Church of England

SUNDAY SCHOOL QUARTERLY

MAGAZINE.

MARCH, 1850.

TO OUR READERS.

THE present number of our Magazine commences the third year of our labours, and it may therefore not be out of place to say a few words to our numerous friends, respecting the ends we aim at, and the support we look for.

On a review of the arrangement of our various contributions, we are fully satisfied that our original plan was well devised, and that we may continue our present divisions of matter under the different heads hitherto adopted.

The First Section-The Teacher in HIS CLOSET-is intended for articles bearing on the promotion of a teacher's personal piety, and for encouraging narratives of successful labour.

The Second Section-THE STUDY-is designed for intellectual culture; not confined to matter actually to be used in its present state in school, but embracing information on many points of general knowledge; which, however, an intelligent teacher will always store up as sure to become available in one way or another.

The Third Section-THE SCHOOL-contains the results of the two previous sections, matter prepared for use, knowledge warmed with piety, zeal strengthened, and made effective, by knowledge.

Here we have given lessons, partly extended, partly in outline. This section we propose in future to enlarge (though by no means to the injury of the previous ones), having reason to believe that the Vol. III.

B

practical answers thus given to the enquiry teach," are of great assistance to teachers.

"how and what to

Our LECTURES have presented a truly valuable series.

"PLANS AND PROGRESS."-This is a section which we could have wished to have supplied more fully. In addition to notices of School Meetings, we should be glad here to record more of those useful plans which are continually occurring to active minds.

Our MISSIONARY ARTICLES have fully redeemed the promise held out, and have furnished valuable sketches of the rise and progress of various Missionary Stations. These we hope to continue.

The CORRESPONDENCE is the only new feature of our Magazine, and we think, in many respects, a very useful one.

The progress of the INSTITUTE, we observe with much thankfulness, is becoming more and more a matter of interest, and especially as kindred societies multiply in the large provincial towns, with which there will doubtless be friendly communication.

The REVIEWS and NOTICES OF Books, are intended to take up those works which are likely to be of use to teachers, and point out the various advantages to be gained from them.

The Summary of PUBLIC AFFAIRS has been (as originally designed) very brief and concise, for a Publication which only issues from the press once in three months, cannot make any pretensions to the character of a Record of News.

As regards the future-we have been urged to extend our aid more specifically to day schools; and we feel that there is much reason in the demand. Whilst therefore adhering to our main object, the improvement of Sunday schools, we propose to turn our attention also to the wants and pursuits of day-school teachers, and furnish more lessons suitable for their purpose.

This we have already occasionally done, and we are more inclined to persevere in it by the fact that week-day evening classes are becoming more widely an adjunct to the Sunday school.

And now, whilst thanking our numerous friends for their support, we must beg them not to slacken their endeavours. Our circulation is in itself most cheering, but when we look at the very large number of Church Sunday school teachers, we are obliged to admit, that a great proportion of them read no literature bearing on their work. Let our readers each make an effort to remedy this evil, and our issue would soon be multiplied fourfold.

We also ask for assistance in a literary way-articles, to the point, short, concise, powerful. Almost all teachers can do something, especially by sending us Sunday School Anecdotes, Illustrations, &c., and instances of good resulting from Sunday school teaching.

In conclusion, we would beg all our friends to pray that this their Magazine may be blessed to them and their fellow-labourers, and may run a long career of practical usefulness, setting forth the high standard at which a teacher should aim, but at the same time encouraging the disheartened, strengthening the weak, and leading the overtasked to look unto "the everlasting hills, from whence cometh our help." The Editors.

The Teacher in his Closet.

THE LIFE OF FAITH.

THERE is nothing for us but the life of faith. "By faith we stand." "By faith we overcome." Yet how many content themselves with an attempt to get through their daily work without this living principle; and so are cold, and carnal, and fretful, and impatient; or succeed only in filling the heads of their children with knowledge, while they have neither the satisfaction nor the hope of seeing any progress made by their hearts!

Others, again, are puzzling themselves with nice distinctions about "Historic Faith," and the "Faith of Devils," &c., as if real, simple faith, did not include, as our "Homily on Salvation" teaches us, the belief of those truths which produce trembling in evil spirits, and awful misgivings in the bosoms of unbelievers, as well as something more beside. Yes; there is a confiding in the love of our God and Father in Christ Jesus, for every purpose of life and salvation: there is the fearlessly putting in practice the faith of the Welsh child,* but with this difference, that ours is in our Father who is in heaven, who gives us a warrant and encouragement to do so, "although we have sinned," by the demonstrations and assurances of his love in the new covenant of grace!

Let us now try to practice believing; for "to him that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundantly." G. N. S.

THE SABBATH ENDED.

BUT sixteen hours ago, the bells of many a tower, like a peal of the heavenly anthem borne down to earth, ushered in a brief Sabbath below, to prepare for an eternal one above. Now, a solemn boom from the midnight recesses of God's most magnificent temple† on earth has told the departure of the last moment of his holy day.