would be impossible thus to welcome this primitive Christian, the founder of Sunday-schools'. His' heralds would be the preachers of the Gospel', and the eminent in piety', benevolence' and zeal'. His' procession would number in its ranks the messengers of the Cross' and the disciples of the Savior', Sunday-school teachers' and white-robed scholars'. The temples of the Most High' would be the scenes of his' triumph. Homage and gratitude to him', would be anthems of praise' and thanksgiving to God'. The 6. Parents would honor him as more than a brother'; children would reverence him as more than a father. The faltering words of age, the firm and sober voice of manhood, the silvery notes of youth, would bless him as a Christian patron'. wise and the good would acknowledge him everywhere', as a national benefactor', as a patriot even to a land of strangers'. He would have come a messenger' of peace to a land of peace. No images of camps', and seiges', and battles'; no agonies of the dying and the wounded', no shouts of victory, or processions of triumph', would mingle with the recollections of the multitudes who welcomed him. They would mourn over no common dangers', trials', and calamities; for the road of duty has been to them the path of pleasantness', the way of peace'. Their' memory of the past would be rich in gratitude to God', and love to man'; their enjoyment of the present would be a prelude to heavenly bliss; their' prospects of the future, bright and glorious as faith and hope'. * * * * 7. Such was the reception of La Fayette, the warrior'; such' would be that of Robert Raikes', the Howard of the Christian church'. And which is the nobler benefactor', patriot', and philanthropist? Mankind may admire and extol La Fayette', more than the founder of the Sunday-schools'; but religion', philanthropy, and enlightened common sense', must ever esteem Robert Raikes the superior of La Fayette'. His are the virtues', the services', the sacrifices' of a more enduring and exalted order of being. His counsels and triumphs' belong less to time' than to eternity. 8. The fame of La Fayette' is of this' world; the glory of Robert Raikes' is of the Redeemer's everlasting kingdom. La Fayette lived chiefly for his own' age, and chiefly for his' and our' country'. But Robert Raikes has lived for all ages, and all countries. Perhaps the historian and biographer may never interweave his name' in the tapestry of national or individual renown'. But the records of every single church', honor him as a patron; the records of the Universal Church', on earth' and in heaven', bless him as a benefactor'. 9. The time may come' when the name of La Fayette will be forgotten'; or when the star of his fame', no longer glittering in the zenith', shall be seen, pale and glimmering, on the verge of the horizon. But the name of Robert Raikes' shall never be forgotten; and the lambent flame of his' glory is that eternal fire which rushed down from heaven to devour the sacrifice of Elijah'. Let mortals then admire and imitate La Fayette', more than Robert Raikes'. But the just made perfect', and the ministering spirits around the throne of God', have welcomed him as a fellowservant of the same Lord`; as a fellow-laborer in the same glorious cause of man's redemption'; as a co-heir of the same precious promises' and eternal rewards'. GRIMKE. 1. OH! show me where is He', To whom thou bend'st the knee, And lo! no form is near: Thine eyes I see thee raise', But where doth God appear? Oh! teach me who is God, and where his glories shine', 2. "Gaze on that arch above; There view immensity! behold! my God is there: 3. "See where the mountains rise; His footsteps I pursue': He reared those giant cliffs', supplies that dashing stream, 11* 4. "Look on that world of waves' Tempests and calms obey the same almighty voice, 5. "No human thoughts can soar' The viewless spirit', He-immortal, holy', blest`- HUTTON. LESSON XLVI. SATAN, SIN, AND DEATH. (The following lesson requires variety of tone.) 1. MEANWHILE the adversary of God and man', 2. He scours the right hand coast, sometimes' the left ; At last, appear Hell bounds, high reaching to the horrid roof, And thrice three-fold the gates; three folds were brass', Three iron, three of adamantine rock Impenetrable, impaled with circling fire', Yet unconsumed. Before the gates there sat, On either side', a formidable shape: The one seemed woman to the waist, and fair; 3. The other shape', If shape it might be called, that shape had none And shook a dreadful dart; what seemed his head', 4. Satan was now at hand, and from his seat 5. (h) “Whence and what art thou, execrable shape'? To yonder gates? through them I mean to pass', Drew after him the third part of heaven's sons, And reckonest thou thyself with spirits of heaven', 7. So spake the grizly terror', and in shape So speaking and so threatening', grew ten-fold * Milton uniformly pronounces this word in one syllable, sp'rit. + Con-jured', conspired. No second stroke intend; and such a frown 8. So frowned the mighty combatants', that hell To meet so great a foe'. And now great deeds Fast by hell gate, and kept the fatal key', Risen, and with hideous outcry rushed between'. MILTON. 1. DEBT is of the very highest antiquity'. The first debt in the history of man' is the debt of nature', and the first instinct is to put off the payment' of it to the last moment'. Many persons, it will be observed, following the natural procedure', would die before they would pay their debts'. 2. Society is composed of two classes', debtors' and creditors'. The creditor class' has been erroneously supposed the more enviable'. Never was there a greater misconception; and the hold it yet maintains upon opinion, is a remarkable example of the obstinacy of error', notwithstanding the plainest lessons of experience. The debtor' has the sympathies of mankind'. He is seldom spoken of but with expressions of tenderness and compassion- 'the poor debtor`!”—and “ the unfortunate debtor'!" On the other hand', "harsh"" and "hard-hearted"" are the epithets' allotted to the creditor'. Who ever heard the "poor creditor," the "unfortunate creditor" spoken of? No, the creditor never becomes the object of pity', until he passes into the debtor' class. A creditor may be ruined by the poor debtor', but it is not until he becomes unable to pay his own debts', that he begins to be compassionated'. 3. A debtor is a man of mark'. Many eyes are fixed upon him`; many have interest in his well-being: his movements are of concern: he cannot disappear unheeded; his name is in many mouths'; his name is upon many books'; he is a man of note— of promissory note; he fills the speculation of many minds'; men conjecture' about him, wonder about him, wonder' and conjecture |