The national Republican., 1860-12-24

uAy, ana tne cnurcnes generauy were wen at
tended. The church improvements have all
been got through with, and the congregations
now have an opportunity Of enjoying the i'm
provements that have been made.
Al he CapitoL-Rev. DIR. Gurley preached
from Isaiah ", 6, I. Isaiah, he said, had been
appropriately called the evangelical prophet,
he SO frequently speaks Of Christ, Of his suffer.
ings and death, Of the establishment and ex.
pansion Of the Christian church, his earnest
and glowing invitations to the guilty to seek
his favor. The prophet, looking down through
the dark vista Of ages, sees the time when the
upon all who seek his favor. He urges us to
return unto the Lord, that we may be absn.
dantly pardoned. ...,..,...
The Lord may now be found by the sinner,
though he may be far from him may have re.
sisted his claims and lost his favor, yet he may
return through the valley Of humiliation. He
forgives and saves, is. the proclamation Of the
Gospel, all such as seek his face. His voice
is heard in mans utmost extremity, peace is
spoken, and q cslmness and newness Of life
prevails.
He is their counsellor in the darkest hour
The strange indifference Of the sinful must be
shaken of. The offended sovereign of the
universe must be sought by humble prayer.
Another encouragement is, that he is God
near at hand. Being near to His true worship
pers, He tenden to them the blessings of His
grace. He speaks through the Gospel, when
solemn providences startle, when evil work is
receiving its reward. God is near in the blessed
transformation of . soul brought to Christ
through regeuerating grace and converting
power. His nesrness is q motive to prayer.
Inquire of the real Christian how and when he
found peace, and he will tell you that it was
when he called earnestly upon God, supplicating
his favor.
ST. Peters ChurcA-The Rev. Father Boyle
discoursed from the third chapter of Luke,
a charity sermon, the proceeds Of which were
foEihe benefit of the youths under the care Of
the Young Catholic Friend Society. He
spoke of the humility Of our Saviour while on
earth, and urged that by giving to the poor,
and helping them now, We would reap a great
benefit hereafter. He further spoke Of the near
approach Of the anniversary ofthe day on which
our Lord was born in the stable at Bethlehem,
without any Of the comforts or luxures Of life.
Ryland Chapel. - The pastor, Rev. Mr..
Coombs, delivered an interesting discourse
from St. Matthew, 18th chapter Sd verse:
converted, and become as little children, ye
shall not enter into the kingdom Of heaven"
He introduced his subject by referring to the
Misrepresentation of the Jewish nation in re.
spect to the mission Of Christ, believing that he
came to establish temporal kingdom, to be
unsurpassed in wisdom, wealth, and magnif.
cence, in which belief his disciples alike par.
took, but Christ, to remove and root out the
ambition ranking in their hearts and agitating
their minds, placed in their midst little child,
and repeated the words Of our text. The
speaker commented ut length on the nature Of
Christ's kingdom, and the change necessary be-
fore you can enter heaven. 1t is not sufficient
to be moral, benevolent, attached to Christian
church, or baptized, but there must be change
wrought in the inner man, and Christ, above
all others, must be the object Of our love and
alteration.
The text at night was from Proverbs, ! 9Th
chapter, llth verse "a wounded spirit who
can bear" The speaker illustrated the causes
of wounded spirit, and the remedy therefor.
Christ Church.-Nagy Tdrd.ZRev. Joshua
Morsell, d. D., preached from Luhe, 18th chap
ter, and Oath verse "Strive to enter in at the
strait gate; for many, say unto you, will seek
to enter in, and shall not be able" The min
lister commenced by saying that many pos
sessed superficial ideas OF the Deity, and went
on to show who ore striving to enter the gate
and who will be disappointed. He explained
the difference between repentance and faith
Repentance alone was not enough to save men
they must commence their road to the stra
gate by repentance, and strengthen themselves
by faith.
THE LEGENDARY CAsE.-The hearing in the
case of John and Catherine Banks, charged
with setting fire to the barn Of j. B. Hsw, OF
| H., In Of haR Jnot 10,
johnson on Saturday afternoon. Mr.. Davidg,
appeared for Mr.. Haw, and Mr.. r. s. Chltor
for the accused.
Mr.. Haw was sworn, and stated that, abou
eighteen months ago, he was told that th'
woman Banks had threatened to burn the BARI
before two years were past. This was the sec
ond barn destroyed by fire. The first wa
burnt on the 18th of October.
The barn was set on fire in the second story
When he reached there, he found the lower
doors fast, with one exception.
Mr.. W. J. Plowman testified, that as he was
about retiring, on Wednesday night, his wifi
called his attention to the fire. Mr.. Brow
and himself saved most of the cattle. The fir
broke out in the southeast corner Of the barn
After doing what he could, he went to the hous
of the accused, to see if Banks was there
searched for him, but he could not be found
his wife said she supposed he was at his plac
of business.
Mr.. Montgomery testified that he formerl
worked on Mr.. Haw's place the woman Bank
and another woman, called Lucinda, once sale
that they would burn the property when Mr.
Haw took possession of it. AT the time they
made the threat, they had been talking of {
beating which Banks gave Mr.. Haw.
After Mr.. Williams and Officers Yestmar
and Reese had testified in relation to the tria
of the women for making the threat, Messrs
Davidge and Chiffon argued the case.
The Justice refused to hold the parties t.
BAIL and dismissed the case.
A FORGER ARRESTED. On Friday night
Officer Welsh, of the St. Louis police, arrive'