Thomas.-Jesus is the way to heaven, be

cause he is the way to holiness.

T.-All together.

And how further, Susan?

Susan.Jesus is the way to heaven, because the leads us thither.

T-All together.

Now we will once more repeat together. C.and T-Jesus Christ is the Way to Heaven. He is the way to heaven, because he died for sinners.

A

He is the way to heaven, because he is the way to holiness.

He is the way to heaven, because he leads us thither.

T. Before we separate, we will join in a little prayer, which I will write for you that you may use it alone.

PRAYER.

O Holy Jesus! We have heard of Thee as the Way to Heaven. Thou didst suffer and die for our sins. Though we are so young, we confess that without Thee, we are lost sinners. Wash us from our sins in thine own blood. Enable us to forsake the sins which made Thee suffer. Take them away from us. Send Thy blessed Spirit into our hearts to make us holy. Gather us into Thy heavenly fold. Let us be among Thy Lambs whom Thou wilt carry in thine arms. Make us to hear Thy voice, to know Thee, and follow Thee, till thou bringest us to dwell with Thee in thy kingdom, for ever. Amen.

OBSERVATIONS FOR THE INSTRUCTOR.

To avoid too great prolixity, we have supposed more knowledge in the children than they will in general possess. The simplest truths should at first be communicated and dwelt upon. Such lessons as those now offered, should not be given till the Children have been thoroughly instructed in the first simple principles of Religion: for instance "Jesus Christ died upon the cross"-is a simple truth;-the child is supposed to have been instructed in this truth, and to have had it repeatedly impressed upon its mind. The reason of the death of Christ is another truth, which should be communicated and dwelt upon singly, and at different intervals. For a long time previous to more complicated lessons, the teacher should have been in the habit of writing upon the board simple affirmations, and of conversing upon them with the object of fixing the one particular truth before him upon the minds of the children.

The foregoing and following lessons involve many simple truths.

It is supposed that when the children are at a loss for an answer, the Teacher leads them to give it, by putting his question in a different form; that he aids the mind of the child, and brings the object before it by indirect means, according to its capacity, and the particular circumstances of the moment. He should

seldom furnish the answer, but rather than do this, pursue a circuitous course. If the Teacher, for instance, wishes to convince the child of the fallen state of the soul, he may ask-William, why are you ever naughty? Perhaps the child may say, "I do not know."-Are you happy when you are naughty?-Are you happy when you are good?-Do you like to be happy?—If then you like to be happy, and are happy when you are good, why are you not always good? The child may perhaps say-" it is hard to be good." And why is it hard? I do not know. Is it hard to use your arm? No. Is it hard to. little Jane to use her arm? Yes. Why is it hard to Jane? Because she has hurt her arm. You see that you can easily move your arm, because it is well; it is very hard to poor little Jane to move hers, because it is hurt. Let us apply this. The arm in a healthy state can easily move; the soul in a healthy state can act well. What did I begin with asking you? You asked me why I was ever naughty. Yes: and after a little time you told me it was hard to be good. Now, if it is hard to be good, do you think that your Soul is entirely sound and well.*-If your soul were perfectly well, would it be hard to you to be good?-Why have I

* We have asked the question in this form rather than speak of a good or right state, because converted persons, though still contending with Sin, may be said to be in a right state, i. e. progressively recovering. Souls in the highest state on earth, are only in the way of recovery.

asked you these questions? I have asked you them, to lead you to perceive that if your soul were in a sound state, it would not be hard to be good; but it is hard to be good, because your Soul is in an unsound state. This is what is meant, when it is said our hearts are corrupt. God made the Soul of man in a perfect state, but man has fallen from the state in which God made him. Read what is said in an early period of the history of man, Gen. vi. 5.

At different times the Teacher may let the child read several of the first chapters of Genesis in illustration and confirmation of the above truth.-At a subsequent period, all the child reads in Scripture, all he sees in the world, all he feels of the natural workings of his heart, will more and more shew him the corruption of human nature.

The Teacher may at times proceed in a shorter way; he may point out the evil state of the heart, by alluding to any wrong action the child may have committed; he may lead him to perceive that if his heart were not evil he would not do wrong things: he may afterwards turn his attention to many things he says as a proof of the evil state of his heart; then gradually lead him to feel his thoughts are corrupt.

At another time, the Teacher may illustrate his meaning by familiar objects; for instance, he may speak of a particular fruit tree which the child has observed, and which produces

either no fruit or bad fruit; he may point out that we know the tree is bad by the effects we perceive. He may then make the child read Matt. vii. 17, 18, and apply the subject to the state of our hearts.

Older persons might be instructed in a simiFar manner. Familiar illustrations might be ased they might be led to the perception of truth by what they see around them, or feel within themselves. Supposing we would shew them why they are not happy.-They are not happy because they are not in the state for which they were created--they are out of their element; and no creature out of its element can enjoy its existence. Our true element is a state of union with the Divine Being.