THREE RULING INCENTIVES IN THE SUNDAY SCHOOL WORK.

EVER since the fall of our first parents, from purity and virtue, to sin and suffering, the divine sentence then passed has been literally fulfilled-that" Man should earn his bread by the sweat of his face." What a toiling world is this of ours; how full of activity it is; whereever we turn our attention, whether it be in the palace of the wealthy, or the cottage of the poor, exertion or labour, in some measure, exists. Of course there are exceptions to every rule, and so to this, for there are those who seem to enter upon life's journey, traverse it, and finally pass away, without seeming to notice, much less join, in the general toil around them. These miserable misanthropes may fairly be said to live for self only; and hence they are hardly worthy of the ennobled name, "Man;" for he, sinful as he is, is, nevertheless, not only an industrious, but a social being. Man cannot be termed a drone, for whilst life and energy exist he will devote them to the prosecution of some object, good or evil, as it may happen, with a determination and strength of purpose, only possessed by beings so fearfully and wonderfully made, as himself. In fact, he may truly be termed a devoted creature. Various are the spheres of action engaged in; great is the amount of toil and energy expended; but never without some end in view, for recompense is constantly looked for, by all, Students will linger over their midnight lamp long after the world is hushed in repose, and so will toil perhaps for years; but with an eye to the recompense, either of heaven or earthly fame, they labour on. Soldiers will leave homes of peace and affluence to endure the hardships and turmoils of war, at the risk of dear life; but the desire of military glory constitutes the day star of their existence, and so inspires their energies. And so will the man of business, toil early and late, at the expense of health and happiness of family, all for the hoarding together of riches, which "perish with the using." And so the secular world goes on, striving, hoping, toiling for, and often gaining, the end sought after. This is to be mainly attributed to the strength of principle and purpose employed by worldlings in the execution of their plans. "For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first and counteth the cost, whether he hath sufficient to finish it." This is a great characteristic of those pursuing some earthly object. There is first something determined on suitable to the means possessed; and then certain rules and principles laid down for its ultimate acquirement. "The children of this world are indeed wiser in their own generation than the children of light," for how often does the cause of Christ sustain serious injury through the want of right motives and principles in its adherents. This truth applies strongly to the case of Sunday school teaching. In some cases persons engage in the work who are, at the time, wholly unfitted

for it, by reason of their not having felt the power of vital christianity in their souls, and are as "blind leading the blind, until, finally, they give up the work altogether. Others, whilst possessing and feeling "the love of Christ" within them, and setting forth, in all the ardour and earnestness of a calling so important and exalted, do so, without any previous plan or principle of operation laid out, and hence are almost in the same condition as a mariner without compass or rudder to steer his vessel by, and who, for a time,

On the dubious waves of error tossed,

find nothing but blank discouragement for their efforts; whilst, worst of all, some pursue the work in such a careless, half-hearted, apathetic, manner, as to preclude all hope of success. To all such we would earnestly beg their consideration of-for whom it is they profess to work, and for what purpose, for we believe this is ofttimes lost sight of Surely the thousands of children who are gathered together every Lord's Day are not so convened for the purpose of imparting instruction of a secular and interesting nature (though that is a grand and important work of itself); nor yet do we profess to keep open our Sunday schools entirely for the purpose of removing children as much as possible from bad companions and the desecration of the Sabbath. It is we believe our object not to deal with the temporal only, but chiefly, and most vital of all, with the spiritual welfare of our scholars. It is, in fact, to know nought among them " save Christ and him crucified," and, by holding forth and exhibiting to them His dying love and glorious propitiation, endeavouring to lead them in the way everlasting. We are working then not for time, "which passeth away as a vapour," but for eternity in all its solemn reality; we are dealing not with the bodies, but never dying souls of our scholars, and hence the paramount importance of the work, and the need of some ruling incentives and principles in its pursuit. We give three practical ones, which, if really felt and acted up to, we believe would result in untold success.

1st. That the love of Christ be our constraining influence.

No other than the above can be a pure one; since it is solely for Him we profess to work. No pharisaical love of outward show, no wish for the approbation of men, no faith in good works; it must be simple, earnest, love to Christ, and the pure desire of leading others to seek a share with us in the love of Him, who bore all our griefs, and who, though tempted as we are, yet was without sin. The self-denying Paul says, "For the love of Christ constraineth us, because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead. And that He died for all, that they which live, should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him that died for them, and rose again." It is emphatically unto they which live, by faith in Christ, that this passage applies, and not unto those who have not given decided evidence of a change of

life. Hence, we think, the evil of appointing those as teachers in our Sunday schools who are not professors of Christianity. Having not tasted that the Lord is gracious, how can they be expected to speak of the love of Christ to others. It must then be pure and unsullied love to Him "who first loved us," which shall constrain us in all our efforts for the advancement of Christ's cause on earth; and surely, when we study the records of the past, and of the men who gave evidence to the world of its power, we ought to strive constantly to feel and exercise it also. And, oh what a wondrous manifestation of love was given by our Divine Lord at the "place called Calvary ;" where, amidst the yells and execrations of an excited multitude, He breathed forth, during the agony of death, that last prayer, "Lord, forgive them, for they know not what they do;" and finally exclaiming, "It is finished!" burst asunder the frail tabernacle of earth, and passed into the heavens with His first trophy of redeeming love-the crucified thief. It was love to Christ which fired the Apostle Paul with the heavenly zeal he possessed, enabling him to endure fatigue, hungerings, stripes, imprisonment, and finally, glorious martyrdom, and from which he declared nothing could separate him. What but this could have supported those noble Puritans amidst the fires of persecution? Nay, we declare they were all " more than conquerors, through Christ who loved them." Since love to Christ is the very essence and life-blood of all christian effort, let us endeavour to keep it burning within us, with "a pure heart, fervently," and love to those whose salvation we profess to desire.

Love is our only business here,

Love-simple, constant, and sincere.

2nd. Earnest faith in the means put forth.

This is a virtue which God has ever required His faithful children to practice, especially in the carrying on of his cause in the world. It has ever been the principle which enabled its practisers to conquer every opposing influence. It is, in fact, the very secret of success, for we are told that without it "it is impossible to please God." How earnestly then should we pray, "Lord, increase our faith." But whilst requiring its exercise, God has also given certain promises, which serve as a stimulus to its practice. Who that is in the habit of prayerfully studying the "book of books" has failed to find comfort in the time of sorrow, enlightenment in the time of "nature's darkness," and withal promises of untold magnitude for all who are "good soldiers of Christ." And so may every teacher, however conscious of weakness and inability for the work, find glorious cause for renewed and faithful activity, seeing that the strength of Him who is above all is made perfect in the weakness of all His faithful followers. Moreover, it has been said also by the same, (even God himself, who cannot lie,) that “"His word

shall not return unto Him void, but shall accomplish what He pleases, and shall prosper in the thing whereunto it is sent." Here then is a firm groundwork for faith, under the most difficult and trying circumstances, and which, exercised, shall convert what would otherwise be mountains of unbelief into mere mole-hills; and thus let the "word have free course and be glorified." Let us therefore emulate the example of that servant of old, whose faith was accounted to him for righteousness, and of thousands of high and low degree who have since given evidence to the world of its power and efficacy, under all circumstances. 3rd. COMPLETE DEVOTEDNESS.

Of all places in the world, we maintain that in a school-room, for religious instruction, no slothfulness ought to appear. Industry of an intense kind is constantly required, and called into play for secular purposes; whether in the workshop, counting-house, factory, or otherwise, the human family are not permitted to be idle, in fact, to be idle is to be miserable, even to the rich. Since then we feel it necessary to be industrious, in earthly business, how much more should industry and devotion be manifested, whilst about that of our heavenly father, seeing that the latter is so important in comparison to the former. And surely the inducements are sufficiently strong to satisfy the most sanguine, for no master payeth his servant so munificently as ours, not only is strength for the labor given, but also a glorious recompense is offered us after its completion, even a residence for ever in that house of "many mansions," which is "eternal in the heavens." Leeds.

BARNABAS.

THE CHRISTIAN'S DREAM.

IN olden time it was not an unusual thing for God to hold communion with his people in "visions of the night watches, when deep sleep falleth on men." Every scripture reader is conversant with the visions, or dreams, of Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, Job, Samuel, Nathan, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Obadiah, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zechariah. In the New Testament, too, we have recorded the dreams, of Peter, of Cornelius, the wise centurion, and the visions of Joseph, the husband of Mary, Paul, Ananias, and John. It was no uncommon thing then for men to hold communion with God by night visions, to hear commands, and receive instruction, to perform "notable things" for the Lord. And there is something in the thought exquisitely beautiful. The poor tired out body, overcome with fatigue, takes rest in sleep, and God, as it were, frees the mind from the shackles of its earthly house, takes it to himself, and holds communion with it. The weary fugitive, with his head on a heap of stones, felt not the wind of the desert fanning his burning temples, he was feasting his eyes on the angels ascending into, and descending from, heaven;

his mortal ear heard not earthly sounds, but his spiritual ear was ravished with strains of heavenly music. John, in the lonely isle, surrounded by the bleak mountains and the roaring seas, heard not the roaring of the waves as they broke upon the lone shore, saw not the rugged mountain tops, the veil of futurity had been drawn aside, and he was gazing upon the events of ages not yet unfolded-the doings of eternity. Even now, sometimes, we hear of Christians having dreams, seeing in visions the face of him they love and serve. The early Christians, in the catacombs, had doubtless many cheering, heavenly visions; their souls seem to have reflected with such purity the image of God, that in "the night watches" their minds must have wandered free amidst the heavenly host of the eternal world-have beheld the King in his glory, and bowed down among that throng of worshippers who celebrate the praises of God in that glorious world. Then again, the martyrs in their prisons would not dream of chains, stone walls, and darkness, but many, like Peter, have heard the angel's voice, and gazed upon the countenance of him whose they were-the deliverer of his people. Coming down the stream of time we stand by the side of "THE DREAMER" in his cell in Bedford gaol. We hear the voice of the pilgrim still speaking to us of his progress to heaven, and rejoice with him that he was enabled to overcome through him who loved us. By the side of these celebrated dreamers we would place one who, though a humble follower here, will have a prominent place in another world. The person of whom we speak was a widow; but she knew the widow's friend. For many many years she had struggled with, and overcome, difficulties which beset her on every hand, and brought up her children in respectability. In her old age they left her, giving her a mere pittance on which to live. Few can realize the distress of the poverty stricken; the poor can sympathize with the poor, the rich only can pity and help. One evening, while talking to the aged Christian, she said, "Oh, madam, last night I dreamed a dream. thought Jesus came to me, and told me he meant to come to breakfast with me. It troubled me very much, for I had nothing to set before him; and I took up my basin from my chair, and told him I had nothing to offer him. While I was still speaking, regretting my poverty, he turned his face toward me with a look of unutterable love, and said, 'My meat and my drink is to do the will of him that sent me;' to comfort the mourner, to soothe the distressed, to strengthen the weary, and give the aged Christian rest. good to remember that he was still near me." his beloved sleep," and refresheth their desponding hearts with visions of his person, and tokens of his love.

Chester.

I

Oh! it did my heart "So he" still "giveth

J. B. M.