applicable to all other subjects; and whoever is paid for teaching arithmetic is bound to try to learn the art of teaching it. Schoolmistresses are apt to be very ignorant in arithmetic, and will not take the pains of improving themselves. Let them fairly consult their own consciences, and see whether they are not neglecting an obvious duty. The object of the writer of this article is not to impart that which may be learnt from any book on arithmetic, but to state and illustrate some principles, which may enable Teachers to employ such a book more beneficially. The object of all teaching is to make the scholars understand what they learn. Therefore, children who can perform a sum, which they do not comprehend, are little the better for it. Begin, therefore, from what they do know. Go back to the point at which their minds have already aimed, and from thence go onward. Propose a question to them which they comprehend; let them perform it if they can, and then perform it before them, for the instruction of those who have not accomplished it, and make those who have been most successful explain all the steps by which they have aimed at the right conclusion. This will perhaps be best understood by an illustration or two: 1. There were 5 little girls, and 2 only had shoes on; how many were there without shoes? 2. In the first class there were 15 children, in the second 9; how many were there in all? 3. In the boys' school there were 107, in the girls' school 98; how many more boys were there than girls? 4. Abraham's birth was 1996 before Christ; how many years ago is that? 5. And how many years after the creation? 6. There are 360 degrees of longitude round the earth. The sun goes round the earth in 24 hours; how many degrees does it go in an hour? 7. Two places differ by 7 degrees of longitude; what is the difference of time by the clock in these two places? Now, if one of these questions be proposed to a class, selected according to the proficiency of the class, then if the selection be rightly made, some will, and some will not, be able to do it. And when the Teacher has looked at the answers, and pronounced that such and such are right, and others wrong, the next step will be to perform the question on the black board or slate with chalk, so that all may see it; meanwhile the Teacher will ask those who have succeeded, why they adopted each step, so that those who have failed may learn the principles of that which they have been unable to accomplish. E.g. Q. 5.-From the creation to Christ was 4004 years Abraham was born before Christ 1996 2008 years In what rule is this sum? Why in subtraction? Q. 7.-In 24 hours there are 1440 minutes. This, divided by 360, gives a quotient of 4. Therefore, for every degree, there are 4 minutes of time, and in 7 degrees 28 minutes of time. "Because I wished to Why did you divide by 360? find how much time was occupied in passing a degree of longitude, and 360 degrees occupied 1440 minutes." If these two questions had been proposed as bare arithmetical operations, the scholars would probably have felt little or no interest in them; whereas, in the method here suggested, they will acquire new truths, together with their arithmetic, and probably learn to calculate quickly, because the calculation is made the means of acquiring that information which they wish to possess. more SEVEN IMPORTANT HEADS FOR PRAYER, SUITED TO THE TIMES. THE events of the times do seem to call as if with providential voice, for special prayer and watchfulness; the conflict of the Church is thickening; faithful men are persecuted; Atheists blaspheme; the nations are bending under the iron yoke of Rome; and the general movement of events seems to be towards some great conclusive catastrophe. It is therefore suggested that those who bear the honoured office of being the "Lord's remembrancers,” should with confession of sin, humiliation, supplication for pardon, and other usual subjects of prayer, devote an additional fragment of time every morning to earnest entreaty on the following points : 1. With reference to the Church of England in particular; that the Heads of the Church may be gifted with the spirit of moderation, preventive wisdom, and prophetic discernment of the times, in relation to the present stormy epoch in the history of the Church. 2. That the Laity may be led to adopt such legal and temperate measures in resisting the present springtide of Ritualism, as may not endanger the safety of the Church; and that those "false brethren" whose hearts are already fixed on Rome, may be led either to see their danger, or to quicken their footsteps thither. 3. That the British Government may be awakened to the peril resulting from the present gigantic efforts of the Jesuits, who, having fraternized with democracy, are beginning to set in motion the arms and limbs of the disciplined hosts of France, with the sole object of arresting the progress of the Gospel at every Missionary outpost;* in allusion to which a Morning Paper observes, "We receive no letter from any part of Europe, Africa, or Asia, that does not announce the appearance of a French Envoy, Missionary, or Emissary.' 4. That there may be an increase of friendly intercourse between England and the Protestant Governments and Churches of Europe, for it has been truly said, "That there is still for England, as the supporter of Protestantism, an unexplored vista of power, happiness, and glory; whilst, on the other hand, history proves very clearly that judgment and misfortune have always followed close upon the track of each alternate movement towards Rome." *For information relative to this, let the reader consult the Rev.E. B. Elliott's late Commentary on the Apocalypse, Part VI. Chap. i. See also the "Malta Times," a Protestant journal full of information regarding the movements of the Jesuits amongst the nations which belt the great Mediterranean. 5. That there may be a more general agreement amongst Christ's faithful Protestant servants, in regard to the real character and fated doom of Rome; as being destined not to be converted; but to be arrested in the full career of impiety by the brightness of another advent;* a circumstance which in an especial manner calls upon Christians to "Watch, and pray always, that they may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man." 6. The discovery and revival of the long-lost ten tribes of Israel, as being still within the reach of faith, and hope, and prayer; "For neither after their revolt, nor after their idolatrous lapse, nor after their captivity, nor after their supposed utter dispersion, were their names blotted out from the breastplate. They are still in existence, as a separate people, for their names are still burning in the breastplate of their eternal High Priest, although their ancient earthly dwelling-place knows them no more." 7. That the British public may be led to see the importance of Christian Missions to the Jews, and the certain prosperity which awaits the Christian cause in the Holy Land, however severe the intervening conflict may be:t "For the time to favour Zion, yea, the set time is come. And favour the dust thereof. So the heathen shall fear the name of the Lord, And all the kings of the earth thy glory." Amen. "The utterance of strong appeals on the imminent doom of Rome" and the tripartition of the Papal empire subsequent to fearful wars and convulsions, will be as the sounding of the very alarum bell to Christendom of the judgment being close at hand." -Hora Apocalyptica, Part VI. Chap. ii. "Is there nothing in the struggles of Rome to seat herself in the Holy Land, not only by the arms of the Crusaders, but in the very secret movements (known only to a few) which at this moment are gathering the conflict of the Church to the East, around Jerusalem itself, to suggest the thought that on the scene of the past battles of the Church the final blow may even now be struck?"Quarterly Review, for Dec., 1842, p. 238. NOTICES OF BOOKS. A Companion to the Services of the Church of England, for every Sunday in the year. London: Burns. Most assuredly we have no pleasure in being severely critical, or over scrupulously fastidious. We would make no man an offender for a word; but it is as much a duty to expose what is mischievous, as to recommend what is good; and believing that poison is most dangerous when mixed up with wholesome food, we cannot suffer ourselves to be so far blinded by the general excellence of a work, as to lose sight of what is faulty. Now, here is a work in the quantity and quality of doctrinal sentiment, far surpassing the generality of books issuing from the Tractarian press of Mr. Burns: written, moreover, in no ordinary style, and taking ground which at once supplies a desideratum; but whether it is free from the mischievous leaven of the day, our readers shall judge for themselves, from a few extracts which we have marked for the purpose; and we can promise, that in the insulated form in which we present them, they give no sense contrary to what the context corroborates: 'What has been said of ordinances applies still more fully to holy seasons, which include in them the celebration of many ordinances. There are times when we may humbly expect a larger grace, because they invite us especially to the means of grace. Advent, in particular, is a time for purification of every kind." "Baptism, by which we become Christians, is an illumination; and Christ, who is the object of our worship, is withal a light to worship by." "To come often to the most holy sacrament, is an act of faith; and to be still and reverent during that sacred service, is an act of faith." "And so, again, we all say the Creed; but who comprehends it fully? All we can hope is, that we are in the way to understand it; that we partly understand it; that we desire, pray, and strive to understand it more and more. Our Creed becomes a sort of prayer.” |