PAYING a pastoral visit to a brother who was gradually melting away, we said to him, “Dear friend, it may be that when this disease has greatly weakened you, your spirits will fall, and you will think that your faith is giving way. Do not be cast down by your feelings.” His answer was most satisfactory, for he replied, “No, sir, I am in no danger of that, for when I have had the most joyful feelings, I never rested in them. You have taught me that a soul can only lean on eternal verities, and these I know come from the mouth of God, and never from the changing feelings of the flesh.”
Yes, that is it. Do not rise upon feelings, and you will not sink under them.
Keep to believing: rest all your weight on the promises of God, and when heart and flesh fail, God will be the strength of your life, and your portion for ever. —C.H.S.
NOTES
On Monday evening April 2, additional interest was given to the
missionary prayer-meeting by the presence of some friends connected with the China Inland Mission. Mr. J. Hudson taylor, who had just returned to England after several years’ ab. sence in China, asked the prayers of the church for Mr.. George Nicoll, a missionary who is returning to his work in the Celestial Empire; and Mr. B. Broomhall requested a like favor for Mr.
Wood, who had been accepted as one of the agents of the Mission.
Both[the brethren, spoke, and earnest petition:.:; were presented, not only for China’$ millions, but also :for the success of all missionaries, both in
the foreign field and at home. Should not individual believers be stirred to weekly prayer and giving? We are wearied with statistics as to what can be done with a penny a week. Oh, that all our members would give it a year’s trial!
On Tuesday evening, April 8, the annual meeting of the Metropolitan tabernacle Sunday-school was held in the Lecture Hall, Pastor C. H.
Spurgeon in the chair. A printed report was issued, showing that out of 1,405 scholars on the books 314 are over fifteen years of age, and 157 are in the infant classes; 108 are church members, 21 having joined during the past year. the average attendance is, teachers : — Morning, 60; afternoon, 92; Scholars : — Morning, 416; afternoon, 1,044. there are eight Bible- classes, with attendances varying front 30 to 60, also children’s services, prayer-meetings for teachers and scholars, a magazine department, Band of Hope, Dorcas Society, Young Christians’ Association, and Mutual
Improvement Society. the sum of £150 18s. 6½d. was raised during the year for missionary purposes, in addition to £50 from Mr. Wigney’s Bible- class: 815 scholars and teachers have joined the Bible Reading Union. and out of 85 scholars who entered for the annual scholars’ examination 52 obtained certificates, and eight prizes. Mr. Spurgeon, in the course of his remarks, said: there is much need at the present time for every form of Christian work. Sunday-school teaching was a work calculated to do much good. teachers should not leave their scholars in ignorance, but seek to obtain their religious affection, so that the softened heart might retain the words that fell from the teachers’ lips. the teachers’ work does not lessen the parents’ responsibility. Earnestness and prayerfulness are wanted, and if these means are used, and the child is brought up in the way he should go, conversion is almost sure to be the result.. May all scholars in the school be led to the Savior’s feet. Addresses were given by Messrs. t. H. Olney, W.
Mountain, T. Heyland, S. Wigney, and C. Waters; and £20 was collected towards replenishing the 2:cholers’ library.
COLLEGE. — Mr. I. Bridge, formerly of Waterbeach, has gone to Kirton- in-Lindsey, Lineolnshire, a church which needs to find a friend who would contribute £20 or £30 a year to keep it going. Mr. Bridge is so devoted to his Lord’s work that he has gone, though we cannot see how he is to be adequately supported. Mr. W. Julyan has removed, from Cheltenham to Bournemouth; and Mr. J. Wilkins, who recently returned from America, has settled at Swaffham, Norfolk,
Any friends who can assist Mr. Stone i, his work at Nottingham may rest assured that their help is greatly needed and richly deserved. Our friend has had to struggle against many dificulties, and has bravely held on his way.
Just now he has to bear the extra burden of raising nearly £1,000 for painting, cleaning, repairs, etc., and with a heavy debt: on the place this will be a severe tesla! unless the Lord’s stewards liberally aid him. We have done and shall still do all we can for him. but so many look to us that our resources are taxed to their utmost. It would be a great joy to us to see the Nottingham tabernacle wholly freed from debt, so that: the church might direct all its energies to the development of the mission-stations which Mr.
Stone has started in the surrounding districts. No church within the range of our knowledge more truly deserves aid than this work at Nottingham.
CONFERENCE. — the Nineteenth Annual Conference of the Pastors’
College Association was held, as announced, in the week commencing Monday, April 16th, and writing these “Notes” immediately after the close of the meetings we can truly say that, notwithstanding the great
disappointment and. sorrow caused by the President’s absence from all the meetings, after the Monday night, the; Conference of 1883 will compare most favourably with all that preceded it. On former occasions the President has been once or twice taken ill before the end of the week, but newer until this year has he been prevented from delivering his inaugural address, or presenting the annual report at the subscribers’ supper.. His disappointment at being laid aside just When it seemed that he was most needed was keen indeed, but as the tidings arrived day after day that the meetings were quite up to the usual standard, that the interest was uuflagging, the liberality of the subscribers as great am ever, and the presence and blessing of the Lord most manifest in every part of the proceedings, what could he do but praise and magnify the grace of God which was thus signally vouchsated? The assembly of 1883 will be remembered in (lays to come as the dark-bright Con-ference — dark, because of the sickness and sorrow that came like a black cloud to hide the sun; and bright, because of the mercies and favors that our gracious Master poured out in such generous abundance. Again has he proved in our
experience that he doeth all things well.
This year, instead of the opening prayer-meeting on the Monday afternoon being held at the College, it was transferred to the same place as the tea and public meet-tug, for which an invitation had been received from Pastor W. Hobbs and the church at Gipsy-road, Lower Norwood. As the result of
this alteration, the attendance was much larger than has been usual at the afternoon meetings in former years. Our venerable friend, Professor [Rogers, presided; and many fervent petitions for a blessing upon the week’s proceedings were presented at the throne of grace. At the tea in the school-room the brethren had the joy of welcoming not only their
President, but also Mrs. Spurgeon, who was as happy to see them as they were to look upon her. After the meal, hearty words of welcome-and thanks were uttered, and then we adjourned to the chapel for the public ha:Cling. ]’his was a smaller assembly than we have had on previous occasions, but there was a clear gospel ring about every speech, and the whole gathering was a fitting commencement of the week’s programme.
Addresses were delivered by the President, and Pastors W. Whale (Middlesbro’), W. E. Rice (Earl’s Colne), and W. Hackney (Oxford). All who were present were grieved to see the President suffering great pain in one of his hands, but rejoiced that he was able to speak with all his wonted fervor and force. At the tabernacle the Vice-President occupied the chair at the regular prayer-meeting, which was largely attended by ministers from the country. Several of the brethren offered prayer, and Pastor t. W.
Medhurst (Lake-road, Landport), delivered an able address.
On Tuesday morning, April 17, the ministers and students met in the College Lec-ture-hall in larger numbers than on any previous occasion.
After the opening hymn the Vice-President, who occupied the chair in his brother’s absence, read the following letter : —
“Dear Brethren, — After a night of extreme pain, I find myself unable to leave my bed to-day — at least, I fear so. I am bitterly disappointed; but as I have had no hand in it, 1 must yield myself to our Great Father’s will.
May the presence and power of the Holy Spirit be with you all day long. If I find at any time that I am recovering:, I shall set out for your Conference at once, and may appear at any time. Meanwhile, I shall be glad if the Vice- President will kindly go on with any part of the program which may be ready. When such a sad Providence intervenes we must make the best of it.
I am somewhat in hopes that the attack is so sharp that it cannot last long.
It is furiously upon me at this moment. — Your suffering President,
“C. H. SPURGEON.” the sincerest sympathy of the whole assembly was evoked by this sad communication, and the most fervent prayers were offered for the speedy recovery of the Lord’s suffering servant. It did not please our heavenly Father to grant all the petitions that were presented,
and yet we are sure that they were heard in heaven, and that as far as it was good for us they were answered. At; the close of the season of supplication the Vice-President carried out his brother’s request, as far as possible, by delivering at once his address founded upon the words of our Lord to John the Baptist, “Thus it becometh us to fulfill all right.-eousness.” It was a timely message, and though uttered before the speaker had the opportunity of preparing as carefully as he had intended, those who heard it felt that it could scarcely have been improved by any amount of additional study and thought. Before dispersing for a brief recess it was resolved that the
following telegram should be sent to our beloved President : — “ We suffer with you. We arm greatly disappointed, but trust it will only be for a while.
Our prayers are, multiplied for you,”
On reassembling, Professor Gracey read his ‘wise and weighty paper on
“Faith,” after which the business of the Conference was transacted. the principal items of general interest were as follows : — the deaths of one minister and one student were reported, the names of twenty-six students who have been. more than six months in the College were addted to the, roll, and three names were for various reasons removed. Mr. Allison’s report of the Assurance Community showed that the total payments had amounted to £71 2s., and that the balance in hand was £6 15s. 6d. Our friend was heartily thanked for his management of the fund, and consented to continue his kind services during the ensuing year. Brethren who have not pall their subscription,; should at; once send 5s. to Mr. Allison at the Tabernacle, that they may be entitled to the benefits of the fund should death enter their homes during the year. It was agreed that MONDAY, JUNE
18th should be set apart for special united prayer by all the churches connected with the Conference. the. letter from the Australian brethren, which is printed in the report, was read, and also the following
communication from the Canadian branch of our Association, which arrived just too late to be published in the proper place : — -
“Toronto, March 29, 1883. “to the Brethren of the Pastors’ College in Conference Assembled. “From the Brethren in Canada.
“Dear Brethren, — It again becomes our pleasing duty to send our annual greetings, and wish you all grace and wisdom in your Conference, and that you may return to your various fields of labor encouraged, strengthened, and abundantly blessed.
“To ,every one of us it would be a privilege of exceeding value to be permitted to meet with you, with our beloved tutors, and above all with our greatly honored President, who dwells in our hearts, and for whom we cease not to give thanks, that we have known him in the flesh, and have sat as his feet.
Changes, in nearly every case for the better, have marked the year now closing. Brother Joseph Forth has removed from London to Dresden;
Brother C. A. Cook from Kingston to Parliament Street, toronto; Brother Robert Holmes from Aylmer to College Street, toronto; Brother Jesse Gibson from Plattsville to Portage La Prairie, Manitoba; Brother W. W.
Willis from Coilingwood to Colebrook, Ohio, U.S., and the writer from the College Street Church in this city to the management of the Standard Publishing Company, created by the munificence of Senator McMaster as the publishing society of the Denomination in Ontario, Quebec, and Manitoba. Brother H. F. Adams, having changed his views on the
Communion question, has resigned the pastorate of the open-communion church, Quebec, and has accepted an invitation as supply, with a view to the pastorate of the Regular Baptist Church, Mount Vernon, Ohio, U.S.
Brethren James Grant, Robert Lennie, and Henry Cox remain in the same fields of labor at Paris, Dundas, and Leamington.
“It will be, a joy to you to know that our brethren have all kept resolutely in the ‘ old paths;’ and that they are known everywhere as lovers of the gospel and preachers thereof, with manifest tokens of the Master’s approval.
“We hear frequently that the ranks of the ministry are over-full in England, and that sometimes good men find it difficult to secure suitable fields of labor. If such be the case, we would say that there is plenty of room and a right royal welcome here for brethren of good education, respectable pulpit gifts, and sincere piety, whose names have never been sullied by folly or sin; and whose convictions in reference to open-com-munion are not such that they must ever make it a bone of contention and a cause of offense.
But if there are brethren who are so strong on this question, that they must run against the close-communion wall on every occasion, much to the injury — not of the wall, but of their own heads, we would say — well, we would say to such: — ‘ try some place on the other side of the world, Australia for instance.’ For, rightly or wrongly, the communion question is
so settled on, this continent, that even a Robert Hall could not turn the shadow back on the dial of Ahaz.
“Rejoicing that time and distance, cannot weaken, much less break, the bonds which unite us together, we remain, in behalf of the Canadian Branch of the Pastors’ College Association,
“Yours in the service of the Gospel, “S, A. DYKE, President for 1883.
“JAMES GRANT, Secretary.”
Dinner was served at the tabernacle, and the mention of that fact leads us to record our deep indebtedness to our devoted deacon, Mr. Murrell, for all his care, of the brethren during the week. It is no easy matter to provide dinner and tea for three or four hundred ministers on four successive days, in addition to arranging for the subscribers’ supper one evening, and the ministers and students’ feast the next night, but with the help of his many coworkers, Mr. Murrell does the whole business in first-rate style, and he richly deserves the hearty thanks that were presented to him during the meetings.
Tuesday evening is usually spent at the Orphanage, in order to still further strengthen the bonds of friendship that exist between that institution and the College. After tea the sweet singers and clever hand-bell ringers provided a most enjoyable entertainment, in the course of which
appropriate addresses were delivered by the Vice-President, and Pastor A.
G. Brown (East London tabernacle), and the day’s proceedings were pleasantly closed by an exhibition of Pastor Charles Spurgeon’s beautiful dissolving views of his American tour, for which he was heartily thanked in the name of all the brethren.
On Wednesday morning, April 18th, the ‘news of our Presidentcontinued sickness filled us with grief, and tidings also reached us that the wife e:f our much-loved brother Gango, of Bristol, had been called home. Heartfelt supplications ascended both for the afflicted and the bereaved; and after the reading and exposition of Psalm 132. by our venerable tutor, Professor Rogers, all who were present were delighted to listen to our honored friend, Dr. Stanford, as he in his own unique style explained and applied the words of our Lord to the first preachers of the gospel — “ I give you a mouth and wisdom.” Pastor W. J. Styles (Keppel-street) next followed with a valuable paper upon “Conversion, and its Counterfeit?’ and the remainder of the morning Was occupied with interesting accounts of
foreign work given by Pastor W. Norris (of Calcutta), and Mr. J. J. turner, who was until recently connected with the China Inland Mission. In the evening the subscribers and friends of the College met for tea, and
afterwards assembled for the annual meeting, under the presidency of John Houghton, Esq., of Liverpool. All were grieved that the President was unable to be present, and he was equally sorry to miss the opportunity of personally thanking his many generous helpers for their continued liberality to this branch of the Lord’s work under his care. In his absence the report of the year’s work was presented by the Vice-President, and addresses were delivered by the Chairman, Pastors R. J. Middleton (Great
torrington), C.t. Johnson (Longton), F. E. Blackaby (Stow-on-the. Wold), and $. Glover (Coorobe Martin), and our missionary brethren, W. Norris, J. J. turner, and A. Billington, who in turn pleaded for India, China, and Africa. the company then adjourned to the tabernacle Lecture-ball, to partake of the supper given by Mr. Spurgeon and two or three friends, and prepared by Mr. Murrell and his assistants. When the list of donations and promises was completed, it was found that the contributions amounted to
£2,073 18s. the gifts of friends unable to be present brought up the total to
£2,100 — truly a noble sum, for which we heartily thank every donor, while we bless the name of the Lord who moved them thus to cheer and help us.
On Thursday morning, April 19, after a time of earnest wrestling with God in prayer, Professor Rogers briefly but forcibly addressed the assembly, Pastor J. Hillman (Hampden Chapel, Hackney) read a useful paper on
‘*Persistency in our Work,” and Pastor W. Anderson (Reading)read his searching, scriptural, spiritual essay on “the Christian minister’s
dependence upon the Holy Spirit.” At the dinner-table it was resolved that the grateful thanks of the brethren should be forwarded to Mrs. Spurgeon for her kind gift of the President’s new book, “Illustrations and
Meditations,” with the assurance of the heartfelt sympathy of every member of the Conference, and their united prayers for the speedy
restoration to health of their honored President; and his beloved wife. (Any of our brethren who were unable to be present can obtain the book by writing to Mrs. Spurgeon, and enclosing four stamps for postage).
The annual public meeting, in the tabernacle, in the evening, was one of the largest and best ever held. the Vice-President presided, and again gave a resume; of the work of the year; addresses were delivered by Professor Fergusson, and Pastors G. Samuel (Birmingham), t. J. Longhurst