was duly fulfilled, and the amount of the subscription was sixpence per quarter." p. 113.

Mr. Griffiths was not however deterred from marrying in 1826, Miss A. G. Jones, who survived him. The salary was withdrawn in 1837, but Lord Barham, who had been created Earl of Gainsborough in August, 1841, at his request, conveyed the chapels of Bethesda and Trinity, in which he had laboured, to the Calvinistic Methodist connexion; leaving the support of the ministry to the people themselves.

The following extract contains an account of Mr. Griffiths' Sunday school labours :

"Besides the Sunday schools at these chapels, there were two others regularly held, one at Rhosilly and another at Nicholastone, at the house of Mr. Voss, and taught chiefly by him and his faithful servants. Each of these schools learnt and repeated periodically and in public, catechisms, or, as they were called in Gower, 'subjects.' prepared for them by Mr. Griffiths himself. A scriptural subject was explained and enforced in the form of questions and answers. It was then divided into three or four parts, as circumstances required, and each part written carefully and legibly on a separate slip of paper. One of these slips was sent to each school, with directions written on its back to 'keep it clean and return it.' Many in Gower have learnt to read handwriting by poring over these slips, and some have been induced to acquire the art of writing that they may be able to copy Mr. Griffiths' 'subjects. Each school, after having learnt and repeated its portion, had to exchange its paper with another; and so on until every school had learnt and repeated every part of the subject. There is a sufficient quantity at hand of these manuscript catechisms to fill a volume. We subjoin the following as an example :—

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"THE CHARACTER AND EXAMPLES OF JESUS CHRIST.

QUESTION. What are the examples of Jesus Christ wherein his people are to follow him?

"ANSWER. 1. Christ devoted himself early to the service of God. Luke ii. 46-49.

"2. Christ was obedient to his parents. Luke ii. 50-52. "3. Christ was fond of doing good to all men.

Luke ix. 55, 56; Acts x. 38. "4. Christ was full of meekness and humility. Mat. xi. 29; Mat. xii. 19, 20. "5. Christ when he was reviled, reviled not again. 1 Peter ii. 21-23.

"6. Christ was always obedient to the will of his Father.

John viii. 29, 55.

"7. Christ always spoke the truth, and nothing but the truth. John viii. 44–46. "8. Christ gave wise answers to all his enemies. John viii. 7, 9.

"9. Christ reproved sin in all, yet in a way that led to conviction without giving offence. Mark x. 21, 22.

"10. Christ reproved public hypocrisy very severely. "11. Christ was perfect in self-denial. Phil. ii. 7, 8.

Mat. xxiii. 23, 27.

"12. Christ was full of contentment in a state of poverty and want. Luke ix. 58; 2 Cor. viii. 9.

Mat. xxii. 17-21.
Mat. v. 17, 18.
John xvii. 4;

"13. Christ was obedient to the laws of men where he lived. "14. Christ had a great love and regard to the law of God. "15. Christ was zealous to advance the glory of God on earth. John vii. 18.

"16. Christ was a great example to his people in private prayer.

Mark i. 35.

"17. Christ regularly attended the public worship of God. Luke xxi. 37, 38.

Luke vî. 12;

Luke iv. 16;

"18. Christ submitted to all religious ordinances of Divine appointment. Mat. iii. 14, 15.

"19. Christ abounded in the duty of thanksgiving. Mat. xi. 25, 26.

"20. Christ gave us an example in asking the blessing of God upon our food. Mat. xiv. 19, 20.

"21. Christ manifested great pity and compassion to the distressed. Mat. xx. 30-34.

22. Christ manifested much sympathy with the sorrowful. John xi. 33-36.

"23. Christ was a sincere friend. John xv. 15, 16.

"24. Christ's conversation was very edifying to the hearts of men. Luke iv. 22; xxiv. 32.

"25. Christ was full of forgiveness to his enemies. Luke xxiii. 33, 34. "26. Christ was full of zeal for purity in the worship of God. John ii. 14-17. "27. Christ was grieved and wept at the sins of men. Luke xix. 41, 42. "28. Christ was perfectly holy and harmless in all his actions. Heb. vii. 26; Mat. xvii. 5.

"29. Christ was perfectly submissive to all the will of his Father. Mat. xxvi. 39, 42.

"30. Christ was an example of perfect patience even in his great sufferings on the cross. Isaiah liii. 7; 1 Peter iii. 18.

"The above subject is to be divided between the three Sunday schools, to go round the whole twice; each class in each school to repeat only one head at one time. Bethesda Chapel, Nov. 2nd, 1835.

"Trinity School first, Rhosilly second, Bethesda last.

"The following questions to be answered at the end by each school repeating together in one voice:

"TRINITY.

"QUESTION. What do you learn from these examples?

"ANSWER. From this we learn that none have a right to the name of Christ. unless they endeavour from the heart to walk in his steps. 2 Tim. ii. 19—21.

"QUESTION. How are Christians to follow the examples of Jesus Christ? "ANSWER. Christians are to follow the examples of Christ by receiving of his spirit and grace, and continue in his fellowship.

"BETHESDA.

"QUESTION. What are the benefits which Christians receive in following the examples of Jesus Christ?

"ANSWER. Those who follow Christ shall not walk in darkness, but shall have light and life. John viii. 12, 32.

"The catechism Sunday was a great day in Gower, greater by far than their favourite mabsant' had ever been. The young people came together from all parts of the country; and they were all serious, for they were coming together to be questioned. The floor of the chapel was crowded with listeners, and the galleries equally crowded with singers and reciters of the subject. There was no danger of their giving way to levity; was not Mr. Griffiths in the pulpit? Was he not looking upon them? One glance from his eye was sufficient at once to dispel every inclination to be frivolous. Many hundreds of the people of Gower have thus been equally privileged with that devoted young servant of Christ to whom it was said, And that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scripture, which is able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.'

"Mr. Griffiths himself generally much enjoyed these school gatherings. Of one of them he writes: In the evening these Sunday schools met at Bethesda, and there was a very large congregation. The place was filled to excess, both floor and galleries. The schools repeated their subjects very correctly and feelingly, and the greatest attention was paid by the hearers throughout the whole service. Trinity school opened with the subject, "Religious Truth." Bethesda school followed: subject," Hypocrisy-its extent, nature, and evil;" and Rhosilly school followed with inferences drawn from both the subjects just then repeated."—pp. 155–160.

In 1858 a subscription was raised to present him with his own portrait. In accepting this testimonial, he said, that during the forty-three years he had laboured in Gower, he had preached upwards of twelve thousand sermons. In April, 1861, he rapidly declined, but having prepared a sermon he felt he must deliver it; and though unable to reach the pulpit—

"He stood at the vestry door, and there preached the first part of his sermon to a large congregation. In the afternoon he was obliged to lie on his bed; but

he was up again in the evening, entered the chapel, and, standing where he had stood in the morning, he delivered the concluding part of his discourse. This was his last; and though he knew it not, the text was well adapted for the occasion: 'We are not of them that draw back unto perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.'"-p. 226.

On Sunday, 21st July, the end came :

"While the brethren were assembled at the Sunday school in the chapel, he sent to request that some of them should come and pray with him. Accordingly, a number entered his room; two or three prayed. One was so overcome with emotion, that he could not proceed. The dying man addressed to them an affectionate farewell, and gave out one of his favourite hymns

'Come, let us join our cheerful songs

With angels round the throne,' &c.

"They dispersed; he was happy. Not long after the breaking up of the little assembly, his dear wife raised him a little on his bed, to give him a moment's rest; and there, after that happy prayer meeting on that Sabbath afternoon, with his head leaning on the bosom of his dearest earthly friend, without a struggle and without a groan, he fell asleep, and his happy spirit departed to be for ever with the Lord."-pp. 229, 230.

It was well that this memorial of a laborious servant of Christ should have been written, and it will be especially interesting and valuable to his friends in Wales.

THE

CHRISTIAN TREASURY. A Family Miscellany. London: Groombridge & Sons.

THE parts of this old established periodical for April and June are before us. In order to meet the competition which has sprung up, each part has a whole page wood engraving illustrative of New Testament scenes. That in the former represents the interview between the Saviour and the Woman of Samaria, and is to our eyes disfigured by a halo round the head of the former, which injures the accuracy of the representation. It is absent in the wood-cut in the number for June, which pictures Christ in the house at Bethany.

It is unnecessary to commend a work which has so long since established its reputation. It is truly a miscellany containing instruction and entertainment for all. Sunday school teachers are not forgotten, as the following extract from the number for June will testify.

"It is some time since I first became a Sunday school teacher: and since that time I have been learning something as well as trying to teach. As I have learnt, I have made as often as possible mental memoranda, which I intended to serve me when occasion required.

"When I was first asked to teach, I replied that I did not consider myself fit for such a serious work; 'I was not good enough,' I said,-not consistent enough. This may have been true as far as the reality went; but I will confess to a share of mock modesty-a little professed diffidence which I did not quite feel. Then you ought to try and be consistent,' was the faithful rejoinder. I felt half afraid of the person I was talking with, he was so very honest and outspoken. He had taken me so much at my word, that my mock modesty refused to let me act upon it, and I promised to do the best I could. As may be supposed, I soon found that the opinion I had expressed of myself was rather truer than I had fancied at the time. I was anything but successful, yet I determined not to be beaten. My pride was a little offended at my words being so readily taken as correct; so that I wanted to prove the contrary; and I tried my utmost. It is astonishing how much success in a work depends on a person's motive. I believe I worked harder then than I have ever done since, and yet

there was less done for good, as far as I can now see, than at any other time. I had almost said there were no results; but there were. If my scholars were not benefited, I was. I was brought into connection with so much earnestness, that I too felt more earnest. I had not then joined the church; and though I respected religion, I did not look at the school as a means for its promotion. I wanted simply to educate' the boys-to teach them reading, &c.

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My great desire was to have a model class, so to speak-one that was under the best discipline-that could answer more questions than most. In fact, my efforts were not at the heart, but at the head. But I found that those teachers who had got their boys' hearts were the only ones who had such classes; and I had not my boys' affection. The school numbered above 600 scholars, so that I had ample scope for observation. I saw others leave the reading lessons, and the strict discipline, and yet their classes would bear examination better than mine. But the truths they taught came home to me: God blessed them, and made me anxious for my boys' souls as well as for their minds. From this time there seemed an almost sudden change: My class became affectionate; I gained courage and earnestness from success. I no longer dreaded the task of controlling the troublesome ones. They did not seem to annoy me so much; and more than all, there came a pleasure in the work, which I would not soon lose. It was no longer a struggle for pride's sake, but an effort for Christ's sake. How I enjoyed the many smiles that greeted me on Sabbath mornings then! How happy I felt as I shook hands with my boys! How all at once they all wanted to sit next teacher!' How each one wanted the honour of being selected to do some mission for me! I began to talk to them about heaven, instead of about good conduct; about the many mansions, instead of teaching reading. I said to myself, What use will it be for him to read if his soul is not saved? He will turn his reading to a bad account, and it will help him on the road to destruction. Remember that you, teachers, who are teaching those infants to spell out little words, with you is a great responsibility; you are clothing them with a great power for good or evil. Your wish is doubtless that it may be for good; oh, then, try hard to teach them to spell the love of Christ if possible, before they are taught evil, lest the power you are giving them be worse than wasted. My labours were not now half so tedious; they gave both me and my class enjoyment, instead of the coldness and drudgery of disciplinarian instruction.

"I laboured these three years, and with what success may be best judged from what took place on my parting from them.

"It was a wet, dreary Sabbath, yet all but one were there, and singularly enough, there were several who were going to leave the town at the same time as myself; so that the last Sabbath for me was the last Sabbath for them.

"I told them I had often, often talked to them of heaven and its joys. There would be no parting there, but here there must be partings. I must leave them, but I had a dear Friend with whom I should often talk of them; and if they could find one with whom they could talk of me, that would be almost as good as being near each other. There was scarcely one boy who did not recognise the Friend I meant, and one and all volunteered to speak with Him for me. One said, I have a Friend up there (pointing upwards), and I shall meet you when I see Him, shan't I, teacher? I shall be happy there. That boy had walked five miles out a few Sabbaths before, almost barefooted, to fetch his boots home, that he might come to school in the afternoon. There were a few tears shed, but I trust we all, both teacher and scholars, fully hoped to meet each other in that brighter and better world where all is love, and joy, and peace." pp. 294, 295.

"ABLE TO SAVE;" or, Encouragements to Patient Waiting. By the Author of "The Pathway of Promise." London: A. Strahan & Co., pp. 280. THIS elegantly printed and bound volume is designed to solace the people of God in their hours of trial and suffering. It comprises eighteen chapters, founded on passages of Scripture calculated to afford comfort to the mourner, and is enriched with much Christian poetry, designed to soothe the mind in the hour of trial. Some of these pieces are well known, but the greater portion will probably be new to most of our readers.

INDIFFERENCE-A SIN in the cause of Christian Missions. A Sermon preached in Surrey Chapel, before the Directors and Friends of the London Missionary Society, May 13th, 1863. By James Spence, D.D. London: John Spence.

DR. SPENCE selected his text from the exhortation of Moses to the tribes of Reuben and Gad, not to remain in the land of Gilead, on the eastern side of the Jordan, which they desired for their inheritance, but to proceed with their brethren to the conquest of the land of Canaan, on the western side of that river, as recorded in Numbers xxxii. 20-23. He applied this to missionary efforts. First, the land to be possessed for God, and in His name— as a goodly land-under the dominion of a hellish foe, but still a promised land. Secondly, the parties enjoined to occupy the world for God, and in his name-Christians, possessing spiritual sympathy with God's purpose, and spiritual qualification for carrying it out. Thirdly, the conduct of those who refuse to go up with their brethren to conquer and occupy the world for God-they sin against God-their brethren-the world-themselves. Fourthly, the consequence of neglecting this duty of occupying the world for God. "Be sure your sin will find you out." The neglect of true missionary work has been injurious to the church collectively-in her divisions-with their frequent bitterness-and in the narrowness of her boundaries. Such neglect will cause decay in any particular section of the church, and it will cause in every individual Christian a spiritual life with little energy and less enjoyment.

This sermon will be read by Christians of all denominations with pleasure and profit.

ANSWER TO JAMES MORISON'S QUESTIONS ON THE SHORTER CATECHISM. By a United Presbyterian. Edinburgh: Nimmo. 12mo., pp. x. 70.

A FEW years ago, Dr. James Morison, an Arminian in Scotland, made, what the author of these pages calls, a "feeble, captious, pert, censorious, and puerile" attack on the Westminster Shorter Catechism, one of the "standards" lifted up everywhere in that land for the defence and diffusion of religious truth. The present pamphlet is an effort to uphold the standard against this attack, and to preserve it from being tarnished. It is not for us to give a deliverance on the questions at issue. We do, however, confess to a little surprise that, if the attack were all that the United Presbyterian says it was, it should have been deemed necessary to meet it with such a defence as that before us The writer is content to show that Dr. Morison did not apprehend the true idea of the theology of the Assembly of Divines from whom the catechism proceeded, when perhaps it would have been more relevant to show that that theology is no other than the teaching of God's Word. The pamphlet deserves attention, however, especially from those, whether learners or teachers, who are in danger of coming under the influence of the Morisonian school.