must be constantly praying and believing that God can change the hearts of the children now, and be expecting it, and urging it upon them in the language of good old Baxter, 'Now or never !' 'What, then,' exclaims the Sunday school teacher, 'do you require of us?' My answer is, that your Master, or He whom you profess to serve, requires your best and noblest efforts in his cause. Не will be satisfied with nothing short of your self-denying and persevering engagements in his service, and those teachers who are unwilling to enter thus heartily into the work, had better give way that others may take their places, who are fully prepared to bear the heat and burden of the day in serving their Redeemer and Lord. The real efficiency of Sunday schools can only be brought about by an entire Reformation ;-in the teachers themselves, in the Christian church as their prime movers, and in the management and conducting of the schools. Perfection must not be expected in a mere human institution, but improvement may, and ought to be devoutly desired and aimed at by all. Let us remember that the first step towards it must be made in ourselves. We must examine our Sunday school character, habits, and deficiencies, and we shall soon find cause for commencing the work. Indolence, indifference, and self-gratification, which may have usurped the throne of our souls, as connected with this work, must be at once dismissed, and right principles must be appointed in their places. There are four qualifications perhaps more important than any other ;-Prayer, Preparation, Punctuality, and Perseverance. The greatness of the character which is to be aimed at may strike some with fear, and appear almost hopeless in the attainment; but let us remember that we have the promise of Divine assistance to help our infirmities, and that the object we desire to promote is nothing less than to assist in erecting that glorious temple, which is composed of lively stones from the rough quarry of humanity, and which will exceed all others in unfading beauty and imperishable durability. THERE'S BEAUTY EVERY THERE's beauty in the washing wave, There's beauty in the cloudless night NOT LOVE JESUS!' Lines composed by a female scholar in Zion Sunday School, Manchester, and given to the Teacher to read to the class in her absence. They were written after a Sermon on the love of Christ. This beloved, this admirable Teacher, Mr. Wrigley, was at his post on Sunday, June 27th. On the following Friday he expired, leaving a young widow and family to lament his loss. His class consisted of thirty seven interesting girls. NOT love Jesus! said our pastor, The Library. all means, however, keep the scholars in some connexion with the school. This little work, by the way, is the first we have re Bible Circulation: London : Thomson. A pamphlet adapted to electrify every school in Chris-ceived from the house of Mr. tendom, and to which we shall very soon direct all possible attention. The Footsteps of Messiah: Snow We have as yet read not more than half of this volume; but we cannot wait another month before giving it our warmest praises. The rising author has taken certain leading events in the life of Jesus, and has depicted them in a way which often startles by its novelty, but always delights by its beauty, and overpowers by its truth. There are many passages of uncommon brilliance-perfect gems. The book thus far has increased our love to Jesus. We wish it all possible favour. The Oath of God: By Rev. G. Smith. The Unknown God Revealed By Rev. J. Parsons. The Princes of the Earth: By Rev. S. Martin London: Snow. Three of the best of sermons by three of the best of ministers. The last one will be found singularly adapted to the young. They were all delivered at the last anniversary of the London Missionary Society. Parting Precepts: London: Green. It is one of the seven griefs of our hearts that our elder scholars so constantly leave the school. This grief is felt by Mrs. Bakewell, the accomplished writer of this little work, and she has here endeavoured to avert the evil by impressing on their hearts the solemn responsibility under which they are placed, and the happy use they may still make of their advantages. There is considerable tact about the little book, and where female scholars must leave a school, this will be a capital manual for their use. By Green, one to which we wish great success as devoted chiefly to juvenile and religious works. Picture Room: Dawn of Modern Civilisation: Robert Dawson : Useful Lads: Tract Society. The excellent Tract Society's publications remind us of the table of shew-bread in the tabernacle. They furnish an incessant supply with a perpetual freshness of wholesome food for the 'soul.' We feel that Sunday school teachers and scholars are greatly indebted to the labours of this institution, for the cheap and good books with which their libraries abound; and we esteem the four books above named as most particularly adapted for the use of all young people, and a valuable acquisition to the library, to read-pray-and ponder. Cobbin's Bible Remembrancer: London: Partridge and Co. We do not pretend to describe this new work. We may, however, say, that in a portable size and neat form, Ingram Cobbin has here given the very cream of all his writings about the Bible. It really seems to contain everything. It is by very far the best production of our venerable friend. It explains and endears the Bible in a glorious degree. Union Tune Book: Do. Treble and Bass parts only : Union Hymn Book for Scholars, with Tunes: London: Sunday School Union. The tune book has long been a favourite with the public. Here it is in three new forms. The shape strikes us as a vast improvement upon the former one. They are very neat, and we trust will be patronised by all Sunday schools. Cobbin's Barnes. May we direct the special attention of our readers to the notes on Scripture which are now issuing under the able editorship of Ingram Cobbin. There are two editions-one in small octavo, of which five vols. are published-and one in quarto, bidding fair to form a most handsome and useful work. It is to our certain knowledge in a state of great forwardness, and will be completed with great dispatch. Both editions are trustworthy in the last degree. They are illustrated with engravings, of which we gave specimens in our last month's magazine, see pages 145 and 153, and are certainly some of the best additions to our literature which this year has seen. The quarto edition is published by Partridge and Oakey, the other by Tegg and by Nelson. Both are cheap, and accurate even to amazement. The notes themselves are sound, tending to develop the mind of the spirit, and we conceive their value is immeasurably heightened by the revisions and amendments of Ingram Cobbin, certainly one of the best sacred critics in the church of God. and is, beyond all comparison, the most cheap and useful pocket | Bible in the world. The Family Memorial: London: Longman. A record of the deaths of a Father, a Mother, and a Daughter, which, though originally intended for one locality I will be read with tears by thousands. Anecdotes of the Church of Rome in the Nineteenth Century: London: Baynes. This Book we believe will never repay the money or the labour of its production. It is not at all adapted to prevent the spread of Popery. This we doubt not is the earnest desire of its author, but he labours in vain to check it by productions of this sort. A rigid adherence to the principles of Church polity, as given in the New Testament, is the only cure for the dreaded evil. Bring those principles to bear, and all the heresies in the popedom will fall like untimely figs. Before the majesty of the Bible, that of the priest becomes a jest. Books on the Editor's Table:Abbott's Way to do Good, Green : The Pilgrimage, Simpkin: Apprentices' Monitor, Aylott & Co.: Letters of Rev. S. Dyer to his Children, Snow: Phillips on Sacramental Experience, Ward: Cobbin's Edition of Pinnock's Scripture Made Easy, Gibbs: Bible Circulation, Thompson: Dictionary of English Language, parts 1-20, Gilbert: Modern Atlas of the World, parts 1-10, Gilbert : History of Independency, vol. 1, Snow: Liberty of Conscience, by Massie, Snow: The nature and advantages of Godliness, Longman: True Rest, Aylott: English Child's Introduction to Geography, Green: Government Scheme of Education, Partridge and Co. The Ragged Schools. FACTS AND EVIDENCES. a music-book,-who a short time before were thieves, clothed with rags. I said to one of them— twelve years of age,-'What are you going to do with the musicbook?' He replied, 'Sir, I takes the tenor.' This seems as an indication of the truth that I am principle which I wish to inculcate is, that you must advance yourselves, if you would advance your scholars. There is a principle got abroad in the world, which only needs to be realised in order to make you, while endeavouring to communicate knowledge to others, increase your own. THE AWFUL CRISIS. About twelve months ago, a gentleman met with a girl, who, although only fourteen years of age, was in the habit of frequenting the even-endeavouring to advocate. The ing dances, and not returning home until one or two in the morning. About three weeks ago he met with her again. She told him, weeping, that she had lately come out of prison, in which she had lain for three months, having been convicted of theft; she felt deeply penitent-promised future amendment-but added, that her former companions in sin were striving to lead her back into her accustomed habits. She could not read, but would have willingly attended school, had there been teachers to instruct her. She has no friend or protector, but an abandoned and drunken mother. 'I TAKES THE TENOR.'-The day has come when each and all of us must march with the times. I do not know how often you meet for mutual instruction and mutual prayer; but I tell you this, that unless you move on, the children will tread on your heels. And if they do not move on, you must tread on the heels of your pastors, and they must move on too. I have heard of a country minister, -but I cannot vouch for its truth, -who said, 'We will have no more of Sunday schools. These children ask such awkward questions of their teachers, and they come bothering us with these awkward questions. We must put a stop to it.' Depend upon it, you must endeavour to improve yourselves -all must move on. Look at the times. I have listened with delight to the singing in this hall; but some time ago I visited a Ragged school, and there, five or six boys were selected to sing out of "There was a man-though some do A LONDON COURT.-In a court containing about twenty houses, four or five are what is usually termed 'whisky shops,' or houses opened on the Saturday and sabbath evenings for the illegal sale of intoxicating drinks, into which men are decoyed after the public houses are shut, and often robbed of their weekly earnings. In some of these houses the very children are taught to pick the pockets of those who frequent them. Last summer, a female was murdered in the same court, about three o'clock one sabbath morning, at which time her offspring, consisting of two boys, were both in Newgate, one of whom was said to have been then in for the sixth or seventh time-he has since been transported. Rooms are also opened for dances on the sabbath evenings, the admission to which is generally one penny; these are attended by the young of both sexes, from seven to eighteen years of age-schools they are for ragged children to which Newgate is indebted for many an inmate. About six weeks ago, an elderly, decent looking female called at a house in one of these courts and wished to be informed where the dances were kept. It was a sabbath evening, between nine and ten o'clock. She said she was a widow, and had a daughter at home, whom she left dangerously ill, scarcely expecting to find her alive on her return. 'But,' said she, 'I have another thirteen years of age, who has lately given me much vexation, by associating with bad companions, and attending these dances on sabbath evenings. This evening I have been informed that she is at a dance in this court, and I have come to try if I can get her home.' On receiving information, she proceeded to the place, which she found crowded with children and youths, in the midst of whom was her lost daughter. She succeeded in getting her away, but they had not proceeded far when she again deserted her, and returned to her wicked companions, leaving the poor woman to return home, and, by the bedside of her afflicted daughter, to mourn over her ruined and wayward child. SOMETHING DONE.-On the 22nd of September last a few individuals met to consider whether any steps could be taken towards the formation of a 'Ragged school' which might remedy, to some extent, the lamentable and growing evils which existed in Golden Lane and Whitecross Street, London. A large and commodious place was then to let, situated in a most suitable part of the neighbourhood; but, as not less than £60 would be incurred by such an undertaking for the first year, many fears were entertained regarding its ultimate success. Trusting, however, through the providence of God, to the liberality of the Christian public, they formed themselves into a provisional committee, and proceeded to make the necessary arrangements-the place was taken, and an experienced teacher engaged to conduct the week-evening school. It has now been in operation since the 10th of December, on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evenings, from seven to nine o'clock. Instruction is imparted in reading, writing, and arithmetic, accompanied with lessons of a moral and religious character, calculated, by God's blessing, to elevate their characters, and fit them for future usefulness; benefits to which, in many instances, both parents and children have hitherto been strangers. Since the opening of the school, from ninety to one hundred boys have been admitted, varying from six to eighteen years of age, sixty of whom could neither read nor write, and but for the efforts now being made, might never have had an opportunity of learning. The Committee wish it to be understood, however, that while nearly a hundred boys have been admitted, after a probationary attendance of four evenings, that not more than half that number are in regular attendance; instead of being accustomed to order and regularity at home, they have spent their days in the midst of domestic confusion and social discord. And while many do attend regularly, and are making pleasing progress, there are many others, who, from the above and other causes, require the employment of additional means, besides the offer of free instruction, to secure that punctual attendance necessary to their improvement. After much consideration the Committee are of opinion that the following plan, which to some extent they have adopted, and to which they invite the assistance of their friends to enable them to carry out, would tend greatly to remove the difficulty. Let a number of individuals select from the school four or five boys each, in the welfare of whom they purpose |