Improving our Baptism.—The needful but much neglected duty of improving our baptism is to be performed by us all our life long, especially in the time of temptation, and when we are present at the administration of it to others; by serious and thankful consideration, of the nature of it, and of the ends for which Christ instituted it, the privileges and benefits conferred thereby, and our solemn vow made therein; by being humbled for our awful defilement, our falling short of, and walking contrary to, the grace of baptism, and our engagements; by growing up to assurance of pardon of sin, and of all other blessings sealed to us in that sacrament; by drawing strength from the death and resurrection of Christ, into whom we are baptised, for the mortifying of sin and the quickening of grace; and by endeavouring to live by faith, to have our conversation in holiness and righteousness, as those that have therein given up their names to Christ; and to walk in brotherly love, as being baptised by the same spirit into one body.—Larger Catechism.
“The Modern Puritan.”—This is a new shilling quarterly which purposes among other things “to gather from sources old as well as new (the old is often better) materials for the exposition and intelligent defence of that doctrinal, or Pauline, theology which has been assailed times without number but never worsted in the shock of arms; for it abides impregnable entrenched in the very citadel of revelation from whence it can never be dislodged.” With such an aim we wish it success. It is a sad feature of the theological periodicals of high standing both in Scotland and England that they are the advocates of views in theology and inspiration that are in the teeth of the best traditions of our great divines. The Modern Puritan opens with a discriminating review of Dr. Orr’s recent book by Professor Leitch of Belfast. The first instalment of what promises to be an interesting history of the Confessional also finds a place in its pages. Other articles of varying interest are the City of Damascus and select letters of Martin Luther.
France and Major Dreyfus.—The English Churchman thus remarks on this extraordinary case:—”Major Dreyfus—a victim of cruel Jesuit intrigue and conspiracy—has, at last, in God’s merciful providence, obtained deliverance from his pitiless persecutors. The Court of Cassation has reversed the judicial decisions condemning the courageous French officer. He is reinstated, with promotion in rank, to the army, and has been made the recipient of the highest distinction accorded under the Republic. It is stated that Major Dreyfus denies he intends to bring a civil action against the notorious General Mercier.” There can be little doubt that the Jesuits played an important part in the condemnation of Dreyfus, one of the most extraordinary cases of the miscarriage of justice in the annals of modern nations.
Lord Elgin and the Work of the Churches’ Commission.—In reply to a question put to him, in the House of Lords, by Lord Reay, Lord Elgin referred to the above subject as follows:—”I mentioned at the beginning that the time originally fixed for completion of our work was March last. We asked an extension of time till September. We have now applied for an extension to the end of the year. I regret the necessity, but it is absolutely inevitable. I cannot absolutely say the further extension will be sufficient, because, after all, that does not wholly depend on the Commission. I do not want to dwell on other topics, but I must, in justice to the Commission, remind your lordships that we have to dispose of this delicate business in the face of very bitter feeling between the parties themselves. It does not affect our relations with the parties—they have been perfectly friendly and harmonious—but I have nothing to withdraw from what I said in the report of the Royal Commission with regard to the state of feeling. I am afraid it still exists, and that its existence, in some degree at any rate, is responsible for some of the delay, and that neither party can be held absolutely blameless. It is important to bear this in mind, because we are sometimes told that we might arbitrarily determine points and bring the thing to a conclusion. In our judgment, seeing the present state of things exists, it is our duty to give the amplest opportunity to both sides to put forward any propositions they wish to bring before us, and to consider these propositions before we come to a conclusion. I can only say that we shall not lose a single day, if we can help it, in bringing the matter to a conclusion.”
Spurgeon’s Sermons.—The 9th of August saw published the 3000th sermon of Charles Haddon Spurgeon. It is estimated that over 150 millions of these sermons have been disposed of in the weekly issue. They are now circulated in every civilised country and have been translated into more than thirty languages. It is now fourteen years since Mr. Spurgeon died, but his sermons are still being issued, and only the Great Day will reveal what influence they have had.
Some Questions for a Wet Sabbath.—If it were any other day, would I be kept at home by the weather? Did I ever stay away from my business, or from amusement, for a shower of rain? If it were a public meeting or a concert, would a shower keep me at home? Would I go to Church if I could make or save a pound by it, or gain a customer, or see some intimate friend? Am I not nearer the Church than many that are never kept away by bad weather? If everyone made the rain an excuse for absence, what would the appearance of the Church be? Am I willing that my children should copy my example? Do I not, by my absence, depreciate God’s ordinances and dishonour God?—Reformed Presbyterian Witness.
Mr. John Morley and Prof. Drummond.—A writer in one of the popular monthlies that caters for a fleshly religion tells how on one occasion he found himself, along with Mr. Morley, a guest in a certain house in Scotland. “How was it,” asked Mr. Morley, “that your Church tolerated Drummond? His views of things were surely not the views that are held by the Free Church?” We need not record the answer; sufficient for our present purpose is it to notice the condemnation by a leading Agnostic of the Church led by Principal Rainy.
The Truth, the whole Truth, and nothing but the Truth.—This is a virtue that is much at discount in times of controversy. Every wrong statement is not necessarily a lie, but the following from The British Weekly in reference to a remark made by Lord Elgin is certainly very far from an impartial statement of matters. “As to the bitterness of which Lord Elgin complains, he can, of course, only speak from the impression made upon him by the few individuals with whom he has come into personal contact. We are persuaded that if there is bitterness among them, they do not represent the United Free Church and its half-million communicants.” And when at this matter it may be as well to refer to certain paragraphs which appear occasionally in the Northern Chronicle by a contributor, written from the opposite standpoint, where the imagination of the writer appears to get freer play than the facts usually allow. Such statements do not make for righteousness.
Leaving the Manse.—For some weeks past, paragraphs have been appearing in certain newspapers describing in tearful strains the hardships experienced by certain United Free Church ministers, who at last by the mandate of the Churches’ Commissioners have had to leave churches and manses that did not belong to them. We have no desire to make their cup more bitter in the hour when they are experiencing the penalty that covenant-breaking brings usually in its train. But we protest against the ingenious efforts of these scribes, to connect the present situation of things with what took place at the Disruption. If it be a crime to put ministers out of their churches and manses, it is so as truly when two are involved as twenty; yet we are not aware that the Press that is at present in sympathy with the U.F.’s, shed many tears when Rev. D. MacDonald and Rev. D. MacFarlane were unrighteously turned out of church and house. God’s mills may grind slowly, but they do their appointed work in His good time.
Fire from Heaven.—Andrew Melville, Knox’s great successor, a man zealous and bold in the cause of God, who, when some blamed him as fiery, said, “If you see my fire go downward, set your foot upon it, and put it out; but, if it go upward, let it return to its own place;” meaning his zeal was not for himself or outward things.—Livingstone’s Characteristics.
The Trinitarian Bible Society.—This excellent Bible Society, which exists by way of protest to the methods of the British and Foreign Bible Society, in distributing at times versions of the Bible, which to say the least of them are not Protestant versions, shows by its annual report that it is receiving the support of the public. During the year, Bibles, New Testaments, and portions of Scripture have been circulated, numbering in the aggregate 107,559. These have gone to all parts of the world. No version of the Bible is circulated which contains false translations in the interests of Romanism. The blessing that may follow the distribution of the pure Word of God is almost incalculable, and all interested in this, one of the best forms of missionary enterprise, should not forget this Society. The offices are at 7 Bury Street, London, W.C.
The Valparaiso Earthquake.—Another alarming visitation of God has been experienced in the Western Hemisphere, similar to that which took place recently at San Francisco. Valparaiso, the chief seaport in Chili, on the west coast of South America, suffered a great shock on Thursday, 16th August. The neighbouring city of Santiago has also been shaken by the earthquake. Thousands of people are rendered homeless, and reports say that over 2,000 have been launched into eternity.