cell door is fastened, and Bunyan is left alone. A rude lamp glimmers on the table, scarcely sufficient light to enable him to read. Yet he is most busy with his Bible, the Concordance, and his pen, ink, and paper. He writes as though joy did make him write.

His pale, worn countenance is lighted up with a fire, as if reflected from the radiant jasper walls of the Celestial City. He writes and smiles, and clasps his hands, and looks upwards, and blesses God for His great love, and then turns again to his writing, and then becomes so entranced with a passage of Scripture, the glory of which the Holy Spirit lets in upon his soul, that he becomes overwhelmed with Divine meditations and revelations. But here we must check our pen. Truly, good John Bunyan was one of God's brightest lights.

These were some who were as cities set on a hill which could not be hid. Possibly, you may never shine as they. Recollect, our situations and our services are assigned us by the sovereignty of God, and, therefore, what He does not give He does not require of us, and "where there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what we have, and not according to what we have not." The Redeemer said of Mary, "She hath done what she could." Moral greatness consists not in doing great things, but in doing little things with a great mind.

"Honour and shame from no condition rise;

Act well your part, there all your glory lies.'

You cannot, perhaps, become Pauls, Martin Luthers, and Bunyans, but you may become, through grace, Godhonoured instruments for much good. If not a city on a hill, a candle on a candlestick. Have you the light of life within? Do you possess the oil of grace? If so,

"Jesus bids us shine with a pure, clear light,

Like a little candle, burning in the night;

In the world of darkness so we must shine,

You in your small corner, and I in mine.

"Jesus bids us shine, first of all, for Him, Well He sees and knows it if our light

is dim ;

He looks down from Heaven to see us shine,

You in your small corner, and I in mine.

"Jesus bids us shine; yes, for all around; Oh, what depths of darkness in the world are found!

There's sin, there's want, and sorrowso we must shine,

You in your small corner, and I in mine."

CHARLES MASTERSON. Brighton, Nov. 12th.

But Christ, the gentle Shepherd, came,
And tenderly he bore
His little lamb, from toil and pain,
To Canaan's lovely shore.

And ah, methinks, if we could trace
Thy spirit's upward flight,
And see thee take thy harp of gold,
And wear thy robe of white;

We soon should dry the bitter tear,
All gloomy thoughts dispel,
And to the question, How's the child?
Should answer, It is well!

Then, parents, dry those weeping eyes,
For you shall surely prove
Whate'er thy Father does is right,
And all in perfect love.

Your child has gone from grief and woe,
From sorrow, toil, and pain,
And you shall meet her by-and-bye,
And never part again.

Farewell, dear little May, we leave
Thy body in the tomb,

But hope through grace to meet thee on
The resurrection morn.

ELEANOR WHITE.

CLARE, SUFFOLK.
Thanksgiving and Presentation.

SPECIAL services were held in the Baptist chapel on Wednesday, October 17th, 1883, to thank the Lord for harvest blessings, opportunity being taken of the occasion to present the late pastor, Mr. Thomas Hoddy

who, from age and physical inability, had recently found it necessary to relinquish his office-with a token of the high estimation in which he is held, for his work's sake and his own personal worth.

In the afternoon Mr. B. J. Northfield, of Hadleigh, preached an instructive Gospel sermon from the words, "All Thy children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be the peace of Thy children."-Isa. liv. 18. The preacher divided his discourse under four leading ideas. (1) The persons taught; (2) What they are taught; (3) Their teacher; (4) The promise of great peace to. them. The thoughtful discourse was listened to with attention and profit by the auditory, which was a numerous one. At 5.30 a large gathering sat down to tea, so large that the ample provision made was all consumed. At 7 the public meeting was well attended, Mr. Hoddy presiding. A hymn of praise having been heartily sung, Mr. Hoddy read Ps. lxvii. Commenting upon it, he said that, as he understood the object of the meeting was more especially to express gratitude to God for the bountiful harvest that had been safely

gathered in, this Psalm should express our thoughts and feelings. Whilst remembering the Divine goodness in the material harvest, we have more to praise God for in the spiritual harvest, for the souls that had been, and are being, gathered into His kingdom. Attention was earnestly directed to the great harvest, and the congregation reminded that the tares and the wheat are permitted to grow together now; that as the sowing so the reaping, for, "God is not mocked, whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap." Be not deceived by Satan, yourselves or others, in regard to your sowing; he that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption, he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. Closing with an appeal to all present to think of the grace and goodness of God, the chairman called upon Mr. G. Bunting, of Swaffham, to offer prayer; the leader and congregation enjoying a sense of God's presence, were led earnestly to seek the favour and blessing of God for the church and its late pastor at the present and for the future, and for the manifestation of His grace in the messages about to be delivered.

Mr. Northfield was called upon to address the meeting. He said that, though at Clare for the first time, it was not the first time he had met with their honoured pastor. He well remembered hearing him at Bethesda, Ipswich, some years ago, speaking on the text, "Bless the Lord, O

my soul;" and his first remark, after pausing awhile, struck him very much-"All true religion centres in the soul"—and, as the impression still remained, he would speak to them on the present occasion on that subject. God deals with immortal souls now, and the soul will continue to exist for ever, either to dwell with God or with devils eternally. The harvest just

gathered in we had seen with our eyes, and it was a token of God's faithfulness to His promise to Noah, and He would be faithful to His covenant with His people. We need have no fear about that. Our troubles may be numbered, but our mercies never. God shall bless us; He will bless every repentant, seeking soul; He will bless, for He loves to do it. He has blessings in reserve, treasured up in Christ Jesus our Lord; and what grace to the poor and needy, first to be given to know their need, and then to receive from His fulness every needed good. There may be rough ploughing, not smooth things, before arriving at the joy of faith. The Lord lets fall the seed of grace into the heart; by grace it is nourished in hope; the Lord blesses it, and the child of God grows in grace. heart-felt joy was manifest as Mr. Northfield, in conclusion, commended their beloved pastor to the constant care of God, who had so graciously sustained him during a long ministry.

A

The chairman here remarked that all God's dealings with his people are blessings, though sometimes in disguise. At this moment, Mr. H. Crow, one of the deacons, asked permission to say a few words. He said that he would have wished some older and abler man had been selected for the task he was about to perform, although to him it was a most pleasant one. It was that of presenting Mr. Hoddy with a purse containing sixtyseven pounds, cheerfully, willingly, and lovingly given by friends who would ever esteem him in loving affection, and remember him in their prayers. Might he still be permitted to dwell amongst them, giving them his valuable advice, and helping them as he might be able.

He

Mr. Hoddy thanked the friends present, and all absent, who had helped to make so kind and generous a gift to him. thanked them very much, and felt very grateful to God. When he resigned on July 1st, he did not expect such a thing, and when a presentation was suggested, said, "I do not wish you to beg for me.' But he very heartily appreciated this token

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of their kind sympathy for him, and must express himself in the language of Jacob, am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which Thou hast showed unto Thy servant." He had feebly served a good and gracious Master, and was himself but a poor imperfect mortal. Nearly forty-seven years had he been sustained in the ministry, nineteen at Walton, and when he went there it was before the days of railways. He remembered good Lot Crow walking with him part of the way from Clare to Hadleigh, where be slept that night, then walked on to Ipswich, where he was met by a friend, who took him on to Walton. It seemed but a very short time, but it was forty-six years ago on the 1st of last August, that the late Mr. S. Collins, of Grundisburgh, gave him his charge on the occasion of his public ordination at Walton, which was founded on the words, "Study to approve thyself unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." That Scriptural exhortation he had prayerfully endeavoured to hold in remembrance during the course of his ministry. Since then he had been pastor twentyone years at Horham, and the remainder of the forty-seven years had been spent with them at Clare. He could have wished to have continued his ministry a little longer, but bowed in submission to the will of the Lord. He blessed God he had not been left without seals to his ministry; believers had been edified, and sinners called by grace. God had been with him when preaching the glorious Gospel of His grace, and borne with him in his infirmity. Sometimes he had felt very near the gate of heaven in the work, at others been ready to doubt his call to the ministry. He looked to the Atonement for pardon and peace; a blessed thing it is to rest on the atoning sacrifice of Christ. And now his prayer was that the church may have an earnest, faithful, loving under shepherd, and would like them to have a young man as a pastor, after the kind he took his young brother Northfield to be. Might they all meet in heaven, where there are no old people, no infirmities, no interruption to the pleasure, but fulness of joy for evermore.

Mr. Hoddy also alluded to the charge that had been given on the previous day to Mr. Fear, who had been then ordained. minister at the Independent Chapel, saying that it was a very suitable, earnest, and Scriptural address, and wished

Mr. Fear success in the work of the ministry.

Mr. H. G. Fear, the Independent minister, gave the next address." It was with mingled feelings, he said, that for the first time he stood on the platform of the Baptist chapel amongst his brethren. He had not forgotten the associations of yesterday (his ordination), the excitement of which, with other things, made him feel somewhat weary. His he felt was the

beginning of a ministry, this the close of a successful one. How about the interval in his own case? He hoped, by the grace of God, it might not be unworthily filled up. He alluded to the shadow that was cast over the meeting by the death of their much respected friend, Mr., C. Hale, who had been fifty-one years a member and forty years a deacon of the Baptist Church, and further addressed the friends in words of judicions counsel and friendly good will.

Mr. Bunting gave a short address. Alluding to the former pastorate of Mr. Hoddy at Horham, he said it was there he first heard him, twenty years, ago in a crowded chapel, telling the old, old story to a country congregation, and was much pleased to find the pastor so greatly esteemed and beloved by them. He was quite sure that if he could interpret Mr. Hoddy's feelings he would say his rejoicing would still be in seeing the work of the Lord continue to prosper among them.

Mr. Crow, sen., thought it right and just to state, regarding the presentation, that many friends at a distance, and some of their neighbours, Churchmen, had voluntarily added their gifts, in token of their high esteem of Mr. Hoddy.

The hymn, "All hail the great Immanuel's name," was sung most heartily to the well-adapted tune Miles' Lane. Mr. Hoddy then commended all to the loving kindness and care of God, and thus ended a most happy meeting. May the Lord still bless and build up his cause at Clare. S. R. B.

ISLINGTON PROVIDENCE CHAPEL. THE thirty-third anniversary of the above chapel was celebrated on November 11th and 13th. In many respects the sanctuary itself is excellent, although its approach is somewhat objectionable, as being difficult for a London visitor to find. A prominent and suitable site for the erection of a chapel was not always a main point of

consideration with our forefathers, which oversight posterior generations must more or less regret. However, though not "beautiful for situation," the chapel is constructed well for sound, and could only be improved by the ousting of the old pews for the more comfortable modern benches.

On Lord's day, November 11th, the pastor, Mr. Philip Reynolds, preached two sermons to large and appreciative audiences; and on the Tuesday following, Mr. John Hazelton, of Chadwell Street, preached a sound, comforting, and thoughtful sermon from 2 Cor. i. 20. The Lord graciously helped the preacher to deliver his thoughts, irrespective of the cough and severe cold which occasionally interrupted his flow of speech. The congregation in the afternoon, as also in the evening, was very encouraging. After the sermon an excellent tea was served to a large number of friends.* In the evening, Charles Wilson, Esq., occupied the chair, and appeared, as usual, to be thoroughly at home and happy in his work of love. The churches of truth, and the benevolent institutions therewith. connected, are not insensible to the great help so frequently rendered by Mr. Wilson, whose heart and hand are full of happy wishes and good deeds for the needy in Zion. May God long spare him in holy usefulness, and favour him much with His felt presence in time, and with an abundant entrance at last into the glory world—

"Where seas of joy eternal flow,
Without a taint of mortal woe.

Mr. Wilson having read John i. 1-18, Mr. Mayhew offered prayer. Mr. Reynolds, the pastor, then expressed a few words bearing upon the Lord's goodness to himself and the church during the last twelve months. Although there had been many favourable tokens for good during that period, yet the church had been called to endure trials and difficulties, in common with other churches. Peace, one of the greatest blessings of heaven, prevailed in the church. Seventeen persons had been added to the church since last year (twelve by baptism), and four removed by death One case, perhaps more than equally painful to the rest, was the death of sister Mrs. Briscoe, who left to mourn her departure a tender, loving husband and six dear children, for whom Mr. Reynolds felt a deep sympathy. The pastor, in the course, of his remarks, stated that the church was free of debt, and that fresh arrangements,

of a financial order, had been entered into between himself and the church-namely, that after the church had disbursed all incidental expenses, he (the pastor) was to have the residue. It is to be hoped that the new scheme will be lasting and amicable, and that the pastor, above all, will by no means suffer loss, as the workman is worthy of his meat (i.e., maintenance). Mr. Wilson supplemented the remarks of the pastor by stating that the ministers of the present day were insufficiently remunerated for their labour, and that, if they were more liberally provided for, there would be more hope of success in the causes of truth. The subject-matter for discussion by the respected preachers of the evening was based upon 1 Tim. iii. 16. Mr. J. S. Anderson, being the first speaker, addressed the friends with warmth and intelligence on the mystery of the incarnation of Christ, which part of the text the writer also briefly treated of. Mr. Shepherd spoke admirably well on the splendid doctrine of justification. Mr. Meeres was interesting and lively on the sublime ministry of angels. Mr. Green dwelt faithfully on the distinctive features of grace. Mr. Wilkins testified of the wondrous effect of the Gospel, as "believed on in the world," and which made the hearts of many present glad. Mr. Dalton, with sweet and loving words, opened the vision of heaven agreeable to the latter part of the text, forcing the soul of the scribe to whisper

"Lend, lend your wings! I mount! I fly!
O grave! Where is thy victory ?
O death! Where is thy sting?",

A warm-hearted vote of thanks having been accorded to the chairman by the pastor, the happy and successful meeting terminated. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. So says

Waltham Abbey.

W. WINTERS.

[We wish to add to the above excellent report of our brother Winters, that the proceeds of the anniversary amounted to about £25, which sum enables the pastor to realise quite as satisfactory an income as he had last year. The cause at Providence, Islington, has never been so peaceful and prosperous for many years as it is at present. The kindness of the ladies in giving trays made the tea almost wholly profit. The Lord is evidently smiling upon Providence, and granting both spiritual and temporal blessings. ED.]

RATTLESDEN, SUFFOLK.

DEAR MR. EDITOR,-But for the multipli city of engagements, I should have written you last month an account of our harvesthome meeting, held on Tuesday, 18th September, when a sermon was preached in the afternoon by Mr. Knell, of Ringshall, after which a tea was provided by a committee of ladies, consisting of Mrs. Hixham, Jewers, Stearn, Warren, and Firman, at which 200 sat down and partook thereof. A public meeting followed, presided over by the pastor, and addresses were delivered by brethren Dickerson, Whatmough, Morling, Haddock, Knell, Ennells and J. Clover. The collections amounted to £13 0s. 34d., appropriated to Bury Hospital, and widows-aged, afflicted, and infirm-of the neighbourhood. A very happy afternoon and evening was spent by a well-filled chapel of friends.

On Lord's day, 4th November, I was privileged to lead into the baptismal pool two of our young friends, who had expressed their desire to confess the Saviour in His despised but honoured ordinance, having been accepted by the unanimously expressed approval of the church as members thereof, of which there is great promise of usefulness, as part of the mystical body of our once dead but now risen and exalted Redeemer. May the Lord Jesus, whom they have thus confessed, preserve them from the ensnarements of the world, the corrup tions of their own fallen natutes, and the overcoming power of Satan, and fulfil all our hopes concerning them. During the day a holy solemnity appeared to pervade the congregation, especially at the ordinance, when numbers were bathed in tears. I am further pleased to say there is a prospect, as well as a hope, the pool will be opened again shortly. All praise to our covenant, divine Jehovah for His love, His blood, and His grace. I preached on the occasion from Acts viii. 36 and following verses, aud dwelt briefly on