The Metropolitan Tabernacle

Living in the midst of the church of God is like sailing down the Nile in a boat. One is charmed with the luxuriance of either bank, and with much that is beautiful immediately around; but, alas! at a little distance on either side lies a vast uncultivated, we had almost said hopeless, desert. Some are at rest because they never look beyond the borders of the church; but those whose sympathies reach to all humanity will have to carry a ‘’ burden of the Lord.” — C. H.

TllF. history of the church of which Mr. Spurgcon is overseer contains a record of information and interest pecuHar to itself. I’or two hundred and thirty years it has stood the test, and some of the best leaders and teachers of Christendom have ministered the Word of life to its members. For many years a pressure was brought to bear upon its present pastor to furnish to the public every possible information regarding its origin, growth, and work. Notwithstanding his arduous labors, he has responded to this legitimate inquiry, and in a book of one hundred and twenty pages has sketched the early history of the Baptists, the founding o( the church, the successive pastors, and its present participation in the various branches of education, charity, evangelization, and missionary operations with which it stands connected. Thus Mr. Spurgcon prefaces his history of the Metropolitan Tabernacle: —

When modest ministers submit their sermons to the press they usually place upon the titlepage the words, “Printed by request.” We might with emphatic truthfulness have pleaded this apology for the present narrative, for, timcz without number, friends from all parts of the world have said: ‘* Have you no book which will tell us all about your work? Could you not give us some printed summary of the Tabernacle history?” Here it is, dear friends, and we hope it will satisfy your curiosity and deepen your kindly interest.

The best excuse for writing a history is that there is soinething to tell, and, unless we are greatly mistaken, the facts here placed on record are well worthy of being known. In us they have aroused fervent emotions of gratitude, and in putting them together our faith in God has been greatly established; we hope, therefore, that in some measure our readers will derive the same benefit. Strangers cannot be expected to feel an equal interest with ourselves, but our fellow members, our co-workers, our hundreds of generous helpers, and the large circle of our hearty sympathizers cannot read our summary of the Lord’s dealings with us without stimulus and encouragement.

Our young people ought to be told by their fathers the wondrous things which God did in their day “and in the old time before them.” Such things are forgotten if they are not every now and then rehearsed anew in the ears of fresh generations. “Why should the wonders He hath wrought be lost in silence and forgot?” We feel that we only discharge a duty to the present and coming generations when we use our pen for such a purpose.

May the reader’s belief in prayer be increased, and his reliance upon God strengthened, as he reads our testimony; and should he unhappily be as yet unconverted, may he be led to believe in God, to rest in the sacrifice of Jesus, and cast in his lot with the people of God.

Brethren who have helped us so long, support our enterprises still by your prayers, your efforts, and your gifts, and so shall our Zion become increasingly a praise in the earth. To the Triune God be praise that for two centuries His mercy has surrounded this portion of His Church, and that “His hand is stretched out still.”

This church was born in stormy times, when mayors and mobs were formidable foes of all who believed in the crown rights of King Jesus. The practice of the Baptists in dipping was specially obnoxious to the bigots who plied hard the argument that it was wicked to immerse persons in cold weather. Mr. Spurgeon goes on with the history, which we abridge: —

Moved by the feeling that it was the duty of the State to keep men’s consciences in proper order, the Parhament set to work to curb the wicked sectaries, and Dr. Stoughton tells us: “By the Parliamentary ordinance of April, 1645, forbidding any person to preach who was not an ordained minister, in the Presbyterian, or some other reformed church, — all Baptist ministers became exposed to molestation, they being accounted a sect, and not a church. A few months after the date of this law, the Baptists being pledged to a public controversy in London with P^dmund Calamy, the Lord Mayor interfered to prevent the disputation, — a circumstance which seems to show that, on the one hand, the Baptists were becoming a formidable bod)’ in London, and, on the other hand, that their fellow-citizens were highly exasperated against them.” Or, say rather, that the Lord Mayor’s views not being those of the Baptists, he feared the sturdy arguments which would be brought to bear upon his friends, and concluded that the wisest course he could take was to prevent the truth being heard. No Lord Malor, or even King, has any right to forbid free public speech, and when in past ages an official has done so, it is no evidence that his fellow-citizens were of the same mind: Jack-inoffice is often peculiarly anxious that the consciences of others should not be injured by hearing views different from his own.

From some one of the many Baptist assemblies which met in the borough of Southwark, the Tabernacle Church took its rise. Crosby says: “This people had formerly belonged to one of the most ancient congregations of the Baptists in London, but separated from them, in the year 1652, for some practices which they judged disorderly, and kept together from that time as a distinct body.” They appear to have met in prilate houses, or in such other buildings as were open to them. Their first pastor was VlLLLM Rider, whom Crosby mentions as a sufferer for conscience’ sake, but he is altogether unable to give any further particulars of his life, except that he published a small tract in vindication of the practice of laying on of hands on the baptized believers. The people were few in number, but had the reputation of being men of solid judgment, deep knowledge, and religious stability, and many of them were also in easy circumstances as to worldly goods. Oliver Cromwell was just at that time in the ascendant, and Blake’s cannon were sweeping the Dutch from the seas; but the Presbyterian establishment ruled with a heavy hand, and Baptists were under a cloud. In the following year Cromwell was made Protector, the old Parliament was sent about its business, and England enjoyed a large measure of liberty of conscience.

How long William Rider exercised the ministerial office we are unable to tell, but our next record bears date 1668, when we are informed that, ‘’ the pastor having been dead for some time, they unanimously chose Mr. BENJAMIN Keach to be their elder or pastor.” Accordingly he was solemnly ordained with prayer and the laying on of hands in the year 1668, being in the twenty-eighth year of his age. Keach was one of the most notable of the pastors of our church. He was continually engaged in preaching in the towns of Buckinghamshire, making Winslow his headquarters; and so well did the good cause flourish under his zealous labors, and those of others, that the Government quartered dragoons in the district in order to put down unlawful meetings and stamp out dissent. The amount of suffering which this involved, the readers of the story of the Covenanting times in Scotland can readily imagine. A rough soldiery handle with little tenderness those whom they consider to be miserable fanatics. When the favorite court poet was lampooning these poor people and ridiculing their claims to be guided by the Spirit of God, common soldiers of the Cavalier order were not likely to be much under restraint in their behavior to them.

Having written a book called “The Child’s Instructor,” in which he avowed that children are born in sin, and in need of redemption by Jesus Christ, he was publicly tried and convicted. The merciful (?) judge pronounced upon the culprit the following sentence: —

“Benjamin Keach, you are here convicted for writing, printing, and publishing a seditious and schismatical book, for which the court’s judgment is this, and the court doth award: That you shall go to jail for a fortnight without bail or mainprize; and the next Saturday to stand upon the pillory at Aylesbury in the open market, from eleven o’clock till one, with a paper upon your

Benjamin Keach.

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PUBLIC

YORK

head with this inscription: For writing, printing, and pnblisJiing a scJiisinatical book, entitled The Child s Instructor; or, a Na.v and Easy Primer. And the next Thursday to stand, in the same manner and for the sam.e time, in the market at Winslow; and then your book shall be openly burnt before your face by the common hangman, in disgrace of you and your doctrine. And you shall forfeit to the King’s majesty the sum of twenty pounds, and shall remain in jail until you find sureties for your good behavior, and for your appearance at the next assizes; then to

Benjamin Keach in the Pillory.

renounce your doctrims, and make such public submission as shall be enjoined you. Take him away, keeper!”

Keach simply replied, “I hope I shall nrcer renounce the truths which I have written in that book.”

The attempts made to obtain a pardon or a relaxation of this severe sentence were ineffectual; and the sheriff took care that everything should be punctually performed.

When he was brought to the pillory at Aylesbury, several of his religious friends and acquaintances accompanied him; and when they bemoaned his hard case and the injustice of his sufferings, he said with a cheerful countenance, “The cross is the way to the crown.” His head and hands were no sooner placed in the pillory, but he began to address himself to the spectators, to this effect: “Good people, I am not ashamed to stand here this day, with this paper on my head! My Lord Jesus was not ashamed to suffer on the cross for me; and it is for His cause that I am made a gazing-stock. Take notice, it is not for any wickedness that I stand here; but for writing and publishing those truths which the Spirit of the Lord hath revealed in the Holy Scriptures.”

Very sweetly did Mr. Keach preach the great fundamental truths of the gospel, and glorify the name and work of Jesus. His “Gospel Mine Opened,” and other works rich in savor, show that he was no mere stickler for a point of ceremony, but one who loved the whole truth as it is in Jesus, and felt its power. The doctrine of the Second Advent evidently had great charms for him, but not so as to crowd out Christ crucified. He was very solid in his preaching, and his whole conduct and behavior betokened a man deeply in earnest for the cause of God. In addressing the ungodly he was intensely direct, solemn, and impressive, not flinching to declare the terrors of the Lord, nor veiling the freeness of divine grace. He was a voluminous writer, having written in all forty- three works, — eighteen practical, sixteen polemical, and nine poetical. Some of them were very popular, having reached the twenty-second edition.

Mr. Keach was of a very weak constitution, being often afflicted with illness, and once to such a degree that he was given over by the physicians; and several of the ministers, and his relations, had taken their leave of him as a dying man and past all hope of recovery; but the Reverend Mr. Hanserd Knollys, seeing his friend and brother in the gospel so near expiring, betook himself to prayer, and in a very extraordinary manner begged that God would spare him, and add unto his days the time He granted to His servant Hezekiah. As soon as he had ended his prayer, he said, “Brother Keach, I shall be in heaven before you,” and quickly after left him. So remarkable was the answer of God to this good man’s prayer, that we cannot omit it; though it may be discredited by some, there were many who could bear incontestable testimony to the fact. Mr. Keach recovered of that illness, and lived just fifteen years afterwards; and then it pleased God to visit him with that short sickness which put an end to his days. He “fell on sleep” July 16, 1704, in the sixty-fourth )’ear of his age, and was buried at the Baptists’ bur’ing-ground, in the Park, Southwark. It was not a little singular that in after years the church over which he so ably presided should pitch its tent so near the place where his bones were laid, and New Park Street should appear in her annals as a well-beloved name.

When Mr. Keach was upon his death-bed he sent for his son-in-law, Benjamln Stintox, and solemnly charged him to care for the church which he was about to leave, and especial!)’ urged him to accept the pastoral office, should it be offered to him by the brethren. Mr. Stinton had alread)’ fur some years helped his father-in-law in man’ wa)-s, and therefore he was no new and untried man. It is no small blessing when a church can find her pastors in her own midst; the rule is to look abroad, but perhaps if our home gifts were more encouraged the Holy Spirit would cause our teachers to come forth more frequently from among our own brethren. Still, we cannot forget the proverb about a prophet in his own countr)-. When the church gave Mr. Stinton a pressing invitation, he dela’ed while, and gave himself space for serious consideration; but at length, remembering the dying words of his father-in-law, and feeling himself directed by the Spirit of God, he gave himself up to the ministr’, which he faithfully discharged for fourteen years, — namely, from 1704 to 171 8.

Spending himself in various works of usefulness, Mr. Stinton worked on till the nth of February, 1718, when a sudden close was put to his labors and his life. He was taken suddenly ill, and saying to his wife, “I am going,” he laid himself down upon the bed, and expired in the forty-third year of his life. He smiled on death, for the Lord smiled on him. He was buried near his predecessor, in the Park, Southwark.

In the beginning of the year 17 19, the church at Horsleydown invited John Gill to preach, with a view to the pastorate; but there was a determined opposition to him in about one half of the church. The matter was referred to the club of ministers meeting at the Hanover Coffee-house, and they gave the absurd advice that the two parties should each hear their own man turn about till they could agree. Common sense came to the rescue, and this sort of religious duel never came off. The friends, with far greater wisdom, divided. John Gill’s friends secured the old meeting-house for the term of forty years, and he was ordained March 22, 1720.

CARTER-LANE CHAPEL.

Little did the friends dream what sort of man they had thus chosen to be their teacher; but had they known it they would have rejoiced that a man of such vast erudition, such indefatigable industry, such sound judgment, and such sterling honesty had come among them. He was to be more mighty with his pen than Keach, and to make a deeper impression upon his age, though perhaps with the tongue he was less powerful than his eminent predecessor. Early in his ministry he had to take up the cudgels for Baptist views against a Pedobaptist preacher of Rowel, near Kettering, and he did so in a manner worthy of that eulogium which Toplady passed upon him in reference to other controversies, when he compared him to Marlborough, and declared that he never fought a battle without winning it.

Mr. Gill, being settled in London, became more intimately acquainted with that worthy minister of the gospel, Mr. John Skepp, pastor of the Baptist church at Cripplegate. This gentleman, though he had not a liberal education, yet, after he came into the ministry, through great diligence acquired a large acquaintance with the Hebrjw tongue. As Mr. Gill had previously taken great delight in the Hebrew, his conversation with this worthy minister rekindled a flame of fervent desire to obtain a more extensive knowledge of it, and especially of Rabbinical learning. Mr. Skepp dying a year or two after, Mr. Gill purchased most of his Hebrewworks, the Baptist Fund making him a grant of eighty-seven dollars for this purpose. Having obtained the books, he went to work with great eagerness, reading the Targums and ancient commentaries, and in a course of between twenty and thirty years’ acquaintance with these writings he collected a large number of learned observations. Having also, in this time, gone through certain books of the Old Testament and almost the whole of the New Testament, by way of exposition, in the course of his ministr)’, he put all the expository, critical, and illustrative parts together, and in the year 1745 issued proposals for publishing his “Exposition of the whole New Testament,” in three volumes folio. The work meeting due encouragement, it was put to press the same year, and was finished, the first volume in 1746, the second in 1747, and the third in 1748. Towards the close of the publication of this work, in 1748, Mr. Gill received a diploma from Marischal College, Aberdeen, creating him Doctor in Divinity on account of his knowledge of the Scriptures, of the Oriental languages, and of Jewish antiquities. When his deacons in London congratulated him on the respect which had been shown him he thanked them, pleasantly adding, “I neither thought it, nor bought it, nor sought it.”

The ministry of Mr. Gill being acceptable not only to his own people but to many persons of different denominations, several gentlemen proposed among themselves to set up a week-day lecture, that they might have an opportunity of hearing him. Accordingly they formed themselves into a society, and agreed to have a lecture on Wednesday evenings, in Great Eastcheap, and set on foot a subscription to support it. Upon their invitation Mr. Gill undertook the lectureship. He opened it in the year 1729 with a discourse or two on Psalm lxxi. 16: “I will go in the strength of the Lord God: I will make mention of Thy righteousness, even of Thine only.” Through divine grace he was enabled to abide by this resolution to the edification of many, preaching in Great Eastcheap for more than twenty-six years, and only relinquished the lecture when the infirmities of years were telling upon him, and he felt a great desire to give all his time to the completion of his great expository works.

As a pastor he presided over the flock with dignity and affection. In the course of his ministry he had some weak, some unworthy, and some very wicked persons to deal with. To the feeble of the flock he was an affectionate friend and father. He readily bore with their weaknesses, failings, and infirmities, and particularly when he saw they were sincerely on the Lord’s side. A godly woman visited him one day, in great trouble, about the singing; for the clerk, in about three years, had introduced two new tunes. Not that he was a famous singer, or able to conduct a great variety of song, but he did his best. The young people were pleased with the new tunes; but the good woman could not bear the innovation. The Doctor, after patiently listening, asked her whether she understood singing? No, she said. “What! can’t you sing?” No, she was no singer, nor her aged father before her. And though they had had about a hundred years between them to learn the Old Hundredth tune, they could not sing it, no7’ any other tune. The Doctor did not hurt her feelings by telling her that people who did not understand singing were the last who should complain; but he meekly said: “Sister, what tunes should you like us to sing?” “Why, sir,” she replied, “I should very much like David’s tunes.” “Well,” said he, “if you will get David’s tunes for us, we can then try to sing them.” Such weak good people may be found among all denominations of Christians.

All the stories told of Dr. Gill are somewhat grim. He could not come down to the level of men and women of the common order so far as to be jocose; and when he attempted to do so he looked like Hercules with the distaff, or Goliath threading a needle.

Dr. John Gill.

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When he verged upon the humorous the jokes were ponderous and overwhelming, burying his adversary as well as crushing him. It is said that a garrulous dame once called upon him to find fault with the excessive length of his white bands. “Well, well,” said the Doctor, “what do you think is the right length? Take them and make them as long or as short as you like.” The lady expressed her delight; she was sure that her dear pastor would grant her request, and therefore she had brought her scissors with her, and would do the trimming at once. Accordingly, snip, snip, and the thing was done, and the bibs returned. “Now,” said the Doctor, “my good sister, you must do me a good turn also.” “Yes, that I will, Doctor. What can it be?” “Well, you have something about you which is a deal too long, and causes me no end of trouble, and I should like to see it shorter.” “Indeed, dear sir, I will not hesitate,” said the dame; “what is it? Here are the scissors, use them as you please.” “Come, then,” said the pastor,” good sister, put out your tongue!’’ We have often pictured him sitting in the old chair, which is preserved in our vestry, and thus quictl)’ rebuking the gossip.

The comparative asperity of his manner was probably the result of his secluded habits, and also of that sturdy firmness of mind, which in other directions revealed itself so admirably. When he was once warned that the publication of a certain book would lose him many supporters and reduce his income, he did not hesitate for a moment, but replied: “Do not tell me of losing. I ‘alue nothing in comparison with gospel truth. I am not afraid to be poor!”

The mighty commentator having been followed to his grave by his attached church and a great company of ministers and Christian people, among whom he had been regarded as a great man and a prince in Israel, his church began to look around for a successor. This time, as in the case of Dr. Gill, there was trouble in store, for there was division of opinion. Some, no doubt, as true Gillites, looked only for a solid divine, sound in doctrine, who would supply the older saints with spiritual food; while another party had an eye to the growth of the church and to the securing to the flock the younger members of their families. They were agreed that they would write to Bristol for a probationer, and Mr.

John Rippon was sent to them. He was a youth of some twenty summers, of a vivacious temperament, quick and bold. The older members judged him to be too young and too flighty; they even accused him of having gone up the pulpit stairs two steps at a time on some occasion when he was hurried, — a grave offence for which the condemnation could hardly be too severe. He was only a young man, and came from an academy, and this alone was enough to make the sounder and older members afraid of him. He preached for a lengthened time on probation, and finally some forty persons withdrew because they could not agree with the enthusiastic vote by which the majority of the people elected him.

John Rippon modestly expressed his wonder that even more had not been dissatisfied, and his surprise that so large a number were agreed to call him to the pastorate. In the spirit of forbearance and brotherly love he proposed that, as these friends were seceding for conscience’ sake, and intended to form themselves into another church, they should be lovingly dismissed with prayer and God speed, and that, as a token of fraternal love, they should be assisted to build a meeting-house for their own convenience, and the sum of fifteen hundred dollars should be voted to them when their church was formed and their meeting-house erected. The promise was redeemed, and Mr. Rippon took part in the ordination service of the first minister. This was well done. Such a course was sure to secure the blessing of God. The church in Dean Street thus became another offshoot from the parent stem, and with varying conditions it remains to this day as the church in Trinity Street, Borough.

He will be best known as having prepared the first really good selection of Jiyuins for dissenting congregations. Although a Baptist collection, it was extensively used with Dr. Watts’s among both classes of Congrcgationalists. This work was an estate to its author, and he is said to have been more than sufficiently eager to push its sale. One thing we know, his presents of nicely bound copies must have been pretty frequent, for we have seen several greatly prized by their aged owners, who have showed them to us, with the remark, “The dear old Doctor gave me tJiat himself”

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Dr. John Rippon im his Youth.

The happy eccentricity of the Doctor’s character may be illustrated by a little incident in connection with royalty. He was deputed to read an address from the Dissenters to George III., congratulating him upon recovery from sickness. The Doctor read on with his usual clear utterance till, coming to a passage in which there was special reference to the goodness of God, he paused and said: ‘* Please your Majest’, we will read that again,” and then proceeded with his usual cool dignity to repeat the sentence with emphasis. No other man in the deputation would have thought of doing such a thing, but from Rippon it came so naturally that no one censured him, or if they did it would have had no effect upon ///;;/.

There are still some in the church who cherish his memory with affectionate and well-deser’ed reverence; and there are thousands in heaven who were led first to love the Saviour by his earnest exhortations. He quarried fresh stones, and built u) the church. He moulded its thought and directed its energies. Without being great he was exceedingly useful, and the period in which he was one of the judges of our Israel was one of great prosperity in spiritual things. It was a good sixty-three years, and with the previous pastorate of Dr. Gill, enabled the church to say that during one hundred and snenteen years they had been presided over by two ministers only. Those who are given to change were not numerous in the community. Short pastorates are good when ministers are feeble, but it is a great blessing when the saints are so edified that all are content, and the ministry is so owned of God that vacancies are filled up even before they are felt: in such a case change would wantonly imperil the hope of continued prosperity, and would therefore be criminal.

The next pastor of our church was Mr. — now Doctor — JOSEPH Angus, a gentleman whose career since he left us to become secretary of the Baptist Missionary Society, and afterwards the tutor of Stepney Academy, now Regent’s Park College, has rendered his name most honorable among living Baptists. He is one of the foremost classical scholars, and is a member of the committee for producing a revised version of the Holy Scriptures. He is the author of those standard books, “The Bible Handbook,”” The

Handbook of the English Tongue,” and “Handbook of EngHsh Literature.”

Mr. James Smith succeeded Dr. Angus, and after a useful pastorate of eight years resigned on account of ill health. In October, 1849, he wrote: “For a considerable time I have felt an oppression on my chest, and great difficulty in breathing. Last week I consulted a doctor upon it, and he advised me to leave London as soon as I could, and get into the country, as my lungs require a purer air. I am seeking wisdom from God: I cannot doubt but He will guide me.”

In February, 1850, he said: ‘* I have written my resignation of office, and laid it before the deacons. It is a serious and important step which I have taken. I trust I have taken it in a proper spirit, and from a right motive. My mind is now calm and peaceful, the agitation from which I have long been suffering is at an end, and I feel as if I could now leave the matter with the Lord.

“When my resignation was accepted, the church passed a very kind and affectionate resolution regretting that I felt it necessary to take such a step; but as I had rested it pretty much on the state of my health, they did not feel that they could refuse to accede to my wishes. I cannot say that I have labored in vain here, for many souls have been converted, some backsliders have been restored, and between four hundred and five hundred members have been added to the church during my pastorate of eight years. Many of my poor people deeply feel the step which I have felt it my duty to take, and I have received very affectionate letters from several of them. May they soon be favored with a pastor more suitable and efficient than I have been.”

Mr. Smith built up in Cheltenham the strong working church now meeting in Cambray Chapel, which was erected by his exertions. When he was lying upon his dying bed the church at the Tabernacle sent him a heartily affectionate letter, and gratefully reminded him of all the blessing which the Lord had bestowed upon many souls by his means. To this we received a delightful answer, assuring us that our words had greatly cheered him. He died in 1861, and an account of an interview with him may interest the reader if we include it in our pages. “I saw this week the former pastor of this church, Mr. James Smith of Cheltenham. About a year ago he was struck with paralysis, and one half of his body is dead. But )’et I have seldom seen a more cheerful man in the full heyday of strength. I had been told that he was the subject of very fearful conflicts at times; so after I had shaken hands with him, I said: ‘Friend Smith, I hear you ha’e many doubts and fears!’ ‘Who told )’ou that?’ said he, * for I have none.’ ‘Never have any? W h)-, I understood you had many conflicts.” Yes,’ he said, ‘I have many cotijiicts, but I have no doubts; I have many wars within, but I have no fears. Who could have told you that? I hope I have not led any one to think that. It is a hard battle, but the victory is sure.’ Then he said in his own way, ‘L am just like a packet that is all ready to go by train, packed, corded, labelled, paid for, and on the platform, waiting for the express to come by and take me to glory. I wish I could hear the whistle now.’”

In July, 185 I, the church invited the Rev. William WALTERS, of Preston, to become the pastor, but as he understood the deacons to intimate to him that his ministry was not acceptable, he tendered his resignation, and although requested to remain, he judged it more advisable to remove to Halifax in June, 1853, thus closing a ministry of two years. These changes sadly diminished the church and marred its union. The clouds gathered heavily, and no sunlight appeared.

[But this did not long continue, as in the next year the youthful pastor of Waterbeach, CHARLES H. Spurgeon, in his twentieth year, accepted the invitation of the church, and has continued his fruitful ministry there for eight and twenty years.]

Under date January 6, 1 861, there stands in the records the following solemn declaration, signed by the pastor and leading friends: “This church needs rather more than ;^4,ooo (twenty thousand dollars) to enable it to open the new Tabernacle free of all debt. It humbly asks this temporal mercy of God, and believes that for Jesus’ sake the prayer will be heard and the boon bestowed. As witness our hands.”

Now let the reader mark that, on May 6th of the same year, the pastor and many friends also signed their names to another testimony, which is worded as follows:” We, the undersigned, members of the church lately worshipping in New Park-street Chapel, but now assembling in the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington, desire with overflowing hearts to make known and record the loving-kindness of our faithful God. We asked in faith, but our Lord has exceeded our desires, for not only was the whole sum given us, but far sooner than we had looked for it. Truly, the Lord is good and worthy to be praised. We are ashamed of ourselves that we have ever doubted Him, and we pray that as a church and as individuals we may be enabled to trust in the Lord

NEW PARK-STREET CHAPEL, The first building in which Mr. Spurgeon preached in London.

at all times with confidence, so that in quietness we may possess our souls. To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost we offer praise and thanksgiving, and we set to our seal that God is true.”

After about a month of Opening Services, regular work commenced at the Tabernacle in May, 1861, the whole building being free of debt, and the accounts showing that $156,660 had been received, and the same amount expended. Truly we serve a gracious God.

The Tabernacle is 146 feet long, 81 feet broad, and 62 feet high. There are some 5.500 sittings of all kinds. There is room for 6,000 persons without excessive crowding; and we have also a lecture-hall holding about 900, schoolroom for 1,000 children, six class-rooms, kitchen, lavatory, and retiring rooms below -tairs. We have a ladies’ room for working meetings, young men s class-room, and secretar)’’s room on the ground floor; three vestries, for pastor, deacons, and elders on first floor, and three store-rooms on the second floor. The accommodation is all too little for the work to be carried on, and we arc glad to use the rooms at the Almshouses and the College.

In October, 1S67, the pastor having for several years been laid aside at intervals by painful illness, and it having been stated by eminent plu’sicians that this was due to the over-straining of his mental powers, the deacons and elders, after consulting together, recomni’ n.l.. the church to request Mk. J. A. Si’L’RGEON to become eu pa.^tor with his brother, to relieve him of much of the pastoral work. This happ’ arrangement was carried out January 9, 1868, and has been a great comfort to the senior pastor, both in church and r..y]r’crr’ work. Mr. James Spurgeon is now also the pastor of a large and growing church in Croydon, for which he has erected a noble chapel, where he is able to e.xercise his ministry on the Lord’s day; his help being mainly required at the Tabernacle up»>n eck days, and in the general oversight of the church. No more etVicient or s)mpathetic helper could possibly have been found.

In addition to the College and Orphanage, the following institutions are also connected with the Tabernacle. Who shall dare say that this is not A WORKING CHURCH? We collate from trustworthy documents.

Tabernacle Building Fund. — Capital twent’-five thousand dollars. The capital is lent out without interest to chapels in debt, to encourage them to clear themselves of their liabilities. Thus this capital remains and continues to benefit one church after another. The fund was originally- raised in order that the pastor might feel that in case of his death there would be money available to pay for the completion of the studies of the men in College.

Mrs. Spurgcoii s Book Fund. — The pastor’s beloved wife, touched with the poverty of many ministers, commenced this fund to supply the most needy with books. She makes this the pleasant business of her life, when she has respite from pain, and sufficient strength.

Mr, Onckens German Mission. — The church supports two missionaries in Germany, — at Templin and Hamburg.

Mission to the Jews. — There is a small auxiliary to this mission.

Mr. Orsmans Mission in Golden Lane, City, one of the most useful in all London, is an entirely independent enterprise, but Mr. Orsman is still a member at the Tabernacle.

RicJimond-street Mission and Schools, WalwortJi. — In 1875 new premises were erected for this mission at a cost of over four thousand five hundred dollars, which is all paid. Sunday and Ragged Schools, and adult classes. Children in schools, 650. Preaching, tract distribution, Band of Hope, evangelistic work, &c., all in active operation.

Green Walk Mission, Bermondsey. — A mighty warfare against sin has been carried on here, and very many brought to Jesus and added to the Tabernacle church. Hall thronged to hear the gospel. About 350 children in the schools. Mothers’ meetings, Band of Hope, Tract Society, Open Air Mission, Bible and Singing Classes, and children’s special service. All at work and all alive.

James Grove, Peckham. — Here a chapel has been built and a congregation gathered, with schools. Many members have been added to the Tabernacle church, and we hope ere long to form them into a separate community and let them run alone.

Mr. Hampton s Blind Mission. — Established some years, for the evangelization of the poor blind. There is a Sunday-school for blind children. Tea is given on Sunday afternoon to the blind and their guides, and then service is held. Two hundred blind and guides attend.

Mrs. Thomas s Mothers Mission. — Our afflicted friend carries on this work with the help of some of our members, and it is a great success. Seventy women are on the books. Clothes, loanboxes, &c., provided for poor women.

Other mothers’ meetings are held by various ladies of the church.

Tabernacle Sunday-scJiool. — Held in the Tabernacle school-room and in the College. Children, 1,000 in regular attendance; 150 in senior classes, each of which deserves separate mention if we had space. Young Christians’ Association, 216 members. Children’s and teachers’ library. The school raises from $250 to $300 per annum for the Baptist Missionary Society. There is a Band of Hope and a working class.

Almshouses. — The day-schools are as full as they can hold. Here there are Sunday-schools, and an adult class of 120 members.

Orphanage. — Here, too, Sunday-school work goes on vigorously.

Mrs. Bartletfs Class. — This famous class, since the decease of its invaluable leader, is now presided over by her son Edward, who is an indefatigable laborer in many ways. The class is well attended, numbering froi)i 500 to 700; it carries on many meetings and works of usefulness, and manifests a right royal liberality to the College, for which it raises a large amount annually. Very many have come into the church from this class.

Mr. Perkins s Bible Class. — An earnest, united band of young men, who meet on Sabbath afternoons in the vestry of the Tabernacle. They carry on different works of usefulness and aid the College.

Mr. Boiuke/s Bible Class is of the same character, and meets in the Octagonal Room of the College. It is an earnest class, helps its own poor, works for Jesus, and aids in supporting the College.

Mr. Charlesworth has a Ladies Bible Class on Thursdays before the service, and a Young Men’s Bible Class on Sabbath afternoons, both prospering. The two classes support a Bible-carriage.

Baptist Cou7itry Mission. — A small society, but full of life. It seeks to evangelize the villages by open-air preaching, and opening rooms for services. With small funds, it has during late years carried on three promising interests, — in Putney, Walthamstow, and Carshalton. Others in past years have become self-supporting churches, and so will these. It is making attempts in villages further afield, and Christ is preached faithfully. It is an

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evangelistic effort for the suburbs and country. Its expenditure was only three hundred dollars in one year.

Evangelists’ Association. — Is fully at work in halls, lodging-houses, street corners, the Tabernacle steps, &c. Services have been successfully carried on at Dunn’s Institute and Tabernacle Almshouses, and in various chapels where the ministers have allowed evangelistic meetings to be held. This society sends brethren to any church needing such assistance.

Loan Tract Society for Tabernacle District. — Tracts and the pastor’s sermons are lent out, and two thousand families visited every week. Several conversions have resulted.

General Loan Tract Society. — Supplies the pastor’s sermons in free grants to poor districts, where friends arrange for their loan. With the very best results, this work has been carried on in seventeen counties of England.

Another society, called The Rock Loan Ti-act Society, lends sermons chiefly in country villages.

The Ordinance Poor Fund distributes among the poor members of the church about four thousand dollars annually.

Ladies’ Benevolent Society. — For making clothing and relieving the poor. A very useful society.

Ladies’ Maternal Society. — For the aid of poor women in their confinements. One hundred and sixty-two boxes of linen lent during the year.

Mi’s. Evans s Home and Foreign Missionary Working Society makes up boxes of garments for missionaries, and also for poor ministers and their families at home. This is a blessed work, and has made glad many a poor servant of Jesus.