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Definite design also will be found prominent, to render more effective the whole of the class-teaching and school exercises, attainment in one department always being preparatory and conditional to the next above it, but especially that of fitting them for and inspiring in them early the hope of becoming teachers, thus supplying a healthy stimulus to all scholars.

The necessity for the teaching of the Holy Spirit in reading, hearing and searching the Scriptures, as well as His regenerating and sanctifying operations upon the mind and heart, having been too much overlooked, special attention is directed to this important subject.

Finally, practical utility is the design of this volume, as a manual of suggestion for permanent use in all departments of Sunday School work,-for the Superintendent in the desk; for the Teacher in the class, whether Infant, Bible, Intermediate, Senior, or Servants'; for the Parents at home; for Servants in their important spheres; for Old Scholars in all after-life; and possibly for the Minister in his pastoral duties, visits, and oversight of the Sunday School.

The arrangement of the work is as follows, viz. :—

The Necessity for the Sunday School-Signs of Inefficiency in its working, and some of the probable Causes which have led to it-then, from the matter and method of the Saviour's teaching, define what is the proper object of the Sunday School; suggest an Outline for the several ages, of what and how to teach; and, finally, call into exercise Agency adapted to these various necessities, not only on the Sabbath, but also through the entire week.

SIGNS OF INEFFICIENCY IN SUNDAY SCHOOL WORK.

Results in few schools commensurate with efforts-Signs of inefficiency, viz.,

(1) Complaints as to want of sympathy of Pastor and Church, qualifications

and devotion of Teachers, conduct of scholars, &c.-(2) Difficulties-List
of, by Officers of Schools in the Isle of Wight-(3) Discouragements—
Indifference and sinful career of many scholars-Many non-attendants on
public worship once in Sunday School-Also most domestic servants—
Their frequent immorality-Evidence of midnight meetings-Sunday
scholars found among all criminal classes-(4) Low morning attendance-
Influence on homes of scholars -Two pictures-Happy results of early
morning attendance-(5) Small proportion of scholars who become Teachers
-Apparent failure of Sunday School in cases of many-(6) Youthfulness

and insufficient supply of Teachers-Recognition of services of young

Teachers Where are those who were scholars fifteen and twenty years

ago?-Present constant want of more Teachers-With 3,000,000 scholars,

there should be an over-production of agency-(7) Fewness of anxious

inquirers in the classes-Has the work of Teachers, viz., ploughing, tilling,

and sowing, been properly done?-Conversion the Holy Spirit's work-

(8) Growing alienation of schools from Pastors and Churches-Its Causes and

Evils. No system adequate to Sunday School wants since abandon-

ment of Catechisms -Inquiry into Causes of Inefficiency proposed in next

Chapter (pages 5-10).

PROBABLE CAUSES OF SUNDAY SCHOOL INEFFICIENCY.

Probable causes of Sunday School inefficiency, viz., (1) Inadequate recogni-

tion of Divine Will by and in relation to Parents of scholars-Special

commands to Parents-Teachers are doing Parents' work-Consequences

of this fact being overlocked-Necessity for mutual co-operation-(2) Mis-

taken views of Teachers as to their work-Preaching sermons not Teachers'

duty-Nor Conversion their work-Capacity of children to learn what is

suitable, when properly taught-Teachers need to learn what are children's

distinctive duties and sins-Children must be taught law of God, as

regards themselves, before they can feel conscious of guilt or desire

salvation-Danger of religious excitement among children-Teaching the

Teacher's work-Conversion the work of the Spirit-(3) Want of system

as to instruction to be given in various departments of school-Discon-

tinuance of sale of Catechisms by Sunday-school Union twenty years ago-

Disuse of Assembly's and Watts's Catechisms to be greatly deplored-

Results as regards Children, Parents, and Ministers-Inefficiency of pre-

sent teaching to a large extent -(4) Want of traceable design in School

routine (5) Inattention, &c., of scholars-Sketch of school exercises-

Little share taken by scholars in them--(6) Want of enthusiasm in souls of

Teachers-Malady only to be removed by Divine power—(7) Loan or

Charity Bibles-Evil results of system-Plan of remedy (see Appendix

No. 1)-(8) Unsuitable hymns and tunes--Anomalies and excesses-The

denominational Hymn-book-Sanctuary tunes-(9) Loss of co-operation

of Parents and Domestic Servants--Success largely dependent upon them

-(10) Diotrephesan self-seeking.- "Helps" to remove these various

Causes of Inefficiency to be suggested in next Chapter (pages 11-22)}

THE PLAN OF REMEDY; OR, CURE FOR EXISTING INEFFICIENCY.

Necessity for enlarged views as to the work, agency, and sphere of the
Sunday School-Outline of scheme suggested, viz., (1) Infant Classes,
(2) Bible Classes, or General School, (3) Intermediate Classes, (4) Senior
Classes, (5) Parents, (6) Domestic Servants-Proposed system based on

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