him and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts ;* gold,† and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream, that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. And when they were departed, behold the angel of the Lord. appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt ; and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child, to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt; and was there until the death of Herod that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.§ * The people of the east never approached the presence of kings and great personages without a present in their hands. This custom is often noticed in the Old Testament, and still prevails in the east, and in some of the newly discovered South Sea Islands. The gold was probably a very providential supply, as it is likely they subsisted on it in Egypt. Many Jews had settled in Egypt, which was now a Roman province; and the rage of Herod could not pursue the holy family to this place. ¡ Hosea, 11. 1. There appears to have been a particular intention of providence in Christ's going into Egypt, that he might come up from the same place whence the nation of Israel had been brought. General Observations.--The events above related seem to be an early indication of the calling of the Gentiles into the church of CHRIST, who was to be the “ light of the Gentiles," as well as "the glory of his people Israel;" and let us Gentiles, while we reflect on them, spare no labour or expense in inquiring after JESUS, our Prince and Saviour, to render him the honour and submission due : let us cheerfully devote our talents to his service: let us not hesitate to go to the meanest abode where little children are to be found, to do them good; remembering the benevolent intimation of Eim who said (and will repeat it) "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." HYMN. Hail the blest morn! when the great Mediator Brightest and best of the sons of the morning! Guide where the infant Redeemer is laid. Cold in his cradle, the dew drops are shining; Say, shall we yield him, in costly devotion, Gems from the mountain, and pearls from the ocean, 'Vainly we offer each ample oblation; Vainly with gold would his favour secure ; Richer by far is the heart's adoration Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor. Brightest and best of the sons of the morning! FIRST SUNDAY SCHOOL IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The first Sunday School in this country was instituted in Philadelphia, in the year 1791, and incorporated in 1796. Its object was to instruct, gratuitously, children to read and write, who were unable to attend school on other days; but the instruction was given by hired teachers; and their design did not extend to the religious instruction of the scholars. The first suggestion of Sunday Schools on the present plan was made by the Rev. Robert May, a missionary from London. In a letter to the Evangelical Society of Philadelphia, in the summer of 1811, he proposed the establishment of Sabbath Schools; produced specimens of the tickets, and developed the plan. An association was formed, a school-house was erected, and a school collected 20th October, 1811, which was conducted under the personal direction of Mr. May himself, until his embarkation in the spring of 1812. A Survey of Sabbath Schools throughout the Christian World; showing their present State, so far as the Editor has been able to ascertain it. UNITED STATES. New-York Union.-The New-York Sunday School Union Society presented their seventh annual report on the 6th of May last; containing the most satisfactory evidence of the extended and increasing utility of the schools; of the unanimity and zeal with which the interests of the institution have been sustained, and of the attention and fidelity of the teachers. Since that time, a statement of the number of scholars and conductors in connexion with this union, up to the 15th of October last, has been prepared, which we subjoin. In some of the schools, there will appear to be a large proportion of conductors compared with the number of scholars, but some are visiters, who do not usually take charge of classes; their time being principally occupied in visiting absentees, and seeking new scholars. 1 NUMBER OF SCHOLARS, &c. ON THE 15TH OF OCTOBER, Church attached to. South Dutch church, Location. No 10 Garden-street Engine house Rose-street No 1 Thames-street Free school, c. Ann & Nassau Do. do Lecture room Warren-street Presbyterian ch. in Cedar-st. School room, Dominick-street Baptist, Delancy-street, School room under the church Mr. Baldwin's church Corner Hammond & Assylum Corner of Ferry & Pearl streets Presbyterian ch.Vandewater-st. Session room 1823. Wesleyan Seminary 6. Corner Chrystie & Delancey 10 13 Do. Orange-street, In the church 16 Baptist ch. Mulberry-street, Under the church St. George's church,col'd adults African Baptist church, in An- Methodist, Nicholas William-st Rev. Mr. Bruen's church, Ref. D. church, at Greenwich, Providence Chapel, 1 New York Female Union.-The Seventh Report of the NewYork Female Union Society for the Promotion of Sabbath Schools, read at their annual meeting in April, 1823, contains the following statement of numbers of scholars and teachers; with this very interesting fact, that 66 of the teachers and 18 of the scholars have made a public profession of their faith in Christ, by union with the church, since the last report. Mr. Kellogg's School Room, Thames-st Presbyterian St. George's Vestry-room, Reformed Dutch 11 9 Associate Reformed 8 777 Episcopalian 16 106 Presbyterian 10 93 Associate Reformed 11 50 Methodist 20 126 Moravian 6 Associate Reformed 13 102 Baptist 18 80 Baptist 20 114 Presbyterian 12 100 Presbyterian Church, Vandewater-street, Presbyterian St. George's Church, Adult School,. 30 35 451 2566 |