question. We believe there are few institutions of the present age, more extensively useful than the American Sabbath School Union. Still this system does not and cannot embrace all our rising population; and being confined to one day in the week, cannot be so thoroughly operative as is desirable. We think, therefore, that it should be a constant object with the friends of religion, to try to secure a religious character to the instructions of the common school. Here every thing depends upon the teacher and the system. If a proper sentiment pervaded the community, it would be universally felt that the Bible is the best book to be used in forming the minds and hearts of children, and should, therefore, be made the basis of instruction in all our common schools; not to be used as a reading book, merely, but to be studied, much on the plan which is pursued in the Sabbath schools. If there were one lesson of this kind a day, the children would obtain a familiarity with the sacred volume, and a degree of moral and religious knowledge which would serve to enlarge and purify their minds, to enlighten their consciences and impress on them a holy character. It would be well too, if this plan could be introduced into our higher schools, so that at every stage of advancement the mind might be brought under the influence of divine truth. This, in more advanced seminaries for English education, might easily be effected, and in our grammar schools the Greek scriptures might form most profitably the subject of one of the daily exercises of the students. Even our colleges would be greatly benefited by the adoption of the same plan.

It is not to be expected, however, that in a country like ours. any one system will ever be universally introduced. Hence the necessity of suggesting various means of accomplishing the same grand object, some of which may be suited to one region, and some to another. The importance of having teachers of every grade, properly qualified, both as to their mind and heart, for this work, cannot be questioned. And until some means be devised for securing a supply of competent instructors, the business of education can never be satisfactorily conducted. Would it not be well for every church, or congregation, to have its own school? Wherever there are Presbyterians, or Episcopalians, or Methodists enough to form a congregation, there must be children to form a school. this school might then be conducted in a manner fitted to train up Christians. Or if the different denominations were, in any place, willing to have a school in common, they might unite VOL. III. No. III.—2 Q

And

on the same principle which secures their cordial co-operation in the Sabbath school system.

We have recently heard from a friend of the cause of religious education, the idea suggested, that much good might be accomplished in many parts of our country, by having properly qualified and pious men employed to teach a school for a couple of hours every day on the plan of a Sabbath school. The children being previously prepared, would attend, say early in the morning, and spend two hours with the teacher, and then return to their other duties. These two hours would, no doubt, be as profitable as the six spent in the usual manner. On this plan, the same teacher might conduct several schools at the same time, assembling at different hours of the day, and in different neighbourhoods. In destitute regions where the population is scattered and poor, this plan we think, might be very advantageously adopted.

Our limits forbid our enlarging on this interesting subject. We had intended to offer a few remarks on the importance of Pastors paying more special attention to the religious instruction of the young, but we must wait for some other opportunity. We were led into this train of reflection from the mere title of Dr. Sprague's work, "LECTURES TO THE YOUNG." We regret that we have not had an opportunity of expressing at an earlier date our sense of the service which the author has, in the publication of these Lectures, rendered to the cause of religion. As they have already reached a second edition, it is certainly unnecessary for us to descant on their merits, or to enter on any detailed account of their contents. With these, the public are already acquainted. The "Introductory Address," by Dr. Miller, on the peculiar importance of religion to the young, and especially to the young in this favoured country, has served to deepen our impression of the importance of this subject. His remarks on the necessity of bringing educated youth, the children of the rich, under the influence of religious instruction, ought to be very deeply pondered. We venture to extract the following paragraph on the bearing of this subject on the prospects of our country.

"There is another thought of deep interest which occurs in this connexion. The highly favoured, but most responsible population of this land, is now conducting an experiment of incalculable importance to ourselves and to mankind:-the experiment whether men are capable of self-government? In other words, whether they can live permanently in peace under rulers of

their own choice, and laws of their own formation; or whether they are destined, until the Millenium shall open on our world, continually to vibrate between anarchy and despotism;-between the manacles of privileged orders, and the exactions of an estab lished church-and the infuriated licentiousness of popular profligacy, which refuses to obey any law, either of God or man? This experiment, as I said, is now going on; and it will probably be decided by the men of the next generation; by those whose principles and characters are now forming. Of course, every youth who is decisively won to the side of Christian knowledge and practice, is so much gained to the cause of our national hopes. If, then, we wish to transmit all our privileges, civil and religi ous, unimpaired, to the latest posterity, let our young men be deeply imbued with the spirit of the BIBLE.-If we wish to avert from our country the curse of an ecclesiastical establishment, that bane of both church and state, let the BIBLE, and NOTHING BUT THE BIBLE, be impressed upon the minds of our youth, as the ONLY INFALLIBLE RULE OF FAITH AND PRACTICE. Here, and here only, do we find those principles which are equally opposed to slavery and licentiousness. Every young man who has been trained in the spirit of the Bible, will be, as far as his influence goes, an impregnable barrier against every species of oppression, civil or religious; and equally against every species of disorder. Only let the great mass of our population, for the next forty years, drink deep into the spirit of the BIBLE, and we may probably consider our stability and happiness as a nation finally secured."

Dr. Miller expresses the following opinion of the work before us:-"So far as my opportunity of examination has extended, it is rich and judicious in matter; neat, perspicuous, and attractive in style; and peculiarly adapted to engage and reward the attention of enlightened, reflecting, and literary youth. Indeed, if I were asked to point out a manual, better suited than any other within my knowledge, to be put into the hands of students in the higher literary institutions, I know not that it would be in my power to name one more likely to answer the purpose than this volume." A judgment which the voice of the public has sustained.

Dr. Sprague's first Lecture is on "The importance of the period of youth." Those which immediately follow are on the various peculiar dangers to which the young are exposed, and are introductory to those discourses which are intended to arouse the attention of the careless, to guide the inquiries of the anxious, to exhibit the nature and evidence of real religion, and to direct the course of the young convert. Our limits forbid our indulg

ing ourselves in making extracts. We close with an earnest recommendation of the book to our youthful readers, and the expression of our sincere desire that it may be made extensively useful.

ART. II.-ADVANCEMENT OF SOCIETY.

The Advancement of Society in Knowledge and Religion, by James Douglas, Esq. Hartford, 1830. One Vol. 12mo. pp. 315.

If ever there was a time, when the general appearance of human society bid defiance to all conjecture respecting the changes soon to be expected, such is the passing moment. We say not, passing year, or month, for, truly, we know not even "what a day may bring forth." The continent of Europe is the scene of a conflict whose extent and fierceness has seldom, if ever, been equalled. There are moments, indeed, but mere moments of calm, between the shocks of the mighty earthquake; but, even during these intervals of solemn suspense, the listening ear catches the low and hollow murmur proceeding from the very foundations of the solid earth, and foreboding desolation, undefinable in extent and horror. Thrones are tottering and dynasties falling, but we fear no sufficient foundations are yet laid for better forms of civil administration, or permanent peace, among different States.

To the American spectator of European affairs, there appear some signs of advancement in the state of society-some signs of an approaching period, when the power of nations, instead of being arrayed against the best interests of the millions governed, will become a most important element in the means of promoting their own welfare. Yet we dare not confidently anticipate the immediate result of the commotions which agitate or threaten every European State. The example of France, where the success of any new form of government seems so questionable-where a lawless democracy seems one of the points to which things are verging-such an example, where we might hope for more success in the business of self-government than in many other nations, throws a dark shade over the immediate prospects of the whole European continent.

If we look at society as a moral mass, its ferments are almost equally striking, and, as to their immediate results, al

most equally uncertain. The principles of the Christian religion are manifesting an uncommon vigour in opposition to all other systems of morals, but are not allowed undisputed triumphs. Attempts are made not only to subvert all religion, but all the better institutions of civil society. Nor are such attempts altogether unsuccessful. They give occasion to, at least, momentary fears, lest large numbers of the ignorant should be drawn into a vortex from which they can never be rescued.

A general view of the moral world must leave us uncertain, whether moral truth has not yet to be almost entirely obscured in the human mind. We would not be the harbinger of unnecessary evil forebodings, but are not as certain as numbers are, that the progress of morals will be uniform, till their most important principles regulate the human race. The excitement which, in all probability, must soon convulse large portions of the political world, must prove very unfriendly to the progress of principles that can seldom enter the mind during the prevalence of such ferments. The kind of feeling lately displayed by the mobs in Paris, need but extend itself as far as it possibly may, to overthrow not only the material crosses, which now decorate so many churches in Europe, but almost extinguish the religion of the cross, wherever it prevails.

Still there is a bright side to the picture of human society. The advocates of civil liberty are rapidly gaining partizans, and although many of them are too ignorant to accomplish any thing really good, yet we may hope light and liberty will not be too far preceded by the assumption of their names. The bare feeling of want, though not always attended by the knowledge of adequate means for its removal, is a precursor of the efforts necessary to the attainment of the desired objects. Let the vassals of European tyranny feel an intelligent want of the liberty enjoyed by us, and their progress toward it is almost inevitable. Such a want they are beginning extensively to feel, and we must hope their progress toward rational liberty will be commensurate with their ability to enjoy it.

Reflections like these are naturally suggested by the work whose title we have placed at the head of this article. Mr. Mr. Douglas is a writer of no common class, at a period when the minds of the learned generally, are too much occupied in attending to the thoughts of others, to give free play to their own native energies of thought, or attempt the production of