should feel something of the " powers of the world to come," the employment of the inhabitants of heaven, their blessedness, and the glories of Him who constitutes their bliss, would fill our minds. An "eternal weight of glory" would absorb our thoughts, and it is quite probable that in such a frame we should experience joy in our work, and not have to complain that we have laboured in vain, and spent our strength for nought.

This consideration appears to me also adapted to promote holy, dignified evenness of temper. Sunday School Teachers have much to try their patience, in the various tempers and dispositions of the children with whom they have to do; and none of us, I believe, are wholly exempt from their influence. Where, however, is the teacher, who, if he were certain that the child he is instructing would before another Lord's day returned, be cold in death, that would not be, under such circumstances, prepared to withstand more firmly the influence of untoward dispositions? In such a case, his tenderest sympathies would be excited, pity would take the place of anger, and the consideration, that it might be the last time he should have to bear with the imperfections of his scholar, would lead him to reprove with the greatest tenderness, and to pray that the disposition of the offender might be changed, rather than resent even a breach of order, in a fretful and hasty spirit. The affections of the teacher would be called forth; his inmost soul would yearn over the young immortal, while he reflected that he must so soon part with him forever. Much of the benign spirit which the Divine Redeemer exemplified, when he cried, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do," would be displayed; while the influence of religion would be manifested, and our own comfort and peace promoted. "And now, my fellow labourers, knowing the time, that it is high time to awake out of sleep, let us work while it is called to-day, for there is no work, nor wisdom, nor device in the grave to which our children and we also are fast hastening."

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SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERs directed TO CONSIDER THE CHURCH OF GOD, FOUNDED AND ESTABLISHED THROUGH THE

TEACHING OF HIS WORD.

That God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all, is the divine record of John, concerning the High and Holy One. And this excellence of the Divinity must have been the leading feature of that image of God, in which man was constituted. But in this happy estate, to use the words of the Psalmist, "He abideth not, but became like the beasts that perish :" for "sin entered into the world, and death by sin ;" and man, who was made a little lower than the angels," and created in light, became darkness, proudly seeking after knowledge at the instigation of the Evil One. He became also carnal, foolish, devilish-subject to perish in all his faculties; and his perception of heavenly good and faith so lost, that it was only to be progressively restored; for, his best estate of heavenly knowledge (during the time of his sojourning here,) in the language of the Bible is, "to know in part, to see through a glass darkly:" yet having the promise that we may rise in his likeness and be satisfied, and see God face to face, and know even as we are known," when that which is perfect is come, and that which is in part is done away. The low estate into which man is degraded, through sin, is equally an axiom with that which declares the divine excellency and glory of the creation; for the scriptural declaration, in the words of the Psalmist, "God is not in all his thoughts," is parallel with this assertion: man is darkness and in him is no light at all. The position that the church of God is established through the teaching of the word, is evidently scriptural from the commendation of the church at Ephesus, by Paul, "Ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord." And to the church in general, as spoken by the apostle Peter, "Ye are called out of darkness into marvellous light."—that is, having again been begotten in his image-visited by the day-spring from on high: hence, also, the invitation by Isaiah, "Come and let us walk in the light of the Lord."-that is, the instructions of his word.

The divine means through which this efficacious change had been wrought, was even as the record by David, " Thy word is sure converting the soul, "and in thy light shall we see light; and the testimony of Paul, who was commanded to go teach the Gentiles, “that he might turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God"-" that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them who are sanctified by faith that is in me." Such was his divine commission at the mouth of Jesus; and how was this to be accomplished? Even by teaching that word of which he asserts, "Faith comes by hearing, hearing by the word of God." The object of these remarks is to exalt the view of the humble and pious instructors of youth, in regard to Sunday School institutions, to inspire them with a holy confidence that their labour shall not be in vain in the Lord; trusting that it will animate them to exertion, and encourage them to endure the cross. While they consider that they walk in the footsteps of prophets and apostles-nay, even the Divine Master himself-going about teaching the gospel of the kingdom, and instructing into the kingdom of the Lord; through which teaching, by the power and demonstration of the Holy Ghost, the church is edified and built up : for thus the apostle to the Romans, exhorting them to be steadfast, says, "having received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him ; rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught." We would urge Sabbath School Teachers to reflect on the excellency of their calling, and the apparently glorious design of a God of mercy in directing them to teach dark and ignorant sinners the knowledge of the living and true God, and of Jesus, whom he has sent, whom to know is life eternal. That the church of God is to be founded and established by the instructions of his word, appears from the following summary of the principal scripture evidences; the first and most prominent of which, are those two beautifully analogous ones from Isaiah and Luke :-Isaiah Iv. 6. As the rain cometh down from heaven and watereth the earth, and maketh it to spring forth and bud, so shall my word prosper in the thing whereunto I send it-instead of the briar, shall come up the myrtle tree." And the same prophet, Ixi. 11.-" For as the VOL. I.

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earth bringeth forth her bud, and the garden causeth the things that are thrown in it to spring forth, so shall the Lord God cause righteousness and peace to spring up before the nations." Instruction, through his word, is evidently meant when we compare this with our Lord's parable of the sower, as he explains it to the disciples-" Now the parable is this, the seed is the word of God." Among the ancient records of this beautiful truth, that the church of God, under his divine protection, was to be perpetuated by the teaching of his word we have this commendation of Abraham, in Genesis, when, in reference to the church, that all nations should be blest in him, (that is Abraham,) the Lord says, "I know him that he will command his children, and his household after him, so that I shall bring this blessing;" that is, that Abraham should teach the statutes in which God had instructed him to his children, that they should thus learn to keep the way of the Lord, and the blessing of God should be accomplished, they in faith pursuing the godly purpose and practice of Abraham. Thus, also, God, instructing Aaron, (as found in Leviticus) commanded him to devote himself to his service, and to separate himself from the world, that he might "teach the children of Israel all his statutes." And Moses, as in Deutronomy, instructing the people, says, "only take heed to thyself lest thou forget these things, but teach them to thy children's children ;" and again,-" let these words be in thy heart, that thou teach them diligently to thy children." The beautiful exposition of this precept, in the 78th Psalm, is very conclusive; it is therefore given at large: "Give ear, oh, my people, to my law; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter dark sayings of old, which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us; we will not hide them from their children, showing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done for He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers that they should make known to their children; that the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born, who should rise and declare them to their children, that they might

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It was that they might per

set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments." This, it will be perceived, is an exhortation both to teach and learn the law of God; to inquire after, and obey divine truth. The prophet Samuel in warning and exhorting the Church, prays for them to be "guided into truth," and says, "as for me, I will teach you in the good and right way." So, also, the prayer of Solomon in dedicating the Temple, he prays: "Hear thou in heaven, and teach thy servants the good way wherein they should walk." Con sistent with this truth we find it told us from the earliest to the latest period, that the Church have walked with God, having learnt to do His will. Thus, we find Enoch walked with God; and Mary chose the good part not to be taken away.-David prays, "Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes, and I shall keep it unto the end." The Levites of old were ordained to the knowledge of the Lord and of Holy things, 2 Chron. 30, 22-3, 35. "They taught all Israel the good knowledge of the Lord ;" and why was this? petuate the light of the Church; and the message of the prophet to Asa exposes the cause of their idolatry, and he thus pleads with him: "For a long time Israel has been without the knowledge of the true God-without a teacher-without a law." "And Asa having heard these words, was encouraged in his heart to put away the abominable idols out of the land." Let us pass on to the protracted period of Israel's rebellion-and we find Jehosaphat, the faithful son of Asa, essays to build the Church of God, and he appoints and sends prophets to teach in the cities of Judah; and they had the Book of the Law, and went through all the cities of Judah teaching. Thus, the faithful in all ages become instrumental, both by example and precept to reveal the mind of God; He giving them knowledge and understanding to do his will-even for the purpose of making known his works, that the children of men may not forget them, but "set their hope on God." This sentiment is expressed by David in the supplication of the 51st Psalm : "Create in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me-then will I TEACH transgressors thy ways, and sinners shall be converted to thee." The prophet Jeremiah, alluding to the glorious millenni