-A Reasonable Account why some pious, Nonconforming Ministers in England judge it sinful for them to perform their Ministerial Acts in publick, solemn prayer, by the prescribed forms of others. 1679. 12mo.

Taylor's (Jeremy, D.D.) Liberty of Pro

660 phesying. London, 1647. 4to.

From Robert Barbour, Esq.
Manchester.

Bessle (Gustavus Adolphe) Système
Mnémonique. London, 1841. 8vo.
Brown's (John, D.D.) Puseyite Episco-
pacy. Edinburgh, 1842. 8vo.

Burns' (Robt. D.D.) Memoir of Rev. 1100 Stevenson MacGill, D.D. Edinburgh, 1842. Compendium of the Laws of the Church 200 of Scotland. Edinburgh, 1831. 8vo.

Confession of Faith (Italicised Edition.)

420 Edinburgh, 1855. 8vo.

Presbyteries' Proceedings.

PRESBYTERY OF NORTHUMBERLAND.

THIS Presbytery met at Alnwick, October 8th, 1861, and was duly constituted. The roll being called, sederunt the moderator, Mr. Fotheringham; Rev. Dr. Anderson; Messrs. Hoy, Huie, Cathcart, Forsyth, Douglas, Benvie, Brown, and the clerk, ministers. Minutes of last quarterly meeting and subsequent meeting were read and sustained.

After devotional exercises, by Mr. Cathcart, Mr. Huie conducted the Presbyterial exercise on the subject of Education in England in connection with the Presbyterian Church, after which several members expressed their views on the matter; the Presbytery agreed to resume the consideration of this important subject at next quarterly meeting.

Mr. Fotheringham reported that he had preached at Crookham, on Sabbath, Sept. 25, and after worship declared the church vacant; thereafter he moderated in the Session, and provided supplies for the pulpit.

A deputation from the Presbytery of Berwick, consisting of Rev. P. Thompson, moderator, and Rev. P. Vallence, was introduced to the Presbytery, and brought before the Court the subject of a "Building and Debt Extinction Fund," and asked cooperation in regard to the same; whereupon the Presbytery expressed to the deputation the high satisfaction which they felt in welcoming them to their meeting and listening to their statements, but unanimously resolved that they were not prepared to entertain in integro the proposition made by them for the formation of a local scheme to liquidate the debt resting on churches and manses in the county of Northumberland; and furthermore, though declining to homologate the proposed plan, they felt the subject to be of such importance, that they agreed to appoint the moderator, Mr. Fotheringham, Messrs. Benvie and Douglas (the moderator to be convener), as a committee to meet with any committee or committees that may be appointed by the neighbouring Presbyteries, with a view of collecting and preparing a table of statistics, which may serve materials for an overture to the Synod.

as

Home Mission schedules from Glanton and Harbottle were given in, read, and ordered to be attested by the moderator, which was done accordingly.

Presbytery resolved that the next quarterly meeting be held at Alnwick, in St. James' Presbyterian Church, on the second Tuesday in January, 1862, at 12 o'clock, and adjourned accordingly.

Closed with prayer.

PRESBYTERY OF LONDON.

THIS Presbytery held its ordinary meeting on Tuesday, October 8th, in the College Hall, at 3 p.m.

The members present were Drs. McCrie (moderator pro tem.), Lorimer, and Hamilton; Messrs. McLaren, Burns, Chalmers, Ballantyne, Alexander, Duncan, M'Millan, Davison, Keedy, Walker, Edmonds, Fisher, Fraser, ministers; and Messrs. Gillespie, Ritchie, Robb, Bruce, Ferguson, Bright, and Sawyer, elders.

On the motion of Mr. Alexander, the Rev. D. Gordon, of Elgin, was associated with the Presbytery; and on the motion of Dr. Lorimer, the same thing was done with the Rev. Dr. Baird, of New York.

Mr. Ritchie brought up a schedule from, the congregation at Milwall, which was examined, signed by the Moderator, and ordered to be sent to the Home Mission Committee.

Mr. McLaren made a statement regarding the station at Lewes, in which he mentioned, among other gratifying circumstances, that it was to be supplied for three months by the Rev. Mr. Salmon, late of Sydney. He thought there was a fair prospect of its ultimately becoming a regular ministerial charge; and in order that it might be helped over the difficulties incidental to its present position, he asked the Presbytery to render it the aid which it might deem best.

Mr. Sawyer gave additional information respecting the place and its requirements.

After conversation, the Presbytery resolved, on the motion of Mr. Chalmers, to call the attention of the Home Mission Committee to the case, as having a strong claim on the funds, with the administration of which the Church has entrusted that Committee.

Mr. Ballantyne proposed that a Committee be appointed for the examination of Messrs. Gillies and Gullan, two students, who have completed an undergraduate course at the University of Glasgow, and who desire to be admitted as regular students in the Theological College of this Church. A Committee was appointed accordingly.

On the part of the Session of Caledonian Road Church, Dr. McCrie requested the Presbytery to moderate in a call to a minister for that church. The request was agreed to, and Dr. McCrie was appointed to preach and preside at the moderation on the 15th inst., at 7 p.m.

Application was made on the part of the people forming the preaching station at Tiverton for the continuance among them of the Rev. Mr. Hunter, late of Halifax, for six months longer. Mr. Hunter being

present, and having laid his Presbyterial certificate on the table, was requested to address the Presbytery on the subject. He made a most encouraging communication regarding the condition and the prospects of the Presbyterian cause in Tiverton and the neighbourhood, and expressed his willingness to prolong his labours there for six months more. The Presbytery thereupon appointed Mr. Hunter to take charge of the station accordingly.

NEWBIGGIN-BY-THE-SEA. byterian Church. A few years ago, the Rev. Thomas Robinson, now minister of Risley, originated a preaching station in this thriving village, in connection with the Presbyterian Church in England. The station has been continued ever since that period, and the pulpit regularly supplied with ministerial services, towards the support of which, the members of the congregation have nobly and liberally contributed, much to their credit and Christian zeal. The station having assumed a degree of impor

Dr. Baird, of New York, addressed a few touching words to the Presbytery, chiefly on the present disastrous and perplexing state of affairs in the United States. At the suggestion of Mr. Gillespie, the Presbytery united in prayer, commending Dr. Baird to the Divine care on his way to America, and seeking Divine guidance and help in the midst of the sore evils with which that land is at present overtaken, Mr. Burns, of Hampstead, leading the de-tance, and the prospects of success having votions.

PRESBYTERY OF LANCASHIRE.

THIS Presbytery met, in hunc effectum, at Wharton, on the 18th of September; members present :-Rev. W. McCaw, moderator pro tem.; Rev. Messrs. J. C. Paterson, J. J. Davidson, John Clelland, G. Johnstone, ministers; Messrs. J. Macalpine and J. G. Brown, elders.

Rev. Mr. Pirie, of Edinburgh, being present, was associated.

The Presbytery proceeded to the ordination of Mr. John Gordon. Public worship was conducted by the Rev. W. McCaw; and thereafter Mr. Gordon was ordained to the office of the holy ministry by prayer and the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery.

become so encouraging, the Committee now contemplate building a suitable place of worship. William Watson, Esq., of North Seaton House, has generously given an eligible and commodious site, accompanied with a very liberal subscription. This contribution to the cause is all the more gratifying considering that Mr. Watson is an Episcopalian. Robert Barbour, Esq., and other gentlemen, have also kindly subscribed. On Tuesday evening, the 24th ult., a congregational meeting was held at Newbiggin, in the room where the service is at present conducted. The Rev. Thomas Robinson, of Etal, occupied the chair. A verbal financial statement was made by the treasurer, Mr. John Dawson, from which, it appeared, that about £200 have already been subscribed towards the contemplated erection. The names of the following gentlemen were added to the building Committee, viz. : Messrs. R. B. Sanderson, J.P., Jesmond; J. C. Stevenson, J.P., South Shields; C. Lundie, North Shields; Grey, Woodhorn Demesne; W. Annandale; J. Hood; Mr. Laurence; W. S. Wilkinson, Morpeth, and Buddle, Newbiggin. Messrs. Grey and Melrose were elected joint secretaries, and Mr. John Dawson, treasurer. It is pleas ing to congratulate our friends at Newbiggin and the neighbourhood on their cheering prospects of securing a place of worship, in which laudable enterprise they will no doubt be successful; and it may be hoped that the day is not far distant when the foundation-stone of the new Church will be laid. The undertaking is one which well merits the sympathy and cordial support of the Mr. Johnstone, convener of the com- Christian public, especially that of our mittee appointed to examine Mr. S. T. Presbyterian friends, owing to the rapid inDickenson, gave in the report of the com-crease of the population in Newbiggin and mittee; and the Presbytery having heard the locality, which imperatively demands a the trials prescribed, and having agreed to corresponding increase of ministerial labour.

At the close of the ordination service, the Presbytery took up the case of Heath Street, Liverpool, when the clerk read answers to the remit of Presbytery from the interim Session of Heath Street, and from the Canning Street Mission Committee, to the effect that, whilst expressing their willingness to assist the mission in Heath Street as far as they have means and opportunity, they do not feel at liberty to pledge themselves to feel unabated interest in it during any definite period. Thereupon it was moved by Mr. J. C. Paterson, and agreed :-That inusmuch as the remit of Presbytery had been returned unsigned, the Presbytery cannot, in accordance with its instructions at last ordinary meeting, proceed to appoint a day for the moderation in a call.

Original Papers.

SCHOOLS OF THE PROPHETS.*

WHEN the Most High selected and set apart the peculiar people, He furnished them with a code of laws-a handbook of religion and ethics. The Five Volumes of Moses contained all which they needed to know as to their own origin, and as to the function which Jehovah designed them to fulfil. These books contained a symbolic or foreshadowing Gospel; and whilst they taught that God is accessible to sinners, they breathed (the last of them especially) that Divine good-will and tender mercy which are the Gospel's pervading essence and quickening spirit. And whilst they taught that God loved his people, they also showed what a loving people might do for Him who had chosen them from among the nations, and wrought such wonders for them. They contained a comprehensive manual of conduct-a directory for their daily demeanour, and rules for the right discharge of every religious duty.

However, to say nothing of the limited range of a manuscript, it would seem as if they were only those few and exceptional minds which are in earnest at any rate to which a book answers the purpose of a Divine Messenger. The little island of Pitcairn was peopled by the mutinous crew of the ship Bounty and the heathen wives they had brought from Tahiti. A Bible and a Prayer-book, and some religious publications were in the possession of the little community; but they lay unnoticed and unread, and they had no effect whatever in restraining the drinking and the fighting, the murders and the manifold crimes of the reprobate inhabitants. At last, after twenty years, John Adams had a horrible dream, which gave him a new impression of the wicked life he had been leading, and of the dreadful doom awaiting him. This dream sent him back to the dusty Bible, and the Bible brought him to the throne of grace, and there a suppliant for mercy he found it through the merits of a Saviour. He now became to his wicked neighbours a preacher of righteousness, and that with such success that before he died the face of the island was entirely changed. It had become a community eminently devout, moral, God-fearing.

Such seems to be the way of God. The saving and sanctifying truth he entrusts for precision and preservation to a written record; but in order to reach the mass-in order to startle apathy, and burst through all barriersthat truth needs to be proclaimed by earnest men of whose minds it has taken possession.

The stated appointed teachers of the Hebrew nation were the sacerdotal caste the sons of Levi. "The priest's lips should keep knowledge, and the people should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts ;" and when he was like that pattern priest described by *The substance of a Sermon preached in Regent Square, on the Sabbath appointed for the College collection.

No. 168.-New Series.

24

Malachi, "in whose mouth was the law of truth, and who walked with God in peace and equity," many were turned from iniquity.

But, as you know very well, ten of the tribes revolted from David's dynasty, and tore themselves away from the temple and the priesthood. And even in Judah itself the priests often grew lazy and worldly; and in order that evil might not pass unreproved, and that the people might not remain uninstructed, from time to time God raised up men faithful and fearless, who set their face as a flint-who carried the message of their God into the presence chamber of kings-who lifted up their voice and cried aloud against idolatry, and usury, and false swearing, and other prevalent sins, and who as a reward of their holy zeal were some of them stoned, sawn asunder, slain with the sword: while many of them wandered in sheep-skins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented.

In the tribe of Judah, which had the advantage of a numerous resident priesthood, prophets were more rarely raised up; but in the kingdom of Israel the requirement was perpetual, and these schools of the prophets, where they enjoyed each other's society, and where the younger members were under the instruction and guidance of some experienced Elisha or some fervid Elijah-these associations into which men entered on whom rested the Spirit of the Lord, and there got further fitted and trained for their function-they were the theological seminaries and home-missionary institutions in the land of Israel.

Since then there have been great changes. The Saviour has come. In Him the predictive portion of prophecy has received its main fulfilment-in Him the Levitical priesthood has been substantiated and superseded; and, instead of the five books of Moses, the Bible is now a large and delightfully variegated library of six-and-sixty volumes. Great changes! But still human nature is unchanged, and among its other features this continues one: For a correct and permanent record, the book is infinitely better than the most tenacious memory; but in order to bring the lessons of the book into impressive contact with men's understandings and hearts, there is great need that they should be taken up and conveyed by the living teacher or

messenger.

To take the most elementary instance: "Understandest thou what thou readest?" There are many persons who do not read with understanding; and to them a portion of Scripture over which they have puzzled and stumbled in vain, stands out like a new revelation when they listen to an intelligent and articulate reader. Still more, if that reader's own soul is in thorough sympathy. Like the sacred ark jolted along in a country cart, too often is the sacred text conveyed to the audience in hard, unfeeling tones; but when we yield our own spirits to its power, it speaks for itself, and, like Mre. Fry, who never read to the prisoners in Newgate the "Prodigal Son" without drawing tears from their eyes, the intrinsic pathos finds its way far faster than the rules of rhetoric.

"Understandest thou what thou readest ?" There are many passages which a man needs a great deal of information in order to explain. In order to be quite sure, you would require to read the Greek or Hebrew original : you would need to have some knowledge of ancient history: you would be the better for an acquaintance with the ways of the old Hebrews, and with the localities and productions of the Holy Land. And above all, you would need to be well acquainted with the drift of that passage, and with the style of Scripture in general, so as to explain the verse in the light of the context, and in harmony with the rest of revelation.

Even such a simple thing as reading is seldom self-taught, and when you