books unexceptionable in their character, yet attractive and inviting, put into the hands of the young on the hours of the Sabbath. If they are of a character entirely suitable to the day, if they involve no profanation of the holy time, and awaken no emotion which can injure the right impressions which its influences should inspire, they may still injure the young by drawing the attention from the word of God, and inducing a neglect of the sacred page. Those who love the word of God, although they give themselves to the most spiritual expositors of holy writ, act as injudiciously as do those who, excluding the pure sunlight, live in partial darkness, or the glare of oil or gas. While the Bible must be studied to be understood, it must be read to be enjoyed. A familiarity with the holy volume exerts a quickening, refreshing power upon the mind and heart, and transposes its influence into the life. Nothing, no learned exposition, no careful instruction can compensate for the want of that habitual, essential communion with the sacred page, and that large acquaintance with it in all its fulness thus derived from reading it. The whole character of those who thus drink of the fulness of the fountain, becomes saturated with the Divine influence, and they are marked and known as Bible Christians. And where a deeper spirituality, a holier conformity, a more self-abasing, selfdenying piety marks the character, we shall find this close attention to the word of God.

Yet if the Bible be neglected on the Sabbath, it will be found that it will be scarce read through the week. The slightest personal observance, the drowsy, listless attention will satisfy. It will have no charm, no interest. The abundance of light and attractive reading presents so many temptations, even to the minds of the more deeply devotional class, that we feel that the Sabbath should be peculiarly consecrated to the study of the word of God during the intervals of the varied services of the holy day. Yet we do fear that other claims have so multiplied, that beyond the study of the lesson, and the reading of the household for family devotion, it is often unheeded, unopened. In many families the religious newspaper occupies the leisure Sabbath hours of the father, while the child is allowed to choose from the too often so-called religious miscellany of the day, and the habit early formed of trifling away holy time continues during life, lowering the tone of true piety, and producing a deplorable laxity in regard to the observance of the Sabbath.

In offering these remarks, it is not our intention to cast any censure either upon the Sabbath-school, or the manner in which it is conducted. In this imperfect state no good is unmixed with evil. If there are tendencies which are to be guarded against, we do not feel that the conductors and teachers of these institutions are to be made responsible for them, nor do we look to them to address the remedy.-N. Y. Evang.

ABERDEEN. GEORGE-STREET CONGREGATIONAL SABBATH-SCHOOL. - On the evening of Tuesday, 3rd July, the teachers of George-Street Congregational Sabbath-school met in the large school-room adjoining the chapel, for the purpose of friendly conversation and mutual encouragement.

3. On the duty of the teacher regard. ing the behaviour of his class during the exercises of the school.

4. On lessons of memory.

1. On the propriety of giving rewards.

jun., by the teachers of George Street Congregational Sabbath-school, as a mark of their respect for him as their super intendent, and of their high estimation of his services in promoting the general welfare of the school."

A RAGGED SCHOOL RE-UNION.-Such is the designation which has been given to what is certainly a novelty, even in these times, when every day is expected to present something new to the world. As an illustration of a Ragged-school Re-union, we have been supplied with the following statement:

In Charles-street, Lisson-grove-one of the most degraded neighbourhoods of London- there are several schools in connection with the congregation under the charge of the Rev. R. H. Herschell. It was determined that the children and their parents should have a holiday in the country, together with such of the poorer members of the congregation as chose to join the party. Early on the appointed morning, twenty-one vans, filled with teachers, children, parents, city missionaries, and others, to the number of about 700 persons, besides several parties

in private vehicles, started from the chapel for Hampton Court, where the day was spent in a joyous and satisfactory manner, not the slightest inconvenience being experienced from this intermingling in social intercourse of those whom the "conventionalities of society keep too much aloof from each other.

CITY OF LONDON NATIONAL SCHOOLS.The Archbishop of Canterbury, on Sunday, June 17, preached in the church of St. Dunstan-in-the-East, on behalf of the City of London National Schools. The annual income derived from subscriptions does not exceed £300, and the charity depends greatly for its support on occasional collections. The sum contributed after his grace's sermon amounted to £101 14s. 8d. The sheriffs were present. The Lord Mayor was prevented by indisposition from attending.

Scripture Sites and Scenes, from actual Survey, in Egypt, Arabia, and Palestine: chiefly for the use of Sunday schools. London: A. Hall and Co.

SINCE everything is dear or cheap only by comparison, we call this one of the cheapest five shilling books we have ever met with, because its contents, both in matter and illustrations, are so valuable. It is written evidently by one well acquainted with his subject throughout, and bringing a great deal of knowledge to bear upon it; and it is illustrated by no less than twenty engravings on steel, very originally, truthfully, and beautifully designed and executed, besides thirty-seven exceedingly interesting and instructive wood-cuts. The author deserves well of all connected with Sunday-schools, for he has supplied them in this volume with a large amount of matter in a most agreeable shape, all of which, in the hands of a prudent and thoughtful student of Scripture, must be of incalculable advantage.

ductory Essay, will not be found unworthy of the name, under the shadow of which the author is willing to conceal his own: and yet surely he need not have been afraid to risk the credit of it, on such a venture, and with such a theme; for what a host of thoughts, and what inexhaustible treasures of interest and delight are included in that magic word Egypt!— opening up the history of the very earliest of Noah's descendants, bringing us down to the ages of Abraham, Joseph, and Moses, and thus leading us along the full course of time, until from the Pharaohs we descend to Mahomet Ali, who still lives and breathes, though in a state of imbecility, fully realizing the words of the Psalmist," Though men be so strong that they come to fourscore years, yet is their strength then but labour and sorrow, so soon passeth it away, and we are gone." A more fearful despot never lived, as his cold-blooded massacre of the Mamelukes awfully proclaims; and thus, even in our itself a land of terrors, as of old. The day, this "clime of the sun" has proved which it is divided, consisting of the work treats fully of the several topics into Country, the People, and the Produce and Natural History. A Chronological Table in the Appendix supplies the place of a more complete record of events.

How faithful was the admonition of the apostle John, "Little children, keep yourselves from idols!" How needful is it to parents! For the wisest and most beneficent of purposes did the Creator implant in us his creatures our natural affections for our offspring. He gave them not merely that we might enjoy them, but that by them we might be impelled to bring up our children to his glory. If, then, instead of thus faithfully using and enjoying them, we indulge them vainly to our own gratification, and make idols to ourselves of those whom we ought to train up for heaven, we may find too late that we have but deceived them, and earned for ourselves the wages of our sin. It is the purport of this work to guard against such a sin, by showing how, but for the providence and grace of God combined, all this might have ensued under the circumstances detailed, and from the midst of which there is, as it were, a voice proclaiming, "Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not.'

Mamma's Lessons on the History and Geography of Palestine. By A. M. SARGENT. London: J. Snow.

Of all the improvements that have taken place in children's books, since our own childhood's days, none is more striking than the engaging and attractive manner in which subjects, whose very names af frighted with their dryness, now appear. Geography, which is a most useful means, in the hands of a judicious teacher, for opening the minds of his scholars, was at one time the dull and heavy task of accumulating in the memory names of places, that presented no idea beyond the mere names themselves. Now, however, the system is different; and, as in the instance of this very pleasing little volume, historical facts and interesting narratives are blended with descriptions of the country, the names of cities and towns, and the study is thus made an attractive engagement, instead of a dull, heavy, and too often unprofitable task. The conversational form of the work, its map of Palestine, and its twenty-five engravings, that figure what words cannot always describe, make this little book one of the most pleasing

a long time. Mammas and children will be equally delighted and assisted by it.

"Read and you will Know;" or, The Young Christian directed and encouraged in the Pursuit of Knowledge. By JAMES CLARK. London: B. L. Green, Paternoster-row. Ir this little book should serve no other purpose than to show what has been done, therefore what should be attempted in what is doing, what can be done, and behalf of our young men, it would have accomplished no unworthy mission. We trust, however, that it is designed for even more than this, and that it will serve to

guide and stimulate many an ardent and aspiring mind that aims at self-improve ment, but yet wanting a friend to direct him, runs the risk of falling into those many snares that beset the paths of those who seek for knowledge. To any thus minded, these pages, the substance of delivered to, a company of young men, three lectures expressly written for, and cannot fail to prove a useful and encou raging manual.