SUNDAY-SCHOOL DEPARTMENT. SINGING DOGGEREL. mens of the bad taste ard bad grammar of certain doggerel rhymes which appear in a recent collection of Temperance Gospel Songs. Here is a parody on Little Drops of Water: " Of making Sunday School singingbooks there is no end. The demand is constant and the supply is abundant." There are plenty of Sunday Schools which are not satisfied unless they can change books every season. It is, indeed, just as much a matter of fashion as a change of coats or bonnets. In meeting this demand many publishers seem to be chiefly concerned to produce books with taking titles and jingling tunes. The contents of the socalled hymns appear to be very little regarded. They generally consist of miserable doggerel, which but for the rhymes could hardly be distinguished from prose. This is bad enough, but the case is even worse when the author, either ignorantly or intentionally, teaches false doctrine. On a recent visit to a Sunday School in the country we heard the cildren singing a dreary hymn which taught, if it taught anything-that after conversion Christians can live just as they please. Good works were represented as obstacles to salvation. Two lines still linger in our memory: Little drops of claret, Now and then, at first, And a dreadful thirst. The following specimen is, if anything worse than the preceding: My eyes were of the deepest blue, But now you see they both are red, My nose was never beautiful, And what d'ye think of this? Now we ask, in all solemnity, Is it right to teach children such stuff as this? How can pastors and teachers justify themselves when they promote the introduction of books which either teach destructive doctrine, or turn the worship of God into a frivolous amusement? Would it not be better to sing those grand old hymns in which consecrated genius offers its noblest tribute to its Creator? Let us teach the young to appreciate their beauties, and they will no more desire to sing doggerel. HINTS TO GIRLS. "Cast away good works forever! They will rob you of your crown." We know, of course, that we are justified by faith alone; but we also know those who are implanted into Christ by faith must bring forth fruits of thankfulness. To cast away good works forever would be to renounce all part in the Give your best sympathy. There is kingdom of our Lord. It was perhaps no greater human power than the tenfortunate, in this in-tance, that neither derness of woman. If you can minister teacher nor children appeared to think to some one in sickness, lessen someof the meaning of the hymn. They sang body's distress, or put a flower in some it to a tune which sounded very much poor home, you have done a thing you like "Jenny, crack corn! I don't care; "will always be glad to think of. You and we don't think they cared about will be remembered, and a woman asks anything but the tune. no grander monument than to live in One of our exchanges gives us spci- hearts.-Lutheran Observer. Myths and Myth-Makers, John Fisk, LL B. pp. 234, $2.00. Vicar of Wakefield, Goldsmith, pp. 266, 1.00. Hyperion, Longfellow, pp. 391, 1.50. Stories from my Attic, Horace E. Scudder, pp. 269, 1.00. Dream Children, do. do do., pp. 298, 1.25. The Arabian Nights' do., pp. 241, 75 cts. Stories and Romances, Entertainment, edited by Rev. Geo. Townsend, pp. 583, 1.00. Uncle Tom's Cabin, Harriet B. 60 cts. Stowe, pp. 529, 2.00. Legends of the Madonna, Mrs Jameson, pp. 483, 1.50. Three SucUndine and Other Tales, Fouque, pp. 416, 75 cessful Girls, Julia Crouch, pp. 382, 1.50. cts. The Lamp-lighter, Marion S. Cummins, pp. 523, 1.50. The Pilgrim's Progress, John Bunyan, pp. 486, 75 cts. Paul and Virginia, De St. Pierre, pp. 149, 1.00. Tanglewood Tales, Nathaniel Hawthorne, pp. 243, 2.25. Life of Frederick the Great, Macaulay, pp. 277, 60 cts. Julius Caesar, Liddell, pp. 247, Tales from Shakespeare, Charles and Mary Lamb, pp. 365, 1.00. Legends of the Monastic Orders, Mrs Jameson, pp. 489, 1.50. ings of the Bodley Family in Town and CounPlay Days, Sarah O. Jewett, pp. 213, 1.50. Dotry, Horace E. Scudder, pp. 250, 1.50. The Bodleys Afloat, do. do. pp. 255, 1.50. The Bodleys Abroad, do do. pp. 210, 1.50. The Bodleys on Wheels, do do. pp. 222, 1.50. The Bodleys Telling Stories, do do, pp. 236, 1.50. Lite of Wm. Pitt, Lord Macaulay, pp. 227, 60 cts. Life of Joan of Arc, Michelet, pp. 238, 60 cts. Life of Robert Burns, Thomas Carlyle, pp. 203, 60 cts. The Gates Ajar, Elizabeth Editor of American Poems, pp. 424, 1.25 Odd, Stuart Phelps, pp. 248, 1.50 American Prose, or Even, Mrs A. D. T. Whitney, pp. 505, 1.50. We Girls, a Home Story, do do, pp. 215. 1.50. The Other Girls, do do, pp. 463, 1.50. The Silent Partner, Elizabeth Stuart Phelps, pp. 302, 1.50. Success and Its Conditions, Edwin P. Whipple, pp. 333, 1.50. Life of Martin Luther, Bunsen, pp. 250, 60 cts. Life of Mahomet, Edw. martine, pp. 236, 60 cts. Gibson, pp. 236, 60 cts Life of Columbus, LaHitherto, Mrs A. D. T. Whitney, pp. 473, 1.50. Rural Folks, do do, pp. 451, 1.50. Ivanhoe, Sir. Walter Scott, pp. 350, 1.00. Life of Victoria Colonna, pp. 239, 60 cts. Life of Mary Stuart, pp. 275, 60 cts. Life of Hannibal, pp. 320, 60 cts. Sight and Insight, Mrs A. D. T. Whitney, pp. 344, and 333, 1.50. The Wonderbook for Boys and Girls, Hawthorne, pp. 240, 1.25. PRESBYTERIAN PUBLICATION BOARD, Philadelphia, Pa. Pleasant Talk with the Young on Passages of Scripture, Rev. Chas. A. Smith, D. D. 280 pages. The Wildfords in India, Anthor of Poke and her Sisters, 304 pages. Outside the Gate, 336 pages. Now and then at Daisy Dingle Farm, Mead Middleton, 203 pages. Those Dark Days, Helen C. Chapman, 288 pages. Deacon Gibb's Enemy, Mrs A. K. Dunning, 1 336 pages. Chinks of Clannyford, Kate W. Hamilton, 380 pages. From Exile to Over- Old Portmanteau, Kate Hamilton, 277 pages. DODD, MEAD & Co., Pubs., New York. We have here another fine lot of books for little folks, finely bound, beautifully illustrated, and filled with entertaining and instructive stories. The names of the books are as follows: Little Folks' Ballads, A Christmas at School, A Day in the Woods, Little Nursery Songs, for the Twilight, A Long Day, Bobby Shalto, Uncle Dick's Portfolio, Dick and Grace. The Fish Boy, Songs for the Fireside, A Winter Story, Jack Greene, Little Folks' Songs, A Book about Indians. These books contain about 50 pages, and are sold at 25 cents a piece. It is the object of the Bureau to select books for the Sunday-school which are of superior excellence in every respect. The above have been thoroughly examined and are heartily recomended as books of such a character. REV. C. S. GERHART, A. M. OUR BOOK TABLE. THE ORPHAN WANDERERS; containing Cared For, and How a Farthing became a Fortune. By Mrs. C. E. Bowen. New York, Robert Carter and Brother, 530 Broadway, 1882. Price $1.00. These are interesting stories, illustrative of the Providence that cares for young children. The book is well suited for the Sunday School NATIONAL TEMPERANCE PUBLISHING HOUSE, library. The Lost Estate and Other Stories, Mrs ESTES & LAURIOT, Pubs., Boston, Mass. Christian Heroines, 290 pages. The Young Woman's Friend. 250 pages. Papers for Thoughtful Girls, 344 pages, in set 4.50. Winning his Way, Chas. Coffin, 258 pages, 1.25. Zig-Zag Journeys in Europe, Hezekiah Butterworth, 311 pages, 1.75. Zig-Zag Journey in the Orient, do do, 320 pages, 1.75. Young Folks' History of Russia, 520 pages, 1.50. Do do America, Hezekiah Butterworth, 535 pages, 1.50. Do do Boston, do do, 480 pages, 1.50. CASSEL, PETTER, GALPIN & Co., New York, London and Paris. We have here a list of Books especially in tended for children of the Infant-School. They are filled with beautiful stories and fine illustrations. 1st set Little Folks' Stories, 12 vols., at 25c.; 2nd set Bible Stories, 4 vols., at 25c. These average 60 pages. SWEETBRIAR, OR DOINGS IN PRIORSTHORPE As a description of rural life in New Eng- LESSON X. THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY. LOVE TO GOD AND MEN.-MARK 12: 28-44. Commit to memory verses 29-31. 28. And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? 29. And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. 32. And the scribe said unto him, Well. Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: 33. And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. 34. And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him auy question. 35. And Jesus answered and said, while he taught September 3, 1882. in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the son of David? 36. For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand till I make thine enemies thy footstool. 37. David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly. 38. And he said unto them in his doctrine. Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces, 39. And the chief seats in the synagogues, and uppermost rooms at feasts: 40. Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation. 41. And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury, and many that were rich cast in much. 42. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. 43. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: 44. For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living. 1. THE RELIGION OF LOVE, vs. 27-34. 2. THE RELIGION OF PRETENSE, vs. 38-40. 3. THE RELIGION OF SACRIFICE, vs. 41-44. GOLDEN TEXT: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." Deut. 6:5. 110. INSTRUCTION. Verse 28. First commandment-greatest. 30, Heart, soul, &c.—with our entire being. Thy neighbor--fellow-man. 33. More than all burnt offerings--love is better than all outward forms of service. 34. Discreetly---wisely. Not far-in the right road. 36. David said, in Psalm 37. Lord... Son--Lord as to His Divine nature; son as to His human nature. Common people-the people in general. 38. Long clothing--robes such as priests wore. 39. Uppermost rooms--chief seats. 40. Pretense-false show. 41. Treasury, which was in the court of the women. 42. Mites-the smallest coins in use, worth less than a quarter of a 43. Cast more in---in the sight of God. cent. CATECHISM. Ques. What profit dost thou receive by His innocence and perfect holiness covers, in the light of God, my sins wherein I was conceived and brought forth. QUESTIONS. Verse 28. What question did the lawyer ask Christ? Is it an important one? 29-31. Repeat the answer which Jesus gave. What is meant by loving God with all heart, soul &c., &c.? Who is your neighbor? What is the soul of all true religion? What is the fulfilling of the law? What is the greatest of all virtues ? 32-33. What is worth more than all outward services? What enables us to worship God aright, and help our fellow-men? 34. What did Jesus say to the lawyer? Is it enough to be near the Kingdom? What is better? 35. What question does Christ ask? How was Jesus the Lord of David? How was He his Son? 36. Where did David call Jesus his Lord? 37. What class of people heard Jesus gladly? Do you like to hear His words?" What think ye of Christ ?" 38-40. What kind of religion was that of the scribes? (See outline.) What did they love? What wicked things did they do? What did they do for a pretense? What shall be their reward? Can we deceive God by pretense and hypocrisy? 41. In what part of the temple was the treasury? Who inspected the gifts? Who cast in much? 42-44. How much did the poor widow give? In whose sight was it much? Does Christ take notice of all we give? What makes a gift valuable? LESSON HYMN : “Oh Love divine, how sweet thou art." LESSON X. Sep. 3, 1882. Three events are recorded in our lesson for this day: 1st, the question of the young lawyer is answered by Jesus; 2d, the Pharisees fail to answer Christ's question in regard to the Messiah; and 3dly, the sacrifice of the poor widow is commended as a perpetual example. The Pharisees and Scribes were food of disputing about religious questions; hence this question of the young lawyer seems natural enough. He evidently felt a certain admiration for Jesus, and really desired to have a true answer to his question, which is an important one. Which is the first commandment? There were about 248 positive commands, and 365 negative, in all 613. Who could keep them all? Now which is the chief? We will keep that in lieu of keeping them all. Love the LORD thy God with all thy soul. Thus love is regarded as the essence of all true religion, and as the very soul of obedience to the commandments. Love is the fulfilling of the law. 1. The heart is the seat of the emotions and affections. 2. The soul here means the life-the vital principle. Love with thy life means, "love must manifest itself not only in feeling it must rule the whole life, words, conduct, acts" 3. The mind denotes all our intellectual powers and activities our thoughts, studies, designs, &c. 4. Thy strength indicates the force of love-there must be enthusiasm and power in it—not mere feeling and senti "If yet to enter in by faith in Christ. thou art not far off, come in; otherwise thou hadst better been far off!" The Christian religion is that of love. (See outline, first part). It was necessary for Jesus to bring the Jewish teachers face to face with the great question: Who is the Christ? Is He divine, or only human? Whose son is He? The scribes say, He is the Son of David. And David called Him LORD. Notice: (1) Our Lord declares that David wrote the 110th Psalm; (2) that David was inspired, (" said by the Holy Ghost"). There was no earthly ruler who was over David, whom he could call Lord. He referred to the Christ: Jehovah, who would become the true seed of David, joining God and man in one person. Thereupon Jesus warns the people against the religion of pretense. (See outline, part second). These Scribes and Pharisees pretended to be very pious; but it was all on the surface. There was formality and performance of ceremonies, but not genuine love and obedience. The religion of sacrifice, (Outline, part 3), is illustrated by the conduct of the poor widow. Jesus watches the people at the treasury. It is safe to say He ever watches what His disciples do in the way of making sacrifices to support the Gospel. The rich cast in much, but could spare it. and would never feel that they had made a sacrifice. The widow had little or nothing left; her sacrifice was heroic. Cast more in than they all-in God's reckoning, more in the amount of faith and heart. She gave all that she had at her disposal. This was an illustration of the religion of sacrifice. Self-denial This is the first commandment; that ought to be exercised by every believer is, this sincere, fervid, intelligent, and in Christ. It is the only way to take energetic love will lead to keeping the the higher degrees in the Christian life. commandments. ment. The second is like it; it is founded in love also. Where love to our fellow-man reigns there is an end to all injustice, violence, oppression and war. The young man was satisfied with Jesus' answer, and ratified it. (vs. 3283). Thou art not far; he stood at the door of the Kingdom of love; he only needed LOVE, if you would be beloved; serve, if you would be served; and humble yourself, if you would be exalted. THERE is a great difference between the fear of God, and being afraid of God; the one is an evidence of grace, the other is a proof of guilt. |