St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-04-04

dinances of worship in Jerusalem, and
had learned to love the inspired word.
But twas when he converted his chariot
into class room and had invited an
evangelist to occupy it as teacher, and
put himself into the relation of pupil,
that he was taught the knowledge that
made him wise unto eternal life. The
protesting Christian, too, needs this per-
sonal and definite instruction, not only
for his own comfort and JOY of faith, but
also to make himself useful to others.
While reading makes the full man." as
it is truly said, and conversation, as in
thegiving and receiving instruction, 'the
ready man." we should remember that it
is one of the divine directions to the be-
lever, ITO be always ready to give to
every one that asketh you reason of
the hope that is in you" Il Pet. 3: 15).
definite knowledge of divine things is
so important to everyone that in the
New Testament the duty to learn and to
teach others is often insisted upon. In
apostolic times everyone qualified to
teach was sought for and pressed into
service. The Saviour points to this duty,
in the sermon on the mount, when he
says to his followers, Eye are the light
Of the world. Neither do men light
a candle and put it under bushel, but
on candestick. Let your light so
shine, etc. 1t was largely for this purpose
that the apostles were so careful in giving
instruction to believers. They wished,
everywhere, to prepare teachers of the
word. The apostle Paul upbraids his
Hebrew brethren because they had made
so little advancement in knowledge; and
says to them, "For when for the time
you ought to be teachers you have need
that one teach you again the first prin-
ciples of the oracles of God; and are be-
come such as have need of milk" etc
| Heb 5: 12), i.e., they should be put into
the infant department of the Bible or
gospel school.
And women, that were not permitted
to speak il the church were exhorted to
be prepared to be teachers of good things
and to teach the younger women many
important and useful lessons pertaining
to Etheir christian lie. I'll. 2: 4, 5.
Now, as women were not permitted to
speak in the church Ii. e., congregation
there must have been some other meet
ing where and some other time when
their duty was to be performed. And
while considering this point in the i'm
portance of all, both men and women,
being in the Sabbath school, and
have seen that women were to occupy
the positions of both teacher and pupil;
we recall the historic tact that in the
apostles days, woman was associ-
ated with man as teacher of theology.
And we have no doubt that the Rev.
Apollos, who studied under Professors
Aquila and Priscilla, at Ephesus, was as
eloquent and useful minister as most of
those are who 60 out from Union, Prince
ton or Allegheny.
1t may be that there was no syste-
matte method of instruction adopted in
the early church, and the duty of giving
personal instruction was performed just
as the opportunity was given and occa-
sion required, but the primitive Chris
tians were jealous in the use OF the best
methods they knew.
The church OF Corinth held social relig-
ious meetings, in which all the church
came together, and all seem to have
taken part in the services, tor everyone
had a psalm, doctrine, revelation.
And the apostle gives them direction
how to conduct these meetings for the
edihcation of all. They were new con-
verts and lacked experience and knowl-
edge OF practical method of conducting
their meetings.
Our present Sabbath school system is
the result of the careful thought and long
experience of pious men and women, zeal
Gus for the dissemination OF the knowl-
edge Of the gospel. And we are per-
suaded that if the church members of to-
day were as eager for gospel instruction
, as those were at Troas, where the breth-
rem listened to Paul's sermon until mid
night and then, after that, while be
talked with them until the break of day,
they would gladly avail themselves OF
the privilege Of attending such Sabbath
, schools as may he found in most OF the
evangelical churches of New England,
and gladly embrace such opportunities OF
obtaining their much needed instruction.
, In this rapidly unfolding democratic
age, when the educated few of the past
are almost lost sight of in the vast null.
titude of the thinking masses of the pres
emit, it behooves every protesting Chris.
tian to acquire all the knowledge of di
= vine truth hat it is possible for him to
obtain, that he may, as the apostle ex'
horts the Ephesiaus to do, "Stand. there
fore, having your loins grit about with
= truth" AMI again, "Let the word o.
Christ dwell in you richly, in all wis
DOM" He wished their minds and hearts
: to be filled with it.
$ While insisting upon all to avail them
/ selves of the benefits of the Sabbath
+ school, we would not for one minute
think of substituting its instructions TO,
that of the parent, nor is it at all neces
sary to be so, but the very opposite
e course becomes a necessity. Parental in
struction is needed by the child to max,
the Sabbath school lesson plain and in
telligible to him or her. And then, wher
= it is properly used, it becomes mos
$ helpful co-worker with the parent in Civ
. ing such instruction to the child as will
train him up in nurture and admoni
ton OF the Lord"