in-law. This was a solemn and deeply in- | teresting season, and it was rendered more so by the introduction for the first time of a handsome electro-plate communion service, which had been purchased by the private subscriptions of the friends. "God be merciful unto us and bless us, and cause his face to shine upon us; that his way may be known upon earth, his saving health among all nations." RECOGNITION OF MR. GRIFFITH AT HOPE CHAPEL, BETHNAL GREEN. [Through a mistake, which we much regret, this report was not inserted in our last.] On the 1st of June an interesting service was held in the above place of worship, on the occasion of Mr. J. Griffith's recognition as the pastor. The usual formalities of "stating the nature of a gospel church," "asking the questions," giving the "charge," and "preaching to the people," were dispensed with; which we thought wise, seeing that Mr. G. is well-known, and had attended to all these matters before. On this occasion there was simply a public meeting. Mr. ELVIN occupied the chair, who, after the usual preliminary exercises, and a few loving remarks, called upon Mr. G. to relate his call by grace. From our brother's statement, it appeared that he was the child of godly parents, and was from his infancy taken to the house of prayer, but remained without any serious impression till he lost a brother, who was run over in the street and killed. The natural death of one seemed to have been the means of spiritual life to the other, for from that time he was convinced of sin, and carried for years a heavy burden of guilt on his conscience under a smiling countenance. To use his own words, he had "a living conscience and a dead heart." The Lord led him about and instructed him, and, under the ministry of Mr. Bloomfield, brought him into the light and liberty of the gospel, as he now believed and preached it. In relating his call to the ministry, Mr. Griffith said that from his earliest years he desired the work, and first began to make himself useful by distributing tracts and preaching to the watermen on the Thames; this led to invitations to preach here and there, and, ultimately, the church at Hayes gave him a call. At the close of the pastor's statement, one of the deacons read a short account showing how Divine providence had led the church to make choice of him as their minister; and the formal part of the meeting was over. After Mr. MYERSON had apologized for having to leave the meeting through another engagement, Mr. Box, of Woolwich, was called upon. He said a few words on the work of the ministry, which was to preach the gospel and attend to the ordinances of God's house. Mr. ALDERSON followed and made some very strong remarks upon the evils of men advertizing themselves as "at liberty." It appeared Mr. Griffith had never been at liberty in that sense, and he hoped he never would. It was clear that he had not thrust himself into the work, but God had called him to it; and when a man is divinely called to preach, he will be sure to have a people to speak to. Mr. ANDERSON, of Deptford, next addressed the meeting, and prophesied that the peace of the church would continue,— founding the opinion upon the fact that Mr. Griffith was a good-tempered man,—if temper was not everything it was a very important thing, and many churches had been divided entirely through the leading spirit losing his temper. Mr. G. was also a godly man, and that was a great mercy, for himself and friends; all did not depend upon gifts; we wanted men in our pulpits who lived near to God, and enjoyed what they preached. Mr. WEBB followed with a few practical remarks to the friends, urging them to be regular in their attendance and earnest in prayer for their pastor. Mr. W. read the following, written for the occasion by Mr. W. A. Adams :-- Great source of light, and life, and peace! I n him thy gracious work increase, When some other brethren had spoken, the exercises concluded, and all felt it a privilege to have been present. Since the pastor's formal recognition, the friends have throughly cleansed and beautified the chapel and school-room. At the re-opening, on July 4th, Mr. Griffith preached morning and evening, and Mr. Anderson in the afternoon; the attendance was good, and the collections liberal, which (with about £12 privately collected by one of the friends) will go a long way towards meeting the outlay. Things are very cheering at "Hope," and we trust our brother may have a long and happy career there, in gathering in and building up the chosen of the Lord. LONDON: EBENEZER CHAPEL, HOXTON-STREET, HOXTON. THE friends at Hoxton had a very good and profitable season on the anniversary, June 27. Three excellent sermons were preached by Messrs. Meeres, Wilkins, and G. Webb. It was found to be a season of refreshing from the presence of Jesus, and the sweet unction of the Holy One was richly enjoyed by many. On the following Tuesday over 100 sat down to tea. The public meeting commenced with singing the 792 hymn (Denham's Selection). The PASTOR, after reading Psalm cxv., and prayer being offered, said that he felt humbled before God, in the position he then occupied, while contemplating the goodness and mercy of Jehovah, vouchsafed unto them as pastor and people during the past God had caused peace to reign year. amongst them. God had granted prosperity of a spiritual kind, inasmuch as the attendance to the prayer meetings had greatly increased, as also the public services, and the Lord had added to their number thirteen during the past nine months,-six by believers' baptism, and seven from other churches, all having witnessed a good confession. One had been taken from this world to a better; our loss was her eternal gain. A bible class had also been formed and was working well, many finding it a profitable season. A Sunday-school was to be commenced on the first Lord's-day in July (D.V.) The Chairman regretted that all the brethren that had promised could not be present, but trusted that the Lord would make up all deficiences. A verse being sung, Mr. J. NIBLETT, deacon, rose, and in expressive terms, spake of the past ups and downs they had to encounter, but of the love and high estimation they bore to their pastor, and of the real affection that existed, saying that although a poor people, theirs was a practical love. He then presented Mr. W. Osmond with a purse containing five sovereigns and five shillings, regretting that they could not do more; but it was a true token, like the widow's mite. The hymn "All hail the power of Jesus' name" having been sung, and a few remarks by the Pastor, and the benediction, the meeting separated, and we desire to render our sincere and heartfelt thanks to God for the Divine help afforded to all our brethren, enabling them to speak so well and blessedly. It was indeed a happy season to many; may it be but the dawn of a brighter day for Hoxton "Ebenezer." We heartily thank our brethren,-may the Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon them. So prays yours in Jesus, CLAPHAM: W. OSMOND. EBENEZER CHAPEL, WIRTEMBURG STREET. THROUGH the mercy of the Lord, the reopening services of this chapel, on Tuesday, July 6, were of the most cheering nature. The friends met for prayer at seven o'clock, and breakfasted together. Mr. Wells preached an excellent sermon from Gen. xlvii. 21, under three ideas: Responsibility - Freedom - and Glorious Results of the Saviour's Mighty Work, to whom he referred Naphtali. Mr. Wale preached a very instructive one in the afternoon on Jeremiah xii. 5. So beautifully did our brother illustrate the pilgrim's pathway, and conduct him so softly through the swellings of Jordan, that we began to think "Death is no more a frightful foe, Since we with Christ shall reign; The public meeting was held in the evening, at which T. M. Whittaker, Esq., presided, whose opening address was excellent. He expressed his pleasure at being present - at the stand we had made on behalf of the gospel, and that the Lord had so far favoured us as to require a gallery. He hoped the blessing of the Lord would continue to attend us, and that we should yet require a larger chapel, and that we might rally round the gospel standard, and as our minister, whom he was quite sure needed all our prayers and our aid, situated as he Mr. ALDERSON then rose, and after a few was. He thought we had done well, and preliminary, but pithy remarks, gave a accomplished the work very economically. sterling and savoury address from the Addresses full of gospel truth, were dewords of Jonah, "Salvation is of the Lord."livered by Messrs. Attwood, Caunt, and It did our souls good to hear it. The PASTOR rose, but said he could not express all he felt, and in a few broken accents tendered his hearty thanks, calling upon all present to sing the verse, Praise God from whom all blessings flow," &c. 66 Edwards. When the CHAIRMAN said he had something to remind us of, and that was the money. He would help us to the extent of £5, and hoped one and all would help also. Mr. HALL thanked the chairman most heartily for his kindness, and said that he was happy to say that the friends had come forward most willingly, although he had told them to let the debt remain at interest. The result was that he had the names of four persons of £5 each, and other donations, which, with the liberal collections of the day, would make a considerable sum. The collection was then made, which exceeded £45 (subsequently increased to £48 58. 10d.) at which the meeting expressed their delight. Mr. WALE then delivered an eloquent address of half an hour's duration, to the great satisfaction of all; followed by Mr. ROME, of Brixton, who also gave great satisfaction. A most cordial vote of thanks to the chairman brought the proceedings to a close. The attendance was exceedingly good throughout the day, and the people seemed thoroughly to enjoy themselves. The Lord's name be praised. one service on Lord's-days and a week evening prayer meeting. Finding these met with acceptance they further launched out, and as suitable supplies have been obtainable they have since successively conducted one, two, and three services on each Lord's-day. The regularly large and on many occasions crowded congregations of attentive and earnest listeners, together with a good attendance at the prayer meetings have filled the promoters' hearts with joy and gratitude, and made them doubly anxious to establish a permanent Strict Baptist cause here. With this intent a female "Bible Class" has been started which is well attended and proves both interesting and instructive. A Sabbath School is also in course of formation and will, it is hoped, be opened in the course of a few weeks. As nothing can be carried on efficiently and successfully without funds, and the people being for the most part poor, a series of services have been held. On Monday, June 14th, Mr. B. B. Wale, of Dacre Park Chapel, Blackheath, delivered his well known, admirable, and justly celebrated Lecture entitled, " The wisdom and goodness of God as displayed in the constitution and Mr. WILLIAMSON preached on the follow-manifold uses of the atmosphere" in the ing Lord's-day evening a good gospel sermon. P.S.-A report being in circulation that Mr. Hall had declined to place the chapel in trust, he has great pleasuse in stating the chapel was secured to the Baptist Church in 1865, by a legally constituted agreement, until a trust deed should be prepared, which agreement is in the hands of the deacons, and can be seen on application. Mr. Mote has since had instructions to prepare the trust deed. A BONA-FIDE REVIVAL. In the small manfacturing town of Hav. erhill, in the county of Suffolk, is situated a neat little Strict Baptist Chapel, capable of seating about 250, which in the providence of God and through circumstances over which the inhabitants have had no control has been closed for some years past. About twelve months since, a few friends who deeply felt the need of the "bread of life" in this benighted town, met, and consulted as to the best means to be adopted to supply this lack; they finally determined to hold a series of weekly prayer meetings, to "ask" the great "Father's aid and direction in the matter of reopen ing this little chapel. After some six months of earnest wrestling, the friends were encouraged to make a trial by holding Market Hill (Independent) Chapel, kindly lent for the occasion. On Tuesday, the 15th inst., the same gentleman preached in the same place, two most powerful and telling discourses, and judging from the attendance, wrapt attention and good collections on each occasion, together with the universal satisfaction since expressed, these services have proved eminently successful and largely blessed, for which its promoters tender their grateful acknowledgments, both to a faithful God, kind friends and ympathizers. With these cheering prospects it is hoped, should God continue to bless over a few months, that a church may be formed, universal church are hopefully solicited. and on its behalf the earnest prayers of the I may not close this sketch without expressing our obligation and gratitude amongst Murkin, of Keddington; Mr. Marks, of others to the following ministers, viz., Mr. Cambridge; Mr. Norris, of Saffron Walden; Mr. Wale, of Blackheath; Mr. Discon, of their hearty good-will and self-denial in so Colchester; with other lay brethren, for cordially assisting us. Trusting I have not too far trespassed opportunity of testifying that the old truths on your space, and thanking you for this are still efficacious and the "old paths" still being trodden, I am yours very truly, A. A. C. THE VOICE OF TRUTH; OR, Baptist Record. SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE." IN ESSENTIALS, UNITY; IN NON-ESSENTIALS, LIBERTY; IN ALL THINGS, CHARITY. Vol. VIII. SEPTEMBER, 1869. No. 93. Expositions and Essays. "FRUIT IN OLD AGE." An Outline of a Sermon preached on Sunday morning, March 14th, 1869, at Chadwellstreet Chapel, Clerkenwell, on behalf of the Aged Pilgrims' Friend Society. By MR. J. HAZELTON, the Pastor. "They shall still bring forth fruit in old age, they shall be fat and flourishing; to show that the Lord is upright. He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.”—Psa. xcii. 14, 15. PRAISE forms a very important part of Christian and spiritual worship, and eternal praise from the church of the living God will fill heaven for ever and ever. God is to be praised for what he is in himself; for what it has pleased him to become, and for what it has pleased him to do; and, therefore, the Psalmist says, "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord." I believe that the mind of the Psalmist was fixed on that great Object, by whom the church was to be everlastingly saved. Whether we contemplate the work of the Father, of the Son, or of the Spirit, in the economy of grace, the work of the Lord is great. The Father's work was to register the names of his people in heaven; it was part of his work to draw the plan of salvation, and to promise the Spirit through Christ. And then passing on to the mediatorial work of the dear Redeemer,—how this cheers the wounded and broken heart! I know nothing so strengthening as an application of the Saviour's blood. Hence "it is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord," because he has made his people "glad through his work." The Psalmist then proceeded to contrast the condition of the people of God with that of worldly persons. "A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this. When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever." The sinner flourishes like the grass; but the righteous flourish like the cedar in Lebanon. "They shall still bring forth fruit in old age, they shall be fat and flourishing." I will call your attention to three points: I. The lifelong preservation of the people of God. II. Their vigour and fruitfulness. III. The object of their preservation and fertility. I. The lifelong preservation of the people of God. I believe that the doctrine of the final preservation of the saints is sweet to every saint of God; for there is everything that is gloomy, apart from this doctrine. The possibility of being cast out of the covenant of grace, is a gloomy doctrine: and, therefore, the opposite of this must be sweet and precious to the saint of God. "The righteous shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger." God has completed his work in creation; he will not fail to complete his work in providence; and can you believe that he will fail to complete his work in the hearts of his people? It is our privilege to believe that "The weakest saint shall win the day, Though death and hell obstruct the way." If I were preaching to those who did not believe this doctrine, I should prove that fact, from the eternal covenant of grace, and from the Saviour's consoling declaration to his disciples, "Rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven." For is it not said that God loves his people with an everlasting love? And not only has he promised to preserve his people, but he has got heaven ready for them. Heaven is a prepared place; the mansions are built and furnished, and the crowns are ready to be worn; and "All God's omnipotence can do, Stands now engaged to bear us through." I shall call your attention to a few experimental remarks upon the secret cause of the perseverance of God's children. Some people speak very loosely about the people of God. They say, "Oh, they are safe, they are as safe as if they were in a garrison." But there is a mystery about it. We do not see every saint enclosed in walls of granite, and confined by chains. There is a secret cause of the perseverance of the child of God. No visible hand keeps me up, nothing visible surrounds me; yet years come and pass away, and the devil and sin do their worst against me, yet I am not carried away. It is certain that an Almighty power preserves me. What is the experimental cause of the Christian's perseverance? It is this, my beloved friends,-Jesus Christ is more to the believer than all the world besides. That is one cause of the Christian's secret progress. You know that which has the heart, has the person. And although one makes a profession, if sin has the heart, he will sooner or later fall away; but the man whose affections are set on heavenly things, and whose heart says sincerely, "Whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is none upon the earth that I desire besides thee;" that man so intensely loving the Saviour, will follow the Saviour whithersoever he goes. In order to destroy the spiritual character of that man, you must take the dear Redeemer out of his affections. God has made Christ more precious to his heart than tongue can tell. That is one of the secrets of the perseverance of the Christian. The hypocrite sees more in the world, or in a profession, it may be, than he does in Christ, and after sin he will go; but the Christian sees more in Christ than in anything else, and after Christ he goes. It depends upon this, not whether he can keep persevering, but can Christ keep his heart, his affections can he present to the soul an everlasting freshness, that shall engage the thoughts of that soul, and present such attractions as shall keep the heart near himself? It depends upon this; if there is infinite power in Christ to draw, the heart will follow him. If Christ can present attractions to the mind superior to all others (and he can, bless his dear name !) the world may allure, and sin may aim to seduce, but whilst the superior attractions of the Son of God have the affections of the heart, the heart will follow Jesus. And this is the case with some of you, and has been for many years. I cannot preach experimentally on the religious experience of old age, but I can say a little more about Christian experience than I could thirty years ago. But some of you are more than thirty years older than I am, and, therefore, you know more by experience than I do; and although you have had to pass through fires, and thou |