this the place for it, we think we would have little fear of being able to show that, both in point of doctrine and practice, the sentiments and conduct of Original Seceders in regard to the present civil government

the leading point of difference between them and the Reformed Presbyterian Church-are more in accordance with the principles and conduct of the Reformers, both of the First and Second Reformations, than are those of our Reformed Presbyterian brethren. But as we cannot here discuss the subject, and have indeed no desire to enter upon the public discussion of it, we content ourselves by merely indicating our opinion. With this exception, then, to the sermon, we cordially recommend it to the attention of our readers, assuring them that they will find both pleasure and profit in its perusal.

Semina Rerum: or True Words versus Good Words. By Kenneth Macqueen. Edinburgh: John Maclaren. 1868.

THE author of this little work is evidently a man of earnest religious convictions, who is accustomed to think for himself on religious subjects, and who is not afraid to speak out what he thinks even when he knows that he is in a minority. His object, as declared on the title-page, is to set forth "true words" in opposition to "good words"-meaning by "good words," not, as many will imagine, the popular periodical of that name, but what Paul calls "the good words and fair speeches" which "deceive the hearts of the simple." In the course of his observations-which, by the way, we have felt to be rather disjointedly strung together he touches on various subjects of deep religious interest at the present time, such as, the influence of prevailing scientific speculation on religious belief; the union of the Churches; the reclamation of the lapsed masses; the agency of woman in the work of the Gospel. But his strength is mainly expended, in showing that missions to the heathen are the special work which Christ has given to the Church, and to every individual member of it to do, and in exposing what he takes to be certain popular fallacies regarding the duty of the Church in relation to foreign missions, and particularly regarding the duty of the Free Church in relation to her missions in India, in which, as an "old Indian," he takes a special interest, and is doubtless able to speak with some authority. With much that he says on the various topics he discusses we cordially agree, and have no hesitation in commending it, as alike judicious and seasonable, and well worthy the earnest attention of the members of the Church of Christ. But his is one of that class of minds keen and fervent, but not very broad-which are liable to fall into the pregnant source of error, of mistaking a part of a truth for the whole. In several prominent instances its to

us he has done this, and has thus committed himself to sentiments which are one-sided, exaggerated, and in effect false. In sowing his Semina Rerum, he has let fall not a few golden grains of important and seasonable truth, but he has dropped also some crude half-truths, and once or twice very palpable error. Want of space compels us to leave the winnowing out of these to the careful reader, which we recommend to do, for the goodly portion of seed-grain which he will find remaining.

Images in the Windows of Churches. Protest against them. By George Rochfort Clarke, M.A. In Letters addressed to the Bishops of Oxford, London, and St. David's, and the Vicar of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields. Seeley, Jackson, & Halliday, London. 1868.

WERE all the influential laymen of the Church of England as soundly and intelligently Protestant as Mr. Clarke, and were they united in pressing their convictions with equal force upon their ecclesiastical superiors, we venture to say a speedy arrest would be put upon those ritualistic tendencies which are carrying that Church so rapidly Romeward. In this correspondence with three bishops and a vicar, Mr. Clarke has shown, we think conclusively, that image windows in churches were unknown till six centuries after Christ, and were then introduced by the Bishop of Rome; that they were abolished at the Reformation; that they are forbidden by the Homilies of the Church of England, especially that "against peril of idolatry and superfluous decking of churches;" that they involve a violation of the Second Commandment; that in cases where Christ is represented they are false and lying, exhibiting a fanciful human image of Him who in His adorable Person is "God manifest in the flesh;" and that they carnalise the minds of worshippers, by turning the spiritual realities of God's Word, from objects of pure faith into objects of fancy. All the reverend correspondents of Mr. Clarke reply to his communications-two of the bishops and the vicar at length-but after the most plausible defence they can make of pictorial art in the house of God, not one of them has overthrown, or even fairly looked in the face, a single one of the positions he has taken up against it. Pictorial windows in churches are getting common even in Presbyterian Scotland. Following the example set in the case of Glasgow Cathedral, a proposal is being carried out, to fill with them the old church of St. Giles in Edinburgh, so closely identified with both the First and the Second Reformations; but would the promoters of such innovations only read the pamphlet before us, they would hardly fail to see that what they advocate, it may be on purely æsthetic grounds, has its origin in the sensuous and idolatrous worship of Popery, and must tend dangerously to familiarise the minds of the people with its attractions.

66

'Shaksperian Readings," and their Apologists with Reply to the Rev. J. M'Kenzie Fraser's attack on the Reformed Presbyterian Church. By the Rev. A. M. Moore, M.A. Geelong. Geelong: Henry Franks. 1868.

THE author of this pamphlet has done good service to the cause of religion and morality, by the able and spirited exposure he has made of the disgraceful and unchristian theatrical proclivities and practices of a number of ministers of the gospel in and around the town of Geelong, in Australia. Such another exhibition as was given in the Assembly Room of that place on the 21st of January last by these ministers, in the acting of, for example, the "Ghost Scene, of Hamlet;""Trial Scene, Merchant of Venice;"" 'Hubert and Arthur, King John;""Bridge of Sighs, Hood;" "Sam Weller's Valentine, Dickens;" and such like, we can scarcely imagine was ever before, and for the sake of our holy religion, we trust, will never again be witnessed by any community. As we once heard a worthy minister say in regard to a matter far less unseemly and profane, which received the countenance of certain ambassadors of Christ, it was enough to make the heavens grow black; and we cannot but express our surprise that the ministers of Geelong dared to do such things. No wonder that the seriously inclined among their people were scandalised at their conduct, and took them to task on account of it; and that so many of the community of Geelong defended it, and followed in their wake, only shows the more the low-the lamentably low-state of religion in their midst. The conduct of the Rev. J. M'Kenzie Fraser -said to belong formerly to the Free Church-in his attempted defence of the theatricals, and in his wanton and scurrilous attack on the Reformed Presbyterian Church, the Church to which Mr. Moore belongs, is beneath the dignity of an honourable man, not to speak of a minister of Jesus Christ. But we are glad to observe that he receives a well-merited and justly severe castigation from our author. Mr. Moore's defence of the position and principles of the R. P. Church, so contemptuously assailed by Mr. Fraser, is admirable. As the practices referred to generally in this pamphlet are beginning, in certain forms, to be pursued in this country, the subject must be taken up more particularly afterwards. Meantime, we cannot do better than advise our readers to procure this terse and pointed brochure of Mr. Moore, and give to it their attentive consideration.

Religious Intelligence.

CLOSE OF THE THEOLOGICAL HALL.

THE recent session of the Divinity Hall, under the inspection of the Synod of United Original Seceders, was brought to a close on Tuesday, the 4th August last. Besides

Professor Murray, D.D. and the students, there were present on that occasion the Rev. Messrs. E. Ritchie (Colmonell), George Roger, James Smellie, W. F. Aitken, John Ritchie, Thomas Hobart, W. B. Gardiner, and A. T. M'Clennaghan. The Rev. Thomas Hobart, Convener of the Hall Committee, opened the proceedings with prayer. The Rev. E. Ritchie delivered an elaborate and instructive valedictory address to the students, on the "Distinctive Principles of the Reformation," which the Hall Committee and students unanimously requested him to publish in the Magazine. Mr. Ritchie complied with the request.

At the close of the address, the Professor reported that eight students had attended the Hall during the session, that all of them had manifested great diligence in their studies, and performed the prescribed exercises in a satisfactory manner. Several of the ministers having expressed the pleasure it gave them to hear the Professor's report, and addressed a few words of exhortation to the students, Mr. Aitken concluded with prayer.

A meeting of the Hall Committee was then held, at which it was reported that Messrs. Gilchrist and Stirling were to be licensed that day; that Mr. Spence had delivered part of his trials for license, and is expected to deliver the remaining part in the course of a few weeks. It was agreed to recommend that Mr. Alexander Yuille be taken on trials for license, and that the Rev. John Robertson, Ayr, be requested to deliver the valedictory address at the close of the next session of the Hall.

At the sametime it was arranged that three bursaries, of the value of £5, £4, and £3, be competed for this year; that the competition be open to all students of divinity and arts in connection with the Synod; and that an intimation of the name of the books on which the students are to be examined, and of the time and place of meeting, be inserted in the September number of the Magazine.

PRESBYTERY OF EDINBURGH.

Mr.

THIS Presbytery met at Glasgow on August 4-the Rev. Thomas Hobart, Carluke, moderator. Mr. Spence delivered two discourses-one a Presbyterial exercise, the other a part of his trials for license-both of which were cordially sustained. Gilchrist having formerly delivered all his public trials for license, and these having been sustained separately and in cumulo, was taken on private trial, and thereafter licensed by the Presbytery as a preacher of the everlasting gospel and probationer for the ministry. Mr. Hobart, who conducted the exercises, addressed to him suitable exhortations.

PRESBYTERY OF GLASGOW.

THE Glasgow Presbytery of United Original Seceders met at Glasgow on the 4th of August last-the Rev. W. B. Gardiner, Pollockshaws, moderator. After examining several students, the Presbytery proceeded to receive the remaining trials for license of Mr. Alexander Stirling, student of divinity, which having been sustained singly and in cumulo, it was unanimously agreed to license him as a probationer for the holy ministry, which was accordingly done by the moderator with suitable exhortations.

COLMONELL.

PRESENTATION TO THE REV. E. RITCHIE.-On the evening of Tuesday, the 9th July, a deputation, consisting of Messrs. Wilson, Maherquat; M'Alpine, Dalreoch; Finlay and Campbell, Colmonell; called on the Rev. Mr. Ritchie, minister of the Original Secession Church in this place, when Mr. Wilson, in name of a committee of management, presented him with a purse containing £36 7s. 6d. accompanied with an excellent address, expressive of the high respect and esteem in which he is held by all classes of the community. Mr. Ritchie made a feeling and suitable reply, referring to the fact, that he may be said to have commenced his public labours, having been sent to preach the gospel in this place very soon after he was licensed by the Presbytery, and to the great changes which had occurred during the forty years that had elapsed since that time. He returned his warmest thanks to all the contributors and parties who had taken part in promoting this public testimonial. Regarding it chiefly as a mark of respect to him as a minister of the gospel of Christ, he was sure that all who concurred in it, viewing it in this light, should not lose their reward from Him who is not ashamed to call His people brethren, and who accounts what is done to His servants and people for His sake as done for Himself; and then concluded thus-" Now, may we all seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, so shall all things that our Heavenly Father sees needful and best for us be added unto us. If we take the Lord to be our Shepherd, we shall want no good thing. May His goodness and mercy follow us all the days of our life, and our dwelling be in the house of the Lord for ever."

THE

ORIGINAL SECESSION MAGAZINE.

NOVEMBER, 1868.

ADDRESS TO THE STUDENTS OF DIVINITY OF THE UNITED ORIGINAL SECESSION CHURCH.*

STUDENTS OF THEOLOGY-I have been requested by the Hall Committee to address you, at the close of another session of your course of study and preparation for the work of the holy ministry. Under a sense of my own insufficiency to speak to your edification, I am sustained and encouraged to attempt this, by the assurance that I may expect a favourable hearing from young men, whose hearts have been touched by the love of Christ-who have beheld the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ-who have willingly offered yourselves to the Lordwho, having heard the divine inquiry, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" have responded, "Here am I, send me "--and whose minds are even now glowing with admiration and delight, on beholding wondrous things out of God's law, while prosecuting your studies in the Word of God, and after listening to the solemn, sublime, and weighty truths, delivered to you in the prelections of your venerated and beloved professor of theology. But apart from other considerations, the great and abiding inducement to address you, and to solicit your attention, is the certainty that no labour of love in the work of the Lord shall be in vain, and that He can, and will bless the feeblest efforts to promote His glory and the welfare of His Church and His children. I have the more liberty and boldness in addressing you, young men, because ye are strong, and have the Word of God abiding in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

Though we are now living in the nineteenth century of the Chris

This Address was delivered by the Rev. E. Ritchie, Colmonell, at the close of the last session of the Divinity Hall, and is published at the request of the Hall Committee and the students.

NO. XII. VOL. VIII.

2 H

NEW SERIES.