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PSALMODY.

native brethren have been suffering not a little in this way, but we hope that soon they will be set free from the power of their covetous tormentors. One of their friends, a member with them of the American ission Church at Hong-Kong, came up along with me to prosecute their release. Be is now at the Foo city, and I am dailyinanxious expectation of his return and cf thenews which he may bring. How wonderful the Divine mercy to me in disposing the Chinese officials to treat me with respect and kindness, as they did; and in so ordering it that I should have been released at Canton before the troubles began! There are here at present a large number of foreign vessels, no fewer, I believe, than eighteen sail, and a considerable number of

them have English crews. I preached last Sabbath and the previous one among them, and hope to continue to do so generally, at least until my employment of the Sabbath hours among the Chinese here becomes more important. In these efforts to do good to our own countrymen as well as in prosecuting our work among the Chinese, we have much need to be remembered in the prayers of God's people. With prayer should also be joined thanksgiving for the mercy we have hitherto experienced in endeavouring to occupy this new and difficult field of labour. I shall hope (D. W.), to write you again by next mail, and for the present shall conclude. I am, dear Sir, ever yours, WILLIAM C. BURNs.

Swatow, December 4th, 1856.

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PSALMODY.

Sne,—I cannot sufficiently express my thanks to the author of the article in the last number of the “Messenger,” headed *Hallelujah.” Our inefficiency in regard to psalmody has long engaged my thoughts and attention, and some of those thoughts are so well expressed in the article I refer to, that I could wish portions of it to be repeated every month, to endeavour, if possible, to awaken, in the midst of our congregations, proper attention to the subjeet. “It has,” indeed, “been sadly neglected among us.” “Ministers and people have not done their part in promoting the proper praise of God.” I trust that the writer of that article will fulfil the intemtion therein intimated by him, of letting us have the benefit of the expression of his

further consideration of the subject. A spirit of gratitude is a lovely spirit. I often think of the good old man who used to say that, “when he awoke in the morning, he felt he was not entitled to pray for continued mercies until he had first returned thanks for those he had already

received.” If there is one frame of spirit

more than another that we are called upon, throughout the Scriptures, to cultivate and exhibit, it seems to be that which constitutes the “sacrifice of thanksgiving,” or a grateful heart. This is especially the case throughout the Psalms, where we find language ready for our use. “O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy endureth for ever.” “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” “Every day will I bless thee, O Lord, and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.” “At all times will I bless the Lord, his praise shall continually be in my mouth : ” and so on, with similar expressions, with which we might fill whole pages. It has often appeared to me to be a sort of anomaly, that whilst we devote so much time and attention, in our services, to prayer and preaching, which are in due time to be done away with, we give, comparatively speaking, so little room to the exercise of praise, which we are happy in believing is to last for ever. Heaven is described as “a prepared place for a prepared people;” but how shall those be pre

pared who do not exercise themselves now! But further, while I said virtually what in what is to be a portion of the employ. “B.” says about lectures from which peoment of those who reach “the happy ple will“ stay away on account of their land”?

dryness ” or “be sent to sleep by their I wish that a knowledge of psalmody dulness ; " let it not be supposed that I were a part of the required studies and believe “ Lectures on the Parables and accomplishments of our ministers, as was Miracles,” etc., would be unacceptable to formerly the case with the Romish priests. an English audience. “B." has found it Our sermons would then be less than an otherwise, and I am thankful to say, it has hour in length, and we should have more been so with myself. My own practice has to sing than “the two last verses” of been to unite expository discourses with such and such a psalm or paraphrase. sermons on “isolated texts." Thus Scrip

I am glad to think that many in our ture characters and scenes and prophetic congregations are now awakening up, and visions, so suggestive of great truths and becoming alive to the great importance of holy lessons, have been successively im. this subject in connection with the pros- proved. perity of our Church.

I have not, however, ventured to go I am, Sir, yours obediently, | “through" either “the Old Testament or W. SINCLAIR. the New," as some have done ; nor yet to

bring into the pulpit on the Sabbath, as

text books, "the Larger or Shorter CateSERMONS AND LECTURES.

chisms," or our “Confessions of Faith," DEAR SIR,—One of your correspondents though no one admires and adheres to them under the signature "B." has disputed more strenuously, or delights in enriching a what he is pleased to call my“ dictum," discourse by extracts or definitions of great that the English people will not stand a truths drawn from them, than does the lecture. He wishes me no doubt, if not present writer. What I think is to be to “sit,” to “stand corrected," and at the aimed at is, not (and this is the lecture same time he gives your readers the results which I dislike, and which the English of his own observation and experience in people will not stand) the selection of a favour of lecturing. But in the first place, certain number of verses, and making a he seems to have forgotten the connection lecture out of them whether there is matter in which the remark occurred, namely, that for it or not; but the grouping together of a chapter read before Mr. Spurgeon's of the truths and lessons of a passage of sermon, and his running lively commen- Scripture, longer or shorter, expounding all tary upon it. The question thus was not that is dark, and closing it up with weighty 80 much a lecture by itself, as a lecture practical deductions and solemn appeals. before the sermon. In the second place, In this way the lecture becomes the best of “B.” and myself are far more decidedly of sermons. one mind than he supposes. What kind By all means, Sir, let this kind of lecof lectures did I mean when I said that the turing carefully prepared, as your worEnglish people would not stand them? Let thy correspondent suggests, be extensively “B.” define them himself. Here are his practised. Our Church has always been a words—“Of course there is one style of teaching Church, a witness for the whole lecture and one style of lecturers, which truth and counsel of God; and greatly neither English nor Scotch will stand. blessed alike, are the pastor and the flock The English will stay at home; and the who can have the inexhaustible fulness of Scotch, having gone to church, will fall the holy oracles always flowing in from asleep."

Sabbath to Sabbath upon their souls. Just so, my dear friend “B.," this is

Sincerely yours, what is meant;“ Non meus hic sermo." You A MEMBER OF THE PRESBYTERY OF hare expressed my mind exactly as to what

LONDON. the English will not stand.

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

89

Jutices of Books.

Gotthold's Emblems; or, Invisible Things, cloisters dragging about a foot-cloth, someunderstood by Things that are Made. times tossing it into the air, and some. By CHRISTIAN SCRIVER. Translated times dashing it on the ground. • Verily,' from the twenty-eighth German edition sighed the monk, 'in the mouths of my by the Rev. ROBERT MENZIES. Edin- brethren I am like this foot-cloth,' and burgh: S. and T. Clark. London: pursuing the train of meditation, he added, Hamilton and Co. 1857.

after a pause : This foot-cloth submits CARISTIAN SCRIVER, the author of this to be treated according to the good pleainteresting book, was born in 1629, and sure of the dog, and whether it be cast for many years was pastor of the Church of into the air or dashed upon the ground, St. James' at Magdeburg, where he died in and trampled under foot, patiently en1693. He was a faithful labourer in the dures it. “And I must learn to do the Lord's vineyard, a man of large experience same. Let them then despise and insult, and a strong faith. His works were, at deride and spit upon me, I will meekly bear one time, highly valued, were read, ap- it all.' He thereupon took possession of plauded, and almost devoured, wherever the clout, kept it as a jewel in his cell, the German language was known and the and for many years, when he needed evangelical Church possessed living mem- spiritual strength, contemplated it with bers, and the principal of them passed his inward, as well as outward eye, and through numerous editions, even after the never without profit. author's death. But for a long time they Gotthold added : I, too, would gladly were forgotten and out of print, until, a have kept the old clout, and learned from few years ago, some dusty copies were found it the same lesson of patient submission. by those who could value them, and were No good comes from acting otherwise. reprinted.

We must resign ourselves to God's holy Or“ German neology," and speculative decree and will, and allow him to deal German works on theology, we have, of with us in His own way. What though late years, had more than enough ; but it He gives us up for a time into the hands will be long before we have too many of the world, and suffers it to sport with importations of such works as those of us as the dog does with the clout! Who Christian Scriver. The Emblems will be can hinder Him? Would he not have a read by many with interest and profit. perfect right to deliver us even into the Here is a short one, by way of specimen, hands of Satan? Do we not know that headed “The Clout."

the world cannot worry us either longer "Gotthold was one day grieved and or more than the Lord, in His wise and disconcerted at an unchristian, unchari. fatherly counsel, permits? Well, then, table, and calumnious judgment, expressed to-day this clout shall be my book. I by some one upon an action which he had will learn to resign myself to God's will ; performed with the best intentions, and on nay, at His will, even to the will of mine the justest grounds ; for flesh and blood enemies. All things shall be alike to me, are not always ready to wear Christ's be they lofty or be they low ; favour and crown of thorns, with the same pleasure affliction; honour and disgrace; whichthey would a garland of flowers. Im- ever accords with thy most sweet and mersed in cogitation, he walked from room holy pleasure. Come on, world ; toss me to room of his house, when all at once to and fro, up and down, on the bench his eye lighted upon à clout, which lay or under it, into the light or into the at the door for wiping the feet. This dark corner; to me it is the same. Toss brought to his recollection the holy monk, me where thou wilt, there will my God find, Henry Saso, of whom it is related, that and thence will He one day draw me forth. one day, while sitting deeply dejected in To be rejected by the world is easy to his cell, on account of certain slanderous bear, if we are not rejected by Him. reports' which had been circulated con- But I will be dumb and not open my mouth, cerning him, he observed a dog in the for Thou wilt do it."

Presbyterian Church in England.

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COLLECTIONS AND DONATIONS.
COLLEGE FUND.

John Knox, London Collection ... 3 5 0

A Thank Offering . . . . . . . . 0 6 0 | Amount acknowledged in January Number ... .£581 91

56 5 0 Ditto in February ditto..... 131 17 2 Amount previously acknowledged 264 i 6

The following should have appeared in last “Messenger."

€320 6 6 North Shields Church Collec Caledonian Road, ditto .. 3 10 0

JOHN HENDERSON, Treasurer. Stafford, ditto.......

2 11 4

London Works, Birmingham,
Falstone, ditto . . . . . 1 13 6

Feb. 21st, 1857.
Wark, ditto ..11 0
Widdrington, ditto .... 1 3 0
Greenwich, ditto ....

CORFU MISSION.
Berwick, ditto .

.

The Treasurer of the Corfu Mission begs to ac. Ditto R. Cairns, 58.; John

knowledge the receipt of the following sums :Lyle, 5s... Ditto, H. W. Nicholson, 5s.;

A Friend, per Mrs. Chalmers

£100 c. L. Gilchrist, 105... 0 15 0

Anonymous, per ditto . . Morpeth Church Collection , 5 10 3

Mrs. James E. Matheson, Do., Association

Mrs. Johnston . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 16 6

Miss Jobnston. . . . . . . . . Mr. Tait's Subscription. . 3 0 0

36 1 7

Mrs. M'Nicol Canning Street, Liverpool,

Miss Laylor, .. addition to Collection

Mrs. Begg .

Miss Fector.
Thomas Matheson . . . . 10 00
William K. Coubrough

Mrs. Scott
. . 10 0 0
- 22 0 0

Mrs. Menzies

Mrs. Aldridge . . . . . . . . . Birkenhead Church Association, per James A. Forrest

Mrs. Hughes . . . . . . . ... John Knox Church, Newcastle

There is that scattereth, yet in. . .

creaseth” Cape Smethwick Subscrip

Mrs. Ledlough, collected by tions through the Associa

Miss A. Rankine, ditto ....... tion, per John R. Elliot

9 12 0 River Terrace Subscriptions,

Mrs. W. Hamilton, ditto ..

Mrs. W. Jackson . . . . per H. Tweedy

. . . .

Miss Douglas. . . G. J. Pickett . . .

. . . .

. . . .

. . . . Miss Taylor . . . .

Mrs. James Robertson . . . . . . . . . .

0 10 .

0

Mrs. Patison William Hay

2000

. .

. . . . . . . . London Wal church Associ.

Miss Worrall, per Mrs. Patison, ..

Sir Culling E. Eardly . ation . . . . . . . . 5 8 10 Rev. William Ballantyne :: 2 0 0

Dalston School Children, per Mr. Led

1 Mrs. Chambers

1 0

lough . . Mrs. Campbell

10 0 0 Sunderland Auxiliary, per Miss Wake . . 1 1 0 Mr. Gillespie...

1 1 0

1857. Mr. Henderson Mr. Glover

Regent Square Association, per Messrs. Mr. Gray.

Johnston and Napier . . . . . .

21 16 9 Mr. Laing.

Woolwich Sabbath School

0 15 1 1 0 Mr. Tulloch

South Shields, St. John's Sessional
. 0 10 6
Sabbath School. ..

1 0 Mr. Rutherford

0 1 1 0 Mr. Grant

09 Seaton Delaval Sabbath School

. 1 1 0 Mr. Marr

Mr. James Mears.. . 0 10 6

. i Mr. Laurie

John Knox's, London, Juvenile Mis.
1 0 0
19 18 10

sionary Association į P. C. Leckie, 2nd don.......

5 5 0

Sunderland, St. George's 'Sabbath
School

1 0 0 Miss Webster

1 0 0 2 £846 6 Miss C. Webster

0 5 0 Psalm cxi. 6.. Miss Fotheringham

1 0 ALEX. GILLESPIE, } Treasurers.

Hon. Miss Maule.
JAS. ANDERSON,

Mrs. Maxwell ..
Mrs. W. Hamilton

100 London, Feb. 21, 1857.

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FOREIGN MISSIONS.
SCHOOL FUND.

Manchester, St. Andrew's Congrega-
Contributions received :-

tional and Juvenile Missionary Asso-
Regent Square Association . . . . £42 18 91 ciation . . . . .
Birkenhead, ditto . . . . . . . . 5 0 0 Birkenhead, Congregational Associa-
London Wall, ditto . . . . . . . 4 16 3 tion . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Birkenhead, Congrereti

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Presbyteries' Pro reedings.

Greenwich, Mrs. and Miss

The Clerk read a reply from the Home Wigton . . . . . . . 0 12 6 Collected by Isabella Thomson 0 10 7

Mission Committee relative to Wolver

1 3 1 hampton, to the effect that the Committee Regent Square, London, As

were indisposed to entertain the idea of sociation to 30th June, 1856 45 17 9 Ditto to 31st Dec.,, 62 15 6

relinquishing Wolverhampton; that they

108 13 had appointed a Sub-Committee to visit Australia, Colin McLeod, Esq., Geelong

the Congregation and report on its condiHampstead, Servant's Missionary Box 08 Alnwick, Collection : .

tion; and should the Sub-Committee re1 .

0 0

. Marylebone, London, Mrs. Pereton .

commend it, they would continue a grant of Islington, Liverpool Sabbath School . 2 2 0 £40 for another year. A copy of this letter London Wall Association . .

had been forwarded to the Wolverhampton Chelsea, Collected by the Boys at Sab. bath School. .

1 8

Session. Cape, Smethwick, Association is

It was suggested by Dr. Mackenzie that Collected by Sabbath School

it should be minuted, that whilst gratified Children . . . . . . . 4 3 4

10 11 o by the interest manifested in the CongreHugh M. MATHESON, Treasurer.

gation by the Home Mission Committee 3, Lombard Street, Loadon,

in sending a special deputation, the Pres20th Feb., 1857.

bytery had themselves on previous occasions visited the Congregation, and repeatedly endeavoured as far as practicable to promote their interests and develop their resources.

The Committee appointed to examine

the Day-School at Dudley reported having PRESBYTERY OF BIRMINGHAM.

done so on December 23rd, and that the This Presbytery met at Wolverhampton, School was evidently conducted with great on December 11th, 1856. Sederunt: Řevs.

efficiency. The Schedule was then attested. T. Macpherson (Mod. P.T.), Tullo, Brown

Congregational Books having been called and Lewis (Ministers), with Messrs. Hough- / for, those of Dudley only were laid on the ton, Craig and Eunson, Elders.

table, and these having been examined, The Clerk reported that he had not as yet were ordered to be attested. received any communication from the Home Some other business of a routine character Mission Committee in reply to the minute having been transacted, the Presbytery of last Presbytery Meeting relative to Wol. adjourned, to meet at Dudley on the first verhampton.

Tuesday of March, at 3 P.M. After discussion, and having heard additional statements from Mr. Ewart, an Elder of that Congregation, it was agreed,

PRESBYTERY OF NEWCASTLE. "That the Presbytery do not feel themselves in circumstances to express formally THE Presbytery of Newcastle met, by their opinion as to the propriety of discon- special summons, in the John Knox Church, tinuing the Congregation at Wolverhamp- Newcastle, on January 21st. ton, but must remit the matter to the dis- Present the Revs. Dr. Paterson, P. L.

cretion of the Session, and instruct the Miller, R. Henderson, C. A. Mackenzie, | Clerk of Presbytery to forward for the J. Storie, and J. Reid, with Mr. Freeman,

information of the Session any reply which Elder. Mr. Miller was chosen Moderator he may receive from the Home Mission pro, tem., and the Meeting duly constituted. Committee."

The Moderator's conduct in summoning Credentials in due form, testifying to the the Meeting was approved, and the minutes excellence of his personal character, and of former Meetings read. A commission the efficiency of his pastoral ministrations, from the Session at Hexham in favour of were granted to the Rev. James Speers, late

Mr. James Meston, and one from the ConMinister of Stafford.

gregation in favour of Mr. Thomas P. A Committee was appointed to examine Dods, authorising them to appear before the Day-School at Dudley.

the Presbytery to prosecute the call from The Clerk was instructed to remind Con- Hexham, were then produced and read. gregations that, as usual, Session Records, The above-named parties having appeared, &c., would be called for at next Meeting. the call from Hexham in favour of the

The Presbytery adjourned, to meet at Rev. Robert Henderson was laid on the Broad Street, Birmingham, on the first table, and was found to be signed in all by Tuesday of February, 1857, at 3 P.M. sixty-one members and fifty-nine adherents.

Birmingham, February 3rd, 1857. The The Commissioners stated that the call was Presbytery met and was duly constituted. perfectly unanimous, and that the Congrega

Rev. Mr. Crole, of Brampton, being pre- tion were prepared to guarantee £120 per zent, was associated with the Presbytery. Tannum as a minimum salary; and peti.

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