---

I. Let us attempt to produce ANIMATION by an appeal to you as teachers of others. "Be not weary in well-doing"; implies that in well-doing we may be weary — though sinners are not often weary in ill-doing.

1. Fill your minds with the magnitude and importance of your work.

(1) When you look upon your little charge, you are not merely to regard them as beauteous shells scattered on the shore of the ocean, but as each a pearl of incalculable value. When you are called to be "teachers of babes," you are not called to play with toys.

(2) But, as an incalculable value is impressed upon them, so they are exposed to imminent danger. Though naturally depraved, this depravity is increased by indulgence, and rivetted by practice; and, if you interpose in time, you may rescue many.

(3) Recollect that God calls the greater part of His people in early life.

2. Let me charge on your consciences your obligations to attend to the work.

(1) Think that you are all now listening to Him who says, "Lovest thou Me? — feed My lambs." The Saviour takes a little child in His arms, and He says, "Suffer little children to come unto Me," etc. "He that receiveth one such little child in My name, receiveth Me." While others look at the Saviour, as He issues His command, and say, "Is this all? our imaginations are filled with something greater, we would be preachers, writers, missionaries, martyrs — anything but teachers of babes": — you say, "What! disdain to stoop to babes, when Christ takes the little ones up in His arms."(2) And while Christ thus aims to bind you by a sense of obligation, let me remind you what He has done for you. Has He not, as it were, washed your feet? and should you not wash the feet of His meanest disciples?

3. Recall to your grateful recollection the blessings with which God has crowned this work. "Train up a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Some may say that they have turned out ill who were brought up well; but we may say, "Be of good cheer; for I believe God that it shall be even as it was told me." Let us then look round, and see what blessings have attended the instruction of the rising race; and, while we look around, let us inquire, "What hath God wrought?"(1) Take this school and all the children who have been instructed in it — add to them all in the metropolis — in the kingdom — in the world.

(2) And such being the numbers of those collected in Sabbath schools, think how many blessings have been carried into families. Consider how the first tidings of salvation have been thus conveyed.

4. Tremble at the thought of neglecting this work. Woe to us if Sunday schools should expire! We have waked up the world so completely that it will not soon go to sleep again. We have taught this generation that they must teach the next. We must go on: we have advanced too far to recede. The great enemy of man is at work to ruin the world, by the very same means which we employ to benefit the world.

II. Attend to the EXPOSTULATION which is contained in the second part of the text, "Teachest thou not thyself?" I would expostulate with you.

1. With regard to over-enlisting. Sabbath schools are at once our glory and our shame. We should earnestly wish their extinction; it is a disgrace to us that they are needed. When the children of pious and instructed parents are sent to a Sunday school, it is a perversion of things. There should be a Sunday school in every house. There are but two exceptions to this — the first is where the parents are so ignorant that they need instruction themselves; the children of these you ought to take and instruct. The other is where the parents have small families, and can take their children with them to a Sunday school: thus they may instruct the children of the poor and their own children at the same time. No mortal living has a right to transfer the care of his children to others, while he can take care of them himself.

2. Against overworking. Overdoing is often undoing. All should be anxious to do as much as possible; but you must remember that the Lord's day was intended to be a day for the rest and edification of your own souls. Let there be no long singing, long prayers, long lessons. For the children's sakes, as well as for your own, avoid overworking. As long as you can keep the attention judiciously awake, you do good; but when you see the spirits flagging you may be certain very little will be done.

3. Beware of over-valuing. Nothing is more common than for persons to think highly of that in which they are engaged.

4. Beware of undervaluing. Do not suppose that because a man is wise to his own salvation he is therefore wise enough to teach others.

(1) You should know much; you should have some time for study; and all your knowledge should be made subservient to your grand design.

(2) And then there must be, also, the art of teaching. This must be acquired, or, with all your knowledge, you will not be wise to win souls.

(3) There must be the art of ruling: if you have not the ability to hold sway over your own spirits, the children will soon perceive it, and will soon manage you.

(J. Bennett, D. D.)

---

---

KJV: Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,

WEB: Indeed you bear the name of a Jew, and rest on the law, and glory in God,