Success was with David (see 48-50). Contrast the appearance of the two, their different preparation and their spirit.

Lesson. David fought in the name of the Lord, trusted in His strength, and sought His glory. How can we imitate him? All sin, all evil, is the enemy of the Lord: we must fight against them in His strength and seeking His glory, and He will make us more than conquerors.

Different Objects.

I. 1. Object, a Leaf. Children, what do I hold in my hand? A leaf. What can you tell me about it? One says it has form; others, color, substance, length, breadth, thickness, branches in its frame like the tree, all different, etc., etc. What is a leaf? The clothing of trees. Gen. viii. 11.

2. What does the Bible say about a leaf or leaves? Shall not wither, Ps. i. 3-be green, Jer. xvii. 8-not fade, Ezek. xlvii. 12-fadeth, Is. i. 30-sewed fig-leaves, Gen. iii. 7— cast their leaves, Is. vi. 13-fair, Dan. iv. 12, 21—nothing but leaves, Mark xi. 13-putteth forth leaves, Mark xiii. 28. Enlarge and illustrate any points.

3. See Rev. xxii. 2: And the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

See bad, poisonous leaves. Upas tree, poison-ivy, etc. See good leaves.-Sassafras, balsam, wintergreen, etc. The leaves of the Bible are for the healing of the nations,

etc.

Corrupt leaves or bad books blight and destroy.

II. Object, a Grapevine with cluster of fruit. Cut branch will not unite again with the vine. Prune so as to produce fruit, otherwise will run to leaves. Taste of good fruit. See fruits of the Spirit, Gal. v. 22, love, joy, peace, etc.

bear such, etc.

How

III. Object, a Pin. Sharp, straight, and shining. How many for a penny? Thirty persons to make it. So little

and cheap, not valued. So of common blessings-air, light, water. Feel your pulse. Not live without it. So learn to value little things.

See its value in need, as in storms, cold, etc. So value Bible, health, school, church, etc., while you have them. Bend it, and it becomes crooked, so crooked tempers, tongues, etc.

IV. A Sprig of Evergreen, broken off, may teach us to abide in Christ.

V. Salt, as a grand preservative. A Rotten Apple, influence and decay.

VI. Flowers, so beautiful and frail. A pansy may teach humility, a daisy, cheerfulness, a rose, goodness and virtue, a lily, purity, etc.

XIV.

THE BLACKBOARD.

E would not undertake to conduct a Sab bath-school without a good blackboard. The great object of it is to direct, to concentrate, and to fix the attention, sympathies, and prayers of the whole school upon that portion of the word of God which is embodied in the great practica. thought of the lesson. It is affectingly interesting to see a whole school, teachers and scholars, banishing their worldly thoughts, and raising their eyes and hearts apparently up to the great warm thought of God, as they cross the threshold of the school-room, and see, in clear, distinct letters on the blackboard, the key-note of the lesson for the day; as, "My son, give me thy heart." "Son, go work to-day in my vineyard." "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." "I will arise and go to my father." "Have faith in God." "All waiting for Jesus." "Flee from the wrath to come." "About my Father's business." "The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." "Founded on a rock,” etc.

Blackboards have long been used in public schools

with great advantage, but have only been adopted in Sunday-schools during the last decade of years. They, however, prove to be so well adapted and useful that they are meeting with universal approval, and are fast coming into general use. We think a blackboard should be used in every Sabbath-school, on every Sabbath, by every superintendent, and on every lesson; for the dullest superintendent, in city or country, can plainly write or print one thought from the word of God on the blackboard, and thus fix the eye and concentrate the thought and heart of the otherwise careless, upon the lesson.

We have often seen the noisiest boys of the city calmed by this means into thoughtfulness and interest In the lesson. Sometimes colored crayons are used to attract as well as to impress. The names of the Deity are sometimes carefully written in crayon of one color, while wrath, sin, etc., may be put in another color, say red.

A map, drawn by the superintendent or pastor on the blackboard in the presence of the school, will have many times the effect that it will have, if we point to a regular map. A cross of two rough marks made by 1 teacher on a slip of paper, to illustrate the lesson, will interest a child more than will a jewelled cross, —it was made by teacher.

Frequently the superintendent or teacher will write down the answer, or the main word of the answers of the children on the blackboard, and this will interest them greatly. A teacher can use a piece

of white paper to write or draw on for the scholars of a private class. A few points must be heeded—

1. Do not put any but well-digested, important words, thoughts, and objects on the blackboard.

2. Write or draw as plainly, neatly, and correctly as possible. Do not write too much.

3. Let all the exercises of the school bear directly towards the one great thought of the lesson.

Thus let the freshest and most prominent object in the school-room aid the teacher and superintendent, through the use of the eye, in their great work.

A word of caution is needed, however, concerning the use of the blackboard. Sometimes it has been made to appear quite ridiculous by a fanciful and perverted use of it. The only justifiable use of the blackboard in a Sabbath-school is in order to make Bible truths more clear and attractive in the eyes of teachers and scholars. Men of good taste, as well as those having tact and ingenuity, can and do use the blackboard with power in various ways. For instance, some years ago I saw a lesson taught in Ralph Wells's school-and many of my examples originated with him-from the text in Matt. v. 16: "Let your light so shine," etc. This was plainly written on the board, while on one side was drawn a figure of a light-house, with the rays of light shining forth from the lamp. The superintendent in a review pressed the question, "How are we to let our light shine, according to the lesson, 'So shine ? "