g
majority stands on the side of the ignorant--of those who never had the
benefits of Sabbath-school instruction. Search into the history of those
poor wretches who people our "Union Houses," and you will find that but
few of them enjoyed the benefits of Sabbath-school instruction. And it
may be relied on as a fact, that in the black catalogue of the annals of
crime comparatively few are to be found who were instructed in
Sabbath-schools. Let Sabbath-schools become universal, let proper
teachers be provided for the children, and let religious instruction of
an orthodox character be instilled into their minds, and next to the
preaching of the gospel, it will do more towards the establishment of the
reign of grace--towards the universal reign of Christ--than any one thing
besides.

Thirdly: let it be known that the immediate, positive results of
Sabbath-school instruction, are incalculable! Scores, yea hundreds,
have, during their connection with them, been soundly converted to God.
Hundreds and thousands date their conversion from the instructions and
admonitions received at those noble institutions; and not a few of the
most devoted missionaries, illustrious divines, laborious commentators,
and translators of the Bible, and most popular preachers of the age, have
been among those very persons who owed--and have rejoiced to own that
they owed--their conversion to Sabbath-school instrumentality.

I cannot take leave of the reader, without adverting for a moment to an
objection which may be raised with reference to the subjects of the
preceding narrative.

Some persons, perhaps, may be ready to say, that in all probability these
brothers would have become what they are, had they never seen a
Sabbath-school. To this objection I answer: That such a position would
prove fatal to all instrumental means of salvation. God could,
undoubtedly, save man without any instrumentality whatever. He _could_,
we say, do this; but such is not God's method of procedure; and we are
therefore justified in believing, that to the various instrumentalities
in operation is the salvation of man attributable: and if so, why should
we deny that God can and does bless the labors of Sabbath-school
teachers, and, through their instrumentality, render Sabbath-schools
channels of salvation to many?

I will only add,--and I rejoice that I am able to do so,--that each of
the brothers is now actively engaged in the work of God. James is the
superintend