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the house of Israel; therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.' Remember also, dear brother, that the great qualification you need to stimulate and sustain you in your work is love to Christ in your own soul, a love ever kept in lively exercise by a felt sense of his pardoning mercy and sancti fying and comforting grace. When Isaiah had experienced the Lord's mercy, he heard the voice of the Lord saying, Who will go for us, and whom shall I send ?' and he responded with devoted alacrity. Here am I, send me; and when the Saviour was about to give Peter his commission, he put the question, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?' He replied, Lord, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee;' and then the Lord said unto him,' Feed my sheep.' Love stimulates to duty, and love makes labour light. Having made these general remarks on the spirit in which you should begin, and carry on your work, allow me to suggest a few directions as to the doing of it. There are two great departments of ministerial duty, preaching and pastoral work. Let me exhort you to give most of your time and care to your pulpit work. On the Sabbath you meet with the whole of your congregation, and you should make it a matter of conscience to be as well prepared as possible. Never serve the Lord with that which has cost you nothing. For the sake of your Master's honour, your people's good, and your own credit, always make the best preparation you can for your Sabbath work. To prepare thoroughly, two things are necessary, prayer and pains. You need light from above to enable you to understand God's word; and that light is given to those who ask it. Luther was accustomed to say, 'to have prayed well is to have studied well.' 'Give attendance to reading,' was Paul's advice to Timothy, and it is one which every young minister must attend to if he would be a scribe instructed unto the kingdom of heaven-a workman that needeth not be ashamed. In the matter of your discourses, I trust you will ever give prominence to the great doctrines of our religion-ruin by the fall, redemption by Christ, and regeneration by the Holy Spirit; and while you give prominence to these truths, you will not fail to unfold the whole counsel of God. Whatsoever things are true, honest, pure, lovely, and of good report, these you will teach your people to love and practise. Seek also to show, by the manner in which you preach, that you are seeking the good of your

people, and that you are really interested in the truths you declare. Unless you are influenced by love to your people, you are not likely to reach their hearts; and unless you show that you are interested in your subject, you are not likely to gain their attention. Why is it,' said a bishop to a distinguished actor, that people flock to hear you recite your fictions, and so few come to hear us discourse on the most momentous truths?' The reply is worthy of being remembered. You speak your truths as if they were fictions; we rehearse our fictions as if they were truths.' And now I pass on to say a word or two about your pastoral work. It is an important part of your work to visit your people, that you may become acquainted with them, and may give to them instruction and consolation suited to their circumstances. In all your intercourse with your people make it manifest to them that you are living habitually under the influence of those truths which you preach to them from the pulpit. If a minister would raise the standard of his people's spirituality, he must be himself the most spiritual man among them. In your visiting do not be satisfied unless you find or make an opportunity for planting in the minds of those with whom you converse some seeds of divine truth, which may bear fruit unto life everlasting. Be careful of all your conduct, for a minister's success greatly depends upon his character. His errors are soon widely spread, and they are not soon forgotten. Take heed therefore to thyself. Remember that by grace alone you can stand. You may expect to meet with difficulties and discouragements in your work, but let none of these things move you. In all your ways acknowledge the Lord, and he will direct your steps. The Lord you serve is no hard taskmaster,' 'seeking to reap where he has not sown, and to gather where he has not strawed,' for every duty to which he calls his servants he gives all needed grace and strength. Do your work faithfully as unto the Lord, and though your success may not be so great as you desire, you will hear at length the approving words addressed to you by your Master, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.' And may the God of Peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work, to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ our Lord. To whom be glory for ever and ever, amen." The rev. gentleman then proceeded to address the congregation.

PARKGATE, CHESHIRE. A congrega- tributed £500, and generous subscriptions tional tea-meeting was held in the schoolroom, on Monday evening, the Rev. A. Macdonald Halket in the chair. After tea, the chairman made a brief but encouraging statement in regard to the work in the congregation, and in the district. He reported an increase both in membership and in attendance. The Missionary Association is the means of maintaining and deepening interest in the cause of missions, and of supplementing the collections. The school at Little Neston continues to prosper, as also did the Sabbath-schools. The meeting was afterwards addressed by the Rev. George Johnston, of Liverpool; the Rev. D. Henderson, of Rockferry; Thomas Mathieson, Esq., of Poolton Hall; H. Mowbray, Esq., and R. A. Macfie, Esq.

ST. PETER'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, LIVERPOOL. The congregation of this church have just held their annual soirée. There was a very large attendance. The Rev. James Paterson presided on the occasion. The annual report of the officebearers and committee of management, which was read by the secretary, Mr. A. Stewart, stated that during the year 106 members had left, while 107 had joined, and that the number of members at present on the communion roll is 691; the average attendance of children at the Sabbath schoo's 288, and the number of pupils on the roll of the week-day schools 235. During the year the congregational mission had made 3,091 visits, including 359 visits to the sick, distributed 3,053 tracts, and held 102 meetings, which had been attended by an aggregate of 2,801 persons. The new church in Everton Valley, now in course of erection, is expected to be opened in June next, and the total amount subscribed towards its erection and the extinc tion of the debt on St. Peter's is about £4,641, of which the congregation had contributed £1,001, and the Synod Church Building and Debt Extinction Committee had granted £750. The aim is to open it free of debt, and to wipe off the remaining debt of £1,000 from St. Peter's, leaving it in a condition to be self-supporting; and, as one means of accomplishing this, a bazaar is to be held in May next in St. George's Hall. The report having been adopted, as well as the treasurer's statement, which showed a balance in hand of £8 5s. 51d., and that the total receipts from the congregation were £1,523 16s., the chairman congratulated the meeting on the prospect they had of accomplishing what was aimed at, namely, clearing St. Peter's and opening the new church free of debt. Many people did not believe this practicable, but it was not at all visionary. Towards this object Mr. Charles MacIver had con

had also been received from others. He thought it was a noble thing for the congregation of St. Peter's to have subscribed £1,000, of which they had already paid £862. The new church would cost £5,500, and £1,000 would be required to clear St. Peter's of debt, so that about £1,850 had yet to be raised to accomplish that purpose, but he had no doubt it would be obtained. He hoped that what they had been enabled to accomplish, and the generous help they had received, while it made them humble and thankful, would also stimulate them to renewed exertion. He trusted also the bazaar to be held in May next would prove a success. All must work together, earnestly and harmoniously, and with God's blessing their object would be accomplished.

IN

THE ENGLISH PRESBYTERIAN AND THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES SOUTH SHIELDS.-As a slight evidence of the growing feeling amongst the members of these churches in favour of approximation and union, we may notice that a short time ago it was agreed to dispense the Communion on the same days in all churches, and that arrangement was carried out on Sunday last. It was also resolved that all the four congregations should every quarter of a year, prior to the Communion, hold a joint devotional meeting: and the first of these prayer-meetings has been held in St. John's Church. Arrangements are being made, likewise, for a united missionary meeting.

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Collections and Donations.

HOME MISSION.

HOME MISSION COLLECTION

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Hyslop Street (late Heath Street),
Liverpool, per Mr. W. Pearson
Parkgate, per Mr. J. G. Thomson
Shrewsbury, per Mr. Thomas Deakin
Glanton, per Mr. James Miller.
Bankhill, Berwick, per Rev. R. Scott
Laygate, South Shields, per Mr. J. C.
Stevenson

Brighton, per Mr. W. Sanderson
Brampton, per Rev. P. Taylor

North Sunderland, per Rev. W. Dunn

Maidstone, per Mr. William Brown,

Rockferry, per Mr. T. Jeffreys
Sheffield, per Mr. Hugh Wood
Blyth, per Mr. R. Hettle

Regent Square, London, per Mr.
Thomas Bell

Lowick, per Rev. J. Fraser

Horncliffe, per Mr. James Paxton
Swansea, per Mr. A. Paton

Woolwich, per Mr. W. Rutherford

St. Peter's, Liverpool, per Rev. J. Paterson

Tottenham, per Mr. W. Low

Southampton, per Mr. G. Y. Mercer. Fairfield, Liverpool, per Mr. John

Graham

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Mr. John M. Fraser

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Crookham, per Rev. J. A. Craig

Whitehaven, per Mr. R. Simpson

Warrenford, per Mr. W. Anderson

Cheltenham, per Mr. S. McCraith

River Terrace, London, per Mr. H.

Tweedy

Etal, per

Mr. N. Towns

Harbottle, per Mr. A. Robertson

Bolton, per Mr. P. McKelvie

Tweedmouth, per Mr. A. McTavish

1 5 0

11 6 8

1 6 6

1 14 0

1 11 6

11 50

15 1 0

1 2 6

2 14 6

4 18 4

1 0 0

Birkenhead, per Mr. William Walker 13 8 0

Douglas, Isle of Man, per Mr. Thomas
Jones

Salford, Manchester, per Mr. J.

Mitchell

Seaton Delaval, Newcastle-on-Tyne, per Rev. J. Brown

Risley, per Mr. Thomas Wightman Grosvenor Square, Manchester, per Mr. W. Thorburn

Broad Street, Birmingham, per Mr. J. Byers

St. John's, South Shields, per Mr. D. Reid

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Wooler, per Mr. John Moffett

Ancoats, Manchester, per Mr. R. Johnston

Guernsey, per Mr. William Draper Belford, per Mr. James Gibson.

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St. Andrew's, Manchester, per Mr. A. Guthrie

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FOREIGN MISSIONS.

700

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St. Andrew's, Manchester, Association, per Mr. A. Guthrie.

St. Andrew's, Manchester, Juvenile Missionary Association, per Mr. A. Guthrie

Hampstead Association, per Mr. Wm.

Garden

Trinity, De Beauvoir Town, London, per Mr. W. Tulloch.

Canning Street, Liverpool, per Mr. J. McDiarmid

Trinity, Manchester, Juvenile Mis

sionary Association, per Mr. N. Meadows.

Woolwich Juvenile Missionary Association, per Mr. W. Rutherford

58 11 6

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Berwick-on-Tweed, Bankhill Ladies'

Association

Sunderland, St. George's

Sunderland,

North Bridge Street

Sabbath School
Liverpool, Canning Street.
Liverpool, Canning Street Sabbath
School Boxes

Manchester, Trinity, Juvenile Fund.
Manchester, St. Andrew's,
Juvenile Fund, 1865.
Manchester, St. Andrew's,
Juvenile Fund, 1866.

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Parkgate

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London, De Beauvoir Town

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London, Marylebone

56 5 104 19

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London, Hampstead

London, Islington, River Terrace

London, Stepney, John Knox Sabbath

School

13 5 6

200

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English Presbyterian Church at
Number of sittings
Estimated cost
Sum subscribed
Deficiency

To the Editor of the English Presbyterian Messenger.
Sir, The work of Church Extension is
of so much importance, and is assuming
such dimensions, that I think the time has
now come when our Synod might, with
great advantage, designate and ordain a
minister to the office of Home Mission received.
Secretary, whose exclusive duty, under the
Home Mission Committee, should consist
in originating, visiting, and fostering our
infant charges.

Or, as an experimental movement in this direction, our Synod, at its meeting in April, might select four of its ministers for this work, assigning to each three months' service, and, during that period, finding supplies for their respective pulpits. The success attendant on such an experiment would act as a gauge to show the advantage of such a permanent appointment.

I take also the liberty of suggesting that a list might be given, month by month, in the columns of the Messenger, of such churches as are in the course of erection, or about to be erected, in connection with the Presbyterian Church, in somewhat like the following form :

£

Treasurer
Address

by whom subscriptions will be thankfully

Such a summary, continued and revised month by month, would, at a glance, show the extent and progress of the work of Church Extension, and would tend to enlist the sympathies of your readers and draw forth subscriptions towards the new undertakings. Some, like Mr. Barbour, of Manchester, might be disposed to give a subscription to every new church erected in connection with the Presbyterian Church in England; while others might limit their subscriptions to such localities as they are specially interested in.

If these hints meet your approval, please give them a place in the pages of the Messenger.

I am,
Yours truly,
PRESBYTER.

19th March, 1866.

Notices of Books.

The Sabbath Question, Historical, Scrip- | petual obligation in the Christian Church ; tural, &c. By the Rev. JAMES MAC- and the various practical questions conGREGOR, Paisley. Edinburgh: Duncan nected with the duty of Sabbath observGrant. London: James Nisbet & Co.

This is a production of which it is difficult to speak truly without seeming to incur the charge of extravagant laudation. Mr. Macgregor discusses in succession the opinions of the Reformed Church, of the Reformers, and of the primitive Fathers; the Scriptural grounds for regarding the Ten Commandments in general, and the Sabbath law in particular, to be of per

ance in the present day. The work from beginning to end is intensely interesting. It is a massive structure, compounded of iron logic, ripe and well-digested learning, and thorough manliness of tone and earnestness of purpose. Those who wish to under. stand the grounds on which the orthodox faith and practice of the Church as to Sabbath observance rest, should possess themselves without delay of this masterly volume.

THE ENGLISH

PRESBYTERIAN MESSENGER.

MAY, 1866.

THE LATE SYNOD.

THE Synod of 1866 will be remembered as a very harmonious, hard-working, and practical Synod. It accomplished a great deal in a short time, and has left, we are persuaded, a pleasing impression on the minds of all who took part in its labours. It was truly a council of brethren, who had one common end in view, and were deeply sensible of the magnitude of the interests involved in their deliberations and judgments. We thought we could discern a more than usually solemn sense of responsibility at work throughout its proceedings. It was so clear that God is graciously blessing our work both at home and abroad, and thereby creating a necessity for greater liberality and more earnest and prayerful effort than have yet marked our course, that it would have been strange indeed if a peculiar seriousness had not pervaded the action of this Synod. There are many praying Christians among our people. We cannot but believe that their prayers have had power with God when we contemplate the recent successes of our China Mission, and the enlargement that has been given to our institutions and labours at home. All such will doubtless rejoice and give thanks. But while praise and joy are the feelings naturally excited by "the glorious things that are spoken of Zion," other feelings are introduced by the thought that every new blessing brings with it a new responsibility-that every extension of the field of labour not only requires an increased expenditure of money and effort, but prepares the way for further extensions, all having special claims on the resources of the Church. When God begins in answer to prayer to shower down the influences of his Spirit, and to quicken and fructify the good seed, a prospect is at once opened up of indefinite enlargement, both as to the area of work, and as to the demand for men and money. And then, too, comes the trial of a Church's sincerity and faith. Our prayers have been heard, our labours blessed; are we prepared to assume the new and solemn responsibilities that are thus laid upon us-are we ready to meet God, so to speak, by devising such liberal things as will secure that due advantage be taken of the gracious opportunity, and that the advancing work go on and on? Our blessed Lord confers an unparalleled honour on his people by making them co-workers with himself. He is willing, as facts prove, to work with and for us; are we willing to work with and for him? Our people, we fear, have not duly considered this matter; for they have as yet made no addition to the resources of the Church corresponding with the abundant blessing which the Lord of the harvest has poured out upon her labours. It is a sweet and pleasant thing to find God smiling on our poor instrumentalities and efforts, but it is at the same time a very solemn thingsolemn as regards the fact itself, so honouring to any Church or soul, and bringing God so near in all the power and love of the Gospel; solemn in the light of its developments and issues; and solemn in its attendant obligations. No. 221.-New Series.

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