the opportunity to carry the light of the Gospel to the remote and "dark places of the earth," and it is believed that their efforts will yet have an important effect in diffusing the light of Chris• tianity throughout the world. 45, LIBKC OF THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS. CALIFORNIA AMONG the various institutions which have been established in modern times for the promo-. tion of religious instruction, and the benefit of mankind, that of Sunday Schools must stand in the foremost rank.-The first Sabbath School was established by Robert Raikes Esq. of Gloucester, Eng. in 1782. "The beginning of this scheme," (says Mr. Raikes,) was owing to accident. Some business leading me one morning in the suburbs of the city, (Gloucester,) where the lowest of the people chiefly reside, I was struck with concern at seeing a group of children, wretchedly ragged, at play in the street. I asked an inhabitant whether those children belonged to that part of the town, and lamented their misery and idle ness. Ah! Sir, said the woman to whom I was speaking, could you take a view of this part of the town on a Sunday, you would be shocked indeed; for then the street is filled with a multitude of these wretches, who, released from employment, spend their time in noise and riot, playing at chuck, and cursing and swearing in a manner so horrid, as to convey to any serious mind an idea of hell rather than any other place. This conversation suggested to me, that it would be at least a harmless attempt, if it were productive of no good, should some little plan be formed to check this deplorable profanation of the Sabbath. I then enquired if there were any decent well disposed women in the neighbourhood, who kept schools for teaching to read. 1 presently was directed to four. To these 1 applied, and made an agreement with them, to receive as many children as I should send them upon the Sunday, whom they were to instruct in reading, and in the Church catechism."-This This appears to have been the origin of Sunday Schools-Mr. Raikes soon found means to increase the number of schools, the Methodists were the first to unite with him in this under taking, and in two years he saw a great change wrought in Gloucester; he laid his plan before the public; and before his death, (which took place in 1811,) he had the happiness to learn, the Sunday Schools in various parts of Britain, comprehended three hundred thousand children. These Schools have now become numerous in England, Scotland, Ireland, and America ; and it is believed that the influence they will exert on the rising generation, will have an important effect towards hastening on that day when "all shall know the Lord from the least unto the greatest," and "the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea." Several different modes have been adopted in conducting these schools, and improvements have been constantly made.-In many places, the instructers of Sabbath Schools hold a weekly or monthly meeting by themselves, to report the progress of their respective classes, and to devise means for the religious improvement of the School. Libraries for the use of the scholars and teachers, have produced very beneficial effects. 46. MILLENIUM. THIS scene is yet to come.-Millenium, is a term generally used to denote the time when according to prophecy, a great moral change in our world will be effected by the universal prevalence of Christianity." By this change, the ruins of the fall to a great extent, will be repaired; the power and influence of the Messiah's reign will be felt and acknowledged by all nations, producing universal peace, and willing obedience to the law of the Creator; and the earth with its inhabitants, in a manner and degree beyond our anticipations, will return to the happy state of perfection, innocence, and peace, in which they were originally formed."* We have many prophecies in the Bible respecting this time, the prophet declares that "The knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth, as the waters cover the sea," and, "all shall know the Lord from the least unto the greatest." This world which has been the theatre of so much sin and misery, war and blood-shed, shall Dr. Morse. |