That was the spirit which dwelt in St. Paul. We cannot hope to be wholly like him, yet, in so far as we, too, have this enthusiasm, we shall succeed. The man who does not believe in his work, will never accomplish great things. But the enthusiast believes wholly in his work, and in his God. People may smile at such a one and intimate that he shows a lack of balance of mind. His company is not to the taste of the worldly trifler, for somehow or other his work will come into the conversation; he is so thoroughly absorbed and interested in it that he cannot help speaking of it, and trying to enkindle in another's breast ever so little a spark of the pure and ardent flame that burns in his own. But, if that man be a Sunday School teacher, make inquiries, and you will find that his class is large, regularly attended, the best in the school, and that his boys love and reverence him. Oh for a school full of enthusiasts! teachers who believe in their work, and believe in the power of God to bless it! What glorious results would follow! If the atmosphere were charged with enthusiasm, all deadness and apathy would disappear as though by magic; the electric shock would be communicated to all, and would rouse them up into fresh life. Cannot you realize it, and the good that would result? O yes, you say, but it cannot be; it never is so. We know the work is great, the aim noble, but somehow our fellow teachers are too cold and languid for such a state of things ever to exist in our school. Mr. Carlyle has somewhere said, "If every one would mend one, we should have a new world." Teacher, try to kindle the sacred flame of enthusiasm in your own breast. Nothing spreads so quickly; nothing is so potent. There is 14 業 too much lack of earnestness in our own age. We are too lukewarm and careless about what we have to do. Let us try to rise to higher levels; let each one of us begin to-day; and, inspired by the spirit that dwelt in our Great Master, let us press onward in His service. Before enthusiasm, difficulties dwindle down, and disappear. The little hindrances that altogether deter the cold and cautious, are but as whetstones to the zeal of the enthusiast. Have not Sunday Schools themselves risen from the work of such an one, whose labour, begun amid difficulties and discouragements, has now overspread the land? Do you ask how this enthusiasm is to be won? I answer, by reverent, prayerful, ceaseless study of the life of Jesus Christ. Look at Him! and you must, perforce, be inspired by the perfect Vision. Does your teaching call for the sacrifice of pleasant rest upon the Sabbath? Remember "Birds have their quiet nests, Foxes their holes, and man his peaceful bed; All creatures have their rest, But Jesus had not where to lay His head. "And yet He came to give The weary and the heavy-laden rest; To bid the sinner live, And soothe my griefs to slumber on His breast." Are there difficulties in the shape of unreceptive scholars, or discouraging friends? Jesus lived all His earthly life among men who could not understand Him. Even His nearest and dearest companions showed a strange lack of appreciation and sympathy when He most needed it. Shall we not say "What offering can I make, Dear Lord, to love like Thine? That Thou, the Word, didst stoop to take A human form like mine! 'Give Me thy heart, My Son,' Lord, Thou my heart hast won! I would love Thee as Thou lov'st me, O Jesus most desired!" It has been contended that the atmosphere of the Sunday School should be instinct with beauty and brightness, social equality, reverence, love, enthusiasm-thus rising step by step to the crowning point of all. Let us strive, each and all, to live and to work more worthily of the Saviour whose death so many of our fellow Christians are commemorating to day; and let us all unite in the aspiration "O Love, Who once in time wast slain, Pierced through and through with bitter woe, O Love, Who wrestling thus didst gain O Love, I give myself to Thee, WORKS ON THE PRINCIPLES & ART OF TEACHING AND SCHOOL MANAGEMENT. Infant Class Management: A Manual for Infant Class Teachers, with Hints on the Preparation of Lessons. By Mrs. LEWIS (Miss RYDER), late of Stockwell Training College. Post 8vo, 28. Ready for Work; or, Hints on the Preparation of Bible Lessons. By W. H. GROSER, B.Sc. With Examples of Outline Lessons for all Grades of a Sunday School. Second Edition. Price 18. Review Exercises in the Sunday School. By Rev. H. C. TRUMBULL, Secretary of the American Sunday School Union. Royal 18mo, cloth boards, price 8d. Illustrative Teaching; or, Practical Hints to Sunday School Teachers on the Collection and Use of Illustrations. By W. H. GROSER, B. Sc. (Lond.). Fifth Edition. Fcap. 8vo, limp cloth, 6d. The Art of Picturing. By W. H. GROSER, B.Sc. (Lond.) Fcap. 8vo, paper covers, price 3d. The Principles and Art of Teaching. A Lecture. By J. A. COOPER, Author of "Counsels to Sunday School Teachers." Paper covers, 3d. Sunday School Handbook. Containing Directions for the Establishment and Management of Sunday Schools. Limp cloth, 1s. The Young Men's Class. By W. S. BLACKET. New Edition. Fcap. 8vo, cloth boards, 1s. 6d.; gilt, 2s. Practical Suggestions on the Capabilities and Management of Adult Classes. Senior Classes in Sunday Schools. By W. H. WATSON. Limp cloth, price 6d. The Sunday School Senior Class. By J. A. CoOOPER, F.R.S.L. A Prize Essay, price 6d. SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION, 56, OLD BAILEY, LONDON, E.C. |