Trophies from Toowoomba. BY THOMAS SPURGEON AND JOHN MACPHERSON. OME of the noblest deeds are done in obscure places and by men are almost unknown, and many a work for Christ is truly great which has begun and spread in an isolated hamlet or up-country township. Such an one has lately come under my notice. At Toowoomba, one hundred miles from Brisbane, Pastor John Macpherson has been labouring for several years. He has from time to time received tokens for his encouragement; but latterly the blessing has been vouchsafed in larger measure. Years of patient plodding have not been spent in vain, and now the harvest time seems to have arrived. On every hand the fields look white, and some notorious sinners are enquiring the way to Zion. The township is stirred at last, and the whole neighbourhood seems awakened. The devil is very uneasy about it, and has tried to raise a persecution with some success. Not that the persecution has succeeded in staying the tide of blessing; it has rather increased it, and the black prince has had to gnash his teeth over the loss of some of his staunchest soldiers. These make the very best recruits for King Jesus, and Satan is well aware of that fact. The spleen of the ungodly is vented particularly against the ordinance of believers' baptism. Roman Catholics are very numerous in the township, and equally bigoted. At a baptismal service held recently in the public baths, the roughsLarrikins, we call them-created much disturbance, and have since broken some of the chapel windows. It needs not follow that because the animosity and opposition is manifest there must be real work going on; but such a conclusion is, in most instances, likely to be correct, and it certainly is so in this. The arch-enemy slumbers, or pretends to do so, when he is getting it all his own way; but he roars and raves when his territory is invaded. Early in September last Mr. Macpherson asked Brother John Downing (late of the Pastors' College) to come from Brisbane for special services at Toowoomba. On a Sunday, and on the four following evenings, Mr. Downing preached with much blessing. Some of the most rowdy of the Larrikins sought and found mercy, and many gave their hearts to Jesus. On the Thursday I was announced to preach in the Royal Assembly Rooms, and we had as many as six or seven hundred people from the town and neighbourhood. There were several anxious there, and Mr. M— has written me since, saying, "Your testimony in Toowoomba gave us a great lift. I may say we ascended up in a cloud and our enemies beheld us.' A great many have been moved to seek eternal life." Finding the work in this place so full of interest, I asked my friend to let me have an account of his labours for The Sword and the Trowel. In response to my request he very kindly sent me a few stories of conversions, which he desires me to rewrite. He seems to think his unvarnished tale not good enough. He says, "My poor attempt would never do. I like to see butter in a lordly dish, and apples of gold in pictures of silver." I feel, however, that I cannot materially alter his report. It is full of the earnest spirit of the man who wrote, and of the word on which he lives. May God bless his simple testimony to fellowlabourers, and especially to those who seek the Lord. The earnest labourer thus begins his story of the Lord's blessing : "When I came to Toowoomba, over five years ago, the spiritual condition of the people was very low, and the gospel little known. By hard, persevering labour a change for the better has come over many hearts and homes. The first addition to our little church was a German, who had lived a notoriously wicked life. He kept a drinking-shanty, and by his godless way of living had sunk into want and woe. It pleased God, however, to visit him with deep conviction of sin. He felt his need of a Saviour, and, after a desperate struggle, he laid hold on eternal life. in Christ Jesus. Since his conversion he has always manifested his gratitude to the Lord by seeking to bring others to the Saviour. He was the first of a little church meeting at Highfields, some twelve miles from Toowoomba, which now numbers twenty-eight members. The two following conversions are remarkable as showing how God is found of those who do not seek him. "A woman who was brought up in the Roman Catholic Church came to me in great distress, her chief trouble being a mistaken fear that she had not been legally married because the registrar had performed the ceremony. After some time she was convinced that she and her husband were as truly married as if all the priests and parsons in the colony had joined them together. Once clear of this unpardonable sin (as she thought it), her mind was open to receive the truth that the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.' Soon after this interview I called at her house, when a most beautiful sight met my eyes. The poor woman was on her knees with the Bible open before her, pouring out her heart in earnest prayer to God. The tears were streaming down her cheeks, and yet her face shone like an angel's. When her prayer was ended, I asked her what she had been asking for. In reply she pointed to John xiv. 16, 17, and her joy was full. This woman's husband was a drinking, swearing, fighting sinner. On his own confession he had lived for twelve years an utterly godless life. On one occasion he had actually attempted to end his wretched existence by lying across the rails. But God, who is rich in mercy, was determined to save him, and the conversion of his wife was the first means used. He was angry at first, then conviction came. He went about seeking rest and finding none, till one day his little girl put a school card into his hand. The text on it was, 'All things work together for good to them that love God.' He read the card, but at the time felt no impression from the words. Presently he met an old mate who told him of the happy change he had experienced through believing in Jesus. This man's story over, they parted, and then the words of the text recurred to the awakened sinner's memory. He seemed to realize that the Saviour he had rejected was before him, and there and then he believed on the Son of God and found life and peace. He became filled with zeal and love, and was known all over the town as mad G. So anxious was he for the conversion of souls that he would let no one pass him without telling of the love of Christ. The Lord is still giving him grace to testify for him, and his love for souls is consuming his poor body. Is not this a brand plucked from the burning?'" "T. J's. conversion was very remarkable. He had lived a worthless life, and at the time of conviction was under the influence of drink. On the very night he was led to our meeting he had lifted a stone to knock the life out of a publican, but grace prevented him, and God knocked the stone out of his heart instead. The kindness he received from us led him to see that we possessed something he knew nothing of. From that night a struggle commenced in his mind, and eventually he looked to the wounds of Jesus and gained the victory over sin. No sooner was he acquainted with the way of salvation than he began to warn his companions of their danger, and begged them to join him on the way to heaven. An excellent example this for all young converts! "Lately his poor mother died, and many of her friends came to see her mortal remains before the coffin lid was closed. This was too good an opportunity for Ted to let pass. I happened to go in when the house was full of people. Ted was standing at the head of his mother's coffin, preaching Jesus and eternal life through his blood. You see,' said he, the dead flesh of my mother; but where is her poor soul? and where would your soul be if your body were in this coffin?' Then he went on for half an hour speaking of death, judgment, and eternity, and of life, peace and heaven. He would break out now and then with such an expression as this: Will you not come to Jesus? will you not come to the lovely Jesus ?'” Reader, has the blessed Saviour made you a partaker of his great salvation? Then "Tell to guilty sinners round What a dear Saviour you have found: And say, 'Behold the way to God.'" Ted has been the means of blessing to a jockey on the race-course who was a Roman Catholic. This young man has had to suffer much in breaking away from his old associations; but God has given him grace equal to his day, and has made him bold for Jesus. "The story of E.'s conversion is very interesting and stimulating, affording, as it does, a wonderful instance of Christian patience and fortitude. This little girl's father and mother are High Church people, and are full of enmity against the Baptists. I first met E. in the house of one of our sisters, and then and there I told her of her sinful nature, and of Jesus who died to put away the sins of all who trust him. The good Lord was pleased to own this testimony to the salvation of her soul, and immediately her trials commenced. Her parents warned her against attending any of our meetings, and, by the advice of the clergyman, took her Bible from her. I gave her a Testament, and told her to hide it in her heart by reading and learning its precious truths. Through reading the Word her desire to confess Christ became so strong that, in spite of threatening, she came to our church-meeting and asked permission to give her testimony, in order to baptism. Before the meeting was over she was removed and taken back home, and the next day a notice appeared in the papers warning any who gave her shelter in their houses. This, of course, had no effect on members of a church famous for sheltering orphans and outcasts. Her parents having cast her out we received her gladly, and urged her to be steadfast in the faith. In the meantime her father was sent for, and, having journeyed six hundred miles, entered a meeting which Mr. Downing was conducting, and took his daughter out: since then she has been kept a prisoner in the house; the parents know not what to do with her, and we are praying the Lord to have mercy on the whole family.” "The heavenly blessing has fallen on the aged, too. An old couple, living out of the town, had not seen the inside of a chapel for thirty years, nor read the Bible for almost as many. They are now converted, and rejoice in the Word as their daily bread." "Labour for the Lord in the bush is very encouraging, although much discomfort is incurred for want of comfortable lodging at night. I have often to lie down with many of those little jumping cattle, which are more lively than lovely. In perils of these robbers is one of my greatest trials in my bush work; but it must be cheerfully endured for Christ's sake and the gospel's. Otherwise the country work is most enjoyable. Some time ago I held a meeting in the wild bush, or scrub, as we call it, at which over one hundred and fifty people attended, many being Germans. We assembled in the open air at three o'clock in the afternoon and held service till dark, when we adjourned to our little chapel, which could accommodate only half the people. Here we sang and preached and prayed in German and English until twelve o'clock, when I closed the meeting. After some refreshment I returned to the chapel and found the people as fervent as ever. The Spirit of God began to work mightily, and we continued pointing the anxious to the Saviour till three o'clock in the morning, and finished by singing Ring the bells of heaven.' The Philippian jailer will never forget the night when the foundations of the prison were shaken, and I am confident some souls will always remember with great joy that midnight meeting in the bush. Many could say in remembrance of that time of refreshing 'So great was the change I experienced within I scarce could believe it was true. Such love to my God, such hatred of sin, My soul till that hour never knew.' I Our brother could tell of many more equally interesting cases. pray they may not only interest my readers, but incite them to work for Jesus. The simple testimony is sure to tell, and the humblest work is honourable. Will you pray for this faithful servant, and he may yet have to tell of still greater blessing. ["Dear Father,-Could you insert foot note something as below, or intimate that you would forward sums, and certain readers might be moved to help. As you like about it, of course. With best love, 66 Son TOM." Certainly, dear son, I will let you speak for yourself.-C. H. S.” "The little church at Toowoomba is very poor, and help is much needed in some of the bush districts. I am sure any money sent would be well expended. P.O.O. to John Macpherson, Toowoomba, Queensland, would greatly rejoice his heart and be a pleasant surprise."] Christ as a Substitute. BY J. P. WIGSTONE, MISSIONARY IN SPAIN. N the Estudiante, a bi-weekly newspaper of Pontevedra, Spain, for 66 agency for substitutes established, which has been now in action during the course of twelve years. This agency to-day, having a great number of substitutes at its disposal, offers them to the public. They are warranted, and to be had at a cheap rate." Such advertisements I have often seen in the Spanish newspapers. Sometimes substitutes are advertized as wanted; and sometimes, as in the above, substitutes are offered. You may be as curious as I used to be to know what it means, and I am going to tell you. Spanish youths, with certain exceptions, after a certain age, are obliged to undergo a term of military service. When a certain number of recruits are needed, those who have arrived at the eligible age present themselves at the place the government may appoint, and lots are drawn until the necessary number has been made up. Those drawn are drilled, distributed over the peninsula, or sent abroad; and, if war arise, of course they must face the enemy. "But what has this to do with us?" A great deal. 1. Let me tell you that we are all at the disposal of God, and drawn for a terrible fate. My friend, the lot has been already drawn, and you are exposed to the wrath of God. "Condemned already," you are cursed; your lot is the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Mark you, the whole thing about you is settled according to law; for "cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them." To be exposed to the guns blazing away in the line of battle is bad, but not to be compared with being eternally tormented in the flames of hell. If you considered this seriously, it is almost enough to drive you mad. 2. About a substitute. One is not surprised that in Spain a number of very poor men, in time of peace, should offer themselves as substitutes for others, nor that the firm we quote should be able to advertise a great number of substitutes; but is there any possibility for a sinner under sentence of eternal death to find a substitute? Who will go for us? Is there any one who will stand instead of me, and bear my curse! Can there be any volunteer to bear hell's torments for my sins? Yes, there is. Wonder of wonders! Jesus Christ, the Son of God, offers to be made a curse for us. to satisfy the justice of God, to take every blow the law can inflict, to exhaust for us our hell. 3. But wait a moment. Is this substitution admissible? Your Majesty, Don Alphonso XII., King of Spain, deign, we pray you, to tell us,-Do your Majesty's laws allow that one man should stand for life or death in the place of another? The substitute being approved, his Spanish Majesty has no objection; and what Spaniard needing a substitute will quarrel with the law concerning substitution? But, oh, thou, the most just and holy King of heaven and earth, wilt thou admit of a substitute for men? wilt thou accept of thy holy Son, the Lord |