tarily to leave it with God, because, 1st. It is infinitely wise and fit that he should choose our inheritance for us. To show the propriety of such a disposition, Jeremiah drew his followers to the potter's field; read Jer. xviii. 2-6. Many of the events and changes of life are forced, as it were, upon us, by the circumstances with which we are surrounded; and if we possess a consciousness of having left the choice of our condition with God, how sweet is the reflection, even though that condition may not be agreeable to our wishes! How very few of the benefits we enjoy are the result of our own wisdom and foresight! "It is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." Every agent in society, and every element in nature, may be charged with a blessing or a curse; and whether the one or the other should light upon us, can best be left to the determination of Him who knows both what we are and what, we should be made. 2. This arrangement is infinitely best for ourselves. The task of first forming a human soul for glory, and then bringing that soul to its possession, is what none but God himself could accomplish. The whole of the host of heaven combined would shrink from the charge of conducting but one soul through such a world of snares and enemies:how great the wisdom, then, to "bring many sons to glory!" Good men themselves also have felt the difficulty in reference to their own case; and the best of them have discovered their wisdom in proportion to the confidence they have reposed on the Captain of their salvation. "Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe." How awful has been the condition of many, who, following their own worldly propensities, and not regarding the word or the will of God, have made choice of an inheritance for themselves! Witness the case of Lot. Led aside by the well-watered plain, he heeded not the character of the inhabitants, nor the snares and temptations to which himself and his family would in this situation be exposed. Witness also the case of the Jews in the days of Jeremiah, who warned them not to go to Egypt: see Jer. xlii. 7-22. We may apply the same inquiry to many of us in the present day. Have we not sought our temporal interests too much to the neglect of our spiritual welfare? Again. Have not Christians felt their satisfaction to rise, in exact proportion to that degree of implicit confidence they have reposed in a divine and unseen hand? What encouragement have we to the exercise of this confidence, from the ultimate promises which are made to us? Heaven is our purchased inheritance, and He who gave his own Son as the price of this purchase, will surely, with infallible wisdom and love, conduct us to its enjoyment. SUNDAY-SCHOOL RECOLLECTIONS, No. 1. PASTORAL SUPERINTENDENCE. To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine. I was much gratified in seeing the letter on SabbathSchools, from Mr. Stovel, in your Magazine for July. From whom the queries emanated, or to what extent, or with what immediate object they were circulated, does not appear; but they are of indisputable importance. The introduction of Sunday-School matters in your Magazine, will be of eminent service to the cause. Why should their discussion be almost limited to the periodicals chiefly read by teachers, instead of being brought, occasionally, at least, under the notice of another class of readers, whose apathy towards them is often complained of, and which might be thus removed? The returns which Mr. Stovel has analysed clearly prove that nothing like adequate attention is yet given, by our ministers and churches generally, to these most valuable institutions. If you can afford space for a few short papers, in monthly succession, I shall be happy to suggest a few hints on the principal topics in the letter of your correspondent, and thus attempt to serve the object he has in view. These hints will be supplied by recollections of Sunday-Schools in London and its neighbouring villages, with which the writer was once connected, but more particularly of a school in this town, which he had the privilege of establishing, and of superintending for thirteen years. The duty implied in the title of this paper, deserves our first notice, since it would, if properly regarded, not only prevent many, and, indeed, most of the evils complained of in the returns alluded to, but greatly accelerate all the benefits of the SundaySchool system. I. How may pastoral superintendence be most beneficially exercised? To preach a collection sermon, deliver a speech at an annual meeting, or occasionally visit the school, are useful as far as they go; but they do not constitute an effective supervision. This, it is conceived, will be best attained by an attention to the following particulars. At 1. Attending the school regularly on some part of the Sabbath. Being constantly occupied in the afternoons in village preaching, or meeting Bible classes, the writer could only attend at the morning school. first, it was certainly rather irksome and distracting to proceed from the school-room to the pulpit; but others may be encouraged by knowing that the difficulty was overcome by regularity, the only method by which difficult services can be rendered easy, and that the duties of the school became ultimately almost as necessary to a Sabbath day's comfort, as those of the house of God. 2. Catechizing and addressing the children, particularly the seniors in the School. This will require more ample reference in a subsequent paper. 3. Seeing that order and discipline are maintained. The pas tor's presence will uphold the authority of teachers, and greatly contribute to the decorum of the school. 4. Attending the children to the house of God. This, of course, is a matter of minor importance, and will be chiefly useful where the school-room is not near the meeting-house; but, in all cases, to see that the children are properly arranged and seated, will promote the comfort of the congregation and the minister himself, and render it highly probable, that his discourses will be better regarded by the youthful auditors to whom his attentions are so immediate. 5. Occasionally inquiring after absentees, visiting sick scholars, and calling on parents. Every faithful minister will rejoice in such opportunities of being introduced to the poor, and uninformed; while the school, and, indeed, all parties, will be incalculably benefited. and meeting 6. Selecting teachers for instruction, business, and prayer. This, also, will require a distinct paper. All this may and ought to be done without interfering with the proper duties of the superintendent or other school officers. Should it be supposed that this superintendence, in addition to other duties, will be burdensome and unprofitable, let it be remembered that the ministers of Christ, who "watch for souls as they that must give account," can never deem any possible service burdensome, by which they may execute their high commission; and those who have never tried the experiment, may be assured, from the experience of those who have, that this field of labour among the rising generation will yield a richer and earlier harvest than any other. II. The following are a few of the advantages which may be confidently anticipated. 1. The best religious education will be, or ought to be, imparted to the children of the school. 2. The teachers will be indirectly instructed and trained at the same time. 3. The children will love and regularly attend a school to which a minister thus devotes himself. 4. Their parents will esteem such a minister as the friend of their children; and will, in many instances, be thereby induced to attend his ministry. 5. The deacons and members of the church, and, indeed, the whole congregation, will be likely EVENING MEDITATION ON THE RAINBOW. On yon bright arch, that decks the ev'ning sky, And in his face reveal'd, springs forth the God of day. And fall beneath the lightning of his eye. All hail, triumphant Lord! Ascend thy throne ! To thee thy saints their grateful song shall raise, Stratford on Avon, Y, Z. REVIEWS AND BRIEF NOTICES. Biographical Recollections of the Rev. It is unnecessary, in our notice We are not unmindful of the intense and almost universal curiosity which is manifested to become acquainted with all that can be told of the extraordinary man whose life he was preparing; but that curiosity ought not to be gratified by the violation of retirements which surviving and most intimate friends hold sacred from intrusion. No man, in such a case, has a right to satisfy the public inquisitiveness at the expense of private feelings, and it is a serious infraction upon the implied, but well understood, obligations of social life, whenever this is done. If, in the life of any individual whose genius or character has created general anxiety to know how the one was formed, or the other displayed, there were incidents which, in the biographer's judgment, help to give the required information, yet of such a nature in themselves, or so complicated with the history of other parties, that they cannot be related without inflicting pain on those who should experience nothing but the most respectful sympathy, he certainly ought to suppress them; and, if he does not, he subjects himself to merited censure. This censure Mr. Morris has incurred. The biography of Mr. Hall ought to contain nothing but what might be dwelt upon with complacency by those who were connected with him in the nearest affinities of nature. There are passages in the book before us they cannot read. We are quite sure every person of right feeling will say, with us, such passages ought never to have been written. The design of these observations will be very much mistaken if it is inferred from them that the circumstances alluded to derogate from the greatness of Mr. Hall's character; and that, on this account, we deprecate their publication. On the contrary, we know that every thing connected with them, if narrated, as at some distant period we hope they will be, will serve only to enhance the admiration in which already he is held, by establishing for him additional claims on the respect and affection |