The Original Secession Magazine (Volume 2) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1850. Excerpt: ... 'Hitherto the Lord hath been mindful of us.' While we sometimes speak of the fewness of our numbers, we are yet ten times more numerous than we were at our commencement. Our congregations are increasing more rapidly than we can supply them with pastors; we have been enabled, at one and the same time, to liquidate considerably more than half of the debt lying on congregational property, and to augment the stipends of our ministers: the spirit of harmony and brotherhood still prevails in a remarkable degree, and in doctrine, we and the Reformed Presbyterians, are probably more unanimous than any other churches in the world. We should therefore maintain our post with thankfulness; yea, it ought to be accounted a high honour that we, in these last times, should be chosen as the representatives of the principles of themenof the firstand second Reformation, --thatwe should be really and truly the Reformed and Covenanted Church of Scotland, --a title to which none of the larger parties in the land can present a valid claim. In the last place, it ought to be kept constantly before our minds, that our position can only be maintained, to the divine glory, and the benefit of the land, in a spirit of faith and confidence in God. Faith is the grand principle by which the world is moved. It is the spring of all personal activity, energy, and efficiency. A man who would perform anything great, or overcome anything difficult, must have confidence either in himself or in some other party. And all who would perform great and good works, in circumstances of difficulty, must have much confidence in God. When confidence in God is a wan ting, the church's strength is just the strength of her numbers; but when her confidence is placed in God, the greater part of her strength is u...