MANNER of Teaching 3
Back to The Sunday School Teacher's Guide
E. Marriage has very frequently put an untimely close to a teacher's labors. I have seen very many instances in which the next Sunday after the marital union has been formed, both parties have relinquished their office at the school. Does that union, then, which was designed by its divine author as the basis of society, release us from a single obligation to promote its welfare? Or do we acquire a sanctity of character at the marriage altar, which is profaned by exposing it in a Sunday School? Or do the tender affections which this connection produces, unfit the parties for an office, one qualification of which is love?
I acknowledge, that in many, perhaps in most cases, the secession of females becomes a matter of necessity—but for a young man to give up his attention to the cause of God, the very first Sunday after he has received the greatest relative blessing heaven has to bestow, is a cold expression of gratitude to his benefactor. Until a rising family of his own prefer more just and sacred claims upon his time than the children of the poor—it is both absurd and cruel to take it away from them! How can he better prepare himself to become the preceptor of the little circle, that may one day surround his own fire-side, than by acquiring the art of instruction among the sons and daughters of the stranger?
Such are the more prevailing causes that produce a lack of perseverance, and such the manner in which they may be removed.
5. I mention CONSTANCY as exceedingly important, in the manner of discharging the duties of a teacher's office.
This, perhaps, may seem like a repetition of the direction just expressed. But there is a difference. By perseverance, I intend acontinuance in office. And by constancy, a steady, uniform, and undiverted discharge of its duties. In most large towns circumstances are continually occurring which put this virtue to the test. Some popular minister is to preach; or one of the resident ministers is to preach a charity sermon, or funeral discourse. On such occasions, without a firm and ready attachment to the business he has undertaken, a teacher is in great danger of being induced to quit his post.
There is one sect in the religious world, which, although not enumerated in any book of denominations, or any theological dictionary; which, although it has neither distinct creed, nor separate temples, still is entitled to a specific notification; this sect I shall denominate the "CURIOSI"—their identifying trait is a love of novelty. They belong to any preacher who, for the time, can interest them by something new; and they attach themselves to every congregation that has something extraordinary going on. Thus, as they are carried along the stream of profession like twigs and chips that are floating near the edge of a river, they are intercepted by every weed, and whirled in every little eddy.
If you would be a useful, or respectable teacher, you must not belong to this denomination. It does not rank very high in heaven above, or earth beneath. They would fain persuade you, that like the bee, they are sucking honey from every flower. But more like the butterfly, they rove through all the garden of the Lord, not to sip the most luxurious—but to flutter with a vain and useless frivolity around the most gaudy blossom within the sacred enclosure. Be always at your post, and let it be your glory to find what powerful attraction you can resist, rather than be absent from your needy charge.
6. PUNCTUALITY in a teacher is vitally connected with the prosperity of the school.
When one considers the importance of the object in which you are engaged, and add to this the little time at most, you can command for seeking it—one might have presumed that it would be quite unnecessary to caution you against devoting less time to this ministry. And yet it is painful to be obliged to assert, that there is scarcely one evil, under which the whole system more severely suffers, than a lack of punctuality in the teachers. It is an evil which eats into the very core of the institution. Precisely in the degree to which it exists, the order of the school must be interrupted, the solemnity of instruction disturbed, and the whole machine be impeded. Nor will the mischief stop here. The children perceiving that it is useless to be there before their teachers, and imitating their irregularity, will sink into the same habits of inattention and neglect. Late masters, must make late scholars. 'Tis useless for you to admonish your class to be early, if by example you instruct them to be late.
There are several causes which lead to the evil of which I now complain.
A. A thoughtless disregard to the importance of punctuality in general, is observable in some people. They are always, and in everything, late. If they have an engagement to perform, they never think of preparing for it until the time of commencement is past. On the Sunday they do not set off to public worship, until the clock reminds them they ought at that moment to be in their pew. "A few minutes," they lazily exclaim; "can make no great difference." A few minutes make no difference!!! If everyone, and in everything, were to act upon this principle—but for one day, the world would be chaos. This procrastinating temper is a bane, under the influence of which the interests of society are suffering in a thousand ways; and that man would deserve the thanks of his species, who could furnish the most effectual antidote against it. There is a time for everything; and let everything be done in its time. In common language we speak of fetching up lost time—but in strict propriety, this is impossible. A moment lost, can never be recovered!
B. Late rising on the Sunday morning is a great obstacle in the way of punctuality. Perhaps I shall be thought uncharitable in expressing my apprehensions, that by many professing Christians, the season of slumber is protracted to an unusual length on the morning of the Sunday; and that day which was mercifully intended as a season of rest, is sinfully converted into a period of indolence. Considering how closely the world and its concerns follow us on other days, one might imagine, that we would feel disposed to make the Sunday as long as possible. It is the last day we ought to shorten. And were our souls in a state of high spiritual prosperity, we should, like the lark, be soaring towards heaven upon the wings of the morning, while the greater part of the world below us was still wrapped in silence and in sleep; and, like the nightingale, continue to pour forth our songs in the night, when the multitude around us, to relieve the tedium of the sacred day, had prematurely sunk to their rest.
But consider that your sloth defrauds not only your own soul—but also the souls of your children at the school! The idea of such forbidden slumber should present you with—is a shepherd depriving his lambs of their food. Rising late, you are often driven to the school without prayer, and without preparation, and even then are often long late yourself. Every beam of the morning, as it gently touches the lids of your eyes, seems to address you in the language of Christ to his slumbering disciples, "Why sleep you? Rise and pray." Or if this be too gentle a voice to rouse you from your slumbers, let harsher tones disturb you, "What do you mean, O sleeper? Arise, call upon your God."
C. Another cause of lack of punctuality, is too much time employed at the dinner table. Are there Christians who devote the Sunday to more than ordinary gratification of the palate, and who, in order to provide for their pleasure, employ their servants or themselves during the most precious portion of the day, in preparing for the table? Alas! to the shame of many, who make large professions, this question must be answered in the affirmative! In some cases it is beyond a teacher's control to alter the arrangements of a family—but it is within everyone's ability to content himself with anything the house affords, rather than be late at school, by waiting for the roast that is smoking at the oven. Do I ask a costly sacrifice for the interests of the children? What! a WARM dinner on Sundays too much to give up for those souls, for which the Savior gave his blood? This too much to relinquish, in order that you may hasten with the bread of life to those who are perishing for lack of it? Can you begrudge this gratification when it is to enlarge your opportunity of endeavoring to save those souls, which if finally lost, shall never have the temporary mitigation of their torments—which even a drop of water affords to a burning tongue!
Let me then enjoin, with peculiar earnestness, a strict regard to punctuality. That you may feel more strongly the obligations to this, I again entreat you to recollect how short a space of time, even at most, the children can enjoy your instructions, A few hours on the Sunday, with respect to most of them, are all the time during which through the whole week they hear or see anything like piety. Make not the little time, less.
7. Crown all your labors with fervent, and habitual PRAYER.
It is important for you, in all your exertions, to bear in mind the total and universal depravity of the human race. By total depravity, I do not mean that people are as bad as they can be, for in general they lie under strong restraints--and most do not sin with reckless abandonment. I do not mean that they are all equally wicked, for some are less sinful than others. I do not mean that they are destitute of everything useful, and lovely in society; their social affections are often strong and praiseworthy. I do not mean that their actions are always
wrong; the contrary is manifestly true. What I mean by total depravity, is an entire destitution in the human heart by nature--of all spiritual affection, and holy propensities. In this view every child is totally depraved.
To change this state of the mind, and produce a holy bias; to create a new disposition, to turn all the affections into a new channel, and cause them to flow towards God and heaven, is the work of the omnipotent and eternal Spirit, who in the executions of his purposes, however, generally employs the instrumentality of man. Now this view of the case must be ever before your mind; it must mingle with all your plans, and direct all your exertions. You must accurately understand the nature of the materials on which you have to work, and be intimately acquainted with the source from whence success is to be expected. You must sow the seed in its season with the diligence of the farmer, and then exercise, like him, an unlimited dependence upon the influences of the heavens; for it is God that gives increase to the labors of both.
A spirit of earnest prayer should be the living soul of all your conduct. While your eye is fixed upon the children, your heart should be lifted up to God. You should sit down as between them and the fountain of life, and while opening by instruction a channel to their hearts, seek to draw the living stream by prayer from heaven. Your closet should also be the scene of your concern for their welfare. In those seasons of hallowed seclusion, when your soul makes her nearest and happiest approaches to the throne of divine grace, concentrate on their immortal interests. God loves the prayers of his people, and especially delights in the prayers of pious benevolence. Importune him, therefore; to bless your efforts. Confess to him that the work of conversion is all his own. Hang the interests of the school upon his arm, and lay them down in the light of his countenance.
Especially on the morning of the Sunday, in the prospect of your exertions. Next to your own growth in grace, seek the principal subject of your prayers, in the welfare of the children. Pray for grace to be found faithful; and to be made sufficient for these things. Entreat of God to rouse you from lukewarmness, and to enable you to feel the weight of others' souls, upon your own.There qualify yourself, if I may so speak, for your office. 'Tis astonishing what an effect is produced, even on our own feelings, by fervent prayer. It elevates in our minds, and endears to our heart—every object which it embraces. It is not the pleading of an hireling advocate, who, after the most eloquent appeals, receives his fee, and forgets his client. But the intercession of genuine love, which is inflamed towards its object, by its own impassioned entreaties on its behalf.
Prayer will cherish all the tenderest sensibilities of the heart, and keep down the growth and influence of our natural selfishness. Did you come to the school every Sunday morning, like Moses from the mount, direct from the presence and the converse of God; bringing all the solemn tenderness with which you had supplicated for the children at the mercy-seat—what a godly character would be imparted to your deportment! The solemn air of eternity, irradiated with the beams of heavenly glory, would be visible upon your countenance; while the meekness of Jesus, and the mercy of his gospel, breathed forth in all your language, would admonish the children, that it was not a time for them to trifle, when their teacher had come to them with a "message from God!"
Provided they possess other qualifications in an equal degree—those who are most prayerful will be most successful. On the other hand, it is matter of little surprise, that no spiritual benefit or success attends the efforts of those by whom the duty of prayer is neglected. They labor, as might be expected, in a field on which the dew of heaven seldom distills—and which brings forth little else than thorns, and briers. Whenever we shall be favored to perceive a spirit of prayer resting upon the great mass of our teachers, and insinuating itself into all their exertions, we shall not wait long before we hear of a degree of success among the children, which will delight and astonish us; for it is said of Jehovah, that "He hears prayer."
Back to The Sunday School Teacher's Guide