Hints for the Sabbath School.
You do not think of going to the week-day school without studying; you dare not. And, besides, you see how foolish it would be; since, without study, how can you learn any thing? And yet how many children go to Sabbath-school, month after month, without studying an hour! They sing a few psalms; they read a chapter or two, listen to the teacher, and possibly answer yes or no to a few questions; but there is no real study. How, then, can they learn any thing? Is not this a great sin? Is God's Word of so little account that you do not care to give it any time, labor, attention? Think of this: you are mocking God, when, in your prayers, you ask him to help you to study his Word and you do not study it. Studious preparation of the lesson, by personal contact with the sacred text, is imperative. Teachers' meetings, commentaries, institutes, and the like, are great helps, but should not be leaned on too heavily. The truly successful teacher is one who turns the lesson over and over in his own mind, and thinks for himself, and masters the lesson for himself. This kind of study will make teachers clear and brilliant. But love and prayer alone can make it warm and effective. When pupils see that the teacher is interested in them personally, and that he tries to make his teaching the means of leading them to Christ, they will listen with deepest interest. We do love active workers in the Sabbath-school cause; we can take them to our heart as brethren well beloved, and it is something for which to be thankful. Oh, that each State might possess a thousand men who would organize Sabbath-schools, work in them and for them, talk about the great work, and excite enthusiasm in regard to it. Would that we could excite so much interest in this noble cause as to make the brethren take hold of it everywhere with earnestness, vigor, perseverance and persistency! What a glorious work—to gather the little ones into the school, teach them about Jesus, sing the sweet songs of Zion with them, behold in them the faint beginnings of a religious life, and see them go on until, with smiles of joy and tears of rejoicing, they join the church, and rise to newness of life! Let what will be said, the children are the hope of church. Nor can we begin too soon, or work too hard, to bring them to Jesus and train them for his service. Brother, sister, are you an active worker in the Sabbath-school cause?