in the rulers of the house. You may send Bibles and Prayer-books down stairs, but unless you act according to them up stairs, they will be thrown aside and have but little weight. It is of no use to tell servants to care for their souls or to deluge them with religious books, unless they have an example of seriousness before their eyes. Servants are in one sense like children; they imitate their betters for good or evil; and they are more influenced by what their masters do, than by what they say.

The first point then is, to shew a good example, to be personally holy, to be faithful and earnest members of the Church of Christ on earth. Next, give your servants the means of being holy also. For this end have family prayer; it is a great bond of union; it unites. master and servant with spiritual ties; it is indeed a fair sight to behold master and servants all falling down together on their knees, and thankfully confessing their brotherhood in Christ, in the words, "Our Father, which art in heaven."

Be careful about your servants' attendance at Church on Sunday, and give them opportunities of attending. Many families are so late on Sundays, that though they themselves are

able to be in time for Church, some of their servants are hindered from going; at first perhaps they are grieved at the hindrance, but soon they will get to feel it less, and the habit of non-attendance becoming formed they will not avail themselves of opportunities, should they go to some other place where their souls are somewhat cared for. It is very awful for the sake of a little more sleep to be the authors of an evil habit in the souls of others.

Watch and see if they are communicants. If they are not, perhaps you will find they have not been confirmed; in which case they can be urged to prepare themselves for that holy rite. Or if they have been confirmed, you can lend them books that speak of the necessity and of the privilege of partaking of that blessed feast. It is also needful to make inquiry concerning their private prayers; they are often hasty and irregular, and often it is to be feared they leave them unsaid. Good forms of devotion can be placed in their hands as helps to them in their morning and evening prayer.

It must be remembered that servants have spare time in the evening, and that many of them are fond of reading. This taste for books they gratify as they can; they get hold of all

manner of cheap books and cheap periodicals, many of which are written in a loose, immoral tone, and likely quite to undermine all Christian principle; many of them full of infidel opinions. Now it is of no use to run down these books or tell them they are poisonous weeds; the best way is, give them good books instead. Books are very valuable instruments of good among servants, when they are rightly chosen; and in every kitchen or servants' hall, there should be a kitchen library provided by the master; and in every nursery a nursery library. All the books need not be of a strictly religious kind, though right principles should leaven all; every year an addition should be made.

Again, though of course your servants come to you for the sake of doing service, yet it is a great matter not to put needless labour upon them; if it is possible, often shew considerateness towards them in this matter; many masters are not thoughtful or considerate; they will call them up stairs with needless frequency, giving them no rest, and evidently betraying a want of care or thought. If a wholesome influence is to be attained, it must be by shewing considerateness; unselfish masters gain sway; servants become attached; they do not grudge trouble where

they see efforts to spare them, and with such a mark of the Christian spirit in those over them, they are prepared to be spoken to on Christian subjects.

These are but a few plain spoken hints for those who are minded to use their mastership as men who have to give account. When once an attempt is made to rule a house religiously, many details of duty will rise up as it were of themselves; the mind, once bent on a faithful exercise of its stewardship, will quickly turn itself to the discovery of the ways and means for elevating the religious character of the servants. After all, we must end where we began; personal holiness in the master, a life given up to God, creates a holy atmosphere in the house, and is that living sermon which touches souls more than the most eloquent and stirring words.

JOHN HENRY PARKER, OXFORD AND LONDON.

FRIENDLY ADVICE TO SUNDAY SCHOOL

TEACHERS.

You have given yourselves to a good work. It is a good work to feed the lambs of Christ, to assist your spiritual pastor in tending the little ones of his flock, to supply to Christian children that instruction which their parents are unable or unwilling to give them at home. You have given yourselves to this work. You have considered the matter, and found that you had no prior claims upon you at home, and you have undertaken accordingly the charitable and Christian office of a Sunday School teacher.

God bless you, my faithful workfellows, God bless you and help you. The good God guide you in your work, and give you fruit of your labour, and reward you with His crown of glory. You need hope to encourage you. You need guidance from above. It is a difficult and laborious work you have undertaken; and to fulfil its duties properly will call for great painstaking, great patience, and great perseverance. You must look constantly to God for help in it. You