Precious Faith” (sermon by Thomas Spurgeon) The Best Conduct Towards Unbrotherly Brethren Much Ado About Nothing. If this thing goes on, the prospect for those who indulge therein is none of the brightest;.
H. SPURGEON
It is a great enterprise — read our shilling “History of the Tabernacle” and see for yourself — and it needs many helpers.
THE SWORD AND THE TROWEL
A NEW YEARS WISH
My God will fill up to the brim all your needs, according to the riches of his glory by Christ Jesus. Now, according to his riches in glory, he will supply all your needs After that, dare you despond.
IT IS A QUESTION WHETHER WE SHALL ALL GO TO HEAVEN
GRACE SHOULD PERMEATE THE ENTIRE MAN
HOW THE BOOK FUND PROSPERS
Just think of the dear little children patiently lying in bed while their scanty clothing was being washed. The postage of the many letters written is more than covered by a donation of £610 from my beloved husband.
THE SCHOOL BOARD VICTORY
The Stockwell Orphanage is another, outcome of the Christian zeal of the Metropolitan Tabernacle congregation. He has a voice that, without straining, makes itself heard through every part of the Tabernacle.
FALSE CONVERSIONS
The true way to serve the Lord in the common acts of life,” said Charles Spurgeon on the occasion referred to, “is to perform them as unto Himself; and this can be done with everything which it is lawful to do. Of heaven it is written, ‘I saw no temple therein,’ and we get nearest to the heavenly state when all superstitious notions about sacred places and sacred substances shall be swept away once for all.
NOTES
The amount raised during the day was £500, and the giving and hearing were of the most enthusiastic order. Rogers, “the old man eloquent,” will probably abide in the memories of all present for many a year to come.
TO SEEK AND TO SAVE THAT WHICH WAS LOST
But we have wandered very far away, and are hidden in the wilds of the far country. Never was any body of workers so hearty, so unanimous, in the work of the Lord.
SCALES TAKEN FROM THE EYES
He had divine authority; the Lord had given him a search-warrant, and so he entered the house. Dear friend, if the Lord opens your eyes, you will see the brotherhood of Christians.
THE TWO DOORS
He whom I preach to you to-night will shortly come to be your Judge; and if you will not trust, him, on his cross, you must tremble before him on his throne.
NOTES OF THE EDITORS TRIP TO MENTONE
We almost dreamed, there of the unclouded skies where the weary are eternally at rest. On we went till the blue waters of the Mediterranean informed us that the day’s journey was nearly over, and we were near the city of Marseilles. Schools of the prophets are a prime necessary if the power of religion is to be kept alive and propagated in the land.
LETTER FROM MR. SPURGEON
Thus did Honorat and Columba in the olden time, and so did Wycliffe and Luther and Calvin in the Reformation times, train the armies of the Lord for their mission. Our children are growing up around us, our great city is daily adding to its enormous bulk, and our cemeteries are being gorged with the dead; so long as one soul remained unsaved and in danger of the unquenchable fire, it behoves every Christian to be diligent to spread abroad the healing savor of the Redeemer’s name. Persevering, quiet believers, who in secret implore the divine blessing, and then regularly give their aid to the continuous worship, service, and intercession of the church, are the strength of the brotherhood, the main body of the hosts of the Lord.
A CHURCH WE KNOW OF
The brethren, as one man, put their necks to the work of the Lord, and labored, with double diligence. Beloved leaders were to the front, but there was, no lack of the rank and file. Where the work of the Lord is official business, and the members find little else to do except to gossip, dispute, and quarrel, can the Holy Spirit dwell with them.
THE PALM TREE
In Kirby’s “Chapters on Trees” we read, “The blessings of the date palm are without limit to the Arab. It is called the milk of the palm tree, and by fermentation it becomes wine. Each successive produce of the tree both prepares for a greater, and leaves like the palm a permanent step in the ladder by which we may reach the ample fruit, all the past a handmaid to the future.”.
THE STAGE
A NEW VERSION OF AN OLD HYMN
As to the unbelieving business, my brethren, I bear my witness that the preaching of the gospel confronts it well. They are still children, and have need to be told the A B C of the gospel of Christ. I need scarcely add to you, brethren, that we must be more and more simple and clear in the preaching of the gospel.
ADVERTISING FOR THE DEVIL
Be on fire within yourselves with perfect consecration to God, and then you will blaze in the pulpit. An earnest writer has well said: “Teachers have better work than to advertise the devil’s nostrums.” The best way, as a rule, to preach down error, is to preach up truth. Sow ‘the good seed of the kingdom’ in every spot of the ground, and you will choke out and keep out error by the presence of truth.
THE COLLEGE REPORT FOR 1876-77
It is the Lord’s doing that those doctrines have been preached by them with unexampled success, and in few, if in any, instances in vain. It is by confining themselves almost exclusively to the fundamental doctrines of the gospel that the students from this College have awakened unusual interest, and have been favored with unusual success. Where would the majority of the 380 men have been who have now successfully engaged, and some for many years, in the Christian ministry.
THE COLLEGE REPORT FOR 1876-7
We have a night school, which has done much to check the influence of the Conformists. We have no school-room, consequently the Sunday-school is compelled to be carried on in the chapel. We are worshipping until the new tabernacle is finished in the Wedgwood Institute, and can rejoice over increased congregations; our increase to church this year has been 18, and after deducting losses by death, dismission, etc., we have a clear gain of 13.
A THOUGHT FOR THE BELIEVER
The Australian brethren are doing well, and are not unmindful of “the old house at home.”. Satan may stand and howl for accusers, and say, “Come forth and accuse the child of God!” and you yourself may inwardly fear that they will come, and therefore you may put on your filthy garments, and go in before the great judge, and stand there like a wretched criminal about to be tried. I saw two men, yesterday, handcuffed and marched to the prison-van to be taken off to gaol.
THE CONFESSIONAL
In the barbarous days of the past a sour apple tree and a less tender tie would have been the reward of any man who tried to. Happily that period has passed away; but we hope that Paterfamilias will find gentle but equally efficacious ways of protecting the easily beguiled, and will in some way or other put an end to this very “tender tie” business. One of the best ways will be to refrain from entering Anglican mass-houses, and attending only at places where the gospel is preached without the admixture of popish rites.
THE REFINER’S FIRE
The College Conference, though a trying occasion to the President, who was incessantly occupied, was one of the most joyful seasons of our life. The author professes to be inspired as much as the penmen of the sacred oracles. James Wilson of our Kellogg has become pastor of the church at Shotley Bridge, Durham.
FEED MY SHEEP.”
Feed my sheep,’ ‘Feed my sheep,’ ‘Feed my sheep;’ three times I bid you do it, that you my continue in the work as long as you live, for thus will you have given proof of the reality of your affection for me.”. This feeding of the sheep is to the love which is the matter in question a sphere of communion. I have called them out of the world by victorious grace, will you feed them for me.
SOCIAL CONVERSE
I have loved them from before the foundation of the world; will you feed them for me. We are greatly gratified at the success of the many operations carried on in our Almshouse premises. Our short article upon the Confessional has gone the round of the papers, and we are glad it should.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE STOCKWELL ORPHANAGE
COOPER FORSTER, ESQ., F.R.C.S
O. H INCHLIFFE , ESQ
REPORT 1876-7
DOMESTIC
The general conduct of the boys is praiseworthy, and the moral tone prevailing is excellent. The Word of God is read and expounded, hymns sung, and prayer offered, and the whole of the boys repeat a text selected for the day. During the year several were admitted to the fellowship of the Church at the Tabernacle.
SANITARY
The work is of the Lord, and therefore the Lord’s people should help us in it Will it need much pleading. My dear Madam, — Most gratefully do beg to acknowledge the receipt of the four volumes Of the ‘Treasury of David.’ The gift, I can assure you, is a most acceptable one. But the fact becomes more and more evident to me every day that unless already possessed of the.
I NEVER CARED FOR THEIR SOULS.”
New friends, too, are cordially welcomed to cooperation in the blessed work, and every gift that comes for the Book Fund is offered to the Lord as a sacrifice of thanksgiving. So, for the next few months, dear friends, you may know that the “work of the Book Fund” will be in the full swing of business, and I pray you to remember that you can truly and tenderly help me by asking the Lord to set the seal of his blessing on every book sent out. But what am I saying, — how can you teach your child if you do not know the Lord Jesus yourself.
PULPITS. F6
A deep wooden pulpit of the old sort might well remind a minister of his mortality, for it is nothing but a coffin set on end: but on what rational ground do we bury our pastors alive. If any complaints are made of the hot-headedness of our ministers, it is readily to be accounted for, since the apparatus for the purpose is arranged with great care. Think of a minister of the gospel poising himself upon a hassock While he is preaching: a Boanerges and a Blondin in one person.
AN EARNEST WARNING AGAINST UNBELIEF
You have been present when the power of the Lord has swept through the audience as the wind sweeps through the forest, and breaks the cedars of Lebanon. They drank of the rock which followed them; and the manna, fell every morning fresh from heaven for them. Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to put away your wives,” said Jesus.
NOTICES OF BOOKS
To Sabbath-school teachers and junior students of the word of God these works will supply much important instruction. OUR two evangelists will use this collection of one hundred and forty hymns, and we hope others will use it too. FARMERS in Scotland are often well-read, literary men, and we suppose that along the Border there are more minor poets among them than in any other region.
