Εικόνες σελίδας
PDF
Ηλεκτρ. έκδοση

Gems from Golden Mines.

GOD'S LOVE TO US.

I HAVE loved you with an everlasting love" (Jer. xxxi. 5). God has not waited for us to be something before loving us. Before all the ages, before we had a being, he thought of us, and only to do us good; that which he thought in eternity, he has done in time. His beneficent hand has bestowed on us all kinds of good; our very unfaithfulness, our ingratitude, almost as abundant as his favours, have not dried up the fountain of his gifts, nor arrested the current of his favours. Oh, love without beginning, which hast loved me during infinite ages, and when I could not know nor feel it! Oh, love without bounds, which hast made me what I am, which hast given me what I have, and which dost promise me infinitely more! Oh, love without interruption or incon

stancy, which all the bitter floods of my iniquities have not been able to quench! Have I a heart, O my God? Can I fail to be penetrated with tender gratitude to thee?

But what do I see? A God who gives himself, after having given everything besides; a God who comes to seek me, even in the abyss of nothingness, for sin has plunged me even so low; a God who takes on him the form of a slave, to rescue me from slavery; a God who becomes poor to make me rich; a God who calls me, and pursues me when I flee; a God who expires in torments to snatch me from the arms of death, and restore me to a blessed life; and yet I often want neither him nor the life he offers! What would be thought of a man who should love as God loves us? And what anathemas are due to him who will not love the Lord Jesus!-Fenelon.

Our Missions.

HINDOO CONVERTS IN THE

HOUR OF DEATH.

THE transition of a Hindoo from heathenism to the Church of Christ is always attended with more or less suffering. In the estimation of his countrymen he becomes an outcast. They will not eat with him; they refuse to sit on the same mat, or to dwell under the same roof. If rich, he is at once cut off from the family inheritance; and if poor, he is excluded from many callings by which a living may be earned. After his baptism, he is continually tempted to renounce his faith, and to return to the circle of home from which his Christianity has excluded him. Throughout his entire career he is

subject to many trials, and has to realize the full truth of the Apostle's words, that it is through much tribulation we must enter the kingdom of God.

It is cause for thankfulness, that but few Hindoo converts are found unfaithful, or return to the idolatry from which they have been rescued. With varying consistency they adhere to the Gospel; the greater part die after lives of devotedness to the Saviour, testifying in their death to his grace and love. The Rev. T. C. Page, of Barisal, has furnished us with some striking examples, and we are sure our readers will be pleased to peruse them. Of the first two here mentioned, he gave some interesting facts when in this country. Since his re

turn they have entered into their rest. He relates their deaths, as follows:

66

KANGALEE, the first of the converts, has at last realized his strongest desire. Many will remember the admiring yet homely words in which he once spoke to a native preacher about his own wife. When the conversation turned to re-union in heaven, and it was suggested that Kangalee would be so happy there with his wife, Brother,' he burst out, if ever I get to heaven, I shall behold a face of such surpassing beauty and glory there that I shall lose my sight, and be blind to Kangaleenee!' He had been long ailing in health; many cares had pressed hard on him; his neighbours had added to his troubles; and it seemed for the moment as though he was becoming unsettled in his last days. It was not so, however. He retired with his family into a more secluded part of the swamps, just to spend what he felt were his last days in peace. The 9th and 10th of August I had him with me [not far from his new home, and was delighted to find the dear old man true to the last; Jesus Christ was still all in all to him. I had arranged to remove him to a healthy part of the country, where, his son being with him, the family could be more useful to others, and better off themselves. The prospect much pleased him; but a little after he sickened again, became worse and worse, sent for his nearest brethren, took leave of all, and quietly passed away as others prayed for him, and as he himself was committing his spirit into his Redeemer's hands.

66

BOLORAM, another of the old people, has finished his course in peace. In younger days he was a well-to-do Hindoo, and used to have poojas annually performed in his house. Latterly he became very skilful in the use of the club, and acquired both lands and influence thereby, for the Zemindars pet and reward such a man. But the religion of Jesus stopped the poojas, and sent away the Brahmins, and put far away the club from Boloram's house. He was baptized in the faith, and for eighteen years never to my knowledge

was even censured by the little church at Ambolya. He was a calm, stable, consistent Christian, of few words but of right deeds, respected by all the Christian community. He was taken very ill of fever soon after I had seen a good deal of him in his own village. He made up his mind to the worst, and set his house in order. He spent his last days in prayer and conversation with the preacher and other brethren, and died fixedly looking to Christ. I am told that the Hindoos and Mohammedans of Ambolya flocked to his burial, and thus showed their respect of the man and the Christian. Only once before the like thing was witnessed, when the goldsmith preacher, Boikoontho the beloved, was carried to his grave.

"RAYCHAND was an idle, wicked va gabond years back. He came among the Christians of Sooagaon, and married and settled down. Some time after I baptized him; then his character month by month afforded us more and more satisfaction; he came to be regarded as one of the best-conducted of the community, humble and peaceable. Last cold weather he was seized with cholera. His struggles with the disease and his sufferings were very severe and prolonged. When first attacked with disease his courage failed him for awhile. The faithful creature Sookheram found him in tears and in despair (no new experience of the humble believer), and commenced to read with him of Christ, and to pray with him, and he then asked Raychand to pray after him. The dying man lifted up his hands to heaven, and now prayed in a feeble voice to his God and Saviour. From this moment he seemed to have gained direct access to Jesus. For nearly four days and nights as he lingered on, ever and anon, with hands joined heavenwards, Raychand was seen (seen rather than heard) to pray. Spasms set in, and he was evidently in an agony. His face was than once contorted-wrenched in the pains of death, yet did the convert pray. He seemed to be holding Christ to be conversing with him-to

more

be happy with him. And thus, with hands just clasped on high, and a bright smile on his face, this poor man went away to the long embrace of the feet of his Saviour and his God. Thus much Sookheram and others witnessed all through. It was such a death of courage and joy,' says the preacher.

66

[ocr errors]

About the same time in the same village, died another of our members E named RAJCHUNDER, one of three brothers, all for many years in the church, and sharers with it of many trials at various times. Rajchunder remained a quiet consistent Christian to the last. His end was characteristic of his life. He was troubled with no doubts as to the future; burdened with no care as to his family; but, poor as he was, committed everything into the hands of his faithful Saviour, and died so calmly as to make his teacher thank God, and speak again and again to me of the sustaining power of Divine

grace.

"PONCHONMALÁ,

some fourteen

years ago, was a young Hindoo widow. She gave up caste, came among the Christians, and after some months was married to a young man named Sheetol. She was baptized; and Sheetol became a native preacher. Ponchonmala was all through a quiet well-conducted wife, a consistent Christian woman, and, what one does not always meet with in these parts, a discreet mother of children. She was taken ill with small-pox just after giving birth to a fifth child. Terrible as the disease was, and painful as the peculiar season of it was, all the villagers testify to her patience in suffering, her unyielding faith in the Redeemer, and the last prayerful, peaceful hours of her life. I myself can perceive the effects of this life and this death in the children and in the husband to this day; they lisp out words of prayer morning and evening, and he is as chastened a young man as I know anywhere."

GENERAL.

Intelligence.

THE past month has been almost wholly devoid of political interest. The elections being over, and it being doubtful whether Parliament will meet before February, noble lords and honourable gentlemen have been free to pursue their travels on the Continent and to achieve their conquests on the Moors; and about the only thing that has excited interest during the month has been the voyage of the Great Eastern, with its precious freight, which, alas! it has left at the bottom of the sea. At the time we write

the great ship has but just returned. Whether it will make another attempt this year, or whether the cable it has carried will remain among "the treasures of the deep," remains as yet undecided. One thing is certain, that a telegraphic cable will be laid between England and America. No one can be indifferent to the success of an enterprise involving such important results.

Once more England is alarmed at the approach of the cholera. The fearful diseasewhich has already devastated so many countries in the East-appears to be approaching,

slowly but steadily, towards our own shores; and no one can tell how soon the dreadful visitant will make its appearance amongst us. Already preparations are being made for its arrival. Scientific men and medical professors are considering the best way to meet it. The only way to meet it is, apparently, to observe those laws of health, which, during ordinary times, are but too much neglected: and those who have to do with the poor, or who visit neighbourhoods where the poor reside, cannot too earnestly urge temperance, cleanliness, and the careful observance of sanitary laws. When these are observed, all has been done that can be done by man. The rest we must leave, with a calm and trustful heart, to Him who is too wise to err, and is too good to be unkind.

Our own denomination has lost during the month two faithful missionaries. The Rev. W. K. Rycroft has died in the Bahamas, and the Rev. J. Diboll at Sierra Leone. Both losses are heavy to the Mission, and heavy in the fields of their respective labours. "They rest from their labours, and their works do follow them."

DOMESTIC.

DRUMMOND ROAD, BERMONDSEY.-The foundation-stone of the Baptist chapel, Drummond Road, Bermondsey, was laid by the Rev. C. H. Spurgeon, on Friday, Aug. 4th. It is intended, with side galleries, to hold about 600 persons, and is being built under the auspices of the Rev. C. H. Spurgeon, who has engaged to provide £500 towards its erection, £500 more being contributed by friends connected with the Metropolitan Tabernacle. The total cost of the chapel complete will be £1,500, so that the sum of £500 will have to be provided by the friends who will be gathered there for worship. Already there is a preaching-station in the neighbourhood, supplied by the students of Mr. Spurgeon's College, with between twenty and thirty communicants, and a Sundayschool well attended. Within the last two or three years, an addition has been made to the population of fully 10,000 persons, for whom no spiritual accommodation has been provided; the only other place of worship in the neighbourhood being a small iron chapel just erected by the Independents. After singing and prayer, Mr. Spurgeon said, his object in having the chapel built in that neighbourhood was a purely disinterested one. He and his congregation would be as happy in their own Tabernacle, as far as they personally were concerned, if this chapel had never been contemplated; but, when he looked around and considered the spiritual destitution, he felt constrained to strive to supply the need by every means in his power. It had been said that working men would not listen to the Gospel, but he believed that was a libel on them, and he hoped to see this chapel full of them, for he was sure they were attached to the Bible and valued their souls as much as any other class. He then called on Mr. William Olney to read the financial report. He also called on the Rev. J. Offord, of Kensington Palace Gardens Chapel, and the Rev. J. A. Spurgeon, to address the meeting; and then, having laid the stone, and prayer having been offered by the Rev. B. Davies, of Greenwich, the company adjourned to tea at the Metropolitan Tabernacle. In the evening, a public meeting was held in the lecture hall of the Tabernacle, presided over by Mr. Spurgeon, when addresses were delivered by Mr. Cowdy, of Arthur Street, Walworth; Mr. Varley, of Notting Hill; Mr. Davies, of Greenwich; Mr. Genders, of Wandsworth; and Mr. John Olney.

OLD CHAPEL, SHARNBROOK.-On Tuesday, July 11th, the preliminary re-opening services in connection with the above place of worship were held. The old chapel has now disappeared and an enlarged one taken its place. The old building was a pantiled conventicle of the eighteenth century of the most

primitive construction. The restoration and enlargement have been effected in a very pleasing and judicious manner. The style of architecture is of Venetian character; the exterior front is of white brick with coloured arches and cornice; in the pediment will be a clock for the use of the parish. The burial-ground will be enclosed with suitable walls; and the frontage to the street will have iron palisades and entrance gates. The total cost will be about £650. On the day named, Mr. J. Wells, of the Surrey Tabernacle, preached in the morning and afternoon, and Mr. J. Foreman, of London, in the evening, to large congregations. The following ministers also took part in the services Mr. Wyard, of London; Mr. J. Wyard, of St. Neot's; Mr. Willis, of Raunds; Mr. Ward, of Irthlingborough ; Mr. Kitchen, of Ringstead; Mr. Wilson, of Riseley; and Mr. A. Peet, the pastor. A goodly number sat down to dinner, and nearly 500 to tea, in barns kindly lent by J. Gibbard, Esq., and Messrs. Poole and Allen. The amount received, including collections and gifts, was £178 5s. At the close of the evening service the pastor announced that Mr. Ward had given him a promise of £200 towards this £250, and had also presented the church with one of Milner's fire-proof safes for the protection of their deeds. A Bible and hymn book for the pulpit were given, the former by Miss Ward, the latter being purchased with contributions collected by Mrs. J. Fountain. The chapel will be completed by the end of harvest, the congregation, however, worshipping in it on the Sabbath.

BERKHAMPSTEAD.-A new Baptist chapel was opened at Great Berkhampstead on Tues. day, Aug. 1st, in place of the old structure erected in 1722. The new chapel is in the decorated style of early English architecture. It contains sittings for 540 persons, whilst the old chapel would only accommo date 390 persons. At the rear of the chapel are large and commodious school-rooms adjoining, of a corresponding style of architecture. The total cost of the chapel and schools is considerably under £2,000, including the site. The opening service on the Tuesday morning was well attended. An excellent sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. Burns, from Genesis xxviii. 11-22. A public dinner and tea were afterwards held in the school-rooms. At the evening service there was a crowded congregation. devotional parts of the service were conducted by the minister of the chapel, the Rev. J. Lawton, and the Rev. Mr. Foster, of Wendover. A sermon was preached by the Rev. D. Katterns, of Hackney, from 1 Timothy ii. 19. After the service the Rev. T. Lawton announced that £1,004 had been subscribed to the building fund, leaving

The

The collections

£600 still to be raised. amounted to about £97, of which one gentleman gave a donation of £50.

INGHAM, NORFOLK.-The Baptist Church at Ingham, in Norfolk, have celebrated the entrance of their pastor, Mr. Venimore, on the fortieth year of his ministry among them, by a handsome testimonial, expressive of their esteem for his character, and their sense of the value of his services. The presentation, which had been delayed by the illness of the pastor, took place at the Lecture Hall, Stalham, on Wednesday, Aug. 2, at a tea-meeting of the subscribers and friends, John Silcock, Esq., one of the deacons, in the chair. After singing and prayer, Mr. Silcock, in a feeling and appropriate address, presented the testimonial, which amounted to 130 guineas. This munificent donation was suitably acknowledged by Mr. Venimore, who attributed the long continuance of his ministry at Ingham to the fact that he had had, during all the thirty-nine years of its duration, a succession of rightminded and unselfish deacons, only anxious to promote the well-being of the church by cordial co-operation with its pastor. He likewise gratefully owned the uniform affec tion of the church and congregation, and further stated that the number of members added to the church during his ministry was 195, of whom 105 remain. Robert Cooke, Esq., another of the deacons, then presented Mr. Venimore with a book containing a list of the subscribers to the testimonial; and further addresses were given by Mr. T. Slipper, who had taken a very active part in this proceeding, as well as by the Rev. Joseph Hasler, of Neatishead, and Messrs. G. S. Barber, of Sutton; S. C. Cooke, of Horstead; and S. B. Cooke, of Dilham. The pastor closed this gratifying and pleasant meeting with prayer and the benediction.

The

CANTERBURY ROAD, KILBURN. opening services of the Canterbury Road Chapel, Kilburn, took place on the 27th July, when the chapel was well filled. The Rev. J. A. Spurgeon preached. The preachers for the following Sunday were the Rev. J. Burns, D.D., in the morning, the Rev. W. G. Lewis in the afternoon, and the Rev. Henry Christopherson in the evening. On the Monday a tea and public meeting was held in the chapel, when tables were gratuitously provided for upwards of 200 persons. George Axton, Esq., presided. The Rev. T. Hall, the pastor, gave a brief verbal statement of pecuniary matters, after which most cheering addresses were delivered by the Rev. Jabez Burns, D.D., J. C. Gallaway, M.A., W. Stott, J. B. Wright, and H. Tarrant, Esq. The Hon. and Rev. B. W. Noel, M.A., preached on the Thursday, and these interesting services were brought to a conclusion on the following Sunday, by

discourses from the Rev. John Clifford, and the Rev. Joseph Angus, D.D., Principal of Regent's Park College. The ordinance of the Lord's Supper was afterwards administered, when Dr. Augus presided, assisted by the pastor of the church. The collections, including the profits of the tea, amounted to nearly £50. The total cost of the chapel, including boundary walls. &c., will be £1,100. Only about one-half of this sum has been raised.

RYE HILL, NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE.-Recog nition services in connection with the induction of the Rev. T. Harwood Pattison, as minister of the above chapel, were held on Thursday, July 27th. At five o'clock a large number of the members of the congregation and their friends sat down to tea. After tea a meeting was held, presided over by S. R. Pattison, Esq., of London, the father of the new minister. The meeting having been opened with praise and prayer, the chairman, in the course of an able address, expressed the satisfaction it had given him that his son had selected the ministry in preference to another honourable and lucrative profession in which he had abundant prospects of success. Addresses were also delivered by the Rev. George Bell, the Rev. Mr. Hanson, the Rev. J. W. Lance, the former pastor of the congregation, the Rev. Dr. Bruce, and Councillor Benson, in the course of which reference was made to the spiritual destitution of some parts of the town, and to the necessity for an increased supply of ministers, and kind wishes expressed for the success of the young minister in his future career. After a suitable address from Mr. Pattison, in reply to the kind wishes that had been expressed on his behalf, and in which he referred to the flourishing state of the congregation, and the unanimity that prevailed amongst the members, the meeting was brought to a close with praise and prayer.

CINDERFORD.--The anniversary services of the above place of worship were held on July 9th, when two excellent sermons were preached by the Rev. C. Stovel, of London, in the morning from Eph. ii. 10; in the evening from the latter clause of Heb. iii. 6. The collections during the day amounted to £22 11s. 7d. On the following Tuesday a tea-meeting was held in the school-room, when upwards of 600 people sat down to the repast, which had been gratuitously provided by the ladies of the church and congregation. In the evening a public meeting was held, when the chair was taken by T. Batten, Esq., of Coleford, and admirable addresses were delivered by the Revs. C. Stovel; T. Jones, of Lydbrook; W. Foster, of Hereford; S. Webb, of Blakeney; aud W. H. Tetley, of Coleford. After the Rev. C Stovel's speech a collection was made, which realized £7 10s. The whole proceeds of the

« ΠροηγούμενηΣυνέχεια »