It is, at the same time, well-requited labour. There is no part of our ministry fraught with such pleasure as our labours among the young. We are seldom left to labour long among them without most satisfactory and sustaining symptoms of our success. Even decided cases of conversion will sooner or later cheer the hearts of those who thus labour for their good. And, we will, at the same time, and throughout the course of our endeavours, find no employment more quickening and self-improving to our own minds and hearts, or operating with more effect in qualifying us more and more to preach with plainness and with power the gospel to all; so that in many respects this is an employment which carries with it its own reward.

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Third, Besides preaching to the young, and instructing them in classes arranged for their convenience, we ought to render ourselves duly accessible to them for advice. We ought to be in all matters affecting their welfare, their wise and trusted counsellors and friends. Two extremes are here to be avoided, making access to us either too easy or too difficult. should not be too easy. We are not to encourage them to come to us about trifles. Neither, perhaps, is it prudent to tempt them to come on all occasions about their present religious feelings. It is easy by sympathetic action, and in various ways, to produce a certain amount of concern about their souls: but though such concern ought always to be turned as far as possible into a right channel, it is often best, in its incipient stages, to meddle little with it, until it is seen whether it is mere natural emotion imposing on the subject of it even more than on us, or whether it is a work of the Spirit of God. In short, it is often desirable to let such feelings work out their results under general guidance, but without too much interference. While, however, care is to be taken to avoid giving occasion to our having to deal much with cases of mere natural excitement, on the other hand, we should so facilitate access to us at all times, as to be instrumental in producing, and prompting, and regulating those anxieties and inquiries among the young, which may, under the supplicated blessing of the Spirit, soon ripen into their vital union to Christ, and thus manifest renewal in his image.

3d, Besides our personal labours for the instruction of the young, we ought to take advantage of the labours of all who can assist us. Here I confine attention to two classes of assistant-instructors, daily teachers, and Sabbath-school teachers.

Daily teachers may greatly aid us. I believe that at Kilsyth a good deal of the preparation of the minds of many that were lately impressed, took place in the careful christian instruction that they received from the then excellent parish teacher, Mr Salmond. Without controversy, we are bound to take a lively and active interest in having the youth of our communion placed under such teachers, even of secular knowledge,--as are Christian men. And probably, beyond securing such teachers, a great deal more than we do might be done by us, in strengthening their hands and encouraging their hearts in their work, and in making it subservient to the truly moral and religious training of the young. Sabbath-school teachers may efficiently aid us. Were our congregations so small, and our duties otherwise so limited as to admit of it, I think we would be bound personally to do as much, or more, for the instruction of the young, as of the old. But circumstances rendering it impossible in the case of many, probably of most of us, to do the work

ourselves to the extent required, the necessity and importance of having assistants in the work are obvious and undeniable. Here,

(1.) We may first notice the light in which Sabbath-school teachers are to be regarded. They are not a distinct order of instructors authorised by Scripture, and entitled to claim an official standing in the Church, with distinctive authority and power. A doctrine of some such kind is abroad in England, and still more in America. But it is without warrant from Scripture; and the carrying of it out in practice would prove destructive of the order and welfare of the Christian Church. It is many years since, when in England, I was startled with an article in the "Sabbath School Teachers' Magazine" there, declaring that the ministry had lost its power, and that Sabbath-school teachers were destined to be the instruments of regenerating society and, hastening on the millennium. More lately, I observed a statement in an American writer's works, that the practice of making Sabbath-school-teaching agency a distinct and independent organization in the Church, had led ministers, in more or fewer cases, to shun all contact with the schools. If ministers will do their duty, there is no fear of such evils as these creeping into the system among ourselves. Still, it is worth while alluding to them to exhibit possible dangers, and to prevent them. But the way to prevent them is, for ministers putting themselves at the head of every movement for the good of the young; and, while regulating it, helping and cheering it on. All who are worthy, and able, and willing to take part in this work, are the first and the most accustomed to feel that they are in their proper place only when acting under those to whom Christ has officially committed the care of the young, as well as of the old.

(2.) There is scriptural warrant for using such assistants. They are perhaps among such "helps" mentioned in Scripture, as can efficiently aid ministers in their work, without entrenching on their sacred office. David said, 66 Come, ye children, hearken unto me, and I will teach you the fear of the Lord." He may have spoken this as a prophet; but he may, with as much reason, be viewed as speaking it merely as a believer full of the truth and love of God, and eager to make the youngest, as well as the oldest, to taste of the divine goodness. There is a time coming, when each man will no longer need to say to his brother, Know ye the Lord; for all shall know him, from the least even unto the greatest. But that time has not yet arrived. Therefore, it is still the duty of each to be saying, to small as well as to great, Know the Lord. And so every

one is bound to employ whatever gifts he has for instructing his neighbours, whether old or young. And we are bound to recognise and use the gifts which we find bestowed upon any of our flocks, for the more full and formal performance of a duty thus lying on all.

(3.) The proper manner of using such assistants may be noticed. They ought to be employed as our helpers, and under our direction. They are so many additional eyes, and ears, and hands, and tongues to us. As such, they should be employed to echo our teaching, to break down and simplify our instructions, and to distribute them more effectually in the shape of simple lessons to the young. To qualify them more and more for this task, we ought to meet with them regularly, and, if possible, go over the instructions which they are to deliver, and so habitually aid them in their preparation for the work.

(4.) This is an employment that ought to engage the zeal and the energies of the best qualified members of our church.

First, elders of course ought to take a leading active part in it, so far as that is within their power. Not that it is incumbent on them as elders. For as elders their duty is to rule the flock. And, in ruling, their duty is to deal with young and old; to bring them under instruction; and to ascertain and witness the fruit of teaching rather than to teach. But still, though to teach the young is not strictly speaking a part of their duty as elders, it is their duty to take part in this work, in virtue of the intelligence, and zeal, and other qualifications, which, being elders, they may be expected to possess.

Second, Private members who have similar personal gifts and graces, ought to employ them in this service also. It is too common for members of education, station, and influence, to think the work beneath them. This is a fearful mistake. Preaching the gospel is the highest employment on earth. Training the young in the knowledge and love of God and Christ, is the next highest employment on earth. It was work for King David. It is a work worthy of the chief of our people. We are suffering much in the efficiency of our Sabbath-school teaching, by a want of regard to the truth which has just been stated.

III. Sins and shortcomings with reference to their duty.

1st, Perhaps most of us too seldom preach the gospel in any way to the young, or so simply at all times, that even the young may profit by our preaching.

2d, Many of us probably fall short in the amount of personal labour that we bestow upon the young.

3d, We do not sufficiently press upon parents their duty. They have the best opportunity for training the young. They are bound by the most sacred and solemn of all obligations to perform this duty. They would be the most blessed in themselves, and the greatest blessings in performing it. We fail in duly impressing on them these truths.

4th, We probably do too little in the way of providing Sabbath-school teachers, and then meeting with, instructing, superintending, strengthening, and encouraging them in their work. Some, indeed, may feel as if I would so control them as to hamper and discourage them in their work. But the fact is, that, practically, they are left more to themselves than they desire, or find to be good either for themselves or the young. Their grievance is not that they are hindered, but that they are not properly helped by the active co-operation and superintendence of ministers. The consequences are, that they are left to prove less efficient and less hearty in their work, and less impressed with its importance than they otherwise would be.

5th, We take too little pains to interest our young in Missions. (1.) We cannot be, or continue in a spiritually healthy state, except we prove an evangelistic Church. Churches could be named in this country, and in America, which contented themselves with conserving the truth, which they possessed in great fulness, and for want of the disposition to spread it, have decayed, and become useless in the world. Other Churches, like the Wesleyan body, with less fulness of truth, but making more use of it, have wonderfully thriven. Our safety and prosperity depend on having the truth in all its fulness, and in actively spreading it throughout the earth. (2.) And if we would be found in this state enduringly, it must be by greater care and efforts than have yet characterised us in training

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our people from their very childhood, not only in the knowledge of the truth, but in the active desire to aid in diffusing it among the heathen.

6th, We are, I think, neglectful of our duty in not doing more in the way of indoctrinating our young people in the principles of our Church, and the importance of her peculiar testimony. If our distinction as a Church ought to be maintained, it ought to be inculcated on our members. All our people greatly need information on this subject. We have better opportunities of imparting it to the young, than to the old, and our success among them will be greatest.

7th, We ought, I think, to do more than is done towards fortifying their minds for the lengthened and eventful conflicts which in all likelihood they will be called in after years to wage with infidelity and popery, and other deadly forms of error. Familiar lectures to them on such subjects would be useful to ourselves, and give us opportunities of not only qualifying them to witness against such errors, but also of making them to feel more and more the paramount importance of a personal and saving interest in the truth.

8th, We fail also in accustoming the young to put the religion which we teach them in practice. It is by doing the will of Christ that they as well as others are to know that the doctrine which they are taught is indeed of God. Hence it is of importance to train them to such active duties as the following:-(1.) To conclude even ministers' classes with prayer, by our leaving them alone when the other exercises are over. (2.) To encourage them prudently and humbly to conduct fellowship meetings. (3.) To countenance them in properly discussing, in conversation and in written statements, important topics. (4.) To employ them in tract distribution and similar acts of Christian usefulness. (5.) And, of course, to employ them as collectors, Sabbath-school teachers, and so forth. word, we ought to train them more to the practice of religion, as well as in the knowledge of it, as the only means of making them to manifest its reality, and of leading them to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ.

In a

9. Above all, and probably as the root of all other evils, we do not press sufficiently upon the young the duty of immediately and thoroughly turning unto God. We fail to desire with proper strength and earnestness on their behalf, that such a change might be wrought on them as passed on Jeremiah and John the Baptist even in their infancy. There is a lurking feeling as if we must wait for that change to be wrought, or at least to become manifest in their maturer years. We forget that the longer it is delayed, the more multiplied and formidable are the obstacles which are raised in the way of it. We forget that the Lord is more likely to bless the efforts for accomplishing it now, than the efforts that may be made after he has been provoked by manifold and heinous transgressions. We forget that if any are regenerated at the period of life to which we are too accustomed to postpone the expectation of the change, they must be born again out of due time. We forget the solemn warning of the danger incurred by staying too long at the place of the breaking forth of children. And, alas! though often it may be that a want of the gift of closely pressing this all-important matter home on the young may be the cause of failure in such a duty, there is reason to fear that in more or fewer cases we fail in it for want of a sufficiently realising sense of the immediate and overwhelming urgency of divine and eternal things.

EVENING SEDERUNT.

The Assembly met again in the evening at seven o'clock. After devotional exercises, the Moderator called on the Rev. David Brown of Glasgow, who addressed the Assembly on the

SPIRITUAL STATE OF THE STUDENTS OF THE CHURCH.

Mr BROWN spoke as follows:-It requires rather more nerve than I can very well command to stand up before this house; but I am somewhat relieved by the announcement that was made on Friday evening, when the arrangements for this day were proposed, that the members who had been asked to address the Assembly on certain specified topics were not expected to deliver elaborate speeches, but simply to introduce their subjects for the consideration of the house, laying out the points which they embrace, and offering any suggestions which might occur to them. It is for this purpose that I now rise; and as the duty which I am now trying to discharge is not of my own seeking, I trust the house will extend to me for a little its kind indulgence. The subject which I have been asked to introduce to the house is "The Spiritual State of our Students." So it was announced on Friday evening; but I like much better the comprehensive form in which it was given to me at first, namely, "The Necessity of a Converted and Spiritual Ministry, and the means of Securing it." You will observe that the overture from the Presbytery of Edinburgh-the only overture on the subject takes a great leap. It vaults at once into the Divinity Hall. Its preamble is admirable: that "Whereas a converted ministry is, next to the continual presence of the Holy Ghost, the best gift of the Lord Jesus to his Church, and is to be sought, not only by earnest prayer, but in the use also of all scriptural and appropriate means." After this preamble you would hardly expect to find the student already in the Hall, before the overture suggests that means should be taken for looking after his spiritual state." "Whereas," says the overture, "it is important that the attention of the Professors and of Presbyteries should be especially directed to this subject, with a view to such more methodical and systematic superintendence of students as may be found practicable, in consistency with the principles of this Church, it is humbly overtured," &c. But, Sir, this appears to me to be beginning a little too late for the object in view. To be sure, if we want merely to look after the spiritual state of the students actually passing through our hands, these are the natural means, under God. But if our object be to secure a permanent supply of students for the ministry, who shall be gracious as well as gifted men-young men constrained by the love of Christ to lay all their gifts at his feet, and devote their lives professionally to his service-who, to use the apostle's language, have "first given themselves to the Lord, and," after that, "unto us by the will of God"-if our object be to raise up a ministry of this character, and, what is of nearly equal importance, to discourage, by every prudent means, all who appear to be void of this character, however accomplished, from approaching our divinity halls, or aspiring to the office of the holy ministry-if we have any such comprehensive object as this, and mean not only to pray for it, but to employ all scriptural and appropriate means for obtaining so precious a gift, we must begin, I think, at a much earlier stage of life, and look, in the first instance, not to our Professors, nor to our Presbyteries, but to the Church at large,