same time exclaiming, 'O the Bible! It is the best book in the world.' This is a precious book indeed! 'Tis God's own word, which He has given, To show our souls the way to heaven!' Caroline judged of the excellence of other books by their similarity to this best of books. Her Sabbath school books, she said, were not pretty or good, unless they told about God and Jesus Christ. The incidents, that will be given from time to time in conneetion with these questions from the Catechism, though they may not be strictly illustrative, will, we hope, serve to fix these questions and answers in the memories of the young, and through the blessing of God, be a medium by which important truth may be conveyed to their understanding, and their hearts. THE VALUE OF THE BIBLE.-No. I. ABOUT fifteen years since, a venerable minister made this remark in one of his sermons, 'If all the books that were ever written, could be piled upon one side of an immense balance, the Bible would outweigh them all.' I understood what was said, but could not well reconcile the remark with my childish notion of things. The Bible weigh more than all other books besides! What did the minister mean? So I long wondered, and doubted what to make of it. But my difficulty is now removed. The remark, properly explained, appears perfectly just. The Bible is not only the best of books, the most valuable, but, when weighed in the balance of truth, it outweighs them all. The Bible as much exceeds all other books in value, as the soul exceeds the value of the body. It is as much more important and weighty than they are, as the word of an Almighty omniscient, and unchangeable God, is more important and weighty than the word of feeble, ignorant, and dying man. Go ask him who has felt the bitterness of sin, but who has learnt the way of salvation, embraced the religion of the Bible, and found joy and peace in believing-Ask the Christian the value of the Bible. Test his sincerity, by of fering, in exchange for that book, and the light and happiness it had communicated to his soul, the library of the world. Would he yield his treasure? No: never, never. He scorns your offer, though vast and imposing as the Tempter's to the blessed Savior. He only clings to the Bible the more earnestly, and exclaims, Here are my choicest treasures hid, Here my best comforts lie; Here my desires are satisfied, And here my hopes arise.' Go, mingle with the spirits of just men made perfect— with those who were sanctified according to the prayer of Christ, Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth,' and ask them the value of the Bible. Methinks that even angelic minds would want words adequately to express its worth. They might direct your eyes o'er the fields of heaven; lead you through all the blest abodes of holiness and joy; bid you listen to the new song, the golden harps, and the high hosannas, that rise day and night, from the ransomed throng, and echo through the golden vaults of heaven-then answer, This is the Bible's value.' We must, indeed, experience the blessings which the Bible confers, before we can comprehend its worth. The Christian begins to comprehend it while here below; but he must be a saint in heaven before he can do so fully. 'Most wondrous book! bright candle of the Lord! Star of eternity! the only star By which the bark of man could navigate The sea of life, and gain the coast of bliss -threw a ray Of heaven's own light, and to the hills of God, The eternal hills, pointed the sinner's eye.' Alas! that this precious book,-Mercy's own gift, should be so little appreciated, and so wickedly neglected. How many, guilty of such neglect, have found an awful retribution in being shut out from that heaven, to which the Bible pointed. Their souls have been wrecked on that shoreless lake, where death and darkness reign in fellowship with despair. The Bible neglected, like other blessings, proves a never ceasing curse. E. W. MRS. H. MORE'S MODE OF CONDUCTING HER SABBATH SCHOOLS. IN reading the following extract from Mrs. Hannah More, I thought it might well fill a page in the Visiter, as the christian world have so long been looking to her as one of the benefactors of mankind. P. F. In the morning I open school with one of the Sunday school prayers, from the Cheap Repository Tracts. I have a Bible class -Testament class-Psalter class. Those who cannot read at all, are questioned out of the first little question book for the Mendip schools. In instructing the Bible or Testament class, I always begin with the Parables, which we explain to them in the most familiar manner, one at a time, till they understand that so perfectly, that they are able to give me back the full sense of it. We begin with the three parables in the fifteenth chapter of Luke, first fixing in their minds the literal sense, and then teaching them to make the practical application. When their understandings are a little exercised, we dwell a long time on the three first chapters of Genesis, endeavoring from these to establish them in the doctrine of the fall of man. We keep them a good while close to the same subject, making them read the same parts so often, that the most important texts shall adhere to their memories; because upon this knowledge only, can I ground my general conversation with them so as to be intelligible. I also encourage them by little bribes of a penny a chapter, to get by heart certain fundamental parts of Scripture; for instance, the promises, and prophecies, and confessions of sin-such as the 9th of Isaiah, 53d of Isaiah, and 51st Psalm, the beatitudes, and indeed the whole sermon on the mount, together with the most striking parts of our Savior's discourses in the gospel of John. It is my grand endeavor to make everything as entertaining as I can, and to try to engage their affections; to excite in them the love of God; and particularly to awaken their gratitude to their Redeemer. When they seem to get a little tired, we change the scene; and by standing up, and singing a hymn, their attention is relieved. I have never tried the system of terror, because I have found that kindness produces a better end by better means. About five o'clock we dismiss the little ones with a prayer and a hymn. It would be an excellent method (and has been practised with success,) to invite the grown-up children and their parents to come to the school at six o'clock, and get some kind Lady (which answers better than a teacher) to read a little sermon to them—' Burder's Village Sermons' are very proper. MINISTERS' CHILDREN. NEVER lose sight of this,' said Leigh Richmond, in his directions to his children, that the more public my name, character, and ministry is become, the more eyes and ears are turned to my children's conduct; they are expected, in knowledge and circumspection, in religion and morals, in opinions and habits, to show where they have been educated; and to adorn, not only their Christian profession, but their parents' principles.' THE HOMELY FACE. A number of years since, when a youth, I was looking across the gallery while at church one Sabbath, and my eye met the countenance of another youth. He was what is generally called ill featured. There was something in his looks that took sudden hold of my risibles, and I felt strongly inclined to laugh at the uncouth figure which presented itself to my view. Instantly, however, the thought occurred to me, with powerful and abashing effect, at whose workmanship am I disposed to laugh? It was the workmanship of God, who is the author of all things beautiful and sublime; who adorned the skies with gems of light, and decked the earth with verdure and beauty. This thought, so deeply impressed on my mind, has since afforded me much instruction. When any thing like a smile, or disposition to laugh, has been induced by the uncomely features of others, this has usually been a timely check. Let every youth, under whose eye these lines may fall, consider this subject with attention and candor. At this age, external appearance, and especially comeliness of form and features, has a greater influence than at any other period of life. In the flow of youthful spirits and youthful gaiety, the young are often delighted to entertain their companions by making sport of the ugly forms and ill countenances of others. But let those who are guilty of this gross impropriety, consider the mistaken views which they take of the subject and the base feelings of heart they betray. Beauty of countenance is not praiseworthy, neither is the want of it blame-worthy. The ill featured do not form their countenances, and are not therefore responsible for any deficiency in this respect. Besides, it should be remembered that great mortification of spirit, is often experienced by those who are thus improperly and unfeelingly made the subject of ridicule. If those who indulge in this species of merriment, derive pleasure from it, surely it is a barbarous pleasure. For it is enjoyed by wounding the feelings, and thus sacrificing the happiness of others. This is an indulgence which humanity forbids. But especially, let them remember whose workmanship they are ridiculing. It is the workmanship of Him who made all things and gave them such forms as infinite wisdom dictated. What weakness, folly, and wickedness then, do they betray who make a jest of any part of his wonderful works. Let every youth who is addicted to this practice, be exhorted to abandon it immediately and entirely. Never deride your fellow companions for what they cannot avoid. Never make sport and merriment at their cost. Never ridicule the noblest work of God, your maker and your final judge. H. PARENTAL AND SABBATH SCHOOL INSTRUC TION. The following facts have been obtained from six of our principal theological seminaries, of three different denominations. They are designed to show the influence and paramount importance of parental and Sabbath school instruction, and of revivals of religion, in raising up an educated and efficient gospel ministry. Of the 507 individuals, (ministers and candidates for the ministry,) from whom these facts have been obtained, 321 had pious fathers. 428 had pious mothers. |