Short Sermon sorrow and shame, and the scourge, and the flame, and the cross, and persecution and death, to acknowledge the Father of an Infinite Majesty; His honourable, true, and only Son; also the Holy Ghost, the Comforter.' And who is this Spirit of truth and courage? Who but the Holy Ghost Himself-the Comforter, the Strengthener, the Spirit of the Father and the Son-who sanctifieth all the elect people of God? Therefore it is that He says, that He who sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all one! Of one what? Of one Spirit-the same Holy Spirit. And, therefore, the Lord Jesus is not ashamed to call all who confess the name of God His brethren, because they are partakers of the same Spirit as Himself-the Spirit who declared Him to be the well-beloved Son of the Father; the Spirit by which He did His Father's will; the Spirit by which He showed forth His Father's glory; the Spirit by which He cried in His agony in the garden, Father, if it be Thy will, let this cup pass from me: yet not My will, but thine be done!' the Spirit by which He witnessed a good confession before Pontius Pilate, and told him that Pilate had no power over Him, except it were given him of God, and that He was, indeed, the Son of God; the Spirit by which He fulfilled the last most deep, most triumphant part of Isaiah's type (verse 10). 'Who is among you that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God!' That, even that, He, the Blessed Lord, fulfilled. In the utmost darkness of soul He still could trust in God, and cried, 'My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?' Then, indeed, it was finished! He had reached the lowest depth and the darkest horror of all woe. He had lost sight of God, and yet He could trust Him still; still He could declare Him to be His glory; still He could cry 'Father.' That was the full and perfect triumph of faith, Beyond that, or after that, there was no more to be said or suffered. The next words were, 'It is finished!' Father, into Thy hands I commend My Spirit,' and, having so said, to die. Oh! my friends, pray earnestly, if you never prayed before, for that same Spirit of faith and obedience, and courage to confess God your Father. You have a right to pray for God's Spirit, because you are the children of God the Father; and that Spirit proceeds from God the Father. You have a right to pray for God's Spirit; for Jesus Christ, the ouly-begotten Son, who died on the cross, is not ashamed to call you brethren; and that Spirit is His Spirit, and proceeds from Him, as well as from the Father. 6 Oh may God renew that Spirit in us, that, with the apostles and prophets and martyrs, we may fight manfully under Christ's banner, the Cross, against sin, the world, and the devil. And if we are ever called upon to suffer for His Truth, may we, like Him and all His saints, look stedfastly up to heaven, and by faith behold the glory that shall be revealed from that place, where the King of Martyrs, Jesus Christ our Lord, sits at the right hand of God, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. Amen! Due to Treasurer, 31st January, 1877 Salaries to Teachers, and Payments to Pupil Teacher 3 0 1 6 0 £242 12 01 £ 8. d. The Grant received (year ending 31st January, 1878) amounts to £121. 1s The scholars of the Mixed School earned the extra grant for geography and grammar. Last year, the total grant earned was reduced by £11. 19s 9d. owing to deficiency of income; this year no deduction is made, recent regulations having provided that under certain conditions schools should receive the full amount earned. This is an act of justice done to Voluntary Schools, placing them in this one respect on a level with Board Schools, which have not been, and are not subjected to any deduction on account of deficiency of income, since School Boards are empowered by Act of Parliament to raise annually such sums as are prospectively needed to ensure the full grant earned. Two boys, Geo. H. Adams and William Clutterbuck, having made upwards of 350 attendances during each of the past two years, and passed successfully in reading, writing, and arithmetic of the fourth Standard while under 11 years of age, have received Honour Certificates entitling them to payment of their School Fees for three successive years by the Committee of Council, provided that they each year make at least 350 attendances, are successful in a higher Standard, and pass in one of the subjects named in the Fourth Schedule of the Code of the Education Department. These Certificates were presented by the Rector with encouraging advice before the whole school, and at the same time some rewards were given to those scholars, accounted deserving by the master, for their success in the examination and regularity of attendance. Owing to increased attendance in the Mixed School, a second pupil teacher, Hannah Elizabeth Adams, has been apprenticed. Miss Clifford having resigned her appointment as Infant Mistress, Miss Evans, of St. Thomas's Schools, Monmouth, has been appointed by the Managers to fill the vacancy. CHURCH REGISTER. BAPTISMS. March 10-John Frank, son of Walter Weeks and Annie Lusty, King's Head Inn, King-Stanley. -Harriet Elizabeth, daughter of John William and 00 STINCHCOMBE. On March 3rd, Quinguagesima Sunday, a sermon was preached by the Rev. A. E. Whish, Organizing Secretary for the Additional Curates' Society. The Offertory at the Holy Communion and a Collection in the Afternoon were given to that Society. Total The Morning Offertory The Afternoon Collection Thus the total collected Morning and Afternoon was £16. 7s. 9d. Sent to the Treasurers of the Society for Propagation of £ s. d. 12 9 1 6 7 £12 9 At the Evening Service on Friday, March 15th, the Sermon was preached by the Rev. H Dombrain, Rector of Framilode, on the text 2 Cor 4. 6, "For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." And on the following Friday the Rev. T. Holbrow, Vicar of Coleford, preached on the Duty of Fasting. A part of the Inspection of the School which took place on Feb. 22nd was postponed for a few weeks; but on Tuesday, March 26th, it was finished by Mr Woodd, Her Majesty's Inspector. He examined the children in needlework, singing, and a few of them in geography. March 18-James, son of James and Evelina Sophia Butcher. ,,-Ellen Elizabeth, daughter of ditto. BURIALS. March 3-James Woodward, aged 23 years. 39 21-Harriet Cullimore, aged 80 years. FOUND, in the Church, an Umbrella. OUND, in the Church, an Umbrella. The owner should make an application to one of the Clergy or to Mr. C. Woodward, Clerk. |