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commitments, and executions, all marking an augmented depravity among our population. A very slight degree of arithmetic, we are persuaded, can explain the paradox. Let it simply be considered, in the case of any christian institution, whether its chief office be to attract or to pervade. Should it only be the former, we have no doubt, that a great visible exhibition may be drawn around it; and that stationary pulpits and general Sabbath-schools, and open places of repair for instruction indiscriminately to all who will, must give rise to a great absolute amount of attendance. And whether we look at the streets, when all in a fervour with church-going, or witness the full assemblage of children, who come from all quarters, with their weekly preparations, to a pious and intelligent teacher,-or compute the overflowing auditory, that, Sabbath after Sabbath, some free, evening sermon is sure to bring out from among the closely peopled mass,-or, finally, read of the thousands which find a place in the enumerations of some great philanthropic society, we are apt, from all this, to think that a good and a religious influence is in full and busy circulation on every side of us. And yet, there is not a second-rate town in our empire, which does not afford materials enough, both for all this stir and appearance, on the one hand, and for a rapid increase, in the quantum of moral deterioration, on the other. The doings to which we have adverted, may bear, with a kind of magnetic influence, on all that is kindred in character to their own design and their own principle. They may communicate a movement to the minority who will, but leave still and motionless the majority who will not. Whole streets and whole departments may be nearly untouched by them. There is the firm and the obstinate growth of a sedentary corruption, which will require to be more actively assailed. It is certainly cheering to count the positive numbers on the side of Christianity. But, beyond the ken of ordinary notice, there is an outnumbering both on the side of week-day profligacy, and of Sabbath-profanation. There is room enough for apparent Christianity, and real corruption, to be gaining ground together, each in their respective territories; and the delusion is, that, while many are rejoicing in the symptoms of our country's reformation, the country itself may be ripening for some awful crisis, by which to mark, in characters of vengeance, the consummation of its guilt.

of no expedient, by which this woful degeneracy can be arrested and recalled, but an actual search and entry upon the territory of wickedness. A mere signal of invitation is not enough. In reference to the great majority, and in reference to the most needful, this were as powerless as was the bidding to the marriagefeast of the parable. We must have recourse, at last, to the final expedient that was adopted on that occasion; or, in other words, go out to the streets and the highways, and, by every fair measure of moral, and personal, and friendly application, compel the multitude to come in. We must do with the near, what we are doing with the distant world. We do not expect to christianise the latter, by messages of entreaty, from the regions of paganism. But we send our messages to them. Neither do we give a roving commission to the bearers, but assign to each of them their respective stations in that field, which is the world. And we most assuredly need not expect to christianise any city of nominal Christendom, by waiting the demand of its various districts for religious instruction, and acting upon the demands, as they arrive. There must just be as aggressive a movement in the one case as in the other. There is not the same physical distance, but there is nearly the same moral distance, to be described with both; and they who traverse this distance, though without one mile of locomotion to the place of their labour, do, in effect, maintain the character, and fulfil the duty of missionaries." pp. 65–67.

The manner in which DR. CHALMERS would organize this " aggressive movement," is thus described :

"In most of the Sabbath-school societies with which we are acquainted, this principle is disregarded. The teachers are indiscriminately stationed in all parts of the city, and the pupils are as indiscriminately drawn from all parts of the city. Now, what we affirm, is, that the effectiveness of each individual teacher is greatly augmented, if a definite locality be given to him; and that a number of teachers spread over any given neighbourhood on this principle, is armed, in consequence of it, with a much higher moral power over the habits and opinions of the rising generation.

"Let a small portion of the town, with its geographical limits, be assigned to such a teacher. Let his place of instruction be within this locality, or as near as possible to its confines. Let him restrain his attentions to the children of "In these circumstances, do we know its families, sending forth no invitations

to those who are without, and encouraging, as far as it is proper, the attendance of all who are within. Under such an arrangement, he will attain a comfort and an efficiency in his work, which, with the common arrangement, is utterly unattainable. And, we farther conceive, that, if this local assignation of teachers were to become general, it would lead to far more precious and lasting consequences of good to society." p. 54.

"Under a local system, the teachers move towards the people. Under a general system, such of the people as are disposed to Christianity, move towards them. To estimate the comparative effect of these two, take the actual state of every mixed and crowded population, where there must be many among whom this disposition is utterly extinguished. The question is, how shall the influence of a Sabbath-school be brought most readily and abundantly into contact with their families? Which of the two parties, the teacher or those to be taught, should make the first advances to such an approximation? To meet this question, let it ever be remembered, that there is a wide and a mighty difference between the wants of our physical, and those of our moral and spiritual nature. In proportion to our want of food, is our desire for food; but it is not so with our want of knowledge, or virtue, or religion. The more destitute we are of these last, the more dead we are as to any inclination for them. A general system of Sabbath-schooling may attract towards it all the predisposition that there is for christian instruction, and yet leave the majority as untouched and as unawakened as it found them. In moving through the lanes and the recesses of a long-neglected population, it will be found of the fearful multitude, that not only is their acquaintance with the gospel extinguished, but their wish to obtain an acquaintance with it is also extinguished. They not only have no righteousness; but they have no hungering nor thirsting after it. A general teacher may draw some kindred particles out of this assemblage. He may bring around him such families as are of a homogeneous quality with himself. Those purer ingredients of the mass, which

retain so much of the ethereal character as to have an ethereal tendency, may move towards a place of central and congenial attraction, though at a considerable distance from them; and, even though, in so doing, they have to come separately out from that overwhelming admixture with which they are encompassed. But the bulky sediment remains untouched and stationary; and, by its

power of assimilation, too, is all the while adding to its own magnitude. And thus it is both a possible thing that schools may multiply, under a general system, and that out of the resources of a mighty population, an overflowing attendance may be afforded to each of them, while an humble fraction of the whole is all that is overtaken; and below the goodly superficies of a great apparent stir and activity, may an unseen structure of baser materials deepen and accumulate underneath, so as to furnish a solution of the fact, that, with an increase of christian exertion amongst us, there should, at one and the same time, be an increase of heathenism.

"It is the pervading operation of the local system, which gives it such a superior value and effect in our estimation. It is its thorough diffusion through that portion of the mass in which it operates. It is that movement, by which it traverses the whole population, and by which, instead of only holding forth its signals to those of them who are awake, it knocks at the doors of those who are most profoundly asleep, and, with a force far more effective than if it were physical, drags them out to a willing attendance upon its ministrations. In this way, or indeed in any way, may it still be impossible to reach the parents of our present generation. But the important practical fact is, that, averse as they may be to Christianity on their own account, and negligent as they often are, in their own persons, of the Christianity of their children, still, there is a pride and a satisfaction felt in their attendance upon the Sabbath-schools, and their proficiency at the Sabbath-schools. Let the system be as impotent as it may in its efficiency upon the old, still, it comes into extensive contact with the ductile and susceptible young; and, from the way in which it is fitted to muster them nearly all into its presence, it is fitted, in proper hands, to wield a high and a presiding influence over the destinies of a future age." pp. 61-63.

The following extract shows the plan in operation, in the method pursued by the Saltmarket Sabbathschool Society, Glasgow:

"The field of its operations takes in both sides of the street, with the deep, and narrow, and numerous lanes which branch off from them. It bears a population of 3624; and to cultivate this extent, there were only four individuals, at the outset of the undertaking, who, instead of spreading themselves over the whole, appropriated each a small locality, and waited for more agents, ere they

proceeded to lay out the remainder. And, such is the impulse that lies in a field of exertion, with its boundaries lying visibly before you, such is the excitement given to human power, when linked to a task that may be surmounted, instead of being left to expatiate at random, over an obscure and fathomless unknown,-such is the superior charm of a statistical over an extended territory, and such the more intense sympathy of a devoted few, in the prosecution of their common and defined object, than that of the scattered many, who have spread beyond the limits either of mutual inspection or of general control,-that, in a few months, did this little association both complete its numbers, and thoroughly allocate and pervade the whole ground of its projected operations. It has now opened fourteen schools, and provided them with teachers. The number of scholars is 420, amounting to more than a ninth of the whole population. This is a very full proportion indeed; for, on pretty extensive surveys, it is found, that the whole number of Ichildren, from the age of six to fifteen, comes to about one-fifth of the population. Certain it is, that all the general societies, in previous operation, had brought out but a very slender fraction indeed of the number brought out by this local and pervading society;-that many a crowded haunt of this district, was as completely untouched by the antecedent methods, as are the families in

the wilds of Tartary;-that hundreds of young, never in church, and without one religious observation to mark and to separate their Sabbath from the other days of the week, have thus been brought within an atmosphere, which they now breathe for the first time in their existence; that, with a small collection of books attached to each humble seminary, there is a reading of the purest and most impressive character, in full circulation amongst both the parents and the children who belong to it; and, what is not the least important effect of all, that, by the frequent recurrence of week-day visitations, there is both a christian and a civilizing influence sent forth upon a whole neighbourhood, and a thousand nameless cordialities are constantly issuing out of the patriarchal relationship,

which has thus been formed between a man of worth, and so many outcast and neglected families." pp. 77, 78.

Whilst DR. CHALMERS SO ably points out the means by which, through the multiplication of Churches, the division of Parishes, and the establishment of District

and Sabbath-schools, the truths of our holy religion may be more generally diffused, and made to bear directly upon the hearts and lives of the whole population of the country, it will be observed throughout the whole, that so far is he from supposing that efficient and moral effects can result from the mere communication of the elements of human learning, separate from the direct inculcation of religious doctrines and motives, that he scarcely glances at an opinion which, on this side of the Tweed, has had so many abettors, and which has insensibly enfeebled many school-institutions among us, which have set out, and been indeed carried on, under other professions. His District-schools, to meet the wants of the youth of large towns, are supposed to be conducted upon the old and tried plan of his country; his Sabbath-schools are to be carried on by pious agents, who are the minds of their charge under resupposed to exert themselves to bring ligious influence, and to form in them the habit of "keeping holy the Sabbath-day," and of attending the services of the house of GoD; and the whole is further supposed to be under the natural and proper superintendence of the Ministers of God's

word, to direct, encourage, control, and to attach to their congregations, and the Church of CHRIST, the children thus instructed, as they may actually benefit by a ministry for which they are prepared, and to which they are accustomed to attend. It is the merit of DR. C.'s work, to adopt nothing new as to principles; but to bring out those which the authority of Christianity has sanctioned, and which experience has confirmed, in the fulness of their proof, and the amplitude of their application; and thus to set the heart and the hand to work, rather than engage the understanding to compose and measure the pillars upon which he would call the energies of the wise and good, of all ranks, to erect the superstructure of a national reformation. The soil on which he composed these eloquent and powerful discussions gave him, in this respect, no small advantage. In Scotland, education, intimately and inseparably connected

with religion, was not to be begun, but only extended; its moral effects had not to be referred to the class of probable results, but to be appealed to as facts of history. Instruction in religion by an ample catechism, (the Assembly's,) which, whatever objection may be taken to some of its doctrines, must be acknowledged to be drawn up with great ability, and well calculated to lead to the knowledge of the Scriptures, had been more extended in that than any other Protestant country; the pastoral office had been more diligently fulfilled; preaching, as an ordinance of GoD, had been more encouraged, and practised; respect to the Sabbath, and attendance at public worship, had been formed more effectually into the general habit of the people; and a knowledge of the Scriptures had been more extensively diffused. The consequence had been, that whilst England presented a population sunk in ignorance and vice, Scotland had exhibited, in her honourable moral story, a race, intelligent, industrious, observant of the forms of religion, and in no inconsiderable degree under their moral influence. With these familiar facts, it would indeed have been very inexcusable in the Author to have diverged into theory on the subject of national education. England has made some progress, of late years, towards these advantages. But the population of Scotland has now outrun the range of a good system, and the case needed all the zeal, and all the talents of DR. CHALMERS to awaken attention to the fact, and to call forth a commensurate effort; and in no period of our history has the population of England been placed within the reach of adequate, or nearly adequate instruction. Our national catechism, excellent in many particulars, is too brief and defective to convey even the outline of the doctrine of CHRIST; it has been, too, very partially taught. The great body of the poor, before the institution of SundaySchools, were unable to read the Scriptures, and in many counties still remain so; and above all, (and we mention it with sorrowful regret, and not for the purpose of detraction,) the churches, from the Restoration, and through the blind policy then

pursued, have been generally supplied with a clergy, not deficient in learning, but greatly defective or erring, as theologians, (the doctrines of their own Church being judges,) and criminally negligent of the great duties of the pastoral office. From the proneness of men to fall into extremes, Preaching itself, which had been made every thing during the reign of Presbyterianism in this country, fell into contempt, and till lately seems not to have made any progress in the opinion of the clergy themselves, as the main instrument by which their ministry was to be effectual to the conversion of men. If, therefore, we have not seen more clearly marked the dependance of education upon religious influence for its efficiency, and have been more liable to think and act with too great a laxity on this subject, a reason is not wanting. And yet the example of Scotland was not too far off for observation; exceptions of a very striking kind have occurred in our country; and the abstract truth itself, founded on the doctrines of the Bible, was not very recondite. Some of the errors on the subject of education, however, bave had their day; and we are glad to remark an altered tone of scntiment in many persons, which will prepare them to receive the greater benefit from such a work as that before us, both as it tends to arouse endeavour, and to give to it a right direction.

We have just adverted to the numerous Sunday-Schools established within the last thirty years in this country, as supplying, though not adequately, yet to a very gratifying extent, the national destitution; and too much cannot be said in praise of the zeal and liberality with which they have been conducted and supported. It is indeed a reflection calculated to convey the richest pleasure to every pious heart, that in these institutions a countless number of children have, within the period of their operation, been qualified to read the Scriptures, imbued with the elements of religious knowledge, habituated to respect the Sacred Day, and its sacred ordinances, and prepared to derive an

advantage from the ministrations of the word of GOD, which they had not otherwise possessed. SundaySchools have made a powerful moral impression upon great masses of the populace, whatever ignorance and vice may, after all, remain. But their very efficiency has been derived, not from the circumstance of their giving mere elemental and useful scholarship, but, from their intimate connection with religion. The conductors have been, in, we hope, the majority of instances, pious; excellent catechisms have been taught in many of them; much truth bas been treasured up in the minds of the children, by the psalms, hymus, and spiritual songs, which they have joined in singing, and committed to memory; many affectionate exhortations have been given them; their parents have been sought out, and invited to places of worship; and thus various means of direct moral influence, springing from the warm charity of those who have loved them for CHRIST's sake, and which could not fail to make a strong impression upon their hearts, have been applied, to promote ends higher than cold institutions for elementary education alone could either propose or reach.

It must however be confessed, that the very advantages produced by these institutions have been often misleading. They have been defended, too, against their adversaries, on principles which are not, in their full extent, tenable. Education, in the opinion of many who forgot how much religious influence had been brought to bear upon these institutions, was to effect every thing which either the Philanthropist or the Christian could require. The mind would be awakened from its torpor, and the character would be elevated, by the process of stringing syllables, and mastering the "Reading made Easy!" The capacity to read being given to the children, it was concluded that the Bible, of course, would become their companion, and the House of GOD, in maturer years, their constant resort. These notions have, in many schools, insensibly led to the neglect of direct and patient endeavours to fill the minds of the scholars with religious truth, and

carefully to form their habits, from their first exercise, to reverence the Sabbath, and to feel the obligations of public worship. This, it has been thought, would follow in time from education; and therefore the great effort has often been to crowd as much education into that "sweet hour of prime," as its short duration would admit;-as though a religious future habit could flow from any thing but a religious early habit; and the corruption of the heart be more easily conquered by the pulpit, if left unchecked by the discipline of the school. Hence much of golden opportunity has been lost, and much of the very time of Sunday secularized, and desecrated. In some schools, the process of tuition has been going on in the very hours of divine service on the Sabbath forenoon, and both children and teachers, (often serious young people, who most needed the instructions and influence of the pulpit,) kept away from it. Here, then, education has not merely been unconnected with religion; but conducted under circumstances calculated to impress the young with an opinion, that the public worship of Almighty God was but a secondary concern, to be neglected not only with impunity, but with applause! Nor is this the worst of those errors in practice which have crept in. The principle of the superior importance of secular education to every thing beside, has led to the neglect, in many schools, of catechetical instruction; writing, and even accounts, have had their portion of the Sacred Day assigned to them; the school-room has been turned into a bazar for the Sunday sale of copy-books, slates, and pencils, and perhaps, under the idea of sanctifying the whole, of Bibles and Testaments; and further, that nothing might be wanting to exhibit the evil in its strongest light, the Sunday-school circulating library has, in a few instances, also been opened on the Sabbath for receiving and returning books, with their hire and fines, under the plea of greater convenience! These are lamentable facts, as they have argued great laxity of religious principle, or the presence of very pernicious errors of

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