I DO not find where Jesus was ever bidden to any table and refused. If a Pharisee, if a publican, invited him, he did not hesitate to go, not for the pleasure of the dishes, but to do good If he sat with sinners, he converted
with the rich in substance, he made them rich in grace. At whose board did he ever visit and left not his host a gainer? The poor bridegroom entertains him, and hath his waterpots filled with wine. Simon, the Pharisee,
entertains him, and hath his table honored with the public pardon of a penitent sinner, and with the heavenly doctrine of remission. Zaccheus entertains him; salvation came that day to his house with the Author of it.
That presence made the publican a son of Abraham. Matthew is
recompensed for his feast with an apostleship. Martha and Mary entertain him, and, besides divine instruction, receive their brother from the dead. — Bishop Hall.
The Apostle of the Gentiles: a Handbook on the Life of St. Paul. With Notes, critical and illustrative. By B. P. PASK. Special Notes on Ephesus;
by J. T. WOOD, Esq., F.S.A. Sunday School Union.
WHAT can the man do that cometh after the king? What can B. P. Pask accomplish after Conybeare and how-son? Yet we are bound to confess that Mr. Pask’s volume has a peculiar adapt-alien for its own purpose, and contains more new and interesting information than we could have thought it possible to gather upon Paul and his travels. To Sabbath-school teachers who cannot afford to buy larger and fuller works we recommend this hand- book, for it will answer all practical purposes and be a great assistance to them in preparing for their classes. The book is very properly got up in that neat and sober style which becomes expository writings. It will be a
valuable addition to the teacher’s library.
Beacons and Patterns: or, Lessons for Young Mens. the REV. W. LAN- DELS, D.D. Hodder and Stoughton.
WE are glad to see these “lessons” in the third thousand. The beauty of the style will commend to many reader the weighty instructions of the
preacher, and all young men and women who read his earnest admonitions will feel that they have been in contact with a warm heart and a wise mind.
Dr. Landels is intensely practical, and aims at winning the soul for Jesus and for holy living: may the best of blessings rest upon his efforts, both with tongue and pen.
Whose Dog is it?” or, the Story of Poor Gyp. S.W. Partridge and Co.
A clever antivivisection tale. We felt ourselves Shivering while reading the little book; but it ends pleasantly, and so we recovered our equanimity.
Philological French Primer; with a Classified Vocabulary and familiar Phrases and Dialogues. By A. CogRery, B.A., L.L. Relfe Brothers.
M. COGERY teaches French in our day-school, and does his work very efficiently. We are glad to see that his conversation book is in the second edition, for it is carefully prepared.
Education Progressive through Life.
Essays for Students. By HENRY TRIGG. Elliot Stock.
VERY respectable essays. Young men who will read them with care will not regret doing so, for they contain wise advice put in a scholarly form.
The Word of God on True Marriage. [Anonymous]. Trubner and Co.
THIS book will meet with no readers on this side the Atlantic. It proves what we all believe, namely, the Scripturalness of Christian marriage and the unholiness of Mormonite polygamy; but it goes further, and asserts that Biblical authority neither sanctioned nor tolerated a plurality of wives among the people of Israel. The author is greatly in earnest against the admission of the territory of Utah into the Union, and well he may be so long as the Mormon abomination remains, but the evil is too gross to live.
NOTES.
DURING the early part of the past month we were called upon to suffer the Lord’s will rather than to do it. Engagements at Liverpool, NorWich and Maze Pond were unfulfilled through inability. Friends must excuse our refusing for some time to come to make any promises, since we have no power to perform those already made. We are just able to do the home work, but no more at present. The choice seems to lie between being laid aside pretty frequently with depression of spirit and pain of body, and steadily keeping on with home duties; we prefer the second, because we hope that the comparative quiet may bring greater strength for future endeavors.
COLLOGE. Mr. Harrington leaves us for China-man’s Flats, Victoria, and Mr. Hancock settles at Tonbridge, in Kent.
Here, perhaps, we may be allowed to notify to our Australian friends that our son, Thomas Spurgeon, left us for Melbourne, on June 16, taking a voyage in the Lady Jocelyyne for his health. We shall be grateful to any friends who will extend kindness to him. He will be willing to preach as opportunity may occur.
Messrs. Clark and Smith, two worthy students of our college will
commence evangelistic work next August. We have engaged to find them a maintenance, that they may go through the length and breadth of the land and preach Christ. They are very lively and able speakers. Mr. Smith is a singer, and also plays upon a cornet, by which means he not only fetches in the people to the service, but interests them when they are gathered
together. We have made him a present of a new silver trumpet, upon which is engraved a verse from the Psalms, “With trumpet and sound of cornet, make a joyful noise before the Lord the King.” Both Mr. Clark and Mr.
Smith have been greatly useful in conversions, and we send them forth in the name of the Lord, with high hopes of blessing. Their appoint-merits from time to time will appear in the Sword and Trowel. Our friends may confide in these brethren, and feel quite safe in helping them. They go first, we believe, to Hartlepool and the northern towns. The expenses will be considerable, and therefore we shall be willing to be assisted in this effort by any who would like to have a share in the enterprise. Both the
evangelists are authorized to receive subscriptions, but no one is asked to give.
May 22-24 — A number of friends some time ago united with Mr. Goxetor to accept the vote of the London Baptist Association of £1,000, and erect a new chapel at High-gate Road. Mr Coxeter generously gave the ground.
The chapel is opened, and work has hopefully begun. Knowing that the little band were striving nobly, and had a heavy debt, C. H. S. invited Mrs.
Coxeter and her friends to bring the remainder of her Bazaar to the Tabernacle. Friends came up to the mark to help, though the Pastor was absent from illness, and the very useful sum of about £250 was realized. It is a healthy thing, even when we are loaded with home service, to lend a hand to brethren in whose enterprise we have no selfish interest; thus the purest Christian feeling is brought into exercise. Thanks are tendered to the ladies who got up a Tabernacle Stall On the shortest possible notice, and carried on its operations with so much vigor. Indeed, the whole incident caused the Pastor great pleasure, as remarkably illustrating the willingness of the people to aid in every good work.
June 4. — The Annual Meeting of the Home and Foreign Missionary Working Society, was held before the prayer meeting. The pastors were present, and both spoke in high praise of this association. Many boxes of clothes have been sent to poor pastors during the year, for themselves and their wives and children. Very grateful letters were read. Mrs. Evans, at the Tabernacle, would be very glad of half-worn garments, remnants of
material, and other gifts which could be used by families. Many ministers are very poor, and the clothing of large families is a heavy expense; a box from this society is a great blessing, and as the ladies work up the
materials, the outlay is much less than the value of the goods distributed.
Are there not many drapers and others who have materials which are out of the fashion, which they could well spare? If so, send them on, for we do not care about the fashion so long as the poor ministers’ children are clothed. Boots and shoes, and garments of all sorts and sizes can be all utilized, and cash too. There is serious distress in many a poor minister’s home; let us relieve it. Address Mrs. Evans, Tabernacle, Newington Butts.
June 6 — Although we are quite forbidden to take any services beyond our home work, we felt able to go down and lay the foundation stone of a school-chapel near our own house in Nottingham Road, Upper Tooting.
Here a little band of true-hearted believers have formed a church, and given
helping them, and as they will need about £400 more, we shall be glad if others will help them too. Any sums sent to us will be duly appropriated.
Baptist friends in London ought to know that these good people have not gone round to them, or received a penny from the Association, but have helped themselves as God has enabled them. We hope that there are at least a few who will admire this effort of a very slender band and send them aid without being waited upon. Such giving would be of the very best kind.
Note that this is not our sons, chapel. It is near it, but in quite another district, with a common between. Friends can help both, or either, and we shall be equally glad. Partiality might have made us wish to see our sons raise their amount first, but in the Lord’s work we know no such feeling.
We find that we have given offense by saying that there was no Baptist Church in Tooting. We really thought so, but we are informed that there is a small one, and therefore we heartily apologize to our brethren for
appearing to ignore them; for whatever their views, or however obscure the site of their chapel, we would not willfully overlook any member of the family. We have been through the little town scores of times, but have never seen the building: may Four friends increase and multiply, and come to the front. We ought to have a large and influential church in Tooting, where there are many Baptists who remain unattached, or travel for miles to worship, showing that they do not feel that they are provided for. A movement is on foot for a church of the same faith and order as that at the Tabernacle, and there is plenty of room.
June 11 — Our Almshouse Sunday School gave a tea to the parents. We are greatly gratified at the success of the many operations carried on in our Almshouse premises. The efforts there form an important branch of our work.
June 18. — At the prayer-meeting some of the preachers of the Baptist Country Mission gave accounts of their stewardship, which were particularly pleasing. Churches have been formed at Putney, Carshalton, Walthamstow, etc. We never attended a better meeting. Our young brethren visit villages and country towns near London and labor to raise new churches in them. One of them has already commenced in Tooting, of which we wrote in a former paragraph. These earnest evangelists are ready for more work. If they were informed of destitute suburbs, where a few resident helpers would throw in their strength, this society would soon
send a man to preach the gospel on the green, or in a room, and raise a Baptist Church. Address Mr. Bowker, Elder, Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington Butts.
The Tabernacle Evangelist’s Society is another organization altogether, which finds speakers for special services in London, and works in connection with the churches. Thus much good is done in co-operation with settled agencies. Mr. Elvin, the secretary, may be addressed at the Tabernacle. His workers do not restrict themselves to any denomination, but are willing to aid all pastors who are willing to accept their help for a short series of meetings. Besides this they carry on open-air preaching and lodging-house visitation.
Mrs. Spurgeon,’s Book Fund is rich in opportunities for doing good, but it is very poorly off as to the means of meeting those opportunities. A fine vein of Primitive Methodist applicants has been opened, and very large numbers of books have been sent out; but it does not happen that any wealthy Primitive has been eager to contribute. Our dear suffering one never doubts that the Lord will send in what he intends her to send out, but requests from needy pastors are very numerous and urgent, and she hopes that she will not have to say them nay. Many needy preachers in Ireland are now applying, and it is important that they should be supplied: but where are the means? Our beloved begged us to express her thanks for valuable books to Mr. Hodge and Mr. Gibson, of Glasgow, and to Dr. Carson and Mr. Robert Haldane, and others; but, alas! ere we can thank Mr. Haldane our Lord has called him home. One of his last acts was to send Mrs.
Spurgeon a number of the works of the famous Mr. Haldane.
June 19 — This was a very happy day for the friends of the Orphanage who were able to gather to the fete, but most of all for the Pastor, whose forty-third birthday was thus celebrated. Nearly 3000 persons in all came to the Orphanage grounds, and all seemed delighted, and especially were all unanimous in congratulating the Pastor, who was overwhelmed with their love. The sermon in the afternoon was from Genesis 30:27: “I pray thee, if I have found favor in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake; “‘ and the Pastor dwelt upon the fact that he had received countless blessings through his faithful people, and he hoped that they would all continue with him for many a year to come. The Public Meeting in the evening was held in the open air, and was enthusiastic throughout. Our good friend Thomas Blake, Esq., M.P.,
C.H.S. mentioned that he had that morning received 71 letters of
congratulation, all containing help for the Orphanage, amounting to about
£70, together with £43 from a friend, to tally with the number of his years, and the same from a trustee. To all these thoughtful friends he tendered his warmest gratitude. He also mentioned that no praise whatever was due to himself in managing the Orphanage, but to his beloved brother and the other trustees who so regularly conduct the business, and to Mr. Charles- worth and the very efficient staff who do the actual work. All glory is due to God, but it is right that any need of honor given to men should be justly distributed. The Orphanage is so well conducted by its officers as to cost its President the minimum of care.
On the fete day the public saw for the first time the very handsome fountain presented to the Orphanage by our esteemed friend Mr. B. Vickery. It is a very useful present, and an enduring memorial of his deceased wife. We thank the donor in the name of the trustees, but more especially on the behalf of the two hundred and forty thirsty boys, who appreciate it much during the hot weather.
Thanks are, due to Mr. Murrell and the friends who helped to refresh the vast assembly. So admirable were the arrangements that there was no inconvenience experienced by a single person, so far as we could learn, but
“all went merry as a marriage bell.” God was very gracious in sending so fine a day, and our friends in their thousands not only enjoyed themselves, but one another. They little know the thought and labor which was
expended to carry out such a day’s proceedings: our invaluable deacon, Mr. Murrell, labored like twenty men rolled into one; and his staff of helpers seemed fired by his example. We cannot tell the exact net proceeds of the day, but they cannot be much under £400. The small bazaar realized a nice little sum, but if more friends would send us goods somewhere near the time we could largely increase the income from this department. All sorts of things can be sold, especially useful articles, and those Who cannot afford money might help us in this way. We notice in the auditing of the accounts that our subscriptions were less last year than the year before.
Friends will not allow any failing off — will they? Our heart is cheered, and we begin another year of our life with more pleasure than we can express.
Yet earnestly do we thank our kind friends, the best any man ever had.
More solemnly do we bless the Lord who has dealt so graciously with us, and will do so evermore.
The churches at Walworth Road Chapel and Park Road, Peckham, have both made collections for the Orphanage without being solicited, to do so;
we are greatly gratified by this unsolicited kindness.
Mr. Cuff wishes us to report progress with regard to the Shoreditch
Tabernacle, which is so greatly needed. He has obtained promises of £6000 out of £8000 which he desires to raise this year. He has heavy work before him: he has to build an immense house for a poor people, in a poor
neighborhood, and unless wealthy friends from other regions help again and again the work will hardly be accomplished. It is to be done, and will be done, the Lord being our friend’s. helper.
Our short article upon the Confessional has gone the round of the papers, and we are glad it should. The more that detest. able matter is looked into the better — it is so filthy a business that no decent person could write the whole of what he knows about it: it ought not to be tolerated in civilized society. The questions which we have read with our own eyes fastened up inside the confessional boxes in Italy were so loathsome that we would not like to give a hint as to their subjects. Anglican confession shows strong leanings towards the same putridity. If we must have an Established
Church we hope our spiritual pastors and roadsters will keep their house as sweet as they can, for at present there is an odor of something rather high.
Parents write to us about children decoyed by Popish devices, and we are grieved that families should be liable to such invasions; but, whatever we may have to put up with from Romish priests, there can be no reason why we should breed a second set of these creatures inside the church which the nation favors with its partialities.