of its
voice. But since neither of these suppositions are true, the system of
the Australian College cannot be recommended. It may be very _liberal_.
It is not very _wise_. But it is hard to say when we have reached the
extremity of any opinions. The plan of the Australian College is far too
narrow and confined for some choice spirits of New South Wales; and
accordingly the Normal Institution, as it is pompously designated, has
been formed by a seceder from the first-named establishment. It is said
to be tolerably flourishing, and no wonder, for it offers a very fair
_secular_ education, and this is sufficient for the children of this
world,--unhappily, no insignificant or small class either in New South
Wales or elsewhere. But the christian reader will be satisfied of the
sandy foundation on which the Normal Institution is raised, when he
glances over the following extracts from its original prospectus. The
pupils are to be afforded "every facility and abundant materials for
forming opinions of their own,"--young children, instead of being
brought to Christ, are to be allowed (if they can) to find their way to
Him. The prospectus says, "Till the mind has formed religious opinions
of its own, grounded on a wide range of religious knowledge, the
profession of religion is meaningless, if not incalculably pernicious."
Our Lord's words are, "Except ye be converted and become as little
children, ye cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven." But it is vain to
quote the words of Scripture to men who will make professions like this:
"To inculcate any given set of religious tenets, or to teach any given
set of religious text-books, would be to lend my labours to a party
whilst I profess to labour for mankind." As though, forsooth, we could
ever labour more advantageously for mankind than when we try to persuade
them, from their very tenderest years, to believe in the Bible and to
belong to the church of God!

It is the expressed opinion of the highest authority in the church of
Australia, that New South Wales, which is certainly the farthest
advanced of all our colonies there, is not yet ripe for the
establishment of a regular college, resembling our ancient and venerated
English universities. But this most important object has not been lost
sight of; and while a grammar-school has recently been opened in St.
James's parish in Sydney, and another is projected at Newcastle, both of
which are intended to form a nursery for the futu