• Protestant Episcopal Sunday School New-York St. George's Church Sunday School Association District of Columbia Sunday School Union Sunday School Union in Rochester New-York Palestine Mission. Letter of Mr. Fisk. Questions on the New Testament • Sunday School Magazine, Philadelphia New series of Tracts for children Rules for Sunday Schools 49 Want of perseverance the cause of decline in Sunday Schools Obituary notice of Thomas Jarman, late Editor of this Magazine 285 Notices to Correspondents 160. 224. 266 THE present age has been emphatically styled "The age of benevolence." It is indeed an age in which a great and mighty influence has descended upon the christian world; arousing it to more benevolent and extensive exertions for the spread of christianity, than have been made since the first promulgation of the gospel: and wherever this particular influence has been most warmly felt, and energetically acted upon, it has produced, as a secondary result, the most beneficial effects upon the hearts and lives of those who have yielded to it. The sacred impulse to spread the knowledge of the gospel, which is so extensively felt, has produced a union among christians as christians; and is gradually breaking down the barriers which a narrow spirit of sectarianism had raised to kee em from intercourse and communion with each other. They who are united in endeavouring to promote the "glory of God," their common Fa ther, "peace on earth, and good will towards men," cannot but feel a desire to be at peace with each other. They have common objects to attain, and common difficulties to encounter; difficulties so great, that they who are best acquainted with them frequently " tremble" while they "rejoice;" and would almost faint with despondency, if they were not supported by the divine assurances, that "the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea;* and that " all shall know the Lord from the least unto the greatest."† One common object, then, to which the christian mind should be, and is now directed, is the propagation of the "knowledge of the Lord;" and among the best methods of doing this, two powerful engines have been employed; and are proceeding with effect:-Bible Societies, and Missionary Societies. The Scriptures, or some portions of them, are now translated into almost all the languages of the earth; and in every quarter of the globe there are some of the heralds of the cross to be found preaching the glad tidings of salvation where they have never been heard before, or reviving an attention to them in places where they have been darkened by superstition, or supplanted by paganism. Next to the Bible and Missionary Societies, one of the most mighty means for enlightening and evangelizing the world, and one of those means which seems as if designed to usher in the millenial day, is the introduction of Sabbath Schools. This method of propagating the "knowledge of the Lord" has an immense advanag er other means that it commences its operations at the threshold of human existence, at the right period in the life of man: It sows the good seed, which is to * Isaiah, 11.9. Hah. 2. 14. † Jer. 31.34. "spring up to everlasting life," in ground not overgrown with tares, or rendered unfruitful by bad culture; and lays the foun dation of a widely spreading influence over the succeeding age. But the introduction of Sabbath Schools, (like the formation of Bible Societies,) is insufficient of itself to accomplish the purpose for which they were designed. As, in the one case, able and zealous missionaries must be found to preach the gospel to the heathen, so, in the other case, able and zealous persons must be found to teach the gospel to the young and uninstructed. And this too has a powerful re-action, and returns the blessings it dispenses a hundred fold upon the heads of those who, on right principles, and with right views, engage in the "delightful task." 1 There is not a better method for an intelligent mind to become perfectly acquainted with the principles of any science, but partially understood before, than methodically to teach that science to others. Such a person feels the necessity of fully comprehending himself the true intent and meaning of that which he is to teach, and by teaching, his mind expands, and his principles become fixed and operative. So it is in religion, (the most sublime of all sciences,) the frequent reiteration of the same truths, and the act of convincing or endeavouring to convince others of their value and importance, make them doubly valuable and important to ourselves; and the necessity of a constant reference to the scriptures, when the principles of ch ather than any notions of sectarianism are to be taught, brings the teacher to the fountain head of divine knowledge; and while he instructs others, he is himself instructed and improved. |