Personal Notes

Sometimes our experience is for the good of others, and sometimes it is for our own good. You cannot see the beauty of certain gems unless you place them on black velvet. When you have something black behind, then you see their lustre. So there are promises of God in which you never will discover their very brightest meaning except they are set against some dark soul-trouble. Much of faith’s education may be called black-letter learning. Very black the letters are, too, and very ugly looking, but they must be spelt over. You cannot see the stars in the daytime; you must wait till the sun has gone down. — C. H. Spurgeon.

THE monthly “Notes” from Spurgcon’s pen are not the least interesting feature of “The Sword and the Trowel.” These brief “Notes” speak volumes. They reveal the pastor’s heart and the preacher’s faith. They declare how fully identified is the workman with his work, how ceaselessly he watches over every department of labor originated by him. Mr. Spurgcon’s friends read the “Notes” with prayerful, grateful hearts; his more distant acquaintances with ever-growing admiration for the man; strangers with awakened interest and amazement. The “Notes” possess a peculiar freshness when first published; but as items of work done, of labors directed, and of energies expended, they are worthy of a more permanent place than the pages of a monthly journal.

The death of President Garfield creates among Christian people a feeling far deeper than that which arises from the decease of an ordinary ruler. He was a member of a section of the Baptist church, and the representative of that party in the United States which is the friend of the freedman. His fall is a serious blow to those in the States whose principles are on the side of righteousness. We believe that it will be overruled for the highest ends, but as it stands his murder is a great calamity. May his widow find a measure of consolation in the sympathy of all civilized nations, and comfort without measure in the tender mercy of her husband’s God! England and America have been drawn together as by a common grief; may a feeling of concord thus sown in tears be reaped in joy! Some hundreds of Americans are to be found at the Tabernacle all through the summer, and thus the pastor is drawn into close fellowship with believers on the other side of the ocean.

We have lately felt more than ever the burden of souls, and a strong desire for a special visitation of grace to our churches. Our heart wanted vent. Hence we begged those of our friends who could spare the time to come together an hour before the week-night services to pray for a blessing. Before the lecture on Thursday we have had some of the most real and intense prayer that we have ever known. Perhaps some brother minister may take the hint, and see whether his people would not assemble with much enthusiasm’ to pray for a blessing upon their pastor and the service about ‘to be held. Where regular prayer-meetings flag, it is well to hold others at different hours. Better get the people together at dead of night, than let them fall into a dead condition.

In answer to many inquiries, we are glad to speak of improved health. No summer holiday will be taken, for the many Sundays spent in the sick-room forbid any further absence from home. Neither can we travel far afield, for home work is so pressing. What with managing everything, preparing the weekly sermon, editing the magazine, and writing books, we are not doing badly when we fill up our weeks as we do. Here is a specimen week in which we did no more than ordinarily, but a little more than usual was visible to the common observer. Five sermons, three prayer-meetings, chair at two public meetings, speech at a third, one communion, one College afternoon of two hours’ lecturing. Some of these occupied far more time in preparation than in the actual doing of them. We are thankful to be able to work. Oh, that we could accomplish far more! We need the prayers of all loving friends that God would give us more of His divine blessing. What is all that we can do without His Spirit?

We rejoice to hear that our sermon on “The Divine Call for Missionaries” (No. 1351) has been the means of leading another young man, besides the one mentioned in our ‘* Notes “for June, to consecrate himself to the work of foreign missions. Mr. Broomhall, of the China Inland Mission, sends us the following extract from the papers of an accepted candidate:” What is your motive

Present Home of Pastor C. H. Spurgeon.

THE MEW YORK
rUBLIC LIRPaRY

*ND for wishing to become a missionary?” ‘’The glory of God in the sah’ation of the heathen.” “What has led you to think of doing so?” “A sermon by Mr. Spurgeon on ‘The Divine Call for Missionaries.’”

One of the bandsmen of the Seventy-third Regiment writes from India to say that he receives our sermon every week by post, and that on a Sunday evening the soldiers will read “Spurgeon’s Sermons” when they will read nothing else of a religious character. He states that after a sermon has gone the round of fifty or sixty men it is returned to him all black and fringed through the wear and tear.

Dr. Carson, of Coleraine, says concerning the sermons: “In my professional calling I have had abundant opportunity of knowing the good they do. Space would not allow me to dwell on this point, but I mention the instance of one of my own servants several years since. When he was waiting for me every day at the hospital gate I observed that he sat down on the step of the carriage and began to read. I asked him what he was reading, and he said it was a tract his mistress gave him, and that it was the nicest thing he ever read, as he could understand every word of it, and he wished that every minister would preach like that. I looked at it and found it was one of Spurgeon’s sermons.”

Mr. Wilhelm Haupt, missionary to the Edinburgh Ladies’ Auxiliary to the German Baptist Mission, in his last quarterly report, writes as follows: “My own son Willy, now seventeen years of age, came from Barmen, where he is at school, to spend his Easter holidays with us. Shortly before, I had received some of Mr. Spurgeon’s sermons from Dr. B., amongst which was one entitled ‘The Seven Sneezes’ (No. 1461), from the text, 2 Kings iv. 35, ‘And the child sneezed seven times.’ Having read this sermon, and believing that it was well suited to his case, I asked my boy to translate it into German for me. During the work of translation I could plainly see that what I had hoped was taking place, — the Lord was touching his heart and showing him his position. When he had finished the translation I asked him whether he too felt any signs of life, and he acknowledged he desired from his whole heart to become a Christian. He has not yet full assurance of faith, but the Lord has begun His work of grace, and I have every reason to believe He will complete it. I am very grateful for the gift of these splendid sermons, from which I have derived much blessing.”

A Scotch friend, in sending us a contribution for one of our works, explains that it is a thank-offering for the enjoyment and profit derived by him and his late wife from reading our sermons. He tells us that he is so deaf that he cannot hear his own minister’s voice in the service of the sanctuary, and his wife was too ill to go to church for two years before she died, so they were both very grateful to get every Saturday the sermon which supplied them with spiritual food for the Lord’s day. The writer further says: “Since my wife’s death I have, after reading your sermon, given it to a friend, whose wife is also in very weak health, and has not been able to go to church for nearly two years. They enjoy the sermon very much, and after reading it pass it on to a neighbor, who also enjoys it. I think you might take occasion to drop the hint that each reader might seek out some invalid person who is not able to go to church and make a present of the sermon, instead of allowing it to lie idle on the shelf The sick friend above mentioned was visited by the late Rev. James Robertson a few days before his decease. She told him that her own minister called to see her so seldom that she might now say that she had no church connection; but she greatly enjoyed the reading of Mr. Spurgeon’s sermons. ‘Oh, then,’ replied Mr. Robertson, ‘you will just consider you are one of Mr. Spurgeon’s people.’”

. One of our church-members, in thanking us for our recent sermon on Psalm lvii. 4, “My soul is among lions,” writes:” You

may be sure when I had the beer-house in that my soul was

among lions. You may not remember that your preaching was the means of my closing that house on the Sunday in spite of great opposition, persecution, and personal loss. I kept it closed on the Sunday with one exception, when the devil tempted me to open it, but Christ gained the victory, and enabled me to close ever afterwards on the Sunday. I closed on the same Sunday as you opened the Tabernacle. If every minister could be the means of closing one public-house on the Sunday the victory would be won. The sermon on Zecharlah xlv. 20 (‘A Peal of Bells,’ No. 399) decided me to join the church.”

A brother Baptist minister, in sending us a contribution for the Girls’ Orphanage, says: “During nearly twenty years’ ministry I have been often helped and encouraged by your sermons, which I regularly read and lend to others. ]Iay the Lord long spare you to His Church!”

We were amused when we were informed of a notice that recently appeared in a shop window in Newcastle. Underneath a lithographic likeness, or what professed to be such, was the announcement, “Spurgeon reduced to Sixpence!” The kind friend who sent us the intelligence expressed the hope that we were not quite so poor as the notice implied.

In the first spare corner of the magazine let it stand recorded as my experience that the Lord is exceeding tender in His dealings with His afflicted. During the last six months He has tried me with sharp pains, but during that period He has kindly removed all cause for serious care as to the financial needs of my many institutions. Everything has been healthily sustained, and there have been no pitiful appeals by striking advertisement or otherwise. I intend no censure of the plans of others, but I cannot help admiring the considerate providence of our gracious Lord that He has kept off the trial of straitened supplies from His suffering servant. “He stayeth His rough wind in the day of the east wind.”

Friends have come forth from the most unexpected quarters in the time of need, — nay before the need had actually come. Every fund, except that which supplies the College, is in better condition than before my illness, and even that is hardly an exception, for the outgoing in that direction will no doubt be made good at the annual supper. Prayerful trust is a way which the Lord will assuredly honor. I do but feebly trust and pray, but God most richly answers; and when in hours of crushing agony both supplication and confidence seem to need an effort beyond the strength of the tortured mind, the Lord deals with me after His own gracious fashion, “exceeding abundantly

above all that we ask, or even think.”

On Monday, September 29, we expect to say good-bye to our son Thomas and the two ministers who are going with him to AustraHa, Mr. R. McCulloch, from the College, and Mr. J. S. Harrison, who left the College a few months ago and settled at Blackburn. Mr. Gibson, a generous Christian gentleman of Tasmania, pays the passage of these two brethren, that they may labor in that island. It is a severe trial thus to be separated from a loving and beloved son, but the will of the Lord be done. We commend our son again to the loving care of those Australian friends who so generously received him on his first visit. He will need rest, but after a while we trust he will resume his preaching, go through the Australian colonies, visit New Zealand, and then settle down somewhere in the southern world. Such is the programme which our imagination has mapped out; but how little we know of the future! His parents surrender him to the Lord’s work abroad, hoping one day again to see him in the flesh, and firmly believing that he will do good service for the Lord in the colonies. Beloved by the church at the Tabernacle and by all at home, we fondly hoped that our son would have had a useful career in England; but Infinite Wisdom cannot err.

Mr. Broomhall, who is conducting the home affairs of Mr. Hudson Taylor’s mission, brought us the other day a copy of our sermon on “Thc Divine Call for INIissionarics,” No. 135 1. It was scored and underlined, and had been carried about in his pocket by a brother who is now a missionary; the sermon having constrained him to devote himself to that work for the Lord. We prized the discourse more than if the princes of the land had covered it with jewels. To God be all the glory!

A nobleman of Alsace visited us at Mentone, and gave us copies of two of our sermons, which he has translated into French, and lithographed in running hand, to be read in congregations. We found our friend almost as well acquainted with our work as if he had attended the Tabernacle all his life. He came a long way for a short interview, bringing his wife and his son, and by this visit he greatly refreshed our spirit.

A minister, living at Wisbech, authenticates the following singular case of conversion through our sermon on “The Portion of the Ungodly,” No. 444. The writer says in a recent letter to us: “Seventeen years ago it pleased the Lord to permit me to dream that the end of the world was come, and in my dream I saw the saints rising with the Lord Jesus to glory. I was left, and near me, upon a large quantity of stubble, stood an acquaintance, who addressed me thus: ‘They used to say in the other world that we should be in fire, but it is not so.’ In a moment flames burst out, and in my fright I awoke, A few days after my dream my friend and I heard you preach at the Tabernacle. Judge how great was our surprise when you announced for your text, Isaiah xlvii. 14, ‘Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it.’” In August, 1876, a severe affliction, the dream, and our sermon resulted in our friend’s conversion.

One of our students writes to tell us about the conversion of one whom he has recently baptized, who thus refers to the channel through which the blessing reached her: “Before I was brought to Christ I had a desire to hear Mr. Spurgeon; accordingly, I went to Exeter Hall, and afterwards to the Tabernacle, but still remained in my state of unregeneracy. One day I was entering the drawing-room, and, looking upon the table, my eye fell at once upon a printed sermon. Taking it into my hand, I read the text. Psalm li. 4. I read a little of the sermon, was interested, and read on until I was not only interested in it, but in Christ: this was the means of my conversion.” It was our sermon, No. 86, on “Unimpeachable Justice.”

A Christian sea-captain writes to tell us about the joyful reception of our sermons at St. Kitts, one of the West Indian islands. He says, “All my sermons that I had in the monthly parts I separated, for the people were so eager for them they came from every quarter to ask for them. We gave some to the master of a little vessel that trades to different islands, and we saw several of the laboring men gather round him as he read the sermons to them. The natives seemed to drink their contents down with as much pleasure as a thirsty ox does water on a summer’s day.” The mate of our friend’s vessel went down among the very poor who do not go anywhere, and had two meetings among them, which the people very much enjoyed. They wanted another visit, but before the next Sabbath the vessel had sailed.

In “The Preachers’ Annual” of 1877, page 544, in an article by the Rev. G. T. Dowling on “Candidating,” we chanced to read as follows: “Charles Spurgeon was not even seriously thought of as a prospective pastor the first time he preached in London. Months passed by before he was again invited to spend a Sabbath, and when even a call was extended it was by no means unanimous. Some families even left the church because * that boy ’ was called.”

This is given as a proof that successful preachers frequently produce a poor impression as candidates. This may be a general fact, but it was a pity to fabricate an instance. The truth is exactly the contrary. The moment after our first sermon was preached we were invited by the principal deacon to supply for six months, for he felt sure that at a church meeting, which would at once be held, such a resolution would be passed. We declined his offer, for we thought it too hasty, but promised to preach alternate Sabbaths during the next month; and this was done, and followed up immediately by a further invitation. No one person left the church to our knowledge, and the resolution inviting us was as nearly unanimous as possible, one man and four women voting to the contrary, all of these becoming in after time most friendly to us. We only mention the incident as a specimen of the manner in which advocates of a theory too often manufacture their instances, and as a warning to our friends to be slow in believing anything which they may hear or read about public persons.

Dr. Blaikic, in a recent letter to us, says of Dr. Livingstone: “I had in my hands the other day one of your sermons, very yellow: it lay embedded in one of his journals — had probably been all over Africa — and had in Livingstone’s neat hand the simple words, * Vejy good.’ Would you like it?” Our reply, as the reader will guess, was an urgent request that we might have the yellow relic.

The Religious Tract Society kindly favors us with the following extract from a letter from a member of the Servian Government, in reference to our sermon, “Come and Welcome,” which has been published in Servia: “Mr. Spurgeon’s sermon, ‘Come and Welcome,’ continues to be much read and appreciated. The Dean of Thabatz writes to thank me that I have procured for Servian Christians such most valuable reading; and also adds that he has never read anything more edifying and more * filling the soul.’ A copy found its way to the State Prison of Posharevatz, and I am informed has been there read with much enjoyment, even by some men who have been pronounced infidels. An old gentleman belonging to the highest rank of our society took the opportunity of an evening party in his house to read the whole sermon to the ladies and gentlemen present. I am mentioning to you all these details, believing them to be hopeful signs of coming harvest, and feeling myself happy and thankful to our merciful Father that the first seed, which by the instrumentality of your committee has been thrown in the earth of Servia, seems to bear with it God’s blessing.”

Mr. Spurgeon preached at Portsmouth, October 26. He writes: One of the papers seems to wonder that Mr. Spurgeon was nervous! Who could avoid it amid that dense throne:’, in a frail building, with constant interruptions? The horror of great darkness which passed over the preacher’s soul, few can understand but those who have once seen a multitude flying in panic, and people trodden to death in the crush. We should be able to preach abroad far oftener if we could secure moderate audiences, in places full to safety, but not crowded to murder-point. However, the occasion ended well; and to God be praise! The efforts of all friends at Portsmouth to entertain the Baptist Union were most praiseworthy.

For an opportunity of preaching, Southampton, on October 27, bears the palm; for there we had order and quiet throughout, and we trust the Divine Presence was there. It was a singular sight to see at these services men of all grades and creeds, and even more remarkable to observe with what kindliness they received the preacher of the Word. Surely there is some softening process at work, some coming together of divergent creeds, some candor towards long-despised truth. In the house of Canon Wilberforce, in concert with Lord Radstock and other friends, we had much friendly discussion, but far more spiritual communion both in conversation and prayer. The life of God in the souls of believers triumphs over even important differences of ceremonial and doctrine. In honestly dealing with each other in the spirit of love to Christ we shall, by the Holy Ghost’s guidance, find the way to mutual edification and enlightenment, and so to real unity. If congresses, and conferences, and meetings, by bringing Christians together, shall continue to increase their knowledge of each other, and their common regard for one another, they will do more towards the unity of Christendom than all the plans and societies which have this for their design, but know not how to compass it.

Altogether, Southampton friends deserve the highest commendation. We were delighted to find three of our College men at Southampton and two at Portsmouth, all favored with the divine blessing, and heartily working together to give entertainment to the denomination which met in such force in the two towns. Others of our own men were to the front, holding their own among the best of their brethren. We are greatly rejoiced when we see a man raised up in the ranks of the Church to serve the Lord valiantly, and there is just a drop of special zest to our joy when it happens to be one of the sons of the Pastors’ College.

On Friday evening, October 21, the eleventh annual meeting of the Green Walk Mission, conducted by Mr. William Olney, Jr., was held in the Tabernacle Lecture Hall, when there was a large attendance of the workers and friends of the mission. Pastor C. H. Spurgeon presided. Mr. Bennett read the report, which commenced with a grateful reference to the spirit of prayer which had prevailed among the workers, and a recognition of the Lord’s loving care of them at the time when the tempest blew down the tent in August last. It then proceeded to specify the various special and ordinary means which had been used for the purpose of bringing the people of Bermondsey to the feet of Jesus. These include Sunday and Thursday-evening services; five prayer-meetings during the week; magic-lantern lectures illustrating the Scriptures; five open-air services weekly; a tract society, for the distribution of the pastor’s sermons by twenty-one friends, who

Mrs. John Spurgeon, Mother of C. H. Spurgeon.

go from house to house on Sunday afternoons; a Sunday-school, with an average attendance in the afternoon of 386 scholars and twenty-five teachers, more of whom, especially for the girls’ classes, are greatly needed; an infant class of about 150 children; a mothers’ meeting, on Wednesday afternoons; a Dorcas society; song-services; missionary meetings, and other agencies which could not be mentioned in the “short report.” The spiritual results seen since the last annual meeting have been most cheering, over fifty persons having testified to Mr. Olney that they have been led to the Saviour, and many of them having united with the churches at the Tabernacle, Greenwich, Pentonville, and Rye Lane.

It was a good meeting, and greatly cheered the pastor’s heart as he saw with what vigor the various branches of Tabernacle work are being carried on. Here was a work large enough for a separate church, and yet only one of many boughs of the old tree.

OvpJianagc. CJiristDias Festivities. — The best thanks of the orphans and of the president of the Orphanage are due, and are hereby hcartil)’ tendered, to all those who by their generous help made Christmas at the Orphanage to be a time of great enjoyment.

Our son Charles, who took our place on Christmas day, sent us the following lively account of the day’s proceedings: —

Dear Father, —

“Christmas day has vanished fleeting,
Gone its merry hours of meeting;
Hearty fun and hearty eating,
Gone like Christmas days of yore,” —

SO I write to tell you how happy all were at the Stockwell Orphanage. To commence with, the morning service at Newman Hall’s was very good. The fog was dense, so a large congregation could not be expected, but all were gratified to see so many there. The collection will realize ^^50 (two hundred and fifty dollars). A fine Christmas-box indeed! The walk, no doubt, gave the lads a keen appetite for the beef. Before they set to I read your kind letter, amid perfect silence (for a pin might have dropped, as Tom used to say) until I had finished the first sentence, “I wish you all a merry Christmas.” Then they burst out, “The same to you, sir,” and Mr. Charlesworth observed that it was no fault of yours if you did not hear it. There was not one heart that did not fervently desire joy for you while absent from the Orphanage. The boys did the cheering well for everybody named in the note, but none exceeded the hurrahs given for the eleven little girls when, with Miss Moore leading the foremost, they walked down the hall to dinner. Dear little mites, they stood on the form for the boys to look at them, and then listened to your loving words. As per usual, ample justice was done to the dinner. Then the grandees had their dinner. A vacant chair again occupied the centre position at the table; I could not fill it, and regretted that my dear father was not there to do so, although I am truly glad you are away from these awful fogs. None forgot the president when they spoke, but all mourned his absence. It fell to my lot to receive a present from the “old boys,” consisting of a case of cutlery, — a very handsome gift indeed, and one that will be useful, too, by and by. In the evening we heartily enjoyed ourselves. May the time come round when you will be there to rejoice with those who do rejoice!

The following is the letter which we sent to the Orphanage: —

Mentone, December 20.

Dear Boys, — I wish you all a merry Christmas. My son, Mr. Charles Spurgeon, will tell you that it is a great trouble to me to be away from you all at Christmas, but I hope you will all enjoy yourselves none the less, and be as happy as kittens. I am very pleased to hear that as a rule you are a good lot of fellows, obedient, teachable, and true; therefore you have a right to be happy, and I hope you are. I always wish everything to be done to make you love the Orphanage and feel it to be your home, and in this all the trustees join, and so does Mr. Charlesworth. We want you to be very jolly while you are with us, and then to grow up and go out into business, and to turn out first-rate men and true Christians.

Boys, give three cheers for the trustees, who are your best friends, and then the same for Mr. Charlesworth, the matrons, and the masters. Don’t forget the gentlemen who send the shilhngs and the figs. Hip, hip, hurrah!

Where are the girls?

Dear Children, — I hope you will be happy too, with Miss Moore and the other kind folks. You cannot make quite so much noise as those uproarious boys, but your voices are very sweet, and I shall be glad one day to hear them when I get well and come home. Enjoy yourselves all you can, and try to make everybody happy in your new home. I hope my first little girls will be specially good ones. Ought not the first to be the best?

Your friend always,

C. H. Spurgeon.

Any old boys about? God bless the young men, and make them our strength and honor.

Among the many expressions of brotherly kindness and sympathy which have reached us during our sojourn abroad, one calls for special mention. Just as we were retiring to rest one night, a soft pillow for our head and heart arrived by telegraph from the other side of the Atlantic. This was the form in which the sweet love-token came to hand: “To C. H. Spurgeon, Mentone, France. From New York Baptist Ministers’ Conference: Prayers. Sympathy. 2 Corinthians i. 2, 7. Potter, Secretary.” The full text of the message is as follows: “Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.... And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.”

May the ever-blessed Giver of peace and Lover of concord return to these brethren ten thousand-fold this their deed of love towards their afflicted fellow-servant. Such costly acts of spontaneous sympathy go far to prove that, degenerate as the age may be, there is life and love in the old Church yet.

This telegram was followed on January 15 by the following most touching letter, for which we feel the utmost gratitude: —

Rev. Charles H. Spurgeon:

Beloved Brother, — The sorrowful tidings reach us that you are entirely prostrated, not being able even to address your weekly epistle of love to your own church. Your sufferings touch the hearts of your American brethren most tenderly, and the New

York Conference of Baptist ministers, numbering more than one hundred, has appointed the undersigned a committee to express their deep sympathy with you in your present trial.

Be assured, precious brother, that this expression is most heartfelt and real: you live in our hearts so truly that your affliction is ours, on the divine principle that if one member suffers all the members suffer therewith. In health, you have sent thrilling words of cheer to the afflicted disciples of the Lamb all round the globe. And now, in the hour of your darkness, their affections cling closer to you than ever. Your pain meets with little mitigation through the livelong day and night while the sun makes his rounds over all lands, and we believe that in most of the nations that see his light the prayers of your brethren are rising to the God of all consolation as from a common altar, that divine succor may be vouchsafed to you every hour.

Truly, Infinite Grace has chosen you in the furnace of affliction. How far your terrible pains in the past have contributed as a holy discipline to the creation of that noble Christian manhood which has marked your life and labors so long, can be known only to our Heavenly Father. But we believe that as our Captain was made perfect through sufferings. He will so sanctify yours, that even a more mellow and gentle ministry will mark your coming years than those which are past. Should our hopes be thus gratified, the sorrowing people of God will draw strength once more from your weakness, and sweetness out of your bitter cup.

Dearly beloved one, we commend to you now those broad and bright promises of our Lord which you have so forcibly applied to the souls of His people in their distresses. Let your Christian fortitude bind you indissolubly to the fidelity of your covenant-keeping Saviour, till a holy courage can humbly say, “Though Thou slay me, yet will I trust Thee.” We shall not cease to pray that our sympathetic Redeemer will be at your right hand, that He will fill your room with heavenly light, and your heart with sacred joy. “Be of good cheer,” lift up thine eyes, and see thy Lord coming to thy help on the wave, and in the darkest watch of the night. Can he not say to the crazy, creaking vessel, that years are added to its days? This He has said in similar stress heretofore.

And we confidently hope that your valuable life will be still spared to do a glorious work for that General Church of Christ which claims you as its pastor, in common with the brethren at the Tabernacle. The Conference tenders its Christian condolence to your beloved household, in these days when with them hope and fear are struggling so hard for the mastery. May Jehovah keep and

bless you all.

Yours affectionately,

Thos. Armitage,

Christopher Rhodes, J>Committee.

Jesse B. Thomas,

PSALM CXIl.

Blessed is the man that feareth

And delighteth in the Lord!
Wealth, the wealth which truly cheereth,

God shall give him for reward j
And his children
Shall be blest around his board.

He shall not be moved for ever,
Though with evil tidings tried;

Nought from God his faith shall sever,
Fixed his heart shall still abide;
For believers

Are secured on every side.

To the upright light arises,

Darkness soon gives place to day;

While the man who truth despises,
And refuses to obey.
In a moment,

Cursed of God, shall melt away.

Therefore let us praise Jehovah,
Sound His glorious name on high,

Sing His praises, and moreover
By our actions magnify
Our Redeemer,

Who by blood has brought us nigh.

C. H. Spurgeon.