Society, all but one or two, are represented as exerting an important influence in favor of Sabbath schools, and several as performing the labors of superintendents or teachers. Their influence, in their parochial visits, at the teachers' meeting, and the concert, by their prayers in the sanctuary and in various other ways, is constantly felt, infusing life and interest into the nurseries of the church. Many ministers in this State, have done much for the religious education of the young, by adding to the interesting volumes which have been published for the libraries. About thirty of the one hundred volumes, published by the Massachusetts Sabbath School Society, were written by clergymen of this State; and quite a number of new works are now in various stages of preparation, by the same class of men. But look at the cause of common school education. We have often made the inquiry, and have almost invariably found that the minister is on the school coinmittee, except where the choice of that committee is made on political grounds. Ministers have the principal burden of examining the teachers and the schools. Sometimes they are taken from their other duties two or three half days in a week, and usually too, and sometimes with scarcely an hour's previous notice,-near the close of the week, when the responsible duties of the Sabbath are pressing upon them. The clergyman, whose hospitality we are now enjoying, has this moment, on Saturday afternoon, been called out to consult respecting the best method of giving efficiency to their district schools. Let all the influence of the clergy be withdrawn from our Sabbath and our elementary schools, our academies, female seminaries, and our colleges, and the whole community, in one unanimous, unbroken voice, would exclaim, Ministers are the guardians of education. Notices of New Publications by the Society. CHARACTER OF CHRIST.-This is the title of an interesting book, just issued by the Society. It is divided into sixteen chapters, embracing the following topics: 1. Prominence of Christ in the sacred Record. 2. The question proposed, and its proper treatment considered. 3. Complexness of the character. 4. First element of the character. 5. Existence of an higher element in the character. 6. Use of language in regard to both elements of the character; and practical conclusions from its humanity. 7. The character considered in its higher elements. First class of passages. 8. The wonderfulness of the character considered as an obstacle to faith. 9. The higher element of the character. Second class of passages. 10. Higher element of the character. Third class of passages. 11. Higher element of the character. Fourth class of 13. Moral bear passages. 12. The moral bearings of the character. ings of the character. Displays the love of God. 14. Moral bearings of the character. Confirms the gospel system and renders it consistent. 15. The moral bearing of Christ's character upon the consistency and harmony of the gospel scheme. 16. The character considered in its relation to our religious duties and to the foundation of our hopes. This book is ornamented with a copper-plate engraving of the Savior. SIN FOUND OUT: addressed to children. By Rev. John Angell James. These last three little books are reprints of English editions. They are done up in a very attractive 32mo. form, each containing thirty-two pages, with a neat engraving. Drops of Sacred Dew embraces one hundred and forty short, choice verses of Scripture, each verse accompanied with two lines of sacred poetry. This book will make a pretty pocket companion for those who love often to gather up the dew drops of truth. The friend, who so kindly furnished the Society with these interesting little books, has added some precious drops to the stream of divine knowledge and heavenly instruction, which the Society is causing to flow through the length and breadth of our land, and even into pagan lands. JUVENILE MUSIC. Furnished for this work by LoWELL MASON, Professor in the I'll awake at dawn. * I'll awake at dawn, on the Sabbath day, For 'tis wrong to doze holy time away; With my lesson learn'd this shall be my rule, Never to be late at the Sabbath school. 2 Birds awake betimes, every morn they sing, 3 When the summer's sun wakes the flowers again, Nor will I forget that it is my rule, Never to be late at the Sabbath school. * Words written for the Visiter by S. D. SABBATH SCHOOL VISITER. VOL. VI. DECEMBER, 1838. No. 12. VOL. VI. The Christian's Death-bed. "Tis the soft hour of summer's day; The grass, the flowers, the fields, the trees, But see! in yonder little cot, An aged Christian lies; His breath is short, his hands are hot, Perchance, it is, he dies. It is, indeed, a dying man; His life-blood steals away! His hands, which were awhile so hot, He dies, but whence that lovely smile He dies, but as the setting sun So now, this aged, pious man He loved the Savior,-lived to him, Enjoyed the hope he gives; And, though his limbs are stretched in death, 23 Now, gathered with the saints in white, And heaven is all his own! Tearful Sowing,-joyful Reaping. It was evening in the humble home of the sailor. Ocean was spread out without a ripple. The anchored vessel, waiting the swelling tide and favoring wind, lay motionless upon the blue waters. The setting sun had left its radiance upon the deep. Its brightness lingered, until to the eye that watched, the gold of the ocean and the blue of the sky mingled. The light of evening streamed into the cottage of the sailor,-and there sat one who was born amidst the storms, and whose home had ever been among the curling billows. His face was broad and sunburnt, and his frame stout and muscular. Near him sat his young wife, the mother of the child that lay upon her lap. As he bent forward, and looked in Margaret's pale face, the tear stole down his rough. cheek, but with the sleeve of his checked shirt he wiped it away; and, in a soothing tone, said, "Wife, the child breathes easier." Margaret shook her head and replied not. "Perhaps," he continued, we shan't get away to-morrow, and he may brighten up yet before morning." The child turned his head restlessly upon his mother's lap, and an expression of pain passed over his face. The sailor's heart sank. He had been upon the troubled waters, when the tempests had swept around him, and the wild billows mingled with the darkening clouds,―he had looked upon danger and death, and had not feared. But the father's love had been kindled in him, and the hardy sailor, as he looked upon his dying child, wept. Margaret still sat, and gazed upon the face of the sufferer. The morrow, she knew, would find her childless and desolate, and yet, with a fearful calmness, she smoothed the little pillow, and moistened the pale lips, and hushed to its eternal repose, the child she loved. The sailor had learned to trust in God; and now, as the light of the moon came glimmering through the trees and fell upon the face of the child,—paler,— |