by the possession of that knowledge of the human race which is obtained in no other than a Sabbath school. But since some of the more prominent moral benefits-including the invaluable blessings arising from the presence of the Holy Spirit-have been noticed; and since some of these topics will be taken up under the more appropriate divisions of political and religious advantages, in subsequent communications; I will pass on to glance at some of the advantages which Teachers derive from their connection with these "little heavens." : In entering upon this head, I shall assume the position, that all who are engaged as teachers were pressed into this labour of love, by a feeling of obligation rising above common benevolence, to do something for God and immortal souls and although the motives of custom and friendly solicitation might have been secondarily instrumental in bringing them into so rife a field of benevolent action, still their ultimate design was "to do good." A young man, for example, is met by a friend who is a Sabbath school teacher. The question is asked by his friend, whether he is engaged in a Sabbath school: the reply is in the negative. He is then asked whether he would not like to become a teacher: and here too the reply is indirectly in the negative. He has so many engagements during the week, he does not think it practicable for him to become a good teacher, and besides he wants some time for rest and recreation. He is told of the large numbers of children who loiter and idle away the precious hours every Lord's day; the necessity of more efficient efforts in behalf of the ignorant and degraded; the want of faithful persons to look up and instruct the morally des titute; but apparently without avail. Soon, however, his friend meets him again: he tells him that in the school with which he is connected there is a class of interesting children without a teacher;* that they are suffering from moral culture; and that this is an opportunity presented to do much good and prevent much evil, which he ought not to neglect. His benevolence and supposed love to God are now brought to a crisis. The path of duty is plainly marked out, and he cannot in conscience swerve from its narrow but safe entrance. He consents to take the class for a few Sabbaths, or until another teacher can be procured, upon condition that his friend shall tell him, in what manner to proceed in order to interest and profit his class. The conditions are complied with his friend points out the portion of Scripture prescribed by the superintendent for the lesson on the coming Sabbath, and requests him to see that it is committed to memory by each of the children,† and to say a few words by way of illustration and application; spending any overplus time in read *Although this is a supposed statement, we presume to say it is one which might be made use of in truth by many an alert teacher to his friend. Such being the case, no young man or woman, aware of the fact, can conscientiously excuse themselves for supineness or heedlessness in such an exigency. In the writer's estimation, it is immeasurably important that the portion of Scripture selected for a lesson should be committed to memory, whether it be recited auibldy or not; for by such practice, the text becomes correctly fixed in the mind, and the pupil is prevented the mortification, in after life, which arises from such miserable mis-quotations as sometimes even fall from the minister at the altar. ing selections of Scripture, or any religious publication from the school library. He commences upon his new duties with a fluttering heart. But he finds a blessing awaiting him when he first treads the threshold of the Sabbath school: a becoming soberness pervades him, that will accompany him through the exercises of the Sabbath, and dwell in him through the week; and although its effects may not be immediately perceptible to himself or his associates, its richness will not long remain latent in his bosom, but will, by the grace of God, cause him to grow up and flourish in the Christian course, and bring forth fruit unto eternal life. He listens to the recital of the lesson, made doubly interesting from the thorough manner in which it has been committed by his charge, who are anxious to please their new teacher. Their promptness lights up a smile upon his countenance, and he begins already to rejoice in his new occupation. The recitation is finished. With faltering voice the teacher attempts some familiar expository remarks-based upon the writings of some standard commentator-when he is interrupted by one of his artless pupils asking some unexpected but pertinent question. The teacher finds himself unable to answer readily; and soon both he and the members of his class find their true level: they all become completely nonplused, and are obliged to turn from their own resources to the Book of God. They now find, that there is not that distance between them which they had anticipated; but that they are all comparatively ignorant students of the Bible,-mutually dependent. Thus they go on from week to week, the teacher meanwhile endeavouring to go to school better prepared to instruct, and the pupils endeavouring to need less and less instruction,both advancing in Scripture knowledge in nearly the same ratio. And as they thus go on, the teacher finds that the more faithful he is, the more benefit he derives from his situation; for he is continually experiencing a vivid reaction upon his own heart, of all his precious efforts in this noble branch of Christian beneficence; thus proving, in the gospel sense of the precept, that "it is more blessed to give than to receive." Such encouragement stimulates him to put forth his energies in other benevolent enterprises, assured that the legitimate product of virtue is virtue itself. Young men and young women of this happy land! do you wish to do and get good? Enlist your names upon the teachers roll in the Sabbath school. You shall there receive an hundred fold for all your labours; and hereafter, if you are faithful in your high calling, your names shall shine in that same catalogue, in burning capitals, upon the walls of the heavenly Jerusalem, and the souls of those little ones, whom you may, by the blessing of God, savingly instruct, shall be given to you as crowns of your everlasting rejoicing! (To be continued.) Yours, &c. BARLEY. IT was the custom of the Jews to date events according to the seasons. The entrance of Holo fernes with his army into Judea was in the wheat harvest. The husband of Judith is recorded to have died during the barley harvest; and the beautiful history of Ruth is dated from the beginning of the barley harvest, when she began her gleaning in the fields of Boaz, from whose marriage with her sprang the house of David. Neither the Babylonish captivity, nor the other great and strange events that befel the Jews, changed their custom as to diet. When Jesus, seeing the multitude that had followed him to listen to his doctrine, had compassion on them, for they were hungry, he asked what food his disciples had at hand to give unto the people. A few barley loaves was all the bread he found; but, on the instant, these sufficed for all. As his few, and clear, and simple precepts, truly followed, are allsufficient for the soul, so, by his divine blessing, two small fishes and a few barley loaves fed the people; nor were they exhausted, but a store still remained for the after-comers. How much is taught here! The poor and hungry must not be left to the temptations of such a state, lest they lose sight of the spiritual teaching they may have received; and so, in the words of the wise Agur, "steal, and take the name of the Lord in vain.' Where spiritual instruction is bestowed, let it be also remembered that the body is the servant of the soul, and that unless it be well nurtured, it can render no good service. In vain will words of salvation sound in the ear, if the way to escape temptation be not opened by an education inculcating industry, good habits, and that knowledge of outward things that may preserve the poor from the evil that the wise man prayed against, because it will enable them to earn their daily bread, that is, the food convenient |