The Banner of the Truth in Ireland, September 1, 1863. May God, for Christ's sake, give the Holy Spirit with the reading of these s that they may conduce to the glory of God, the salvation of souls, and the edific of the Reader. CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER. A Missionary Church Balm for the Wounds of Ireland Progress in the West.......... Summary of Missionary Intelligence-Ballinakill Aughrim...... Hymn-" As thy days so shall thy strength be" SIGHTS TO BE SEEN IN DUBLIN AND CONNEMARA. (A BOOK FOR TOURISTS IN IRELAND.) NISBET & Co., 2s. 6d. WE heartily commend this little work to our friends. It contains the W. C. Plunket's deeply interesting account of his visit to the Missions.t neatly got up, and would form a suitable present for young persons whom it be wished to interest in Missionary work. The scenes are described with so n photographic minuteness and power that, though styled " A Book for Touri their perusal will lead the stay-at-home reader to a vivid realization of the si pourtrayed. No one, who desires to be rightly informed of what is being accomplishe the Mission fields in Ireland, should omit to read Mr. Plunket's account of visit, either as produced in the volume which heads this, or as contained shilling pamphlet (to be had at the Irish Church Missions Office), entitled, Short Visit to the Connemara Missions." Price 6d., with 12 Wood Engravings, A MISSION TOUR-BOOK IN IRELAND; Showing how to Visit the Miss 1 in Dublin, Connemara, etc.; together with an Explanation of a Set of Six Diagrams, I u trating the Work of the Irish Church Missions to the Roman Catholics. Published for the Society for Irish Church Missions, 11, Buckingham Street, Adelphi. THE REV. CANON MONEILE, D.D. ON THE TRUE CHARACTER OF ROMAN TEACHING Being Extre from a Speech delivered at the Fourteenth Anniversary of the Society for Irish Chu Missions. May be had by forwarding an addressed envelope and one stamp to the Secretar the Society, 11, Buckingham Street, Adelphi, A dozen will be sent if seven stamps are enclos THE BANNER OF THE TRUTH IN IRELAND. JANUARY 1, 1863. -000 Stand Still.-Go Forward. SUCH were the two apparently contradictory directions given by Moses to the children of Israel, when they had come out of Egypt and had reached the shores of the Red Sea. The two commands appear at first sight precisely opposite and inconsistent with one another; but here, as elsewhere in Scripture, the contradiction is only apparent, and the lesson to be taught is one full of deep and important instruction. We may well take it as our guide as we enter on the difficulties and labours of another New Year. Let us look for a moment at the position of the Israelites as brought before us in the 14th of Exodus. Weak and enfeebled by long oppression, they were escaping from Egypt. The Egyptians, their cruel masters, repenting of the permission they had given to them to leave the land of their servitude, were now rapidly pursuing. Difficulties surrounded them, trials were weighing heavily, the emergency was great, there seemed no way of escape, and forgetful of the marvellous mercies they had before experienced, the children of Israel cried out in bitter lamentation and unbelieving murmurings, "It had been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness." At this moment the word of the Lord came to them by his servant Moses, "Fear ye not, STAND STILL" (v. 13). Let not trials discourage you, trust in God. Look not at the danger, look at Him who can bring you out of the danger. Know that you are in the hands of God, and that you are safe. Depend upon Him and not VOL. XIV. on yourselves; "stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will show to you to-day." But while in the face of danger and trial they were to "stand still," in the face of duty they were no less to "go forward." Their confidence in God was to allay their murmurings, but not to encourage sloth, and their dependence upon God would be best exhibited, if they went boldly on in the path assigned, though the dangers before them might seem even greater than those they were escaping; nevertheless, though the Red Sea was to be entered and the wilderness to be traversed, the word of Jehovah to Moses is unmistakable (v. 15), “Speak unto the children of Israel that they GO FORWARD." In the spirit of these two commands, may we enter on our course of earnest labour for the Lord, to which another year invites us. If we have disappointment let us "stand still," knowing that "it is the Lord," and let us learn to say, "Let Him do what seemeth Him good." If we have encouragement and success, let us "stand still;" repressing all vain boasting and ascribing all the praise to God, who alone can give the increase. And if difficulties are before us, let us "stand still," not alarmed at the contemplation of them, but calmly putting our trust in God. But while in the spirit of dependence and submission to God we "stand still," let us not the less resolve in the same dependence to go forward." He who is working for the Lord should never grow cold or faint in his exertions. The source of our strength, though unseen, is inexhaustible, and the man who trusts in Jesus may always say with perfect confidence, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." The Christian should, as it were, be always prepared to make a new start, and "forgetting those things which are behind" to "reach forth unto those things which are before," and in nothing is this more true than in Missionary work. Its power is its continuance, and of this proofs are not wanting. A young Roman Catholic recently visited the Mission office in Dublin, and speaking to one of the Missionary clergymen, he expressed his doubts of the truth of Romanism. "What made you first doubt ?" said the clergyman. "Why," he said in answer; "it was those placards and handbills, and that you are so persevering. I see you are always putting out these things, and that they are never answered." Such a fact speaks for itself, and is a great encouragement to go forward." Let it be in this spirit that we enter on the year 1863. We have cause to "stand still." The year opens at a time of much distress in England. The disastrous war in America has led to sad suffering in Great Britain, and while this has nobly called forth the charities of the whole country, we fear that the funds of many religious societies will show a considerable diminution in income. We would not say a word to check the flow of generous sympathy to aid the sufferers in Lancashire, and may even point with satisfaction to the fact that the first collections made in Ireland for this object, were amongst the poor converts in Connemara, out of whose "deep poverty, the riches of their liberality abounded." Yet we trust that the Christians of England will still maintain those noble efforts for the spread of the Gospel of Christ, which are the glory of our land, and that while the starving body is remembered, the hungry soul will not be forgotten. In this, however, and every trial, we should learn to obey the command, "Be still and know that I am God." At this time let us "go forward." Never was there more need. The rulers of the Roman Catholic Church have been roused to exertion, and put forward their pretensions in Ireland more arrogantly than ever. Crime, and the popular sympathy with crime, in many parts of the country, show the practical effects of Popery upon a people left in ignorance of the Bible; while the pastorals of Roman Catholic prelates and the books of devotion circulated amongst the people, show by their superstition and idolatry, that the religion of Rome is unchanged and even more opposed than ever to the simplicity of the Gospel of Christ. Let us then "go forward" in our holy enterprise for the true emancipation of the Irish. There is everything to encourage in the work. The past year has closed with many evidences of the Divine blessing on this faithful but loving "aggression on the system of Rome. Many new converts have joined our ranks. Those who have already " |