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Church School-room, Irish Street, White-
haven, on the evening of Thursday, Novr.
30th, for the purpose of presenting some
farewell mementoes to the Rev. Joseph
Burns, on his resignation of the pastorate
of the Presbyterian Church in James Street.
The room was crowded, a large proportion

for presentation were displayed on a table
at the head of the room. One of the
articles was a most elegant timepiece in the
new material called Algerine onyx, sur-
mounted by a very chaste vase. Under the
shade is a silver plate bearing the following
inscription. :-"Presented to the Rev.
Joseph Burns on his resigning the pas-
torate of the Presbyterian Church in
Whitehaven, by members of the congre-
gation, as a token of their regard and
esteem for his faithful ministrations during
a period of twenty-one years. 21st No-
vember, 1865."
There were also a very

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH YOUNG MEN'S the "Poetry of Common Life." His ideas SOCIETY, GROSVENOR SQUARE, MAN- were good, thoroughly imbued with the CHESTER. The thirty-second anniversary religious element, and being expressed in a meeting of this Society was held in the lively and ingenious style, his paper was hall of the church on Wednesday, the 29th well received. Mr. James M'Master, as the November, 1865. The hall presented a evening was far advanced, confined himself most pleasing appearance, being tastefully to a few felicitous remarks. The evening decorated for the occasion, and was com. was much enlivened by tastefully-selected fortably filled with the members of the and well-sung pieces of music from the Society and their friends. The President, church choir, under the able leadership of Mr. J. Mackay, cccupied the chair, sup- Mr. Phillips. After the customary votes ported by the Rev. Dr. Munro, by Robert of thanks had been passed, the Rev. Dr. M'Ewen, Esq., T. Aitken, Esq., John Munro pronounced the benediction. Parlane, Esq., and a number of other FAREWELL PRESENTATIONS ΤΟ THE gentlemen. After tea the new session was REV. JOSEPH AND MRS. BURNS.-A opened by an excellent address, replete meeting was held in the Presbyterian with good sense and lively illustration, from the President, upon "The Cultivation of Thought." The Secretary then read the Report, and we learn from it that, while the Society has, during the past session, "suffered the loss of some of its most trusty members, from various causes," other members having been added to the roll, the of those present being ladies. The articles Society, in its thirty-second year, continues to prosper and flourish. The new syllabus, which was distributed, gives promise of considerable interest and ability when we look at the writers and the subjects of which they are to treat. The Rev. Dr. Munro gave a most able and interesting paper. Its title was, "The Abbey of Port Royal, with Glimpses of its Literary Worthies." One object, amongst others, of the paper was, while expressing a due appreciation of the devout excellences, the heroism, and high talent of the Port Royalists, to show wherein they failed as a religious community; how, halting between two opinions, they marred the effect of their appeal to the Scriptures by their slavish deference to the Church of Rome as of paramount authority; and how, by clinging to a falsely organized hierarchy, they, as a body, exposed their doctrinal principles, as well as their spiritual vitality, to constant detriment, ending in their total extinction. From the striking history and sorrowful fate of the Port Royalists, he drew and enforced the lesson, so momentous at the present time, that if we desire that sound spiritual religion is to be enjoyed and perpetuated, we must attach a corresponding importance to right, Scriptural, ecclesiastical principles. In the course of the evening the meeting was addressed by three of the Society's members. Mr. J. A. Berth read an interesting paper on "Robert Burns." With forcible remarks, and by many well-selected quotations from the poet's writings, he did ample justice to his genius, his kindly and generous disposition, and his love of nature; while, at the same time, he faithfully noted his faults. Mr. W. T. Hislop read a paper on

We

neat gold chain and locket, the latter containing a photograph of the Rev. Mr. Burns, which was to be given to Mrs. Burns. A third article consisted of a very chaste silver inkstand, of two cups, with a taper stand in the centre. may mention here that the rev. gentleman has received many other tokens of esteem from friends who were in a manner shut out from subscribing to the above testimonials from the shortness of time there was to get up the presentation in. Chairman (Mr. R. Simpson), in a few appropriate remarks, explained the object of the meeting. Mr. Richard Sands presented the gifts, and Mr. Burns replied in feeling terms. The meeting was then addressed by the Revs. Messrs. M'Leod, Manson, Charles, and others, all of whom expressed the most cordial wishes for Mr. Burns's welfare, and testified to the good which he had done in the district.

The

PRESBYTERIAN SCHOOLS AT ELDAD.We learn from the Western Daily Mercury that the Presbyterians at Eldad, attached to the congregation of the Rev. Joseph Wood, have been making a vigorous effort

to increase the amount of day and Sunday | Clerk pro tempore, it was moved, seconded, school accommodation at that place. The and unanimously agreed to, that the name school accommodation will now accom- of the Rev. Robert Mitchell, M.A., of modate 400 children, and the cost received Edinburgh, be inserted in the call. Thereamounts to £200. Á bazaar has been held after the call was signed by the members to aid in raising the necessary funds. and adherents present, and, having been TIVERTON CHURCH.-The Rev. John cordially sustained by the Presbytery, was Kelly preached his farewell sermon, and left in the hands of the kirk session for the church will be closed for the future. additional signatures. Mr. Mitchell, we The text chosen on the occasion was the understand, has been lately officiating at first clause of the 24th verse of the 10th Bridge of Allan, and his call to Boltonchapter of Hebrews. which is a very cordial and unanimous one-augurs well for the future of the congregation.

ENGLISH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. BOLTON.-On Thursday week the Presbytery of Lancashire met in St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Bolton, to moderate in a call to a minister for the vacant charge. Public worship having been conducted by the Rev. Samuel J. Dickinson, Moderator pro tempore, and the usual form of call read by the Rev. John Gordon, M.A.,

TIVERTON ENGLISH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.-The members of the Young Women's Bible Class, who have attended regularly from the beginning, have presented two handsome_embossed plated-silver mugs, to the Rev. J. and Mrs Kelly, as a token of their affection and gratitude.

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Whitehaven, per Mr. R. Simpson

12 15 0
290

Roekferry, per Mr. Thomas Jeffreys.

Birkenhead, per Mr. William Walker 15 0 0

Chelsea, London, per Mr. W. Hume...
Warrenford, per Mr. W. Anderson
Bolton, per Mr. P. McKelvie
Greenwich, London, per Mr. J. Thom-

son

John Knox's, London, per Mr. R. Peter
Darlington, per Mr. George Harrison
Horncliffe, per Mr. James Paxton
Trinity Church, Newcastle, per Mr.
Isaac Freeman

Southampton, per Mr. G. Y. Mercer
Regent Square, London, per Mr. Thos.
Bell

North Shields, per Mr. J. Mavor

Bankhill, Berwick, per Rev. Robt. Scott 1 3 0 HOME MISSION COLLECTION

Maidstone, per Rev. John Greener
Brampton, per Rev. Peter Taylor

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

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Wark, per Rev. A. Wilson
Glanton, per Mr. James Miller

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Notices of Books.

The Divine Love: a Series of Discourses. By JOHN EADIE, D.D., LL.D. Second Edition. Edinburgh: W. Oliphant & Co.

These Discourses are of a high order. They possess the freshness of youth with the robustness of manhood. To some the style will appear rather too florid, and in some places even juvenile. But it has evidently been the Doctor's aim to present truth in a popular way; and the very features which may detract from the value of a writer may be necessary to the success of a speaker. The book abounds in admirable exposition and in natural eloquence.

Behold the Bridegroom cometh: The Last Warning Cry. By the Rev. J. CUMMING, D.D., F.R.S.E. London: J. Nisbet &

Co.

Dr. Cumming sets out by declaring that "this work exhausts all I have to write or say on the fulfilment of prophecy." Those, therefore, who wish to make themselves acquainted with the views of Dr. Cumming and his friends on prophecy cannot do better than buy and read his last and maturest book. "I adhere," he says, "to what I stated in 1847, that the last apocalyptic and historic vial commenced its action in 1848, and that its effects have been manifested in those successive awful phenomena which are unfolded in detail in our Lord's prophecy on the Mount, and are now registered in the impartial chapters and archives of history. How soon after 1867 the Redeemer will return and take the kingdom and reign over all the earth, I cannot say. But this I may say, we should then, if never before, have our lamps ready, and oil in our vessels, and our ears open to the voice that will one day, and may be any day, heard sounding from the skies: 'Behold the bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him.' Before that time, if our inductions are just, he will not come.' The book is dedicated to the Duchess of Sutherland, who has "expressed great interest" in it, and to whom it is dedicated "with feelings of grateful respect and esteem."

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Little Katy and Jolly Jim. London: J. Nisbet & Co.

An excellent little story for young people, combining healthy interest with

solid instruction. A suitable present for the New Year.

On the Membership of the Christian Church, and the Purity of her Communion. By the Rev. JOHN CAIRNS, D.D. London: J. Nisbet & Co.

We have read this pamphlet with much interest. There are few subjects that bear more directly on the welfare of the church than that which it handles, and we are convinced that all evangelical denominations will be compelled before long to give it much more attention than they have hitherto done. Dr. Cairns treats it with all the care and discrimination that

might be expected at his hands, laying down principles, answering objections, and suggesting remedies for the laxity that notoriously prevails at the present time. We should like all our intelligent laymen, as well as our ministers, to possess and study what the Doctor has written.

SERIALS.

The British Workman and The Band of Hope Review, for the year 1865, are now before the public. They are full of woodcuts, well drawn and well engraved; and we know of no better guest to introduce into the Christian family. They afford an inexhaustible fund of profitable . amusement to little folks.

The Sunday, Magazine, Christian Work, Our Own Fireside, and The Gardener's Magazine, all maintain their high reputation; and we trust that the year 1866 will bring an increase to the number of their readers.

BOOKS RECEIVED.

Apologetic Lectures on the Fundamental
Truths of Christianity.
By C. E.
LUTHARDT; Translated by SOPHIA
TAYLOR. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark.
Ourselves; a Picture sketched from the
History of the Children of Israel. By
Brownlow North, B.A. London: Wm.
Hunt & Co.

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THE ENGLISH

PRESBYTERIAN

MESSENGER.

FEBRUARY, 1866.

CARE AND ITS CURE.

THOUGHTS ON 1 PETER V. 7.

"Casting all your care upon Him, for he careth for you."

BY THE REVEREND ALEXANDER LEITCH, M.A., STIRLING.

Ir is not care as to some things to the exclusion of others. It is "all" care that is to be dealt with as here directed. Care as to temporal matters; care as to spiritual matters; care as to the body and as to the soul; personal care and relative care; care respecting business; care respecting duties more ordinary and more special; care as to matters greater or smaller; care concerning intercourse with fellow-men; care as to success in any undertaking entered on; care as to losses; crosses and disappointments of all sorts; care as to the past, the present, the future; care about the subjugation of sin, and its expulsion from the soul. Indeed, there is no matter so trivial as not to be comprehended in the expression, "All your care."

On whom is care to be cast? On the Lord. You are not to retain it in your minds-you must put it away; you are not to cast it on friends or any fellow-men-it is to be transferred to your Saviour; he can and will sustain it. In his compassion and mercy he will relieve you from it. By what means is care cast upon the Lord ? By faith-believing that he will undertake for you; believing that he will support you and give the needed strength; believing that the Lord will accept the commitment of yourselves and of your interests which you make to him; believing the declaration (Rom. viii. 28), "All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.'

We cast all our care upon the Saviour by going to him with it, conferring with him in regard to it, and leaving it with him. "Come unto me," he says (Matt. xi. 28), "all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give Rest from the burden of care, by which you are oppressed. We are to cast all our care on the Lord by prayer. "In every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."

you rest.'

Through prayer, in this connection, we are to plead the accomplishment of all the promises bearing on this subject.

Let us practise the blessed art of casting care on the Lord.

Though the performance of it looks easy, it is not so in reality.

Oh, how kind in God to take your care upon himself whenever you transfer

it to him!

The effect of casting your care on the Lord is, that (2 Cor. iv. 8) though troubled on every side, yet are you not distressed; though perplexed, you are not in despair. The peace of God fills the soul.

No. 218.-New Series.

3

"He careth for you." What a precious declaration that! He cares for you at all times; he cares for you when you are in difficulty, and when it is otherwise; he cares for you when you are in health, and when you are in sickness; he cares for you on all occasions, and specially when you are dying. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." Hezekiah is a notable example of casting care on the Lord, going up unto the house of the Lord, and spreading before the Lord the insulting and blasphemous letter sent him from Rabshakeh (Isaiah xxxvii. 14).

Casting your care on the Lord does not imply thoughtlessness on your part; you are to consider your way, but you are not to be painfully careful. There is perfect harmony between casting care on the Lord, and diligence in the discharge of every incumbent duty.

Delightful it is to think that the Lord careth for his people. See how impressively this care on the Lord's part is set before us in Isa. xlix. 15, 16, "I will not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands ; thy walls are continually before me." Also in John xiv. 1, "Let not your heart be troubled."

Why does the Lord care for you, his people? Because you are his jewels, his flock, his spouse; he cares for you because he has graciously undertaken to conduct you through the wilderness of this world to the celestial Canaan.

There are certain classes of people by whom the privilege of casting care on the Lord ought to be regarded as particularly valuable. Among these are the widow, the fatherless, the poor, the afflicted and the grieved.

With all of us, casting care on the Lord is to be a continued exercise. The word is not "cast," but "casting.".

The Lord has cared for you all along up till this time; he cared for you in your infancy, in your childhood, and in your maturer years.

"When all thy mercies, O my God!
My rising soul surveys,

Transported with the view, I'm lost
In wonder, love, and praise."

What a sweet life do those live who act according to this direction—“ Casting all your care upon

him."

66

The Lord must be known by us; we must be regenerated in order to our casting our care upon him (Psalm ix. 10). They that know thy name will put their trust in thee, for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee."

Unbelievers! consider what heavy burdens of care you needlessly bear. Unbelievers! the Lord has a care regarding you; it is that you may not perish. It is this care which moves him to address you in great compassion, saying, "Why will ye die?" And why will ye, in the view of a gratuitous salvation set before you ?

Lord! I thank thee for this remarkable privilege of casting care upon thee. Help me to estimate it as it should be. Lord! enable me to cast my care, and all my care, continually, and about all things, on Thee. Make me desirous to perform this precious exercise of casting all my care upon thee. I have grievously failed in this blessed exercise; failed-to my own hurt, and to thy dishonour.

"Jesus, my strength, my hope,

On thee I cast my care,

With humble confidence look up,
And know thou hear'st my prayer.

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