trainer, to be supplied by the children. This is a part of his system, though a subordinate one, to which Mr. Stow attaches considerable importance. (The Training System, pp. 175-6.) "There is no difficulty," he thinks, "in conducting a lesson upon the simple catechetical, or the simple elliptical methods, but there is a considerable difficulty in uniting the two principles in a natural manner, so as to form simultaneous training; and without this union, there cannot be picturing out. To the drawing of a proper picture, there is required, not merely direct or straight lines, like questions and answers, but the filling up of innumerable interstices, which the mere questions leave unsupplied. A question may prove the amount of knowledge, but does not supply knowledge to a child. The ellipsis, properly introduced, supplies as well as draws out knowledge. The union of the two supplies materials, and produces an easy and natural flow of intellectual developement and training, and may be stated as the "inductive philosophy " applicable to the training of children.

From this it would seem, and indeed Mr. Stow has expressed the fact under a variety of forms,-that he considers the union of questions and ellipses an essential and distinctive feature of his system. The use of ellipses, according to him, ought not to be confined to the infant school, but to be employed, more or less, in the instruction of the pupils as long as they remain at school. But here we cannot forbear expressing our dissent. The elliptical method, we think, is most beneficially employed in the instruction of young children, and to them it ought to be chiefly confined; and but very sparingly, if ever, employed in the more advanced classes. We do not speak thus without having had an opportunity of forming an independent judgment on the matter. We are glad, however, to find that we are borne out in our views on this point by Mr. Gibson, one of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools; who, in his Report on the Glasgow Normal Seminary for 1851, observes: "My objections to the elliptical method are two; First, I consider that the frequency with which it is employed in the upper classes involves an unnecessary and unprofitable expenditure of time, does not demand from them any strenuous exertion of mental power, and originates in a mis-calculation of the amount of their intellectual development. And, Second, I think, that by habituating them only to such simple exercises of thought, it has the tendency to give a distaste for studies demanding more vigorous mental application."

Questions and ellipses mixed, it will have been seen, constitute the mode by which all knowledge, on the Training System, is conveyed; perhaps we should rather say, the mode by which the process of intellectual training is carried on. In exhibiting a specimen, which

we propose to do in our next Number, as a model of a training lesson, we feel it is incumbent upon us to confine ourselves to one which has received the sanction of the Author of the system. But we may perhaps be permitted to observe, that any of our readers who may feel interested in the subject, may see, from the Lesson and the remarks forming the Introduction to "The Teachers' Key to the Elementary Class Book,"* what we think a lesson of this kind, addressed to young children, ought to be; and it is to young children, as we have already said, that the elliptical part of the plan is best suited. W. K.

A HINT TO TEACHERS.

"Things are not to be done by the effort of the moment, but by the preparation of past moments."

Three additional proofs of the resurrection must be here briefly noticed. They were severally after our blessed Lord had ascended into heaven.

The first Christian martyr, Stephen, saw the Lord Jesus soon after his ascension, at the close of his address to the council in Jesusalem: we read, that he "saw Jesus standing on the right hand of God." (Acts vii. 55.) This he repeats in the next verse.

The apostle Paul, writing of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, says, "And last of all, He was seen of me also." (1 Cor. xv. 8.) The details of this event are recorded in Acts ix. Saul was near Damascus; the appearance was very glorious; the Lord said to him, "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest." Three days afterwards Ananias thus addressed Saul, "The Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee, hath sent me;" verse 17. We read again, (Acts xviii. 9.) "Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night, by a vision." In Acts xxii. 14, 18, we read of two other appearances to this apostle; and

* Published by the Institute.

again in the next chapter, verse 11, we read, "The night following, the Lord stood by him, and said, be of good cheer, Paul." One of the questions the apostle Paul asks the Corinthians is, (1 Cor. ix. 1.) "Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord ?"

Lastly; the risen Saviour appeared to his "beloved " friend and companion, St. John, in the Isle of Patmos, about A.D. 96. The banished apostle was worshipping God on the Lord's day, when he heard a voice addressing him, and he saw in the midst of the seven golden lamps, "One like unto the Son of Man." (Rev. i. 12, 13.) After describing the majestic, and glorious appearance of Jesus Christ on this occasion, the apostle adds, "He laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not! I am the first and the last. I am He that liveth and was dead; and behold, I am alive for ever-more; Amen: and have the keys of hell and of death." This is a most remarkable passage. That death was under the dominion of Christ, was both stated and demonstrated at the same time. It is also the last instance recorded of our Lord Jesus Christ being seen alive upon the earth; and the terrible splendour of this appearance seems well suited to pacify both curious and doubtful minds, who might have desired other evidence. This last appearance seems to be the crowning answer to all doubts, and the greatest demonstration that our Lord Jesus Christ is really risen from the dead.

[Note to the 1st. Article.-The Jews had some concealed irresistible conviction that this JESUS did possess a power within Himself of accomplishing what He had foretold, "After three days I will arise again;" or they would not have put forth all the energy which learning, position, and wealth could command, to try and prevent, or at least to lessen, (if possible) the triumph of the promised resurrection. How futile were their plans! Great as were the cautions taken, they appear less than insignificant, when viewed through the transcendent glory of that morning's victory. Death and the grave could not contain their preywhat then could these abject Jews do? Had their malice been contented with his death, it might have been that the rising again from the grave and death, would have been attended with much less majesty and terrible glory than were manifested. Thereby the demonstration of the act of rising, would have influenced a very prescribed few; and they, probably such as might have been easily persuaded to proclaim the contrary. The very cautions which the Jews enforced are seen to be so utterly inadequate to the occasion, that their own folly strengthens the reality of the event. The fact of resistance to the resurrection having been offered, would awaken the attention to the event, of many who would have remained unconcerned; and thus did the enemies of the crucified Jesus of Nazareth, promote and support the evidence to the truth of the resurrection, by the very means which they adopted to frustrate, or to shew their fear of that event.

The following table exhibits the various appearances of our Lord, with the places and references in one connected view.

Acts vii. 55, 56.

Acts ix. 4, 17; xviii. 9. 10; xxii. 14, 18; xxiii. 11; 1 Cor. ix. 1; xv. 8.

The Teacher in his School.

"THE LITTLE GREEN BOOK."

MY DEAR CHILDREN,

An Address to Children.

SOME time ago I took a journey, a long way off, to another country; after travelling many hundred miles, I came at length to a very beautiful place; there were fine lakes, high mountains, roaring waterfalls, and everything that man would like to see; showing forth the wonderful works of God. Many people like myself had come to view this lovely spot-travellers from far distant lands, as well as some who lived close by; all were alike attracted by the beauty of the scenery. In this place I was a stranger, and looked upon everything I saw with great curiosity. One circumstance particularly attracted my attention. I observed that almost every one had with them a little green book, which they seemed always to carry about with them, and to be constantly reading. A gentleman would take this book from his pocket, and after reading a little, would go out for a walk; on his return, he would again refer to the little green book as if it told him all he had been to see. Some lady perhaps, would take it from the basket which hung upon her arm, and carefully read a few pages, and then put it back. "What," said I to myself, can this little green book be about? so many persons seem to have one, and it must be so interesting, how I should like to find out all about it." At last I met a friend, one whom I had known in the place I came from, and he invited me to his house-and on going into his room, the first thing I saw was "the little green book"; "Now," I said, "I shall be able to find out what it is all about," and having asked permission to look at it, I took it in my hand; it was just the same as those I had seen with the ladies and gentlementhe same green cover-the same gold letters, and gilt leaves; I opened it, and found in the title page that its name was The Guide Book." I could now understand why this book was so often referred to; it told us all about the country-the way up to the mountainshow high the water-falls were, and the size of the beautiful lakes.

66

But the sight of this Guide Book set me thinking about another kind of guide book; perhaps you can tell me what I mean,-Do you recollect what David calls God's word? 66 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path"; just as a lamp or light which shows a person in the dark the way, so is God's holy word; it is a guide book to show us the way to heaven it tells us that "wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many