The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1890-08-20
The Qualifications and Duties OF Sunday
School Teacher.

To mention in detail all the qualifications
and duties ola Sunday-school teacher would
be to enumerate many qualifications which
few Of US possess, and many duties which
very few teachers perform. We shall there
fore mention only few which in our juds-
mcnt are indispensable and most important.
The first, and orc that is absolutely nee
essarv, is that the teacher should himself be
a true believer in the Triune God and q
consistent member in some branch OF the
christian church; that he should be familiar
with the leading doctrines of the church,
so rs to be able to tell the children what he
believes and why in such plain language
that their minds may comprehend. 10 ac-
complish this he should make himself ia
miliar with the scriptures in order to sup
port his statements by Thus saith the
Lord He should have IN amiable dispo-
sition and be "apt to teach, possessing q
clever tact in communicating to others the
truth in his own mind, making it clear by
familiar illustration.
His heart, in the second place, should be
in his work, having an earnest desire to
draw the children TO Christ, and this he
should strive to do not only by precept on
the Sabbath while engaged with his class,
but also by consistent christian walk and
conversation during the week, thus proving
that he is sincerely and deeply in earnestin
regard to their spiritual and eternal welfare.
A Sunday school teacher should during
the week study the topics Of the lesson and
make himself as familiar as possible with
the truth to be developed from it. He should
make every effort to be punctually at his
post every Sabbath at the hour for opening
school, and should adopt the best methods
he can to cause the children to be prompt
also. Perhaps there is nothing more attrac-
tive to the children than well selected cir
culating library.
In hearing the lesson it is well to inter-
sperse questions and explanations illustra-
tive of the truth, and also to encourage the
class to ask for information Oh any points
which may be mysterious to their young
minds He should impress upon their
minds the truth Of the immortality of the
soul and its priceless value; show how
through the fall of Adam, our federal head
and representative, all purity aad holiness
of character was lost; that the whole race
descending from him has inherited de-
praved nature and are inclined only to the
ways of sin and evil, the natural heart being
at enmity with God. He should point out the
necessity for the new birth, or as it is termed
in the Eible regeneration He will then
point them to Jesus Christ, the Saviour;
show what he has done for our redemption,
and how deeply in earnest we should be for
our own and the salvation Of others, cX-
planning clearly that there is no other way
than through the blood and merits OF Christ
Jesus, who is our great substitute, sacrifice,
and mediator, once an offering for sin, now
highly exalted, the great High Priest and
advocate for his people. Tell them that
Christ Jesus, by the once offering up of
himself sacrifice for our sins, has pur-
chased eternal redemption for all who Will
accept the offer on his terms, which are free
and ample. the simple exercise OF faith IN
him. which faith if true and sincere is sure
to be followed by life Of obedience mani
tested in our daily conduct. The Master
says, The tree is known by its fruit. At
the same time he should be careful to warn
them against Pharisaic confidence III their
own professions and good works, but en-
dcasor to teach them that any good which
We NAV do is not the result of ary inherent
good in us, but only the outgrowth OF the
grace of God in our hearts, graclously be-
slowed and applied through the lnstru-
mentality OF the Holy Spirit, and oil through
the merits Of Christ to whom be all the
glory
These qualifications and duties we con-
slider of primary Importance. Many oil
secondary character might be added, but
we deem it unnecessary to prolong the de-
tail. L. l.. BURGESS.
Snmmerton. 5. {.