ble in grey hairs, and contending for their
opposition to the riper wisdom of his seniors
received them by revelation from heaven.
a disposition so necessary in the characte
that no talents can be a substitute for it,
attainments, however splendid, be adm
apology for the want of it. Let those w
recently entered upon their office, then, a
with great humility to those who have bee
for years, and eagerly avail themselves
mony of experience. The worst of evils
from that haughty temper, which, amidst
independence, forgets, that vast superiorit
cation is often connected with perfect equa
and that in such cases deference is no degr

-Between the teachers of opposite sexe duties to be discharged which involve th spectability, and the character of the instit persons, who understand no logic but that o and who find it more cheap to find out the institution, than the means of its support, times made this objection against the plan teaching in our Sunday Schools, "that it. The qu in relationships sion for too frequent meetings of young often leads to hasty and injudicious connes Leaving this unsubstantial objection to shadow o'er a rock, I certainly see the importance of the most punctilious rega rules of modesty and reserve, between mal teachers. A school-room is not the plac Sabbath a time for gossip between young men. Nothing can be more improper

dife

me to the other

je; and such

the duties whic with some degre

educated memb areful to exclude oks like the prid

S

109

truding into apartments appropriated to tion of girls, and there nodding, laughing, or me female acquaintance. Before an asor children, one of whose greatest dangers evant of proper and delicate reserve bepposite sexes, and who are ready to copy yay want of decorum in their teachers, lest deviation from the strict rules of procrime not only against their manners, but morals. Under such circumstances the us circumspection is indispensably requi

perhaps, it may be neither unseasonable ry to caution young persons against beadvised connexions, by the intercourse rily must have with each other, after decorum has been observed. There why a connexion commenced at a od should necessarily be a bad one; nor on why it should necessarily be a good

may

be very excellent teachers, and yet dapted for husbands or wives. The qualired for these respective relationships, are in some respects so essentially different, arguing from the one to the other. we shall find in the same school persons l standing in life; and such a diset an attention to the duties which it ento be attended with some degree of disher and better educated members of the ty should be careful to exclude from their thing that looks like the pride of station,

still burn

upon the would you with what ect of your night it be rayer, sinpresented, stitution at

wn in their would re

th prayer; nd rise be

CHAP. V.

The temptations to which Sunday School Teachers are peculiarly exposed.

An

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. gelic, 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