given me to be able to address you more effectually. I should have been glad to have expanded these thoughts in the hope that they might come home to some, and meet their wants and feelings; but as it is, I have at least indicated them for you. Go to the Bible. Go to the depôts of this society and take Bibles from it, and give them to those who doubt. Depend upon it, doubters will not be won by our logic alone, nor by those answers to which my noble friend has alluded, and with regard to which I am prepared to endorse every word he advanced. I believe, indeed, that the gain has been great, and that long after this new arithmetic has gone to that oblivion which it has done its very utmost to deserve, we shall have amongst us scholars raised up and sent into the world, and encouraged by having written in this controversy to write other things in a more permanent form; and so the treasury of Scripture knowledge will have been enriched, and in no degree diminished, by what has passed. All that I believe, and I am glad it should be so. I am glad that there should be no false assertion made about Scripture without twenty men being ready at hand to prove its falsity. But the world must be converted to Christianity not by these battles. We all deplore the necessity for them; but, above all controversies, the Word of God itself must be its own evidence. Christ Himself must convince us, not by His miracles that we can no longer see, so much as by the miracles which He himself and His teaching constitute. On this occasion, my friends, I have thought that no one interested in Christianity ought to withhold a word of sympathy at this moment from a society the sole object of which is to circulate the pure Word of God among the people of all the earth. And, notwithstanding these troubles, which are but for a moment, I believe that Almighty God, who began this work, will bless and prosper it. I would have none of us cast down by fear, for the power which sent the light and which inspired the Bible will keep the Bible for us, and make it do its work as long as this world rolls on its axis.

UNITED PRAYER.

THE power of preaching lies not only in the speaker, but in the praying congregation who hear his word. The branch severed from the vine withers; the limb removed from the body decays; he who will be a member of Christ's body must be closely united with other members, if he would share in the healthy flow of the saving blood and spirit. For many natures an isolated position has almost insuperable difficulties. We can only love the Lord if we love His body, and he who willingly severs himself from his fellow Christians, treads a perilous path. The Son of God was not ashamed to identify himself with his people. He did not say to Saul, "Why persecutest thou my disciples ?" but "Why persecutest thou me?" humblest service done to one of His, He looks upon as done to Himself, and will not allow to go unrewarded.-Rev. Dr. Büchsel.

And the

BIBLE CLASS INSTRUCTION.

THE following query has been addressed to the Editor of the "QUIVER":

I have a large class of Sunday school teachers; they are wellinstructed, and many of them are grown up; they meet at stated times as a Bible class. What is the best mode that I can adopt to keep them together, and to satisfy their desire for instruction? This important enquiry was thus answered.

By feeding them with food convenient for them. The instructions should be of a devout and spiritual character, and be carried on with system. You must seek so to teach them that they may be enabled to teach others. We offer you the advice that is given to pastors :

1. Understand the chapter. If you are able, always refer to the original, and take care to read the context. Avoid a display of learning. Criticise in your own room; teach in the class-room.

2. In choosing your subjects, take heed to dwell on man's ruin, his redemption, and his renewal by the Holy Spirit. Keep in view three things-viz., doctrine, experience, and practice. Teach evangelical truths, so as to lead to practice; and take due care that practical truths spring from evangelical doctrines.

3. Exalt the Saviour, abase the sinner, and honour the Holy Ghost. Remember your Master; seek His glory, not your own.

4. Speak in short sentences; avoid parentheses, and use plain words. Have your subject well up in head and heart. When speaking, do not keep your eyes on the book; express yourself in natural tones, with gravity, solemnity, gentle authority, and above all, with loving earnestness and affectionate tenderness.

5. Remember that you teach not only to explain the Bible, but to save souls. Apply the subject pointedly to the hearts and consciences of your pupils. Rebuke boldly, warn lovingly, and encourage heartily.

6. Address different classes-the undecided, the penitent, and the pious. Put questions solemnly, and give ardent and touching exhortations.

7. Teach as in the sight of God. Remember you must soon meet your scholars at the judgment-seat. Your reward does not depend on your success, but on your labour.

8. Pray much in your chamber. Go from your knees to the

class-room; and, after teaching, pray with special reference to what you have taught.

9. A teacher must exercise piety, patience, and self-denial. He must work and wait.

10. Teach by your life. Walk closely with God, and let the salvation of souls be near your heart. Time is short, life uncertain, eternity near; and the blessing of the Most High awaits the faithful. Practise these ten rules, and you will never want pupils to teach, nor souls to bless you.

THE MOTHERS OF SALEM.

LORD JESUS, we bless thee for that gracious word
The Mothers of Salem so joyfully heard;

That word which sustain us while working for thee,

"O suffer the children to come unto Me."

We thank Thee that young ones may bow at thy throne,
May seek thy Salvation and make it their own,
That thou wilt permit them, thy servants to be,
And suffer the children to come unto Thec.

We pray that our scholars, while yet in their youth,
May yield to the teaching of heavenly truth.
O shew them Thy mercy, so rich and so free,
And suffer the children to come unto Thee.

May we who instruct them be richly supplied,
With wisdom to win them, and patience to guide,

O let our example and teaching agree,

And suffer the children to come unto Thee.

When Teachers and Scholars before Thee appear,
The last blessed welcome may all of us hear,
The smile of approval permit us to see,

And suffer the children to come unto Thee.

F. J. H.

HOW MAY THE INTEREST OF CHRISTIAN CHURCHES

IN SUNDAY SCHOOLS BE INCREASED?

A Paper read by the Rev. A. REED, B.A., of Preston, at the Lancashire
Conference, held at Blackburn, on Good Friday.

[Concluded from page 389.]

IF, indeed, unhappily there did exist on the part of the church a disgraceful coldness, and lack of interest in the Sunday school, it would not be a very hopeful way toward removing it for the teachers to brood upon and discuss it, and to insist upon cordiality, and seek to enforce goodwill; but if, as we believe, there is no such real estrangement, the only proper question is, How may we best draw out sympathy into practical channels? Let the Sunday school authorities ever assume that they must have the confidence of the churches, and proceed to work upon it. Let them boldly indicate their wants and desires, and churches thus called to co-operate with them will feel an increasing interest in their efficiency. If they lack teachers, or visitors, or scholars, or officers, or funds-if their school premises are defective or unhealthy-let them call on the pas tor and the church to assist them. Let them invite the pastor and delegates from the church to their meetings for business and prayer. It might be desirable to make one of the regular prayer meetings in the month special, for a season of prayer for a blessing on the schools. Let the teachers shew a zealous interest in the affairs of the congregation,-trying to occupy their seats regularly, and to bring their elder scholars with them; seeking fellowship with the church when they possess true piety, and heartily joining in all its other enterprises; and this will greatly promote a reciprocal feeling in the church toward the school. Let them refuse every temptation to cultivate any factious or party feeling, and give every possible guarantee for their own good faith and affectionate confederacy with the church, as they desire the like to be exercised toward them. Mistrust produces mistrust, but confidence and love engender the

same.

It is to the special interest, both of the pastor and Sunday school teachers to be on the most friendly terms, for thus the pastor will be encompassed by active fellow-labourers, and they in turn will enjoy the advantage of a guide and faithful counsellor. The ministers of the past age were many of them not born under the Sunday school dispensation, and hence, though valuing the institution highly, were not always skilful in manifesting their attachment,

and were sometimes imbued with a tinge of jealousy. In the present day most of our ministers have found their earliest college in the Sunday school, and have imbibed a tenderness toward these scenes of pristine usefulness which makes them ever feel as if they were still Sunday school teachers. I hope no age will ever come when our ministers shall be too proud of scholarship and literature to mingle easily in the simpler instruction of the Sunday school; when they shall regard any exercise but that of preaching elaborate or fantastic sermons as beneath them; and when they shall undervalue pastoral labour, and deem the charge of the lambs of the flock as a vain trouble to be left to those who cannot fill a pulpit; or still worse, when they shall court popularity by rationalizing the Gospel, and bringing the sensation of the drama into their sermons, and manoeuvre for stipend in a spirit plainly shewing that they preach self rather than Christ Jesus the Lord. If ever such a change should arise, one could almost wish the union of the church and the school broken for the sake of the latter, and that among the scholars and teachers a counteracting breakwater of simplicity and evangelical fidelity might be found. This would be a breaking out of the apostolic unbelief, when they forbade the Jewish mothers to trouble Jesus with their children, and drew on themselves his stern and memorable rebuke, together with its sweet corresponding invitation, in which the Shepherd, who "carries the lambs in his bosom," enjoins on the church its proper feeling toward the young, saying, "suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven." Under the influence of such a faith the heart of the pastor will be sure to beat sound and warm to the Sunday school, and so feeling, he will be sure to influence his people to similar affectionate sentiments. It will, therefore, be worth while for the teachers to use every just and honourable means by which to secure and engage the love and cooperation of their pastor by such exhibition of esteem to him as his character and labours may deserve. There need be no servile adulation or dependence in all this, but a courteous and respectful communication constantly maintained will soon make every worthy pastor feel that in coming into the school he is in an atmosphere of cordiality, and his cordial services will be the happy consequence. Let all churches select as their pastors men of some experience, and with cordial attachment to Sabbath objects; let the school lose no fit occasion to confirm and increase this good feeling, and the church will soon respond to these happy influences.

There is one attraction above all others, by which, infallibly, the deepest interest of a holy church and true-hearted pastor must be