and at the same time to avoid that insulting condescenion, which makes its object feel at what a distance it is considered. It is a nice and delicate point to distinguish between affability and familiarity; and to act with those who are below us in life, as fellow-labourers in the school, without making them our companions out of it.

Those whom providence has destined to fill the humbler stations of society, and who are engaged in the work of tuition with others of more elevated circumstances, will also do well to guard against an obtrusive and forward disposition; and without being servile should always be respectful. All they ought to expect from their superiors is a kind co-operation in the duties of the school, without the familiarity of friends and companions in general.

7. Prayer is a duty which the teachers of a Sunday School mutually owe to each other.

If we are commanded to make supplication for all men, even for those with whom we have no other connexion than what is established by the common bond of humanity, surely those ought not to be excluded from our petitions, with whom we are united in the communion of christian benevolence. Mutual prayer, as we have already considered in the case of the children, would be productive, in proportion to its fervour, of mutual endearment. If on a Sabbath morning you devoted a portion of the time spent in the closet, to entreat the blessing of God upon the persons and labours of your fellow-teachers, how sweetly would such an engagement prepare you to mingle with them in the duties of the day? Softened to benevolence by the

exercises of piety, and with the fire of love still burning, which prayer had kindled in your heart upon the altar of devotion, with what a holy temper would you hasten to the scene of your exertions, and with what a glowing affection look round upon the object of your fervent supplications! What an influence, might it be expected, that such a system of mutual prayer, sincerely, importunately, and perseveringly presented, would draw down from heaven upon the institution at large! Showers of blessings would come down in their season, in which both children and teachers would reciprocally rejoice. God heareth and answereth prayer ; and of all the prayers which enter heaven, and rise before the throne, we can readily conceive that none more speedily catch his ear and move his hand than those which one christian pours over the religious zeal of another; since such prayers, like the aromatic incense which ascended in a cloud before the mercyseat, are compounded of many precious ingredients, bruised and burnt together, and all of divine appointment.

CHAP. V.

The temptations to which Sunday School Teachers are peculiarly exposed.

As this life is a state of probation, it may be reasonably expected that every situation will have its trials. Temptations vary with our circumstances, but there is no scene from which they are entirely excluded. The heavenly and the earthly paradise, alternately witnessed their attack, their victory, and their havoc. Angelic, as well as human perfection, yielded to their shock, and left a warning to every subsequent age, "not to be high minded, but to fear." In a world, which God for a while has permitted to sink under the dominion of the prince of the power of the air, it is not to be wondered at that there is no situation, however obscured by solitude, or elevated by piety, from which all temptations can be effectually shut out. The fact is, that as our chief danger arises from our own evil heart, till we can be separated from our guilty selves we shall look in vain for a spot, sequestered from the attack of our spiritual enemies. Well did our merciful Redeemer know our weakness and our dangers, when he put into our lips that appropriate petition, "Lead us not into temptation."

What duty is more frequently enjoined in the New Testament, than WATCHFULNESS, and what is more necessary? How incumbent this is, on those who are

engaged in the active duties of a Sunday School, will be very apparent, by even a partial enumeration of their temptations.

1. They are in great danger of receiving injury to their own personal religion.

The Sabbath, if the expression should not be thought too low, is the market day of the soul, when she lays in the provisions which are to refresh her, and the materials which are to employ her, during the ensuing week if this day be misimproved, six days suffer for the neglect of one. 'Tis very true, that real godliness will not confine itself to peculiar times and places; but still there are both peculiar times and places which are eminently adapted to promote its life and power. The Sabbath and the sanctuary sustain the highest rank among the instituted means of religious benefit. 'Tis then that the christian, engaged in warfare with this world, like a conflicting vessel at sea, lies by for a season, to repair the damages he has received, and prepare again for action, by renewing the faith which giveth him the victory. 'Tis then that piety, wearied and weakened by the toils of her wayfare, sits down to rest beneath the shadow of Christ's ordinances, and refreshing herself with the river of life which flows at her feet, rises with renovated strength to pursue her journey to a city of habitation. Hence all those who are concerned for the prosperity of their spiritual interests, and are wise in the selection of means to promote them, set a high value upon the Sabbath as the chief auxiliary of true religion.

Now without great care a Sunday School teacher is in imminent danger of losing much of the benefit of the

christian Sabbath. As your attendance is required pretty early at the school, you are often exposed to the temptation of neglecting secret prayer on the Sunday morning. Without a most resolute and self-denying habit of early rising, you will be very frequently hurried away to the school before you have had time, except in a very hasty manner, to supplicate a blessing from God upon the services of the day. A Sabbath that commences without prayer, is likely to be spent without pleasure, and closed without profit. 'Tis in the closet that the soul is prepared for the blessings of the sanctuary: 'tis there the understanding is cleared for instruction, and the heart softened for impression: 'tis there that God excites the spiritual hunger and thirst which he afterwards intends to satisfy with the provisions of his holy temple. Every one that wishes to find the Sabbath a delight, should introduce it by a season of earnest and secret prayer, which you, without most determined habits of early rising, are likely, in consequence of your engagements, to neglect.

Without great vigilance you are in danger of losing the spirituality of the Sabbath altogether, and making it rather a day of business than of devotion. In many large schools much of the Lancasterian system of education is introduced into the method of instruction, which certainly facilitates the communication of knowledge; but at the same time it must be confessed, that from its very nature, it has rather a tendency without preeminent care on the part of the teacher, to increase the secularising iufluence of the whole business of instruction. The audible repetition of orders, the evo