CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SCHEMES OF THE REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, FROM MAY 1868 TO MAY 1869, WITH CORRESPONDING AMOUNT FOR PREVIOUS YEAR. JOHNSTONE, HUNTER, & Co., at their Warehouse, 2 Melbourne Place, Edinburgh. Printed by CHARLES GIBSON, at his Printing Office, 18 Thistle Street, and Published by 1868-69. £ s. d. 1867-68. 1868-69. 1867-68. 1234567890 Airdrie Ayr £ s. d. £ s. d. 3 0 0 £ s. d. 100 Carnoustie Castle-Douglas 500 5 Chirnside 2 16 0 Darvel Dumfries 1 16 7 2 1 6 201 Douglas-Water 1 0 1 8 0 4 0 0 10 5 3 0 0 300 3 15 0 12 26 1 10 0 13 10 0 200 1 0 0 200 300 300 9 10 0 12 0 0 29 12 6 34 50 1 10 0 2 15 0 1 15 0 4 0 5 0 0 540 300 3 5 8 3 10 10 0 3 8 3 11 11 4 0 0 6 269 8 9 383 16 987 14 10 1189 18 9 1869, June 9. Examined, and found correct. J ALEXANDER. 3. GUTHRIE. WM. SYMINGTON. "And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested."-1 CHRON. iv. 10. WHILE Sorrow is the lot of all on coming into the world, there are some who receive a double baptism of woe. Conspicuous among such were Ben-oni, Ichabod, and Jabez. But, grasping by faith the blessing of his tribe, this latter seems to have thought, that although his name was "Sorrowful," his life need not be sad. "Let his hands be sufficient for him, and be Thou a help to him," was a blessing which Jehovah could make good to him as well as to others in Judah. Though the name given him at his birth threw its darkening shadow over the morning of his days, he needed no more than the favour of Israel's God to dispel the gloom, and bathe life's pathway in the sunshine of heaven. The inspired Record declares, that he was more honourable than his brethren;" and, as revealing the secret of this superiority, it gives the prayer he offered to the God of Israel. It consists of four petitions—the first of which relates to things spiritual, and the second to things temporal; while the other two bear upon the right use and holy enjoyment of his worldly portion. The first stands by itself; the other three are grouped together. I. HE PRAYS THAT GOD WOULD BLESS HIM INDEED."-In whatever school he had learned it, he had come to know that there are bless |