into it He has been receiving them, and will continue to receive them till time shall be no more. When, therefore, in our text good children are called princes, it is no empty title. A kingdom awaits them beyond this present world, and in this kingdom they shall reign, world without end. IV. Good children are God's princes, for there is great joy at their birth.-The birth of a prince in this land is usually followed by demonstrations of joy. Up in London, the Tower guns fire a salute; and as they boom up the Thames, the Westminster bells ring a merry peal; and St. Paul's, St. Clement's, and the Bow Bells join in the general gladness. Once a prince was born into the world very poor-so poor, that His birthplace was a stable; so obscure, that there were none of earth's great ones to herald His appearing. Yet there was great joy at His birth. Heaven rejoiced, and angels came down to Bethlehem to sing their song over the new-born Prince of Peace, Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, and goodwill to men.' The shepherds in Bethlehem, too, rejoiced when they received the tidings of great joy, that in Bethlehem was born a Saviour, Christ the Lord. Never was such rejoicing at the birth of any prince; for heaven and earth rejoiced, men and angels were glad together. One Sabbath night in a large city a Sabbath school was dismissing: some were returning to homes where bright fires were burning, and happy faces waited to give them welcome. Under the lamp-light, cold and cheerless, one little lad walked alone. A great sadness lay at his heart,-not that his home was so dark and dingy, and his lot so sad and forlorn. A deeper sorrow oppressed him his teacher had been speaking of the sin of lying and stealing, and the arrow had entered his conscience. At length he reached the place he called home. It was full of darkness, and empty of all furniture but a chair. Finding his way to the chair, he knelt down and poured out a bursting heart to God. By and by the sobs were fewer; then came the prayer for pardon through Jesus Christ; at last all was silent in the silent room. That chair was the footstool of God's throne. When God counts up the people, it will be told of the dingy room, that this lad was born there. All around lay the city in the quiet of a drizzly Sabbath evening, but up in the city of the great King there was joy over a young soul turning to the Lord. Yes, there is joy in the presence of the angels over one sinner that repenteth. Like the birth of Jesus, it gives joy first in heaven, and then the joy communicates itself to earth. Over how many of you, dear children, have the angels rejoiced, and made heaven glad? If you have turned to the Lord, you have given gladness to the heart of God Himself. This turning to the Lord is the new birth—the birth that carries you into the family of God. If you have passed through it, there has been joy over you-joy as when a prince is born. V. Good children are God's princes, for they have the very best instructors.-Alexander the Great was a noble prince and a great king; his teacher was Aristotle, the most learned man in Greece. Edward the Sixth was but sixteen years of age when he died; yet he had been so well taught, that he knew two or three languages, a good deal about gunnery, and still more about his Bible. And James the Sixth of Scotland had for his teacher George Buchanan, one of the best scholars in Europe at the time. Care is always taken that princes should have the very best teachers to instruct them. Good children are God's princes, for they are provided with the very best instructors. I do not refer to home teachers, or school teachers, or pulpit teachers. I refer to teachers who speak to you from God's word. Here is one, who takes you back to the beginning and tells the story of creation: how Adam was formed, the last of God's works of creation; how sin arose, and death ensued; and how the world went on its dreary way, till the way became bright with the hope of a coming deliverer. This is Moses, and he is teacher of history. After Moses we name David. He is shepherd and ruler, poet and musician, all in one. He writes his Psalms out of the depths of a quickened heart; then he sets them to music, and sings them, to his harp, before God. As Moses is teacher of history, David is teacher of poetry and music. Then we have teachers of prophecy. And what a noble band is here! Isaiah with his exulting strains, Jeremiah with his weeping, and Ezekiel with his mystic imagery. And, not to mention others in the New Testament, we have Jesus Himself. Never man spake like this man; never teacher taught as He taught,-finding a sermon in the lily, a lesson in the sparrow, and wondrous parables in trees and corn. But there is another teacher yet, without whom all the other teachers are in vain. This is the Holy Spirit. All other teachers are outside the heart; this one is within it. He teacheth savingly, and to profit. He guides into all truth. What noble instructors these are, whom God has provided for His children! Never were princes of the world so furnished as God's princes are. See, then, that ye sit at the feet of these teachers; above all, see that ye seek the presence and instruction of the great Teacher, the Spirit of God. Then shall you be truly taught, because taught of God-truly wise, because made wise with the wisdom that cometh from above-truly princely, because blessed with a princely training. Lastly, Good children are God's princes, because they have the very best attendants to wait on them.-A rich man can afford to keep a great many servants, a groom, a butler, men in livery, besides his domestic servants. A prince has his attendants too, besides all these, men nearer his own rank, who move about with him, take part in his exercises, and share his company. has ministers of state to advise with him, men learned in the law to direct him, and skilful physicians to watch over him in sickness. He Here, too, the parallel holds: God provides for His people attendants more numerous and more noble than any that are to be found in kings' houses. Once there was a rich man who lived in a splendid house. The hall was lined with footmen and lackeys; up and down the marble stair, servants were ever going and coming, who waited on him who lived luxuriously within. At the rich man's gateway lay a poor beggar. No one waited on him. He had no sister to weep beside him-none even to say 'Poor man!' His only attendants were the dogs that licked his sores. Time wore on, and the rich man sickened. And up and down the stairs servants hurried, trying to do their best to serve him. But the rich man had no attendants in his dying hours-none who could be companions to his dying thoughts none who could minister to his dying wants. Alone amid all his servants, all, all alone he died. And the beggar was drawing nigh his end too. Perhaps the dogs were afraid to come near him now. But better attendants came-attendants who could breathe on his spirit, soothe its fears, and brighten its hopes. These attendants were the angels. And when death released the spirit of Lazarus, they bore it upward and homeward to Abraham's bosom. Of all the hosts of angels that surround the throne, the apostle says, 'Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister unto them who shall be heirs of salvation?' What noble attendants are these! David felt this when he said, 'The angel of the Lord encampeth about them that fear Him.' The servant of the prophet must have felt it too, when he saw the air filled with the chariots of God, even thousands of angels, far outnumbering the threatening foe. And we, too, should endeavour to feel more than we do, that for all His people, younger and older, God has provided such a heavenly guard, that greater is He that is for us than all they that are against us. An old English poet has said, 'How oft do they their silver bowers leave To come to succour us, that succour want! How oft do they with golden pinions cleave The flitting skies, like flying pursuivant Against foul fiends, to aid us militant! They for us fight, they watch and duly ward, And their bright squadrons round about us plant; And all for love, and nothing for reward! Oh, why should heavenly God to men have such regard?' Far more important than we have any idea of, are the unseen ministries of angels during the course of our life on the earth. And when the life is closing, their tender offices do not cease. Your They come, on the wings of the morning they own hymn beautifully expresses it: come, To bear in their arms some wanderers home; Some sorrow to soothe, or direction afford, Or lay them to rest in the arms of the Lord. What a privilege to be thus attended and guarded! This honour have all the saints. This privilege belongs to all who are numbered among God's princes. May this privilege be yours, dear children! Then shall your life be happy, and your death blessed. Angel-guarded through life, angel - tended in death, angel-welcomed into heaven! May this be the proof that you are princes of God. Intelligence.-United Presbyterian Church. Aberdeen. This presbytery met on 12th December-Rev. J. Rutherford, B.D., moderator. Messrs. J. Edwards and Donald Simpson gave part of their trials for licence. Attested answers to queries from Craigdam anent rebuilding of manse; and recommended their application for aid to the Manse Board. Appointed next meeting to be held on Tuesday after second Sabbath in February. Arbroath. - This presbytery met at Brechin on 5th December last-the Rev. Henry Hyslop, moderator. It was reported that since last ordinary meeting the Rev. William Allan, of Park Street congregation, Arbroath, and father of the presbytery, had been removed by death on the 22d October last. It was agreed that his name be taken from the roll, and the following tribute of respect to his memory be inserted in the minutes:-"The presbytery desire to express their deep sorrow at the removal of their esteemed father by sudden death, and would bear their testimony to the ability and diligence with which he discharged the duties of the ministerial office for the long period of forty years; to the affectionate interest he took in the people of his charge; to the assiduous attention he gave to the spiritual training of the young; to the interest he took in the general business of the Church; to his catholicity of spirit in his relations to Christians of other denominations; and to his public usefulness as a citizen of the community in which his lot was cast. They would farther record their esteem for his memory as a brother who was agreeable in his intercourse, hospitable and generous in his dealings, and one who adorned his profession by a consistent and blameless deportment.' The presbytery then entered on the consideration of a call which had been laid on the table, addressed to the Rev. Robert Johnstone, Arbroath, from the congregation of Parliamentary Road, Glasgow; and an extract-minute of the Glasgow Presbytery, under date the 14th November, was read, certifying that said call had been signed by 616 members and 103 ordinary hearers, and that it had been sustained as a regular gospel call. The Rev. Dr. Joseph Brown and the Rev. Walter Muckersie were present as commissioners from the Presbytery of Glasgow; Messrs. James M'Geachy and Robert J. Anderson from the Parliamentary Road congregation; and Messrs. John Lumgair and Joseph Ferrier from the congregation of Princes Street, Arbroath. Reasons for translation and answers thereto were then read, and as it appeared that copies of these had been duly forwarded to the minister beforehand, Mr. Johnstone intimated that he felt it his duty to accept the call given him from Glasgow. The presbytery then agreed to dissolve the pastoral connection between Mr. Johnstone and the Princes Street congregation, Arbroath. Mr. Sorley was appointed to preach the pulpit vacant on Sabbath the 10th Dec., and Mr. Millar was appointed to act as moderator of session. Mr. Millar, as convener of the presbytery's Augmentation Committee, reported that since last ordinary meeting a sum of £110, 8s. 8d. had been raised among the congregations of the presbytery for the scheme, additional to the amount sent through the ordinary channels. Next ordinary meeting was appointed to take place at Arbroath on Tuesday after the first Sabbath of February. Berwick.-This presbytery met on the 5th December-the Rev. William Wilson, moderator. The Rev. David M'Rae, from the Presbytery of Glasgow, was associated with the presbytery. The Rev. William Rutherford was appointed to dispense the communion at Holy Island on the third Sabbath of December. The clerk reported that he had received, through the Glasgow Presbytery, a call addressed to the Rev. G. H. Dick from the congregation of Eglinton Street, Glasgow, subscribed by 573 members and 129 ordinary hearers, together with copies of reasons for translation. It was reported that the stipend promised is £500, with £20 for expenses. The clerk had given the required notice to Mr. Dick and the congregation of Stockbridge, and had afterwards presided at a meeting of the congregation, duly called, at which answers to the reasons for translation, prepared by a committee, were sanctioned, and commissioners appointed to attend this meeting of presbytery. Messrs. Robert Chrystal and Thomas Fairbairn appeared as commissioners from Stockbridge, and Messrs. Sinclair, Wylie, and Bald as commissioners from Eglinton Street, accompanied by the Rev. D. M‘Rae from the Presbytery of Glasgow. call was put into Mr. Dick's hands by the moderator. The reasons for translation and answers were read. Mr. Dick then intimated that, after full consideration, he had made up his mind to accept the call. It was then moved, seconded, and agreed, that the pastoral connection between Mr. Dick and the congregation of Stockbridge be dissolved, and the moderator intimated the decision in suitable terms to the representatives of the respective congregations. The Dr. Ritchie was appointed to declare the charge vacant, and to preside in the session during the vacancy. The Rev. G. H. Main was appointed moderator for next six months. It was agreed that next meeting be held on the 30th of January. Dr. Ritchie gave notice of a motion that the hour of meeting be eleven o'clock as formerly. Carlisle. This presbytery met at Maryport, on the 12th December- the Rev. James Anderson, moderator. The Rev. James Christie was elected moderator for the next twelve months. Being present, he took the chair. Upon inquiry it was found that all the congregations under the charge of the ministers present have made the annual collection for the Synod's General Fund. Communications were read from the Home Mission Board in reference to the missionary of the congregation of Carlisle, and the station at Penruddock. An intimation was read from Dr. Scott to the following effect: That it falls to the Presbytery of Carlisle to nominate an elder or other member to serve in the Mission Board for the four years ending May 1876. The presbytery agreed to nominate their representative to serve in the Mission Board at next meeting. A transference of Mr. Charles Moyes, student of the first year, was presented from the Presbytery of Glasgow. It was agreed to examine Mr. Moyes at next meeting on the subjects prescribed for a first year's student. Said meeting to be held at Carlisle on the second Tuesday of February, at ten o'clock. - on Edinburgh. This presbytery met the 5th October the Rev. Wm. Reid, moderator. After hearing and sustaining trials for licence by several students, the clerk reported that the Rev. John Wilson had accepted the call to the Canongate United Presbyterian congregation, and his pastoral relation with the Stronsay congregation had been dissolved. It was agreed that his induction should take place on Tuesday, the 19th instant, at seven o'clock evening-the Rev. Dr. Thomson to preside, and the Rev. James Robertson, junr., to preach. A petition was read from the Tranent congregation, craving that the presbytery appoint one of their number to moderate in a call on an early day. Commissioners reported that the congregation was unanimous in this application. The prayer of the petition was granted, and Dr. Peddie was appointed to moderate on Monday, the 18th instant. The clerk laid on the table the minutes of the third Assembly of the Free Italian Church, held in Florence on the last day of October, and the first, second, third, and fourth days of November. He also read the following letter:-"To the Venerable Presbytery of the United Presbyterian Church, Edinburgh.- Honoured brethren in the Lord, I have been commissioned by the Presidency (Seggio) of the third General Assembly of the Free Italian Church, held in Florence at the commencement of the present month, to make the following communication to you. The Assembly having heard the report of the Committee of Evangelization, at the suggestion of Brother Dr. Michelis, records a vote of thanks to the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland for the sympathy it has shown towards our work, and the kind reception it has accorded to the members of our committee. The Assembly further thanks, in an especial manner, the Presbytery of that Church in Edinburgh, for the gift of a silver service for the celebration of the Lord's Supper in the congregation presided over by our brother Evangelist Ravi. While honoured to transmit this deliberation of the Assembly, the Presidency (Seggio) rejoices in the opportunity afforded of expressing in a more familiar way the sentiments entertained by the Assembly towards you, honoured brethren, and towards the churches over which God has called you to preside, as well as towards the whole United Presbyterian Church of Scotland. While we were met in Florence to provide for the wants of the work of evangelization in our native land, and could see and feel how many and how great were the difficulties we had yet to overcome in this work, we were greatly comforted and refreshed by hearing from the lips of the members of our committee who had been our deputies in Scotland, that the United Presbyterian Church had received them with lively interest and much affection, had held out the hand of Christian brotherhood to them, and in this way aided them in surmounting their first and principal difficulties. Be ye blessed of the Lord, honoured brethren, and with you may all your Christian friends be blessed who have shown us so much sympathy and so much affection. We are young and weak. We are a newly-born Church -the Free Italian Church. There lies before us a magnificent missionary field, but a very difficult one-Italy. We have felt the need of being closely united among ourselves in order to be strong in the Lord. The union was accomplished last year at the Assembly in Milan, and it was a great achievement. But now we feel the need of being associated with all the other evangelical Churches, and with all the brethren in Christ, in order to be encouraged, enlivened, helped by their prayers, their counsels, and also their liberality, for we are poor. Well, then, NO. I. VOL. XVI. NEW SERIES.-JANUARY 1872. you and your Church have been the first to take us by the hand, so that, while we thank the Lord, the Giver of all consolation and of every good, we also thank our dear brethren of Scotland, and especially the United Presbyterian Church. To perpetuate the remembrance of your liberality and of our gratitude, we have inscribed the name of your Church and of your Presbytery in our minutes, but the gratitude is in our hearts as the kindness is in yours, and we pray the Lord to preserve and increase these feelings by His own Holy Spirit. You have already seen our deputies, and by reason of the necessities of our work you will see them again; but, in order to cement still more our mutual relations of Christian sympathy, we also greatly desire to see your deputies in our Assemblies, and we hope that you will send us a deputation to next year's Assembly, which, please God, will be held in Rome. Accept then, honoured brethren, for yourselves, and convey to your churches in Edinburgh, as well as to the whole United Presbyterian Church of Scotland, the grateful feelings and brotherly salutations presented to you by the Assembly of the Free Italian Church. Pray for us, even as we also pray for you. May God bless your Church and our Church, your work and our work, and may grace and peace be multiplied to you through Jesus Christ our Lord. For the Presidency, OSCAR COIORDA, Secretary. Florence, Nov. 6, 1871.' Dr. Harper was requested to communicate with the Free Italian Church, through Mr. Macdougall, Florence, for the purpose of conveying the sympathy and good wishes of the presbytery to it; and the clerk was desired to communicate to the Synod, through the Foreign Correspondence Committee, the desire expressed by the Free Italian Church for a deputation to attend their Assembly, and to urge the matter on the Synod. The presbytery's committee reported on the rules and revised constitution of St. Andrew's Place church, Leith, which the presbytery sanctioned. Rev. Wm. Thomson of Slateford gave notice of motion for next meeting of presbytery, to the effect that a loan fund of £5000 be raised within the presbytery for church extension in Edinburgh and Leith. Falkirk. This presbytery met on the 5th December-the Rev. William Rose, moderator. Messrs. Baird and M'Gregor, students, were examined by written papers on Greek, Hebrew, Mathematics, Church History, and Theology. Their examinations were sustained. The Rev. William Rose was appointed examiner in Latin, in room of the Rev. Peter Rutherford, trans'lated to Bristol. Next meeting on 6th February, at 10 A.M. Galloway.-This presbytery met on 5th December-the Rev. Andrew Clark, moderator. Mr. Smith, as moderator pro tem. of Kirkcowan session, reported that the Lord's Supper had not been observed at Kirkcowan since Mr. Dawson's death, and that no steps had as yet been taken with a view to the observance of it. Mr. Smith was instructed to intimate to the session that the presbytery recommend that the Lord's Supper be observed by the congregation as regularly during, as it had been previous to, the vacancy. The remainder of the meeting was occupied with the examination of Messrs. Crawford and Goodwin, students. Next meeting to be held on Tuesday after the first Sabbath of Feb ruary. Hamilton. This presbytery met on the 26th September-the Rev. Mr. Thomson, moderator. Mr. Crawford, student, having presented his Hall certificates, was transferred to the Presbytery of Galloway. The Rev. Messrs. Inglis, M'Farlane, Duncanson, Black, and Anderson, with the elders from each of their congregations, were appointed a Committee on Statistics-Mr. Duncanson, convener. This presbytery met again on the 31st October-Rev. Mr. Thomson, moderator-and entered on the consideration of the report of their committee regarding missionary operations. After deliberation, it was unanimously agreed: (1) That special attention be directed to missions in each congregation by an annual sermon, or by an annual meeting, or both; and (2) That an opportunity be given monthly to each congregation to contribute to missions. It was stated that Mr. Anderson was seriously indisposed, and application was made on his behalf for the usual supply in such circumstances. The presbytery sympathized with Mr. Anderson under his affliction, and appointed supply as requested. This presbytery met again on the 28th November-Mr. Thomson, moderator. Entered on the consideration of the Augmentation Fund, and, after deliberation, appointed Messrs. Paterson, Leys, Donaldson, and Hunter a committee Mr. Donaldson, convener to take the whole subject into consideration, and report. Appointed Mr. Duncanson moderator for next year. Next meeting to be held on the last Tuesday of January. - Kilmarnock.-This presbytery met at Ayr on the 12th December the Rev. Andrew Gray, moderator. Read a telegram from the clerk of the Presbytery of Lancashire, stating that the Rev. George F. James had accepted the call addressed to him by the congregation of Portland Road, Kilmarnock, and been loosed from his charge of Brunswick Street, Man |