BENEFITS OF SABBATH-SCHOOL CULTURE.
By S. Brownsberger
The primary object of the Sabbath-school is to impart religious truth, and to impress its principles upon the hearts of the youth. But besides this, there is a mental culture that necessarily results from the faithful labor of every Sabbath-school scholar, which is an attainment of no trivial importance. In all our educational efforts for the youth, our chief desire is not so much that they may gain a knowledge of the sciences, an acquirement of facts, as that the powers of their minds may be fully developed. This can only be accomplished by a proper exercise of the mind in study, and what better themes for thought are given us than those found in the sure word of God? There is no other study so well adapted to develop the mental faculties as that of the Bible. Though it is not a scientific treatise, it nevertheless embodies all the principles necessary to a perfect human development. A careful study of it trains the reason, excites the imagination by contemplating the glories of the future, and stimulates all the mental faculties to a healthful activity. Indeed, many have become eminent for mental power developed chiefly by a close application to the Bible. My dear young friends, depend upon it; though you may be deprived of the advantages of a thorough school education, you may still accomplish much in mental training by wise and faithful efforts in the Sabbath-school.