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but right principles. "These offerings will not please him, unless we try to improve our hearts at the same time, and to make ourselves more pure and holy, and more fit to be what we are called in the Bible-temples of the Holy Ghost."

Was there ever such fearful heterodoxy! If we can make ourselves so pure and good, what need for the Holy Ghost to come to us! We should be ashamed of our own Sunday-scholars, if they could not say, at once, that it is the Holy Spirit alone, given in answer to prayer, who must purify and cleanse the heart, and make it a fit indwelling for himself.

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And what is the act of self-denial pressed upon children? Why, to sell the grandpapa's gift of a donkey and carriage: not to feed the hungry and clothe the naked; not to buy a font for the church because there was none; but to buy a stone font, because there was only a wooden one. And then, "Think how happy we shall be when we see the new font put up in the church, and, O Clement, when there is a little baby christened in it!" (p. 156.)

Rocky Island. By S. WILBERFORCE, M. A.

Faulty throughout. We do not hesitate to say, that an unscriptural prominence is given to the ordinance of baptism, without any recognition of the grand distinction between the outward and visible sign and the inward and spiritual grace. (See pp. 22, 23, 88, 89, 105, 106, 107, 147.)

LETTER ON MARRIAGE.

REV. AND DEAR SIR,-Although personally unknown to you, I feel persuaded that you have endeared yourself to many a heart as well as mine, by setting on foot the "Teacher's Visitor," and trust it will have the blessing of the Almighty to prosper and succeed beyond your utmost wishes.

In your number for December, I was glad to find a few remarks, "On the Marriage of Christians with Un

believers," by a Junior Teacher; and, with kindred feeling, can testify that the subject is one of deep importance to some Junior Sunday-school Teachers; and, for my own part, tender my grateful acknowledgments for the manner in which it has been brought forward. It is a subject on which I, too, have personally thought much; and having, though in much weakness, and even yet with fear, laid hold on some precious portions of God's word, I beg leave to suggest them to the prayerful consideration of any who may likewise be struggling with temptation and perplexity.

"And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life." (Matt. xix. 29.)

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." (1 Cor. x. 13.)

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"Trust in the Lord." (Ps. xxxvii. 3.)

"Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him." (Ps. xxxvii. 7.)

"Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass." (Ps. xxxvii. 5.)

"Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." (Ps. xxxvii. 4.)

Allow me also to remind my fellow-labourers that not only have we many landmarks and beacons in the Bible, as well as the apostle's injunction, "Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers," to restrain and guard us; but we have also there a sure light to direct and guide us aright in the choice of help-mates for us. "A woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Her children arise up, and call her blessed."

Trusting you will excuse this overflow of interest in this subject, even if inadmissible to your "Visitor," I am, sir, yours very respectfully,

A JUNIOR TEACHER.

LETTER OF INQUIRY RESPECTING BAPTISM,

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&c.

DEAR SIR,-Can any of your friends supply us with a few simple, plain arguments in favour of infant baptism, bearing in mind the historical facts of the case? The efforts of Baptists (where they prevail) are so strong, and their reasonings so plausible to a partially educated mind, that our young people are perplexed and bewildered, and many instances drawn aside by ignorant explanations of Scripture, and unfair inferences. The conflicting opinions of the present day require us to give greater diligence to train up our youth in the faith and practice of the Gospel. There are also other points of duty which need to be more fully instilled into the minds of the lower classes: such as the duty of obedience to the civil power, the enforcement of parental discipline, and the power of parental influence; proper deference and respect for the ministers of religion, and all who are in authority; on the want of cleanliness and economy among the working class; on the evils of dress, &c. The majority of our Teachers have neither the tact nor the power of inculcating these things. If a series of small tracts in the conversational style-cheap, and adapted to circulation among the poor-could be brought out, good might be done; but I merely make the suggestion.

Yours respectfully,

M. N.

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A SKETCH OF A SUNDAY MORNING'S

INSTRUCTION.

GIVEN AT ST. BRIDE'S SUNDAY-SCHOOL-NOV. 10.

WE will begin this morning at the 2nd chapter of St. Matthew, and the 1st verse.

(Boy reads.) "Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem."

Now, who are wise men?

Old men.

No, not exactly; men may be old without being wise. B., what do you think the words wise men mean?

Men of sense.

Yes, that is right. Now it is very likely that these were men who had spent nearly all their lives in reading and thinking. I suppose that when all their neighbours were fast asleep, these men would rise from their beds, light their own fires, trim their lamps, and begin to study. All day long they would be poring over their books; old shabby books with curiously formed letters, which no one but themselves could make out; and when night came, and other people went to bed, these men would be still in the midst of their books. Sometimes they would go out and watch the stars twinkling in the sky, and would wonder and gaze at their brightness and their beauty, though they little thought then, that these stars were all of them vast worlds like our own. Now, how was it that they came to Jerusalem at this time?

They had seen a new star.

It says in the next verse, that they asked, "Where is he that is born king of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him."

Now, when they saw this star, how came they to think that a king of the Jews was born?

Because they were expecting one to come.

What led them to expect one?

The prophets had foretold that one would come.

Very true: but these wise men came from the east country-perhaps from Persia-which was a long, long way from Judea. How then came they to know what the Jewish prophets had foretold?

Because the Jews had been scattered into different countries, and had told the people among whom they were scattered, that they were expecting a king.

And now tell me why they came to Jerusalem, instead of any other place in Judea?

(Boys don't know.)

Now suppose these Persians had heard that there was a new king born in England, and had come over here to search for him, what

place do you think they would go to first?

(Boys can't tell.)

Do you think they would go down into

No.

Where then?

Perhaps London.

shire, where I live?

Well, to be sure they would; and why? what is London?

LETTER OF INQUIRY RESPECTING BAPTISM,

&c.

DEAR SIR,-Can any of your friends supply us with a few simple, plain arguments in favour of infant baptism, bearing in mind the historical facts of the case? The efforts of Baptists (where they prevail) are so strong, and their reasonings so plausible to a partially educated mind, that our young people are perplexed and bewildered, and in many instances drawn aside by ignorant explanations of Scripture, and unfair inferences. The conflicting opinions of the present day require us to give greater diligence to train up our youth in the faith and practice of the Gospel. There are also other points of duty which need to be more fully instilled into the minds of the lower classes: such as the duty of obedience to the civil power, the enforcement of parental discipline, and the power of parental influence; proper deference and respect for the ministers of religion, and all who are in authority; on the want of cleanliness and economy among the working class; on the evils of dress, &c. The majority of our Teachers have neither the tact nor the power of inculcating these things. If a series of small tracts in the conversational style-cheap, and adapted to circulation among the poor-could be brought out, good might be done; but I merely make the suggestion.

Yours respectfully,

M. N.

A SKETCH OF A SUNDAY MORNING'S
INSTRUCTION.

GIVEN AT ST. BRIDE'S SUNDAY-SCHOOL-NOV. 10.

We will begin this morning at the 2nd chapter of St. Matthew, and the 1st verse.

(Boy reads.) "Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem."

Now, who are wise men?

Old men.

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