SABBATH SCHOOL VISITER.

VOL. VII.

OCTOBER, 1839.

No. 10.

The Sabbath School Teacher.
"Go work to-day in my vineyard."

Lo here, on consecrated ground, I stand,
Brought hither, Saviour, by thy guiding hand.
What wilt thou have me do? I humbly ask,—
Impart thy strengthening grace,-assign my task,-
O teach me all thy will, and guide me on,
And I will labor here till life is done.

Around me, living, growing plants I see,
All newly set,-yet scions of that tree
Which ever was, and is, and is to be.
Whose shade majestic shelters worlds afar,-
Whose amaranthine leaves for healing are,—
Whose richly bending fruit invites the taste
Of gathering nations to the free repast.

And thou hast placed me here, this twig to bend,
And teach its shooting branch toward heaven ascend;
To foster it, and guard with closest care
Each opening leaf,-each bud and blossom fair;
To dig around the root,-to cure each ill,-
To prune the untimely branch,—to train it well.

And wilt thou help me, Lord? For help I cry,
Aright to culture it,—each want supply;
Enriching soil from heavenly fields to bring,
And choicest water from salvation's spring;—
Nor would I lay me down in ease and sloth,
But earnest, careful, active,—WATCH its growth.

VOL. VII.

19

O wilt thou make its tender root to live,—
Its trunk to flourish,-every bough to thrive,-
Its verdant foliage ever spreading grow,—
And each young bud and flower irradiate glow.
And when on every branch in fulness rare,
Rich clustering fruit is hanging, fresh and fair,-
Then may I bear it up to worlds unknown,
Anew to plant it near my Saviour's throne,-
There, watered by the living streams of heaven,
Shall lasting greenness to its leaf be given,—
And while thy rich, rewarding crown I wear,
Fain would I bow beneath the humblest there,
To bless the hand that blessed it 'neath my care.
August, 1839.
J. F. N.

Acting from principle.

LETTER FROM THE SANDWICH ISLANDS.

One truth, my dear young friends, I wish to have deeply impressed upon your minds, to wit, that the work of converting the world is a great work. There are thought to be at least five hundred millions who are unevangelized. They are the slaves of sin. They are opposed to the truth. Their hearts are hard. Their minds are dark. They will not readily embrace the truth. Satan will oppose every attempt to enlighten and save them. The contest, therefore, between light and darkness will be long and severe. You, my young friends, may expect to engage in this contest as long as you live. I greatly wish, therefore, that you would learn to act from principle. I wish you to acquire the habit of laboring of giving for God, as you acquire the habit of praying, and reading the Bible, and remembering the Sabbath day. This alone will make you happy. This will save you from a covetous spirit. This will make giving a delight. This will enable you to increase your benefactions, and hold on till the old age of life. And this alone will enable those, who are laboring diligently for the heathen, to go on and enlarge their plans,-to multiply the means of doing good to the perishing na

tions. O what a change will be visible when a generation stands up and acts for God on principle! Now, many give from the impulse of the moment,-give when they are in good humor,-act from caprice, and live and give, hoping that the work is nearly done. This causes the work of converting the world to move on tardily,-puts off to an indefinite period, the coming of Christ's kingdom.

My dear friends, be wholly for Christ. Glorify him. Espouse his thrice blessed cause. Love to labor for him. Pray much. Beseech him to let his kingdom come. Labor to build up that kingdoms Acquire the habit of laboring habitually for him who died for you. Think often of the poor heathen. Pity their souls. Pray daily for them. Be willing, if it be the will of God, to go and tell them of Jesus and redemption through his blood. Then shall you be saved from blood guiltiness. Then shall you give up your account with joy and not with grief. The Lord grant this, for Christ's sake. Amen. J. S. GREEN.

Wailuku, Nov. 14, 1838.

The Bible. [Continued from page 197.]

OBLIGATIONS TO GIVE IT TO THE DESTITUTE.

Every Christian man prizes the Bible for himself. He would not part with it, and live without it, for all the world could give him. The solar system, and the stars of the milky way, would be too small a price to purchase from him irrecoverably his Bible. Many in Christian lands, who are not Christians by an experimental acquaintance with religion, yet assign the Bible a high place among the gifts of God to them. They allow that it is the richest blessing which enters into their lot. And yet, as it may seem, many who profess to regard the Bible as their own richest inheritance, are still very little concerned that it should be possessed by those who have it not. They walk along amidst their own privileges, unmindful of those who are perishing for lack of knowledge.

It has been related of a British subject of some distinction, that, for some misdemeanor he was cast into prison, and condemned to death. Friends interested themselves, and procured from the royal clemency a pardon; which was committed to the proper officer to be forwarded. The officer, unfriendly to the prisoner, retained the pardon in his own hands, till the time appointed was past, and the unhappy victim was executed. Who does not feel his indignation moved towards that unfaithful officer? The Bible is an offer of pardon from the clemency of Heaven, sent down for condemned and perishing sinners, while yet they are prisoners of hope. Whoever receives it is bound to communicate the knowledge of it to his fellow-prisoners, far and near, that they, with himself, may partake the benefit. Every one into whose hands it falls, is, from this very fact, commissioned to publish it. It is made his duty. He is appointed to the office of publishing it. "Let him that heareth, say, Come!" A responsibility is upon him, from which he can never be free. Suppose, then, he fail in his duty. Suppose he let the pardon lie by him, till the poor brother for whom it was designed, dies without having heard of it. Is he guiltless? The British sheriff was guilty of a fearful crime. Is it less to hold back the knowledge of heaven's pardon from those for whom it was intended, till the day of mercy with them is for ever past?

Queen Elizabeth gave to the Earl of Essex, a favorite, a RING, assuring him that into whatever disgrace he might fall, or whatever prejudices she might herself be induced to entertain against him, yet if he sent her that ring, she would immediately, upon the sight of it, recall her former tenderness. Difficulties at length arose, and he was imprisoned in the tower. He sent the ring to his mistress, and wondered that he did not receive from her some favorable regard. The ring had been stopped on the way. The queen, not receiving it, supposed him obstinate, and, signing the death-warrant, the Earl was executed. Was no wrong done him? Who would be willing to take the responsibility of stopping the ring?

The individual who did it, the countess of Nottingham, when she came to die, was overwhelmed with remorse. She sent for the queen, and disclosed to her the fact. The queen, bursting into a furious passion, shook the dying countess in her bed, crying to her, that God might pardon her, but she never could.

The Bible is much more than that ring. It is the token of love from God to his creatures. Into whatever difficulties they may fall, if they present to him this, in humble reliance on the grace it reveals, he assures them of his compassion, and the return of his favor. He will remember them in mercy: He will save them. Who will not fear to have this token of Heaven's love stop on its way in his hands? Who will not hasten it to its destination, that every creature may know his privileges, and, by the use of them, obtain eternal life? Neglect may bring guilt, which it will be difficult to forgive. It may fill the soul with anguish, when it will be too late to rectify the evil.

[To be concluded.]

Counsels to Sabbath School Teachers.

The following counsels are from the pen of a distinguished divine, and are deserving the careful consideration of every teacher.

1. Let your minds be solemnly impressed with a sense of the importance of giving instruction to the young. Their minds are gradually formed by what is communicated to them; and every important truth conveyed to their understanding will not be without some good effect. If it produces no positive good, it may prevent some evil. Consider, also, that these young minds are forming for eternity. Your aim should be to bring them to Christ, to be effectually taught by him. Endeavor to rescue these young immortals from the power of sin and Satan. How great will be your joy hereafter, if you should be the instrument of saving a soul from death!

2. Keep in your minds a lively sense of your dependence on divine assistance to perform your duty aright. Think not that it is an easy thing to teach children. Much depends upon the temper of your own minds.

VOL. VII.

19*