Long indeed beneath the clod, But at length it shall appear, CORRESPONDENCE. Liverpool, 10th May. RESPECTED SIR,-Will you allow a Sunday-school Teacher most sincerely to thank you for the production of THE TEACHER'S VISITOR? I have long been most earnestly wishing-and I may say, praying-that the Lord would put it into the heart of some of his ministers to put their hands to a work like this, which I feel assured will be hailed with grateful satisfaction by great numbers of those who are engaged in the blessed, though often disheartening, labour of the Sunday-school. I feel certain, from my own experience, that very much time is spent in vain, especially by young Teachers, from the want of being instructed themselves, as to the best mode of imparting Scriptural knowledge to the children; and that a sense of shame in owning that ignorance, and having no means of privately gaining the requisite instruction, has often been an effectual discouragement to them, and also an entire loss to the children, who may have attended a school for years, and, from this cause alone, have obtained no certain knowledge of the Gospel truths. I fear ministers too often take it for granted, that young men must have sufficient tact for such an apparently simple work; but, if I may judge from my own case, it will be much oftener found to be the reverse. Would you allow me to suggest, that a small portion of your magazine would be well occupied by having a passage of Scripture broken into questions, and a few hints given as to the different allusions in it to history, or any ancient customs. This would be invaluable, I think, to the junior Teachers. You will perhaps understand what I have so feebly attempted to explain. I must now beg pardon for perhaps so unnecessarily intruding upon your time; but my chief end in writing is, to express my grateful thanks for this work, and I trust the Lord may reward you a hundred-fold. I may subscribe myself, Most respectfully, One who has been a Sunday-school Teacher for ten years, but, from want of instruction, has been comparatively useless. A. FOSTER, PRINTER, KIRKBY LONSDale. I HAVE already observed, that the grand design and spirit of the Lord's Day must characterize and determine the proceedings of a Sunday-school: and, carrying out this principle, we should aim at the adoption of such plans as shall be the least irksome or tiring to the children. I am no advocate for very long hours in a Sunday-school, as it regards either the teacher or his class. Neither am I an advocate for too rigid and elaborate a system of instruction. I begin, in all cases, with Watts' First Catechism, one of the most valuable manuals in existence for little children. I proceed to Watts' Divine Songs, and the Church Catechism; then an explanation of the lattergenerally Mrs. Thompson's; the Collect for the day; and, lastly, suitable portions of Scripture-usually adopting "Scripture Portions"* for the purpose. This con stitutes the course of tasks learnt through the week, and repeated the first thing after prayers and singing in the morning. Then we go through the Old Testament in the morning, and the New in the afternoon-reading one chapter, verse about, twice over-asking questions upon it, and giving such instructions as they may suggest. This, with repeating the text of the morning's sermon, and asking questions thereupon, fully occupies the day: and, indeed, I have known my class of boys bring so much repetition on a Sunday morning, that there has been no time for reading. It is a good plan, when there is time, to superadd the reading of the Psalms for the morning; as it helps the * Published by Seeley, price 1s. 3d. F Liverpool, 10th May. RESPECTED SIR,-Will you allow a Sunday-school Teacher most sincerely to thank you for the production of THE TEACHER'S VISITOR? I have long been most earnestly wishing-and I may say, praying-that the Lord would put it into the heart of some of his ministers to put their hands to a work like this, which I feel assured will be hailed with grateful satisfaction by great numbers of those who are engaged in the blessed, though often disheartening, labour of the Sunday-school. I feel certain, from my own experience, that very much time is spent in vain, especially by young Teachers, from the want of being instructed themselves, as to the best mode of imparting Scriptural knowledge to the children; and that a sense of shame in owning that ignorance, and having no means of privately gaining the requisite instruction, has often been an effectual discouragement to them, and also an entire loss to the children, who may have attended a school for years, and, from this cause alone, have obtained no certain knowledge of the Gospel truths. I fear ministers too often take it for granted, that young men must have sufficient tact for such an apparently simple work; but, if I may judge from my own case, it will be much oftener found to be the reverse. Would you allow me to suggest, that a small portion of your magazine would be well occupied by having a passage of Scripture broken into questions, and a few hints given as to the different allusions in it to history, or any ancient customs. This would be invaluable, I think, to the junior Teachers. You will perhaps understand what I have so feebly attempted to explain. I must now beg pardon for perhaps so unnecessarily intruding upon your time; but my chief end in writing is, to express my grateful thanks for this work, and I trust the Lord may reward you a hundred-fold. I may subscribe myself, Most respectfully, One who has been a Sunday-school Teacher for ten years, but, from want of instruction, has been comparatively useless. A. FOSTER, PRINTER, KIRKBY LONSDALE. I HAVE already observed, that the grand design and spirit of the Lord's Day must characterize and determine the proceedings of a Sunday-school: and, carrying out this principle, we should aim at the adoption of such plans as shall be the least irksome or tiring to the children. I am no advocate for very long hours in a Sunday-school, as it regards either the teacher or his class. Neither am I an advocate for too rigid and elaborate a system of instruction. I begin, in all cases, with Watts' First Catechism, one of the most valuable manuals in existence for little children. I proceed to Watts' Divine Songs, and the Church Catechism; then an explanation of the lattergenerally Mrs. Thompson's; the Collect for the day; and, lastly, suitable portions of Scripture-usually adopting "Scripture Portions"* for the purpose. This con stitutes the course of tasks learnt through the week, and repeated the first thing after prayers and singing in the morning. Then we go through the Old Testament in the morning, and the New in the afternoon-reading one chapter, verse about, twice over-asking questions upon it, and giving such instructions as they may suggest. This, with repeating the text of the morning's sermon, and asking questions thereupon, fully occupies the day: and, indeed, I have known my class of boys bring so much repetition on a Sunday morning, that there has been no time for reading. It is a good plan, when there is time, to superadd the reading of the Psalms for the morning; as it helps the * Published by Seeley, price 1s. 3d. F "Gently, my Saviour, let me down, E'en till my last expiring breath. Death's dreadful sting has lost its power; Soon will the storm of life be o'er, And bless thy name, for ever bless'd. Dear Saviour! let thy will be done: Bid me possess sweet peace within, Yes! and a brighter heaven still, Awaits my soul through his rich grace, Hasten thy chariot, God of love, There shall my raptur'd spirit raise My God, my Saviour, and my King." She was very drowsy the whole morning (Friday, 16th); but in the afternoon expressed a wish to dispose of her books, &c., when she roused herself up, and entered most heartily into the occupation. After it was over, she remained very quiet till evening, when being again overtaken with pain, and discovering feelings of impatience within herself, she broke out into fervent supplications for more patience, more strength, and then became very quiet. The next day she was very drowsy, and scarcely spoke, except to ask for what she wanted. One of her teachers brought her some snowdrops, which she took up and admired exceedingly, as she observed with a smile, "My Father made them all." At three o'clock on Sunday morning, she was very ill, and sent for Miss H. In the midst of her agony, she remarked-"There is some reason for this pain-'He doth not afflict willingly'-'Lord, show me wherefore thou_contendest with me'"-and after this became easier. She was very drowsy the whole morning, but for a little while enjoyed listening to a few verses in the 4th of Hebrews, on the "Rest of God's people." At one o'clock her hands turned very cold, and there was every symptom of approaching dissolution. When her dear minister came to see her, she was scarcely able to look up at him. He repeated the latter part of the 7th of Revelation, and prayed with her. When he took his leave |