDOTES.

A Child's Reverence for the Sabbath.

ELIZABETH G, a little Sunday school girl, had a pious mother, but an infidel father, who used his best endeavours to ensnare his child into disobedience to the Divine commands, and was aided in his wicked efforts by the child's grandfather. She had frequently to endure the following painful trial on a Sabbath afternoon :-Her father would say, "Betsy, here's a penny for you." This was thankfully received; but scarcely had the child accepted it, when her father ordered her to go and spend it immediately. The reply was, "I cannot do it, father." But she was pressed, until at length she burst into tears; her grandfather would then offer her twopence or