PAUL'S.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 3890, 9 February 1870, Page 4

PAUL'S.

A thanksgiving service was conducted lasti evening, at St. Paul's Church, at 7 o'clock ; and the spacious building was filled. A full choral service was performed, the Key. Dr. Furchaa reading the lessons. Nearly all the clergymen of the diocese were present on this occasion^ and they added considerably to the imposing solemnity of the service. A most impreisive sermon waa delivered by Bishop Cowie from 2nd Corinthians, iv., I •, " Therefore, seeing we have thi s ministry, as we have jeceived mercy, we faint not." The Right R«v, Prelate commenced by saying that the words he had just read refers to the specialprovitien.ee of God, as shown in St. Paul's being called to the ministry of Jeaus Christ, and having such special mercy shown to him, notwithstanding that he had persecuted the Church. Seeing this undeserved mercy, he faints not, for the same God has shown the same mercy from time immemorial. The word of the iext all ministers may without hesitation apply to themselves — to take comfort therefrom - seeing that they have taken upon them a ministry the responsibilities of which may well cause them to fear ; and, to use the words used by the apostle, given in the previous chapter, " Who is sufficient for these thingfc ? " It would encourage them in the future to consider what Gdd had done for them in the past. They were surrounded with numberless mercies, and many were too apt to forget their value, in that they j were so accustomed to receive them. But j many, [for instance, those living in heathen j lands, had not these opportunities — did not know anything of the blessed Gospel ; and it behoved those present the more to value their privileges, in being placed in a position surrounded with so many advantages ; and that, in spite of all their i;nworthiness, God had brought them to the sure mercies of His son Jesus. It was thoughts like these that made him take courage. He then went on to speak of the aspects of the native Church, which were anything but encouraging ; it perplexed them, but did not make them despair. It would be a want of faith so to do. He remembered when the mutiny broke out in India — the horrors that followed — and even when those missionaues were slaughtered by the people whom they had been striving to benefit — after all these occurrences, the Missionary Society were despairing of any success in that benighted land ; but in time prosperity smiled on the country ; and at the time he left India (four years ago), there were double the number of missionaries engaged in the work of the Lord that had existed before. A? long as they preached Jesus, and not themselves, as St. Paul says, they never need despair. Many an earnest man, who thought he waa preaching Christ, was only preaching himself — Ms own party — the inventions of his own fertile brain. They all might well thank God for all the blessings i they receivsd ; and he was personally very i thankful for the kind and hearty manner In J which they had displayed their sympathy. He was gieatly encouraged to see so many assembled together to bid him welcome, and to thank God for bringing him here, to this | land, m safety. He had left behind loving friends, a dear charge, all of which was difficult to ' part from ; but he doubted not that m time he would find friends amongst them, and so be content to labour m this place to the end of his life. —After a few other remarks the services were brought to a close.