the habits of order in his class, and the annoyance consequent on their disorder to the rest of the school, there is another evil, less apparent, it may be, but not less real their attention, upon which the acquisition of knowledge entirely depends, and that calm and peaceful frame of mind in which, we are taught, the still small voice of the Spirit is often heard, has, in all probability, been so far dissipated as not to be restored during the remainder of their Sabbath exercise.

That "love begets love" is a common adage; and if the child can discover that we really love him, (and how quick a child's perception!) then we have his affections, in all their confiding warmth, in return. We have obtained an avenue to his heart, and possess an influence over him most potent for good or ill. But a want of punctuality and regularity in the Teacher would soon forfeit the possession of the child's affections.

It would be difficult to make the child believe that the Teacher loved him, if he were unwilling to sacrifice the slightest convenience for his benefit, and made his meeting him at the appointed time or his entire absence a matter of secondary importance. And as the child looks at the Teacher in the adjoining class, who is always at his post with evident delight in his work, he intuitively draws a comparison unfavourable to his own Teacher; and this occurring with a few repetitions, his confidence is at length destroyed, and his affections towards his Teacher chilled, and therewith the Teacher's influence over him is gone.

But not only is the want of regularity and punctuality in the Teacher fatal to the regularity and punctuality of the scholar-destructive to the order of a school-and opposed alike to the gaining or retention of the child's affections-but the absence of these two qualities referred to is incompatible with the discharge of an important part of the Teacher's duty, that of visiting the absentees.

For how can the irregular and unpunctual Teacher consistently, or with any degree of self-complacency, chide the scholar for the want of a habit in which he himself is glaringly defective?

We would bring these remarks to a close by saying, that we believe the absence of these two elements of punctuality and regularity in the Teachers will thwart the success, and render to a great extent inoperative the most efficiently organized Sabbath-school.

SCRIPTURE PRAYER TEXTS,

FOR FEBRUARY.

SUNDAY, February 4.- Draw me, and I will run after thee." (Cant. i. 4.)

Monday."I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. (Jer. xxxi. 3.)

Tuesday.- 'It is good for me to draw near to God.” (Psalm lxxiii. 28.)

Wednesday.- I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me." (Jer. xxx. 21.)

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Thursday.- No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him." (John vi. 44.) Friday.- 'I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love." (Hosea xi. 4.)

Saturday." They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall run, and not be weary," &c. (Isaiah xl. 31.)

SUNDAY, February 11.—“Increase our faith." (Luke xvii. 5.)

Monday." Being justified by faith, we have peace with God." (Rom. v. 1.)

Tuesday."Kept by the power of God, through faith unto salvation." (1 Peter i. 5.)

Wednesday." The life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God." (Gal. ii. 20.) Thursday.—" By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." (Eph. ii. 8.)

Friday." But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep . yourselves in the love of God." (Jude 20, 21.)

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Saturday. (2 Thess. i. 3.)

"Your faith groweth exceedingly."

SUNDAY, February 18.- "Feed me with food convenient for me." (Prov. xxx. 8.)

Monday."I will satisfy her poor with bread." (Psalm cxxxii. 15.)

Tuesday." He should have fed them also with the finest of wheat," &c. (Psalm lxxxi. 16.)

Wednesday."I will rain bread from heaven for you." (Exodus xvi. 4.)

Thursday." Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled." (Matt. v. 6.)

Friday." Bread shall be given him: his water shall be sure." (Isaiah xxxiii. 16.)

Saturday." I am the Bread of Life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger," &c. (John vi. 35.)

SUNDAY, February 25.-" For thy name's sake, lead me and guide me." (Psalm xxxi. 3.)

Monday." I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye." (Psalm xxxii. 8.)

Tuesday." So didst thou lead thy people to make thyself a glorious name. (Isaiah lxiii. 14.)

Wednesday." So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands." (Psalm lxxviii. 72.)

Thursday." Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me into glory." (Psalm lxxiii. 24.) Friday." He led him about," &c. (Deut. xxxiii. 10—12.)

Saturday." This God is our God for ever and ever. He will be our guide even unto death." (Ps. xlviii. 14.) A. N.

CONFIRMATION.

QUESTIONS FOR SELF-EXAMINATION.

1. Do I really feel myself to be a lost sinner in the sight of God?

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2. What good reason have I to believe that I repent sins?

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3. Have I, in comparing myself with what I have been, any good ground to hope that I have experienced a true change of heart?

4. Do I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is able and willing to be my Saviour? Am I casting my soul and

resting all my hope upon him?

5. What are my heart and thoughts most set upon ? Do I think that I can love the things of the world if I love God with all my heart?

6. Do I feel that I ought to give my whole heart to God, and that it will be for my happiness to do it?

7. Do I feel my need of God's grace every moment to enable me to do it? Am I heartily seeking this grace through Jesus Christ?

8. Do I feel prayer and my Bible to be different from what they were to me? and do I more delight in them, and daily give myself to them?

Have I prayed earnestly over these questions, and answered them to my own conscience sincerely, as in the sight and in the fear of God?

PRAYER BEFORE CONFIRMATION.

O Lord God, I am a poor sinful creature, born in sin, a child of wrath, and sinning against thee every day. For thy dear Son Jesus Christ's sake, have mercy upon me, and make me a new creature in him. I bless thee, that by thy goodness I was early given up to thee in baptism, and engaged to be thy child and servant for ever. O pardon my ignorance and forgetfulness of this solemn engagement, and the many ways in which I have broken it in thought, word, and deed. Pardon all my sins all the wicked or idle words I have said-the wrong desires I have felt-the bad tempers I have given way to-and the evil actions I have done. 0 may the blood of Jesus Christ cleanse me from all sin! And now, assist me in taking upon myself the vow and promise of my baptism. Make me careful, sincere, and earnest, in what I am going to do. Make me willing indeed to yield up myself to my Saviour-to be his, and

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to serve him-willing to give up this vain and wicked world-continually striving against all my evil and corrupt affections, and daily growing in all virtue and godliness of living. O Lord, make me to feel my helplessness as well as my sinfulness, that I may earnestly desire and pray for the promised help of thy Holy Spirit. Grant, O Lord, that from this time I may begin to care for my soul, and provide for eternity. Keep me from the bad examples of those who are careless: from the vanity, light behaviour, heedlessness, dangers, and temptations of youth. O that I may never go backnever be ashamed of Christ-never be frightened from his service by any crosses and difficulties I may meet with. May thy grace confirm and fix my heart in thy good ways, so that I may love thee more and serve thee better. Bless all who shall be confirmed with me, and assist them in preparing for the solemn service. O hear my prayer; and do more for me than I can ask or think, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.-Rev. Charles Bridges.

THE TENT BY THE WAYSIDE.

A SHIP'S company found themselves thrown on a dangerous coast, their vessel lost, and only a small supply of provisions saved, with which they could not risk waiting on the coast. They had to make their way inland, hoping, by their utmost exertion, to reach the country to which they were bound. How much time their journey might take up they could not guess; but the direction they had to take was well known. They set out, loading themselves with such provision as they had for the journey.

They travelled day after day. Their supply was running short; and they lay down to sleep, at the close of the sixth day's journey, with fears and anxiety respecting their food for the next day, their provision having scarcely lasted them so far.

On the seventh morning they awoke, and, behold, they saw a tent placed by the wayside, of which they