The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1875-01-09
sunday School work.

FELLOW TEACHERS. We have lust
entered the new year of 1875, and we
have turned our backs, on 1874; and
we feel that no earnest teacher can
close year without feeling sad. Af-
ter all our endeavors there is so little
result. 1t is of no use to say that the
teacher should leave results to God and
do his duty. In n sense this is true, but
there is a sense i'm which all teachers
should care for results, we might as
well tell farmer not to concern him>
self about his harvest. Doubtless it is
right to cast your care on God in mat.
ter of harvest, and in matter of sue
cess in Sunday School teaching. 1t is
right to trust God so much as to find
dellverance from worry. But some
teachers trust God altogether too far,
they trust him to do their work. A
farmer who cares nothing about his har-
vest, at the end of the year is not worth
much, no more is Sunday School tea
cher who Is careless of results. There
fore, we say, teacher Who is in ear
nest must always feel that the result of
any years work are less than he had a
right to hope for;we as teachers cannot
estimate results. The farmer can put
his wheat on the scale and have his
harvest set down in pounds, from which
he can get his value in dollars and cents,
but the teacher can not so easily tell
just what the value of his work may
be, the influence of Sunday School
teacher on chiid's life are too subtle
to be estimated in the gross, and the
work of the Spirit of God generally re-
fuses to be gagged by such rough
measurement--for even, if you could
measure the amount of knowledge it
would be no adequate measure of the
true spiritual success of the teacher.
While the result Of the Sunday School
work is not easily weighed or counted.
Yet there is result in the case of good
work, aud this result is generally ap-
preclaOle In some way. We have not
much confidence in those invisible re-
suits that some people talk about. Re,
suits that are invisible are not gener-
ally of much account. Now and then q
faithful teacher does long work of
preparation, the result of which is sud-
denly brought to light after patient
waiting. But patience and persistent
labor VIII show some fruit-some NOR
al Improvement, at least; and let us ev-
er remember that every elevation of the
moral and effectual nature is a drawing
of the soul nearer to Christ. We are
none OF US, perhaps, dead fail
ures; we are none of us entirely
successful; there is enough failure in
every teachers life to cause reflection.
1t is far easier for you to say you have
no gilt for the work, and to throw it
down like that other man Of one talent,
than to examine carefully into the rea-
sons for want of success, we cannot bet
ter improve the time for mem ory "and
tears" then by looking in to our failure
and success, and trying to oimprovain in the
future the mistakes of the past, every
thing else being equal, you will be
more successful this year in exact pro-
portion as you come to be personally
acquainted with, and sympathiIed with
by your scholars, in proportion as the re-
latlon between you an them is one of
acquaintance, friendliness, and mutual
regard will you succeed. He that
goeths forth and weepeth, bearing
precious seeds, shall doubtless come
again with rejoicing, bringing his
sheaVes with MN. JOSEPH.