It may be observed, that some of the words made use of are not the simplest that might have been chosen; but if the idea be a simple one, or an explained one, the best representative of it is that word which is the most expressive of the idea. By some teachers the questions may be thought too diffuse; in his own practice, the author would extend them much further, and he would particularly recommend the examples of illustrative questions to be more and more multiplied; all those on minerals, metals, animals, and plants might be extended, by the mention of others and the purposes to which they are applied. For intelligent teachers, the questions and answers are perhaps altogether superfluous, but they may be useful to those who have taken up the work of instruction without having received the advantages which modern education offers; and to those, however highly educated and well-informed, whose pupils are so numerous as to prevent the introduction of school-books, which are not altogether prepared for their hands.

If the mention of any object previously unknown to the pupil occurs, it should be shewn, if possible, and if not, a good representation should be put before the pupil, assisted by a description; and it should be borne in mind, that no word can be ac

counted difficult, even to a young learner, which merely expresses the name, or simple quality of an object.

It may perhaps be remarked that in the following lessons the author has occasionally departed from the principle he recommended in the preface to Scripture Characters-of not asking a question before the knowledge requisite to form the answer has been imparted to the pupil. The few instances of departure from this principle will be found to be merely illustrative questions, suggested for the purpose of ascertaining that the child's faculties of observation are in the course of developement, and for the purpose of shewing that the child is not to place all its dependence for knowledge upon books, but that it may acquire much information through the medium of the senses.

C. B.

EASTFIELD, DONCASTER,

APRIL, 1833.

THE CREATION.

ALL WORKS HAVE A MAKER.

THE chair which you see here did not make itself; it was made by some workman who knew how to make it. We know that a workman made the chair, because we see that such works are performed by men. Every thing we see had a maker. All the objects about us are works. They are the works of God, or the works of intelligent men. The works of God are created works, or natural works. We know that created works are the works of God, because he

has revealed this knowledge to man. The works of man are artificial works. The works of God are greater and more wonderful than the works of men. The works of God were made "by the word of the Lord."* The works of man are made by the thoughts of his soul, and the labour of his hands. God gave man his soul, to think, and his hands, to labour. The chair is made of wood. Man cannot make wood. This coat is made of wool. Man cannot make wool. Fires are made of coal. Man cannot make coal. Man cannot make any thing without materials. The materials of the chair, the coat, and the fire, are wood, wool, and coal. God first created these materials, and all other materials in the whole world. God is, therefore, the first maker of every thing. He created all things

Psalm xxxiii. verse 6.

from nothing, and he gave wisdom to man. The low mosses, the towering forest trees, and all plants; the small beetle, the great elephant, and all animals; the coarse pebble, the brilliant diamond, and all minerals-are alike wonderful. These are some of the works of the Almighty Creator ;-the great God who created the heavens, and the earth, and all things.

ONCE NOTHING WAS CREATED.

The ground we tread upon is the earth. It is not flat, like the floor of a room, but it has hills, mountains, plains, vallies, lakes, and rivers. Some parts of the earth are separated from other parts, by immense waters, which are called seas or oceans. The earth is covered with plants, and numerous animals live on it, and feed upon its productions. If we