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36. He loves all men as himself, yet hates some men with perfect hatred.

37. He desires to have more grace then any hath in the world, yet he is truly sorry when he sees any man have less then himself.

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38. He knows no man after the flesh, yet gives to all men their due respects. 39. He knows, if he please men he is not the servant of Christ; yet for Christ's sake he pleases all men in all things.

40. He is a peacemaker, yet continually fighting, and an irreconcilable enemy.

41. He believes him to be worse than

an Infidel that provides not for his family, yet he himself lives and dies without care.

42. He is severe to his children, because he loves them; and being favourable to his enemies, revenges himself upon them.

43. He accounts all his inferiors his fellows, yet stands strictly upon his authority.

44. He believes the Angels to be more excellent creatures than himself, and yet counts them his servants.

45. He believes he receives many good turns by their means, yet he never praies their assistance, nor craves their prayers, nor offers them thanks, which yet he doth not disdain to do to the meanest Christian.

46. He believes himself a King, how mean soever he be, and how great soever he be, that he is not too good to be servant to the poorest Saint.

47. He is often in prison, yet alwayes at liberty, and a free-man though a

servant.

48. He receives not honour from men, yet highly prizes a good name.

49. He believes God hath bidden every man that doth him any good, to do so; yet he of any man is the most thankfull to them that do ought for him.

50. He would lay down his life to save the soul of his enemy; yet will not venture upon one sin to save his life that hath saved his.

51. He swears to his own hinderance and changes not; yet knows, that his mouth cannot tie him to sin.

52. He believes Christ to have no need of anything he doth, yet makes account he relieves Christ in all his deeds of charity.

53. He knows he can do nothing of himself, yet labours to work out his own salvation.

54. He confesses he can do nothing; yet as truly professes he can do all things.

55. He knows that flesh and bloud shall not inherit the Kingdom of God: yet believes he shall go to heaven body and soul.

56. He trembles at God's Word, yet counts it sweeter to him then the honey and the honey-comb, and dearer then thousands of gold and silver.

57. He beleeves that God will never damn him; and yet he fears him for being able to cast him into hell.

58. He knows he shall not be saved by his works, and yet doth all the good works he can, and believes he shall not be saved without them.

59. He knows God's providence orders all things; yet is he so diligent in his businesse, as if he were to cut out his own fortune.

60. He believes before-hand God hath purposed what shall be; and that nothing can make him alter his purpose; yet prayes and endeavours, as if he would force God to satisfie him however.

61. He praies and labours for what he believes God means to give him, and the more assured he is, the more earnest.

62. He praies for that he knoweth he shall not obtain, and yet gives not

over.

63. He praies and labours for that, which he knows he may be no less happy without.

64. He praies with all his heart not to be led into temptation, yet rejoyces when he is fallen into it.

65. He believes his prayers to be heard, even when they are denied, and gives thanks for that which he praied against.

66. He hath within him the flesh and the spirit; yet is not a double-minded

man.

67. He is often led away captive by the law of sin, yet it never gets the dominion over him.

68. He cannot sinne, yet he can do nothing without sin.

69. He can do nothing against his will; yet he doth what he would not.

70. He wavers and doubts, and yet obtains; he is often tossed and shaken, and yet like mount Zion.

71. He is a Serpent and a Dove, a Lamb and a Lion, a Reed and a Cedar.

72. He is sometimes so troubled, that he thinks nothing is true in Religion; and yet if he did think so, he could not be at all troubled.

73. He thinks sometimes that God hath no mercy for him, and yet resolves to die in the pursuit of it.

74. He believes, like Abraham, in hope and against hope: and though he can never answer God's Logick, yet with the woman of Canaan he hopes to prevail with the Rhetorick of importunity.

75. He wrestles with God and prevails; and though yielding himself unworthy the least blessing he enjoyes already yet, Jacob-like, will not let God go without a new blessing.

76. He sometimes thinks himself to have no grace at all; and yet how poor and afflicted soever he be besides, he would not change conditions with the most prosperous upon earth, that is a manifest worldling.

77. He thinks sometimes the Ordinances of God do him no good at all, and yet he would rather part with his life than be deprived of them.

78. He was born dead, and yet so, as it had been murther to have taken his life away.

79. When life was first put into him, is commonly unknown; and with some, not untill they had learned to speak, and were even grown up to the stature of a man; and with others, not till they were ready to drop into their graves for age.

80. After he begins to live he is ever dying; and though he have an eternal life begun in him, yet he makes account he hath a death to pass through.

81. He counts self-murder a most hainous sin, yet he is continually busied in crucifying his flesh, and putting to death his earthly members.

82. He believes that his soul and body shall be as full of glory as theirs that have more, and not more full then theirs that have lesse.

83. He lives invisibly to those that see him, and those that knowe him best, doe but guesse at him; yet they sometimes see further into him, and judge more truly of him than himself doth.

84. The world did sometimes count him a Saint, when God counted him an hypocrite; and after, when the world branded him for an hypocrite, God owned him for a Saint.

85. In fine, his death makes not an end of him: his soul, which was created for his body, and is not to be perfected without his body, is more happy when it is separated from it, then it was all the while it was united to it: and his body, though torn in pieces, burnt to ashes, ground to pouder, turned into rottennesse, shall be no loser: His Advocate, his Surety, shall be his Judge; his mortal part shall become immortall and what was sown in corruption, shall be raised in incorruption and glory; and his spirituall part, though it had a beginning, shall have no end; and himself a finite creature, shall be possessed of an infinite happinesse. Amen.

Our United Meetings during the leek of Prayer.

A

BY ONE WHO WAS PRESENT.

WEEK of prayer. The best pos- | sible beginning for a new year. So thought the ministers associated for prayer and mutual edification, and therefore they agreed to call their people together for united prayer.

The Central Meeting of the Churches was held at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, on Monday, January 2nd. The pastors met at three for prayer and consultation; and they were joined, at five, by about one hundred elders and

deacons, who continued in prayer to God until the hour for the public meeting. The spirit pervading these devotions gave promise of a blessed gathering in the evening.

At seven about six thousand persons were assembled in the Tabernacle-probably the largest number of believers ever found together under one roof for prayer. Fully to characterize this meeting would be impossible. No pen could express the deep-thrilling

power
can only present a brief outline of the
proceedings.

which pervaded the assembly. We | his gaze; that all the evil in them might

The meeting was conducted by C. H. Spurgeon. The guiding hand of the Holy Ghost was manifest in the wisdom shown in the brief and suggestive remarks made in reference to the subjects and manner of the prayers. This must have been evident to all.

The brethren, Varley and F. White, pleaded with deep and fervent earnestness for blessings to be then and there vouchsafed by the God of all grace to his people; and for a genuine revival of all the Churches of God in the land. Simple, direct, earnest, reiterated, were the desires of these servants of Jesus; and most fervent was the response of the thousands of Christian hearts, which united, as the heart of one man, to bear up those desires to the throne of grace. Two elders (W. Olney and Bridge) then pleaded with God on behalf of the pastors and students; the lowly, loving, touching breathings of these brethren, moved and bowed down the hearts of all the pastors around them. Old and young alike felt that blessing must descend upon them in answer to such heartfelt Spirit-wrought desires as those which were being poured forth on their behalf. Would to God that all elders and deacons might thus ever deeply feel, and earnestly plead, for the pastors of the churches that the full power of the Holy Ghost may rest upon them. Those brethren who were present can testify that they never felt more solemnly the need and the value of such intercession. The responsibility, the trials, the necessities of God's servants, were made the subjects of most sincere supplication.

Next came a confession of sin, through Brother Offord, the oldest minister on the platform. For this solemn act the whole assembly was prepared by the blessing already granted and felt; for all hearts and spirits were bowed down in deep repentance. Many details of the failures and sins of ministers were spread before the face of God in the most solemn manner. Sins of omission and commission, neglect, and shortcomings, were acknowledged. Solemn, simple, earnest appeal was made to the eye of the heart-searching God, that his servants might wish to hide nothing from

be judged in his sight. And when the words "Lord it is I! it is I!" were uttered, many broke forth saying, "It is I! it is I!" The beloved pastor of the Tabernacle Church wept like a child, and sobbed aloud, while the brethren around could not restrain their weeping and groaning before God. Nor were the assembled elders less moved when their sins and shortcomings were solemnly and affectionately confessed unto the Lord, and when they, as men of like passions with their brethren, and of like necessities too, were borne into the presence of God, before the mercy seat, through Jesus. But it was when the sins of the people, the worldliness, the deadness, the lack of love to brethren and to souls, and especially the want of love to Jesus and the consequent grieving of the Holy Ghost; it was when these were in lowly, broken sentences, named before the great Father of All, that hearts seemed to be melted into one universal feeling of grief, and to bow in the dust in one solemn act of self-abasement. It was wont to be said of old time, that he had never seen sorrow who had not beheld the sorrow of Israel on the great day of atonement; and, verily, many who were present on that night, felt that they had never before seen such real, awful, general grief as that which rolled over the spirits of that vast assembly. God, the Holy God, was there, and his people had a sight of themselves, and of their ways, in the very light of his holiness; and each took the place of the patriarch, saying, "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeeth thee; wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." It was a solemn moment when the voice ceased, and all bowed in the silence of their souls' agony before the holy God.

Great, indeed, was the relief, and calm the peace which followed the sweet words uttered by Mr. Spurgeon:

"There is a fountain filled with blood." Never were the first two verses of this sung with more genuine and feeling, or by more grateful Never were the words,

hymn
blessed
hearts.

"I do believe, I will believe,
That Jesus died for me "

more sincerely and earnestly spoken by a multitude of mortal men, than on that occasion.

The time was now come for a few solemn words to the host of believers present; and the spirit of the pastor of the Tabernacle Church could no longer restrain its pent-up feelings. An earnest, loving, impassioned appeal broke from his lips. He led the hearts of the people into the depths of God's everlasting love, and appealed to them as to what sort of persons men so loved ought to be. He gave forth a few burning words on the precious redeeming blood of Jesus, enquiring what manner of men they ought to be who knew themselves to be so redeemed? He pressed upon every conscience the great truth, that each loved and blood-bought saint is a temple of the Holy Ghost-the indwelling Spirit of God; and earnestly showed how holiness became the dwelling-place of the Lord; and he directed the hearts and hopes of God's children to the home in the Father's house, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and asked what manner of men its denizens ought to be? And then came the searching, thrilling, humbling question, have we, have I, have any of us, ever lived as it becometh those to live who have been loved of God with a sovereign and gracious love from eternity? Have any of us ever lived as it becomes men to live, who have been in very deed redeemed from wrath by the blood of God's own Son, as it becomes men to live, in whom the Holy Ghost doth in very deed dwell, and who are destined to dwell with God and his Christ for ever? Many hearts will never forget these questions; strong men could not restrain the audible "Never! never! have we so lived;" while the deeply-moved heart of the great congregation gave forth the silent response that each and all were verily guilty before God. The power of the Almighty Spirit carried home those questions to the inner life of that great Christian gathering; and the grace of that same Holy One stirred the heavenly affections of that life with feelings of deepest humiliation before its great

author.

A humble, fervent prayer, by Pastor Cole, for the up-lifting and revival of

all believers, followed this appeal, the Spirit leading the speaker to dwell upon the precious truths which had been laid upon the hearts of the meeting, and to supplicate that God would enable his people thenceforth to realise them in the fulness of their power. The universal response which followed these pleadings with God told how deeply the blessings sought were desired by all.

The time had now arrived for an address to the unconverted. At the suggestion of Mr. Spurgeon, three minutes were spent in silence by believers in pleadings for their fellow sinners, and that Mr. Öfford might be aided to bear God's message to them, as directly as he had been enabled to lay their confessions before God. In answer to prayer, our beloved brother was enabled to set forth the glories of heaven in a most delightful manner, so that many who had been hitherto careless, felt a desire after that goodly land; then came the warning that no defiling thing can enter there, and the simple, earnest, instructive, and touching story of the way by which the sinner may be cleansed from all defilement and made to stand accepted in the Beloved. Every word was clothed with power, we all felt that the speaker's lips had been touched with a living altar-coal, and we sat wondering at the power of God, and expecting great results.

All the Christians present expressed their hearty desire that their fellow-men might receive God's mercy in Christ, by singing certain verses each ending with the words,

"Come and welcome sinner come."

These words could not but fall with thrilling power upon many hearts.

These

The earnest work of supplication was ended by Pastors Stott and C. H. Spurgeon pleading with God for anxious and careless souls present. Each plea seemed to go straight to the throne of grace, while numbers felt that such prayer must be and was accepted. prayers, like all the others, as well as the confession, were evidently the result of a resistless power, moving the hearts of speakers and hearers, animating them with deep and earnest desire, and working in them a simple and mighty faith, that must surely prevail with him who said, "According to thy faith be it unto

G

thee," and, "all things are possible to him | ing was already richly descending amongst that believeth." This is the Lord's the people. doing and it is marvellous in our eyes. Who shall tell what blessing may grow out of this wonderful display of the grace of our God! May he grant us to see yet greater things than these!

After an announcement that another central meeting will be held on the first Monday in February, a number of Christians retired into a room below with many anxious ones, several of whom received peace with God through faith in the precious Saviour. Many of these have since been seen by Mr. Spurgeon, who tells us that he conversed personally with no less than seventy-five enquirers in one day subsequent to the meeting. We hope "The Sword and Trowel" will chronicle many blessed items of saving results.

Pastor Russell made a detailed confession of the sins of ministers, elders, teachers, parents and children, which were acknowledged in a calm, humble, and earnest spirit of self-abasement before the Lord. A watchful and holy jealousy as to the inward thoughts, feelings, and motives of the heart on the part of the ministers of God was evidenced in this heartfelt confession. No servant of the Lord could fail to lay his spirit in the dust as he listened to the simple and affecting statements of his fellow-servant, while thus pouring out the deep feelings of a stricken heart into the bosom of his God. No one could resist the conviction that he stood in the presence of the Holy One, and yet of One who was waiting to be gracious, On Tuesday, at Palace Gardens and ready to forgive. Fervent and Chapel, Notting Hill, the results were importunate supplication for a sense of not so marked and singular, but still pardoning love and the cleansing effi"the Lord was there," and much wrest-cacy of the precious blood, followed ling believing prayer was offered. To this confession. some brethren there appeared to be even more power in the meeting, than on the previous evening; but it wrought in another manner, and was felt to be rather as the descent of the dove of peace, than of the tongues of fire and rushing mighty wind. Brother Offord was again mighty in confession, and seemed to be in a state of conscious personal humiliation, which, while it may have marred his own comfort, we felt to be a needful preparation for the other and larger meetings of the week. C. H. Spurgeon was again zealous with believers, and told the story of his own conversion as a comfort to seeking sinners. The brethren pleading were not suffered to approach the Lord alone, the people evidently went with

them.

The meeting on Wednesday evening, at Providence Chapel, Shoreditch, was very full. The prayers offered by the elders of the Churches for the revival of the Lord's work amongst them, were most fervent and solemn. Pastors, elders, and people, were borne upon the hearts of these earnest men into the presence of God with a lowly, reverential and confiding faith. Great oneness of spirit pervaded the assembly as these supplications went up to the throne of grace, while very many felt that bless

C. H. Spurgeon earnestly exhorted those who had accepted Christ as their Saviour to come forward amongst his people and avow their attachment to his

person and name. Words of kindly encouragement and of loving persuasiveness, were addressed to the timid and retiring ones, who feared to avow themselves to be the Lord's, lest they should fall back into sin and dishonour his name. This was followed by an appeal to those who had confessed the name of Jesus--an appeal of so stirring and searching a nature, that many must have felt constrained to say, "Lord what wilt thou have me to do?" Prayer for more earnest living, abiding, practical godliness, followed this address.

Several brethren having pleaded with God on behalf of the unconverted, with fervency seldom equalled, Mr. Offord proceeded to set before them the way of access to God through the blood of Christ. The Lord gave him the heart of love and the lip of persuasion. He told of the awful distance and of the divine method of being made nigh. Substitution and sacrifice were his delightful theme, and when he closed with a most affecting story of an aged sinner who laid his finger on the words, "The blood of Jesus Christ, his Son,

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