CHAP. VII. The most effectual means of keeping up the spirit of the office. : IT is a fact which all experience proves, that the most important object by being constantly in sight, loses much of its power to interest. Zeal is apt to languish, when it is no longer excited by the stimulus of novelty and the fervor of first love, without great care, will soon sink into dull formality. It is not to be wondered at, if among the active supporters of a Sunday School, the vice of lukewarmness should sometimes be found. Hence it is of importance to ascertain the best means for keeping up the spirit of the teacher's office. By this I inean, the prosecution af its duties with vigor, interest, and delight, in opposition to that lifeless and indolent manner of dragging through them which is but too common with many. 1. Keep in view the ultimate object of your labors. The more importance we attach to an object, the less danger we shall be exposed to, of ceasing to regard it with solicitude. Whatever is momentous, must be interesting. Hence the necessity of keeping steadily and clearly before your mind, the salvation of the soul, as the ultimate end of all your efforts. What can have such a tendency to engage the feelings, and keep them engaged, as this? The mere endeavour to teach them reading and writing: the effort at only intellectual improvement, cannot in the very nature of things have such power over the heart of the teacher, as the steady contemplation of the immortal soul: salvation is a noble prize; and eternity a wonderful excitement. If any thing can keep up the spirit of the office, it is to bring the mind from time to time under the influence of such inducements as these. When you feel your heart losing its ardor, and sinking into a lukewarm state, look afresh to the world of immortality, and behold in the crown of eternal life, the object of your pursuit. If any thing can keep your attention alive to the interests of the children, it will be the constant repetition of this sentiment: "I am seeking their everlasting salvation." 2. Well conducted Sunday School Unions have a powerful tendency to promote the spirit office. of your The occasional meeting of fellow laborers from different schools, together with the interesting communications and mutual exhortations which are then delivered, have a very enlivening effect. The very sight of so large a body of fellow teachers, engaged in the same cause, has an exhilarating tendency, especially when one and another, details the result of successful exertions. Not only do neighbouring flames brighten each other's blaze, but even dying embers upon the hearth, by being brought into contact, mutually rekindle the expiring spark. Thus the communion which is established by these associations promotes, in a very powerful manner, the feelings essential to the character of a good teacher. A holy emulation is also excited, which, if it do not degenerate into envy, leads on to the happiest effects. The annual meetings, which are necessarily connected with the union, aid the general impression, and keep up the interest in an eminent degree. It has been universally admitted by those who have tried the plan, that it is pregnant with advantages to that particular object, which I am now considering. The teachers who are connected with the best regulated unions, can testify from ample experience, to their adaptation to keep up the spirit of the office. 3. Occasional meetings among the teachers of the same school for conversation and prayer in immediate reference to their joint labors, are exceedingly beneficial. At these meetings every thing should be communicated which occurs in the course of individnal experience, that is at all calculated for general encouragement. Each one should feel himself under obligation to render these friendly interviews as interesting as he can, by making known every thing he sees, or hears, or reads, that is of an instructive, or stimulating nature; especially taking care that nothing be done for the sake of vain glory or pride, as it would effectually counteract their beneficial influence, to have them converted into occasions for display. 4. Ministerial assistance in the way of exhortation, inspection, and advice, would powerfully contribute to keep up the true spirit of the office.* It is matter of great surprise and equal regret, that many ministers appear to take little or no interest in the Engage your respective ministers to meet you occasionally in your social interviews, that concerns of the Sunday Schools supported by their congregations. They are scarcely ever to be seen among the children, or affording their presence and instruction at the meetings of the teachers. The annual sermon which they preach for the benefit of the institution, seems to be regarded by them as a legal discharge from all further obligation to interfere on its behalf and till they sit down to compose their sermon for the next anniversary it is neglected and forgotten. To what can such an omission be attributed? They can scarcely imagine that a school containing two, three, or four hundred immortal souls, is an object below their notice, or beyond their duty nor will they shelter themselves under the excuse that when they undertook the charge of the congregation, then did not stipulate to concern themselves about the school. Does it comport with that zeal and pity by which they profess to be moved to hear of so many immortal souls, most of them grossly ignorant, and wicked, assembled every week within the sphere of their labors, for religious instruction, and yet scarcely ever enquire how they are going on? Do not such ministers strangely neglect the means of increasing their own personal influence, who suffer so important an institu tion to be in constant operation amidst their people, and yet have little or no share in directing its movements? Is it not teaching their congregations to act independently of their pastors, and to diminish the weight of their office, already in the estimation of many far too light? Do they consult the interests of the church by neglecting those of the Sunday School? If a proper share of attention were given to those poor youths, in all probability its happy result would often prove a balm to heal the wounds occasioned by a want of ministerial success. Here they would find materials to build up their dilapidated churches, and strengthen the walls of Zion, which have been long mouldering beneath the deso. lating ravages of death. 'Tis true, in many cases the pastor's hands are already nearly full of cares, and his arms weighed |