But what can you do? His teacher has already taught him his duty, but his heart is so sinful that he does not love to perform it. As you think of the awful punishment of his sin, the bowels of your compassion yearn over him. You can endure the sight no longer; closing your eyes, you raise your imploring hands towards heaven and pray earnestly and humbly to God, to have mercy on him. Your prayer enters the ears of the Lord of Sabbaoth, and it is no sooner heard than, forth issuing at God's command, an angel of mercy flies from the realms above to inform you that your prayer is heard, and the desire of your heart is granted. Look again at him, for whom you prayed. How changed! Behold, he prayeth!' Follow him as he goes about his master's business. Soon perhaps you see in him a second Martyn. Arrayed in Christian panoply, he goes forth to attack spiritual wickedness in high places. He shortly gathers around him a little company of kindred spirits; and anon a whole pagan nation trembles. Its false gods, its bloody altars, its polluted temples, nay all the vast and complicated machinery of its idolatry is crumbling to the ground. Hark! the trumpet of the gospel sounds; and the benighted inhabitants are fast rallying around the standard of the cross. From the lips of this dear youth they hear the messages of a Savior's love. They gladly receive and obey God's commands. Where heathen temples once stood, there now stand temples for Christian worship. The rich blessings of christianity are diffused through a nation; they descend from generation to generation. Yet it is vain now to attempt to measure their happy influence; we must wait till eternity shall reveal it. These blessings may result from the conversion of one of those souls for which you now pray. How many such unconverted youth there are in your class-in your school -in other schools! If you realize the importance of the conversion of these souls, your prayers, short as they may and ought to be, will still be humble, yet pertinent, direct and fervent. But when you remember that this is but one of the multitude of objects of prayer in this meeting, will not your sou burn with holy ardor for the blessing? B SABBATH SCHOOL CONVENTION. We promised to give our readers, in this No., the results of the Essex Co. Sabbath school Convention, held at Ipswich on the 21st and 22d of Jan. But, as a month has already elapsed since the meeting, most of our readers must have seen the official and other full accounts which have been widely circulated through the medium of weekly and semiweekly newspapers. The Essays which were read on that occasion, and which were of a high and deeply interesting character, are also in progress of publication, in the Salem Landmark, and will, probably, be copied into most of the religious papers of New England. They are quite too long for the Visiter, and we should fail in doing them justice, were we to attempt to give an abstract. In reference to the convention, we do not hesitate to say, it was one of the most interesting Sabbath school meetings we ever attended, and one that promises much for the cause. We have already heard of several instances where the influence on schools has been most happy. Teachers, and parents, in listening to the essays and discussions, were instructed, aroused, encouraged, and sent away to watch, and labor, and pray for the souls of the young with new zeal and perseverance.-The full representation of ministers, and the activity and interest which they manifested in all the proceedings of the convention, showed that the Sabbath school holds a high place in their estimation, and is cherished as a favorite auxiliary in their efforts to feed and bless the flock over which they are placed as undershepherds. One influence which we most ardently desire to see resulting from this convention, is, that it may lead to the holding of similar conventions in all our Auxiliaries. Cannot Committees be appointed in every auxiliary or County, to fix on the time and place, to draft Resolutions, select topics for essays and discussions, choose and notify the persons to write, and make all necessary arrangements? What auxiliary will first practically answer, yes? We should prefer to have the conventions confined, generally, to our own denomination, so that no restraint may be felt in making mention of the Convenant-relation which exists between believing parents and their offspring-one of the most powerful motives which can be urged for parental fidelity and watchfulness. NOTICES OF NEW PUBLICATIONS BY THE SOCIETY. The History of the American Education Society. The origin, various success, and all the operations of the Education Society, are given in this little volume with great faithfulness, and in a manner that cannot fail to gain the interested attention of every reader. We commend it especially, to every pious young man and pious lad. Anna Elmore or Trials of Infancy. The Assembly's Shorter Catechism. The Second Foreign Mission; or Journey of Paul, Silas, Luke, and Timothy to Europe. By Wm. A. Alcott. All who have read the First Foreign Mission, will welcome the appearance of this Volume. It is written in much 'the same spirit, and in the same plain and familiar style'; though it exhibits evidence of amore research. It will make a valuable accession to any S. school or private library. The Mount of Vision; or, Illustrations of Religious Truth. Intended for youth of Bible classes and Sabbath schools. Hints and sketches for young minds. Conviction not Conversion, illustrated in the Life of Rev. Thomas Halyburton. History of the Waldenses; With a sketch of the general state of the church in the thirteenth century; Being the tenth volume of the S. S. Church History. By Harvey Newcomb. Paul preaching at Athens. SABBATH SCHOOL VISITER. VOL. III. APRIL, 1835. NO. 4. Mr. Bullard, The Children of the principal Sabbath School connected with my Society, sent me this week, by the hands of three of their number, a Certificate of Life membership of the Sabbath School Society, in glass and frame. The little Committee brought with them two poetical Addresses; which they presented with the Certificate, in the name of the School. One of them was a very ingenious Acrostic, abounding, however, in expressions of too personal a nature, for me to publish. The other, of great merit for its pure and simple flow of thought and feeling, was as follows: TO OUR PASTOR. Our Pastor!-here we bring to thee Thou seekest blessings from above, We love to hear of Him who leads In pastures green, his faithful sheep'; And safe from every foe will keep ;- But there are others too, we fear, Who know not this "Good Shepherd's" voice, Who follow not his footsteps here, Nor in his gracious care rejoice. To them our gifts we love to send, That they may learn to know this Friend. Our Teachers tell us of a day, When we, with all of them, will meet To account for what we do or say, VOL. III. Oh! wilt thou pray that we may stand, A. INTERESTING CONCERT. Mr. Editor,-It was my privilege to attend the S. school Concert, in February-in a town some 30 miles from Boston. The number of Parents and Teachers, at the meeting, was not large; there were from 50 to 75 children. The Pastor occupied most of the time, in explaining to the children the situation of heathen children. He had an Idol god, brought from India, which he exhibited, and also a variety of cuts of other gods. The parallel was drawn between the children of heathen and Christian lands. The coincidence was traced between the description given by Paul, in Romans, of the character of the heathen and their actual situation, at the present time. As the privileges that S. S. children enjoy, were spoken of every eye seemed to beam with delight, and we trust that many hearts were filled with gratitude to God.—It was indeed pleasing to see so many children assembled to unite in prayer for the blessing of God. But this was not all. This concert was the semi-annual meeting of two Juvenile Associations connected with the school-for the children there have learned, not only to think about the poor Heathen, but to do something to send them the means of grace. After the meeting was closed, the children were invited to stop, they all crowded up round the minister, each eager to see and to handle the Idol god, and to examine the cuts; after they were satisfied with seeing, they were requested to be seated. The boys were then asked what they would have done with the money they had raised. They voted to send it to China, to purchase Christ's Sermon on the Mount, which has been translated into Chinese.-The Girls had already voted to send their money to the Sandwich Islands to establish S. schools. As I witnessed this scene, my heart was filled with joyI was led to inquire if angels ever witness with pleasure earthly scenes, if that was not one that would send a thrill of joy through the angelic throng. It was not the amount of money, but the disposition of heart-the manifestation |