The Teacher. THE DEMONIAC HEALED. ONE of the most remarkable of the Redeemer's miracles is here represented. The full account of it may be found in Matthew viii. 28-34, and in Mark v. 12-19. The swine into which the unclean spirits-having left the man-entered, were no doubt kept and used in violation of God's laws, and their destruction was therefore a most proper manifestation of God's justice. And as the cure of the demoniacs was subject to the cavils of the wicked Jews, Christ directed the demons to go into the swine, that as there could be no confederacy of fraud among these irrational creatures, his power might be apparent. Two things in this account are very obvious; first, the power of unclean spirits as seen in agitating the human body, and in destroying the swine, two thousand in number: second, the depravity of the Gergesenes in imploring Jesus to leave them. They preferred their sins to their souls. He left them, we fear for ever. When he comes to reprove us for sin and to disturb us in our guilty slumbers, let us never ask him to depart, but invite and welcome his visits. THE VALUE OF YOUR CLASS. Dear fellow-teachers.-Various are the thoughts which arise in the mind of the devoted sabbath school teacher, when contemplating the work in which he is engaged; but has the value of your class ever occupied your attention.? What is the all-absorbing object that convenes us from sabbath to sabbath? The soul! the conversion of the sinner to God! While we honour the mere philanthropist for his care of the body, we would not forget that it is but the habitation of the soul. In our nature we possess an emanation of Deity, the seat thought, reason, and reflection; and while lacking that acuteness of some of our natural powers, of which part of the lower animals possess, yet the possession of that mind which can reflect, reason, arrange and collect ideas; that can go back in the history of our world to its creation; come onward, discerning the signs of the times, and then looking forward into futurity, imagine things which as yet are not; raises man infinitely above these, and shows his vast superiority over the rest of God's creation. days, months, and years; but reckon each day as a thousand years, and our efforts to,measure the period of the existence of the soul, are futile. Take the drops of the ocean, the sands of the desert, the stars of heaven, obtain their aggregate amount, and it will be but as a moment, when compared with eternity. Think of the value of the soul in its capacity for enduring immortal bliss-the faculties expanding, rising higher and higher, happier and still happier-enjoying the presence of God, and uniting in the song of myriads around the throne for ever. For this soul is not a dead, but a living principle, giving scope to love, as well as space to thought; and this love, and these thoughts, need to be guided to him 'who is the chief among ten thousand, and the altogether lovely,' for all that is great, excellent, and glorious is centered in God; and the soul can come and contemplate His great love in the unspeakable gift of His well beloved Son, for while natural objects ofttimes present beauty, they cannot pre-souls, hated and hating each other, sent adoration, love, or gratitude will be its companions for ever. to God. Dear fellow-teachers, each child Think also of the soul's value in its capability for enduring misery and woe-dying the second death, not the death of being, but of dignity, hope, and peace: the stings of conscience ever piercing the soul, while fiends and lost Look at the value of the soul in in your class possesses such a soul, the period of its duration. The butterfly sports in the sunbeam for an hour, and then passes away. The grass springs up in the morning, clothing the field with verdure, but in the evening it is cut down and withereth. Yea, even 'man dieth, and wasteth away; he giveth up the ghost, and where is he?' But the soul must live for ever. We look with pleasure upon the castle or building which has stood the storms of centuries. We are charmed with the tree, which the rude blasts of a hundred years have caused to strike its roots deeper and deeper in the ground; but in all these things we observe signs of decay; all things around us are changing. But look upon the soul of man and behold, it is immortal! think upon it, and we are lost in the contemplation. We can reckon which the world, with all its wealth, fame, and power, can never buy; what could it profit a lost soul to know that the whole world were his! Look then at the unspeakable, inestimable value of the charge committed to your hands. Those souls under your instruction are daily becoming more and more transformed into the image of God, or, the slaves of him who will lead them captive at his will. Seeing, then, the great responsibility which devolves upon you by the value of your class, how are you discharging your duties ?-are you pointing them to heaven, and yet not travelling along the road yourself? why should you act so? Know you not that you possess a soul? and will you be more concerned for the salvation of the souls of others, than for your own? Remember! your strict performance of your duties cannot save you. Nothing short of repentance and faith in Christ will ever obtain for you admission to heaven. Let this, then, be your resolve, and you will be as one of those 'Who allure to brighter worlds, And lead the way.' But let not the importance of your work discourage you. Remember that God gave up his Son; that Jesus left his Father's throne, was despised, rejected and crucified by men to save sinners. Then let us labour with more faith, counting all things as dross, so that we may win souls to Christ; following all our efforts with earnest prayer for the blessing of God, without which we labour in vain and spend our strength for nought. A NEW AMSTERDAM TEACHER. SEVEN CAUTIONS FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS. Watch against Sin. Its guilt will render you unhappy, its power will render you useless, its influence will ruin others, its friendship will ruin your own soul eternally. Think of the blood of Jesus, and plead it; of the yoke of Jesus, and wear it; of the example of Jesus, and follow it; and of the love of Jesus, and never be satisfied without feeling it. on the value of a moment, the worth of a soul, the millions now perishing for lack of knowledge, and the account you will have to give. Slothfulness begets dislike, hinders success, and gives the advantage to Satan. (Prov. xix. 24; Eccl. ix. 10.) Avoid Singularity, in dressing fine, talking much, finding fault often, coming late, or attending irregularly. Dread Slovenliness. In preparation for teaching, in prayer for direction, or in speaking of eternal realities. A sabbath school is the place where, if children are taught, they should be well taught. Be awake to the designs of Satan. You profess to be his enemy; show yourself such by aiming to bring knowledge, holiness, and love, into the youthful mind. Remember he possesses most of the minds you have to do with, and has access to all. Remember he is well pleased to see you weary, irresolute, and unhappy in your work; and remember also that Jesus is willing to help you: therefore, ' Be strong in the Lord!' SEVEN QUALIFICATIONS. Consistent and eminent Piety. Those are best able to direct children in the way to heaven, who are walking in that way themselves. The more a teacher has of piety, the more his class will see it. Beware of Selfishness. This is seen in soon taking offence, in only approving of your own plans, and in not consulting the feelings Untiring and unwearied Perseof others. This spirit will give verance. A teacher has three trouble to the superintendent, enemies opposing his work-nadestroy the harmony of the teach-tural corruption, earthly princiers, and exert a wrong influence ples, and Satan's temptations. on the children. These three have six days to pull down what is built up on the sabbath. Each child will live in heaven or hell for ever. A teacher's work will not be done till each child is a Christian: therefore wait and work. Pray against Self-sufficiency. Remember you must be indebted to God for a right spirit in teaching, for any interest excited among the children, and for any blessing on your labours. Pride will lead to passion and envy; humility to submission and happiness. Fly from Slothfulness. Think Constant and holy Pleasure. If the work is not a pleasing work, it will be a hard and fruitless work. If God bless our efforts in the conversion of one child, it will make that child happy for ever. It will add to our joy to meet those in heaven, whom we have taught on earth, Perpetual Punctuality. As to time, be always five minutes before the time. As to place, let every one be in his place by the time, and all the time, Consider the school as belonging to you, and claiming you. Great Plainness. Every teacher should use short, simple, and plain words; and be very anxious to know if every child can understand him. The memory may be full, when the mind is empty. Inward and outward Peacableness. The peace of the school may be easily broken. Pride will break it; discontent will break it; anger will break it; envy will break it. Keep quietness in your heart. Special and believing Prayer. This is the most important part of a teacher's work. Never forget your class when you pray for your own soul. If the children whom we teach, are saved in answer to our prayers, they will make our crown in heaven shine more brilliantly. The salvation of the soul of one child is worth praying for. Woolwich. REV. J. Cox. FORM GOOD HABITS. THE whole character may be said to be comprehended in the term HABITS. Habits are easily formed, especially such as are bad; and what to day seems to be a small affair, will soon become fixed, and hold you with the strength of a cable. Habits of some kind will be formed by every youth. Good or bad, these habits soon become part of himself. Form, then, those habits which are correct, and such as will every day and hour add to your happiness. Fear not to undertake to form any habit that is desirable. No mat ter if it be irksome at first; only let it return periodically,-every day and that without interruption for a time, and it will become a positive pleasure. In this way our habits are formed. 1. Have a plan laid beforehand for every day. It is astonishing how much more we can accomplish every day by having the plan previously marked out-say the previous evening. He must be most successful in his pursuits, who is most careful as to method. 2. Acquire the habit of untiring industry. He who is industrious has always most leisure; for, his time being marked out into distinct portions, to each of which something is assigned, when the thing is done the man is at leisure. But a dead calm settles over him who lives idly. To idlers the proverb is appropriate' Fools at large.' 3. Cultivate perseverance; that is, steadfastness in pursuing the same study. No putting off till to-morrow what may be done today. Every hour should be perseveringly filled up. 4. Cultivate punctuality. It may be easy enough to be 'a little late' in every thing; not so easy to be prompt or punctual. Yet the punctual man can do twice as much as any other man, with twice the ease and satisfaction to himself. 5. Rise early. Don't go to bed later than eleven at night, nor be in bed after the clock strikes five in the morning. Love to bed is a besetting sin, which soon acquires an almost incalculable power. 6. Learn something good from every one you converse with, or in whose company you may be. 7. Form fixed principles on which to think and act. Be hasty in nothing. Young men err more by being precipitate, than for want of judgment. Whatever you examine, do it thoroughly. Established and unerring principles make a man a firm character. ther need we say to induce the thousands of our readers at once to purchase this cheap little book. History of Independency: London: Snow. This is the second volume of a work noticed before, as being cheap and instructive in a great degree. Henry's Shorter Catechism: London: Collins. The Free Church of Scotland being wisely anxious about its youth, has issued this work in a greatly enlarged and amended form. It is in fact, almost a body of Divinity. The 'Plain Catechism for Children,' by the same Author is also published by, the same house, as a preparative to the other work. We rejoice to see the earnest spirit of concern for the young, thus manifested by the Free Church, and wish it all prosperity. Christian Discrimination: Lon. don: Simpkin. We heartily concur in the universal praise bestowed on this book. Here are a few of the opinions of our contemporaries.-'A plain, practical, and salutary treatise, much wanted in these days of error, indecision, and declension of piety.'.... 'The author writes with an earnestness of purpose, and a warmth of fee!ing, suited to the importance of the subject of which he treats, and calculated to affect even the coldest heart. Sourd in principle, and plain and vigorous in language, this little volume is calculated to prove, under Divine blessing, peculiarly useful at a period, when, as at present, error abounds on |