How teachers' meeting to be managed. Example of a teachers' meeting.

this. We had a long room fitted up, and a table in the shape of a T, capable of holding fifty teachers. At the head of this table I have been accustomed to meet my teachers once every week. The Superintendent always sat at my right hand. On this table were laid Reference-Bibles, maps, dictionaries, &c., as each one chose to bring,-always having a good Map of Palestine present. I have then requested the teacher nearest me to read a verse of the lesson; asked him questions, and talked with him about it, just as if in a parlor. If he could not readily answer the question, I say, 66 can any of the teachers answer this question?" Any one answers, who pleases. Or if he gives an answer not quite satisfactory, or not quite full enough, I ask, 'has any teacher a different opinion,' or, 'would any teacher add any thing to this answer? Sometimes these questions lead us into long and deeply interesting conversations; for after I have put the questions relating to each verse, all have permission to question me. And at the end of the lesson, I ask, has any teacher any question to ask, which has not been satisfactorily answered? I have met hundreds of teachers in these meetings, have never seen a meeting which was not deeply interesting, have never seen any thing occur which was painful, disrespectful, or otherwise than pleasant. I can truly say, that some of the brightest hours of my life have been spent with teachers in the Teachers' Meeting. I have never seen any disagreement among

Eighth direction,-prayer indispensable.

themselves. Each one should come to these meetings endeavouring to bring a teachable, kind spirit; to bring his share of intellectual food which is to make up the feast, and to feel that he is doing all that he can to make the meeting profitable and interesting. A lesson talked over in this way will be taught with great pleasure and profit. I have sometimes been delighted with the illustrations which they have brought in; and sometimes have felt that I was aiding them when they ask, "how, Sir, would you illustrate this and that truth contained in this lesson, to a child of six years?" The minister and the teachers who have been unacquainted with the pleasures of these meetings, are ignorant of what will always cheer, encourage, enlighten, and warm the heart.

8. Prayer is indispensable to him who would acquire knowledge in order to be a teacher.

Were the question to be asked how you could make even fine linen whiter, the answer undoubtedly would be, wash it in pure water; and the purer the water, the whiter would be the linen. So if you would have the mind clear, and pure, there is nothing like washing it in the pure waters of life. It needs daily and constant washing, too, for sin daily defiles it. Nothing will purify the mind like bringing it into contact with God in prayer; nothing will render it clear like this, nothing will enlarge and strengthen it like this. It is the testimony of all such men as Payson, that they succeeded in obtaining knowledge

Need of the Holy Spirit.

Habitual spirit of prayer needed.

vastly more rapidly, in consequence of communing with God in prayer.

There is another thought which should not be left out of mind. The Scriptures were given by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. He is their author. In order, then, to understand them aright, you must go to the same Spirit for light and teaching. He can guide into all truth, and make you wise to lead others to salvation. Your own comfort as a Christian must droop and die, your hopes become faint and darkened, your faith weak and unproductive, and your love to the souls of men will wax cold indeed, unless you keep your heart warm at the throne of grace. I do entreat my reader never to attempt to get a lesson,— never to go to the teachers' meeting,-never to go to your class, unless you have first earnestly sought the blessing of God upon your soul in secret prayer. All meetings of teachers should be opened and closed with prayer. All attempts to do good must be founded on prayer. Were I to say what I deem the greatest deficiency among teachers,-among Christians,among all who are engaged in building up the kingdom of Jesus Christ, I should say, the want of an habitual spirit of prayer. The mouth that speaks in God's name in the pulpit,—the hand that holds the pen which writes for the good of others,-the lips that pour instruction into the mind of the child,-all, all need to be daily sanctified by prayer. This would shield us in the hour of temptation; this would sus

Conclusion.

tain us when the horizon looks dark and gloomy,— this would strengthen us when the heart feels ignorant and desponding,-and this would give us the arm of Omnipotence for our aid, the wisdom of the Infinite One for our light, and the sweet communion of the blessed Spirit to aid, guide, and reward us. The seed sown in the freshness of the morning, and that which is scattered in the dews of evening, would alike take root, and bring forth fruit, thirty, sixty, and an hundred fold.

CHAPTER VII.

COMMUNICATING RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION.

No one can feel the responsibility of making the first, the deepest impressions, on an immortal spirit on the subject of religion, without great anxiety. It is difficult to know when we are in the right way; still more difficult to know that we do as well as we are able. The few hints, which, in this Chapter, I propose to throw out in regard to the best method of communicating religious instruction, will be, I fear, as far from being satisfactory to the reader as they are to myself: that they will be more unsatisfactory, I have no fear.

Do not begin the work of teaching with a radical mistake; viz. that it requires very uncommon talents to teach children.

There are many most valuable men both in our churches and in the ministry, who never make any attempts at teaching children, because they think they have no faculty for it;—that this is a gift of na