IT is always happy when the children of God can meet together as such, to worship the Father, to rejoice in their precious Lord and Saviour, in dependence on the indwelling Comforter―the Holy Ghost; and to exhort, comfort, and edify one another in truth and love. Can anything on earth be more refreshing and profitable to us, or more pleasing to God? How sweet to see believers embracing each other, and meeting together as worshippers, feeling that the world is outside, and that they are shut in with Jesus “in the midst,” as “gathered together in His name.”
Hundreds of saints realized a goodly measure of these blessings at the half-yearly meeting of BELEIVERS lately held in Dublin. There was much earnest and united prayer before the period arrived. Some were so drawn out in supplication, as to spend much of one night in prayer to God for blessing. Many dear saints were invited from almost every part of Ireland, and some also from England and Scotland. The meetings were fixed for Tuesday and Wednesday, January 3rd and 4th. Many arrived on the Monday, and met several of the dear saints in Dublin that evening for prayer, when there was much earnest crying to God our Father in the name of Jesus for His help, guidance, and blessing on the expected meetings. It was delightful to see the joyous faces of the dear believers, and the fervency with which they greeted each other. Many residing in Dublin lovingly opened their houses, with the most cheering hospitality, to welcome those who had come from a distance, and brotherly love and confidence abounded on all sides.
Tuesday Morning.
Our space will only allow us to give a brief notice of the different addresses and other subjects of interest in those meetings. The first meeting was appointed at eight o’clock on Tuesday morning for prayer, in the Pillar-room of the Rotunda. Many were assembled, in spite of the cold wind and frost, soon after half-past seven, and were seen there apparently in quiet waiting upon God, before the light enabled persons to recognize each other distinctly. No man presided at these meetings and no one was called on to pray. The Lord was recognized “in the midst.” With the exception of singing two hymns and reading the first chapter of the first epistle of John, this meeting, which continued to half-past-nine, was one continuous out-pouring of heart in fervent prayer to God. The brevity and simplicity of the prayers, and the emphatic way in which many asked in the name of Jesus, were very striking. After this, many breakfasted together, when it was manifest that the intercourse was on the things of God. Prayer, praise, and reading the scripture occupied again some portion of the time before noon, when the next meeting at the Rotunda was held.
Tuesday Noon.
Now every part of the Pillar-room was occupied. It was a solemn time. After waiting on God in silent prayer, all hearts and voices joined in singing the hymn beginning―
All hail the power of Jesus name,
Let angels prostrate fall:
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all.”
A suggestion was then made, that praise should be offered to God for so mercifully and abundantly answering prayer that had been made at the last half-yearly meeting for Sligo, when simultaneously all seemed to rise and sing―
Glory, honor, praise, and power,” etc.
Many requests for prayer for God’s blessing in many parts of Ireland were then read, but the requests for prayer for individuals were too numerous to bring before the meeting. Then, for nearly an hour, hearts were again lifted up in earnest crying to God, for His blessing on the gospel in many parts of Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, Abyssinia, Ceylon, etc., etc.
There was then sung the well-known hymn beginning with―
“There Is a name I love to hear,
I love to sing its worth;
It sounds like music in mine ear, ―
The sweetest name on earth.”
Mr. DISNEY spoke of the importance of such meetings, the blessedness of Christians walking together, and forbearing one another in love. He called attention to Philippians 2:1-51If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (Philippians 2:1‑5)― “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind, Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus”―and exhorted believers to watch against pride of intellect, and self-love. He enlarged also on the importance of avoiding doing anything through strife or vainglory, and of esteeming others better than ourselves.
The hymn was then sung―
“My God I am thine―
What a comfort divine!
What a blessing to know
That my Jesus is mine!
Hallelujah, thine the glory!
Hallelujah, Amen.
Hallelujah, thine the glory!
Revive once again.”
To this a stanza from another hymn was added, ―
But come, Saviour, come,
And take us all home;
We long for the glory
With Thee on thy throne.
Hallelujah. thine the glory!
Hallelujah, Amen.
Hallelujah, soon the glory!
Come, Saviour, again.”
Mr. DENHAM SMITH remarked, that he felt exceedingly the solemnity of such a meeting―such a number of believers gathered together around Jesus. He said, “We read of five hundred brethren seeing the Lord at one time, but there is a much greater number than that now assembled.” He enlarged on the preciousness of believers to God; His grace in making us what we are; His full salvation, making us complete in Christ Jesus, who is the head of all principality and power. He referred also to the doctrine of “circumcision made without hands,” brought out in Colossians 2:1111In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: (Colossians 2:11), ― “In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ,” to show how completely God had judged and set aside man in the flesh, and given us a standing of completeness in a risen Head. He sought also solemnly to lay on the conscience of believers the REALITY of these things. “We want, brethren,” said he, “to deal solemnly with ourselves in these matters. Are these things regarded by me and by you as REALITIES? Then how happy we ought to be.”.... He concluded by giving out the following hymn: ―
“A mind at perfect peace with God.
Oh, what a word is this! ―
A sinner reconciled through blood!
This, this indeed is peace.”
After which, Mr. BARTON prayed, and closed the meeting.
Tuesday Evening.
The Pillar-room was again quite crowded in every part. After silent waiting upon God, and singing, a great spirit of prayer was again manifested. For an hour or more there was incessant calling upon God, and the many requests sent in were earnestly presented to God in the name of Jesus. The hymn beginning―
Thy name we bless, Lord Jesus,
Thy name all names excelling,
How great Thy love,” etc.
was sung with great fervor, when Mr. H. GRATTAN GUINNESS made an earnest appeal to believers to seek after a higher standard of practical godliness, not to be content with the present measure, nor to rest short of anything less than being “filled with the Spirit:” then there would be meekness, gentleness, and love characterizing us.
Mr. T. W. TRENCH spoke of the errors he found, even among many believers, regarding what God has revealed in His word about judgment. He shewed first from John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24), that the believer was delivered from condemnation and judgment as to salvation, and that because his sins had been judged in Christ on the cross, and that condemnation had fallen upon Christ there instead of us. Secondly, that all believers would have to appear at the judgment seat of Christ; but that would not be a judgment as to salvation, but as to reward for our service. (2 Corinthians 5:1010For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10).) Thirdly, that Christ would judge the living nations when He comes in His glory, and that we shall then be with Him. He referred to the parable of the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:31-4631When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:31‑46)) in proof of Christ thus judging the living nations, and showed that there was no idea there of resurrection. Fourthly, that Christ will judge all the dead at the great white throne, small and great, and that whosoever is not found written in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire.
After singing―
“Lo, He comes with clouds descending,
Once for favored sinners slain;
Thousand, thousand saints attending,
Swell the triumph of His train:
Hallelujah!
Jesus comes on earth to reign.”
The meeting was concluded with prayer.
Wednesday Morning.
Soon after half-past seven again believers began to assemble. The meeting was much as on the previous morning, only it was evident that there was a growing spirit of prayer, and almost the whole time was taken up in earnest crying to God. The coming of the Lord was frequently referred to at all the meetings, though the subject was not so prominent as on some other occasions. At nearly ten o’clock the meeting separated after singing―
“Now in a song of grateful praise
To our dear Lord our voice we raise;
With all His saints well join to tell,
Our Jesus has done all things well,” etc.
Wednesday Noon.
After silent waiting on the Lord, and singing a hymn, a great number of requests for prayer were read, especially for God’s blessing on the gospel in various parts of Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales, and other parts of the world. This was followed by many earnest, brief, pointed prayers. After which Mr. H. H. SHELL rose, and called attention to the very solemn and practical tone of these meetings. Almost all the addresses had been exhorting us to a higher character of walk. He believed that one mark of blessing resulting from these meetings would be an increase of personal, heart-felt fellowship with the Lord. We are the Lord’s―purchased, and made nigh to God by the blood of Christ―our present strength, joy, and blessing are connected with abiding in Him. We often feel need, we thirst for something we lack; what is the remedy? Looking away unto Jesus, hiding in Him, drinking more deeply into His love. The Israelites thirsted after they had tested of the water from the smitten rock; and what was their remedy? God commanded Moses to speak to the rock, and it shall give forth its waters” (you can read it in Numbers 20:7-117And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 8Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink. 9And Moses took the rod from before the Lord, as he commanded him. 10And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? 11And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. (Numbers 20:7‑11)). We are told, in 1 Corinthians 10:44And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. (1 Corinthians 10:4), that rock was Christ. There was need only to speak to the rock, and refreshing streams of water would flow out Moses sinned. He altered one word of God, he smote the rock, instead of speaking to it. How we should honor God’s word! How accurate it is! Water, however, came out, and the Israelites were refreshed. They not only saw the water, but they drank it. We should drink in the living stream of God’s love in Christ by meditating on the scriptures. Two results followed: first, they were courteous to the Edomites; and secondly, they fought the battles of the Lord valiantly. He then concluded by referring to illustrations in the New Testament, to shew the necessity of personal communion with the Lord Jesus for peace of soul, godly walk, and service.
Mr. WHITFIELD read Psalms 27:1-41<<A Psalm of David.>> The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. 3Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. 4One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple. (Psalm 27:1‑4). He remarked on the blessedness of having God For our light, salvation, and strength, as giving full deliverance from all fear, and victory in every conflict. He pointed out also the importance of a single eye― “one thing have I desired of the Lord,”―and the need of watchfulness; but through sin a cloud may come on the conscience, and separate our souls from communion with God.
Mr. RAINSFORD spoke on the security of the believer as presented to us in Hebrews 6:13, 2013For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, (Hebrews 6:13)
20Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. (Hebrews 6:20). He began by noticing that God’s motives and resources are all in Himself. “I will bless thee,” that is, without fail, without measure and without end. He said that the sincerity of the intention of the Promiser, the stability of God’s purpose, and the certainty of the fulfillment of it, the very things that unbelief questions, are the very things to which God swears to. That the blessing of Abraham was at least the promise of the Seed-justification, adoption, the promise of the Holy Ghost, and of the inheritance. He also enlarged on the oath of God in addition to the promise, being not to make the blessing more certain, but to give us “strong consolation.” That believers are here spoken of as “heirs of promise,” and as “having fled for refuge to lay bold of the hope set before us.”
After singing―
“I’m pilgrim and a stranger.
Rough and thorny is the road,
Often in the midst of danger;
But it leads to God,” etc.
Mr. BARTON closed the meeting with prayer.
Wednesday Evening.
The room was very crowded. After singing, reading a large number of requests for prayer, sad much supplication, Mr. CODE read Exodus 13:1-161And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine. 3And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten. 4This day came ye out in the month Abib. 5And it shall be when the Lord shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt keep this service in this month. 6Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the Lord. 7Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters. 8And thou shalt show thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the Lord did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt. 9And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the Lord's law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the Lord brought thee out of Egypt. 10Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in his season from year to year. 11And it shall be when the Lord shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, as he sware unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it thee, 12That thou shalt set apart unto the Lord all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the Lord's. 13And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem. 14And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the Lord brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage: 15And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the Lord slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast: therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all that openeth the matrix, being males; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem. 16And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes: for by strength of hand the Lord brought us forth out of Egypt. (Exodus 13:1‑16). He drew attention to God’s speaking there of the first-born of Israel as His own, and typical of us: “Sanctify unto me―they are mine.” Four times we are told, “By strength of hand have I brought them out of Egypt.” They were God’s; redeemed by power, and by blood. This is what God has done for us, we are made nigh to God by the blood of Christ, quickened together, raised up together, and made sit together in heavenly places in Christ. We are God’s. He says of us, “They are mine.” He then made some important remarks on sanctification― “Sanctify unto me”―and enlarged on our obligations as God’s dear children to be separate from all evil. He referred to the seventh verse to show how decided God is on this point. First, they were to eat unleavened bread—a type of Christ. Secondly, no leavened bread was to be seen with them; third, no leaven, which would make leavened bread, was to be seen in all their quarters.
There was then sung―
“Jesus! the name I love so well,
The name I love to bear;
No saint on earth its worth can tell,
No heart conceive how dear.
“This name shall shed its fragrance still
Along the thorny road,
Shall sweetly smooth the rugged hill
That leads me up to God.
“And there, with all the blood-bought throng,
From sin and sorrow free,
I’ll sing the new eternal song
Of Jesus love to me.
Mr. JOHN HAMBLETON gave an address, on “Jesus only.” First he exhorted the Lord’s children to think of “Jesus only” as their wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. And secondly, although there was reason to believe that scarcely any unconverted persons were present, still, if there were only a few, he affectionately addressed them on “Jesus only” being God’s way of salvation, and earnestly warned them to flee from the wrath to come.
Mr. H. G. GUINNESS then gave out―
“Yes, we part, but not forever;
Joyful hopes our bosoms swell;
They who love the Saviour never
Know a long, a last farewell.
Blissful unions
Lie beyond the parting vale.
“O, what meetings are before us:
Brighter far than tongue can tell:
Glorious meetings, to restore us
Him with whom we long to dwell.
With what raptures
Will the sight our passions swell.”
Before singing he briefly called attention to the solemnity of such meetings, and the need of watchfulness lest we brought unbelieving prayers to God, instead of the prayer of faith: “Let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.”
These happy meetings were closed with prayer.
Thursday Morning, January fifth.
A christian gentleman invited about 150 believers to breakfast at an hotel, after which there was again exposition of the scriptures and prayer. At noon, they were all conveyed in carriages to his residence, about five miles from Dublin, to an early dinner; after which meetings of the same character were resumed. After asking the blessing of God in prayer, Mr. RAINSFORD spoke of the goodness of God― His character, the blessing of those who trusted Him, and the recognition of such that God had, is taught in Nahum 1:77The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. (Nahum 1:7). “The Lord is good, He is a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knoweth them that trust in Him.”
Mr. J. T. TRENCH said that much had been brought before us at the late meetings on practical godliness, but he thought there were three things necessary for spiritual attainment. First, the right object; secondly, right principles; thirdly, power—the power of the Holy Ghost. He happily enlarged on these points, and gave several illustrations from scripture.
Mr. W. REID; of Edinburgh, referred to parts of Colossians 2, to show that God in His rich grace called us into union with Christ our Head, “having forgiven us all trespasses,” and exhorted believers to rely on God for grace and strength for practical holiness, and all other things: God having given us His Son; what then can He withhold?
The meeting was adjourned till after tea, when Mr. H. H. Sward, referred to the three things brought forward in the afternoon by Mr. Trench, and said that if we would have “right principles,” they could only be got from God’s word, and that by prayerful, diligent searching. Never, perhaps, was there more need of this than in the present day. We should refuse everything that has not the authority of the written word of God. The importance of rightly dividing the word of truth can scarcely be overrated; for we live in a lay when a number of opposite things are jumbled together, and great confusion is the result. What can be more distinct in scripture than “law” and “gospel?” How many times too the word gospel is presented in scripture in various aspects. We read of “the gospel preached to Abraham,” “the gospel of the kingdom,” “the gospel of the grace of God,” “the gospel of Christ,” “gospel of God,” what Paul called “my gospel,” and” the everlasting gospel.” Surely these various expressions are not given to us without a meaning. Then, again, you bear some speaking of “the kingdom of heaven,” and “the church,” as if they were synonymous lie then called attention to the following texts, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:22And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matthew 3:2)); “The church, which is His body” (Ephesians 1:22, 2322And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1:22‑23)); and, “the seventh angel sounded, and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign forever and ever. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their thrones, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God” (Revelation 11:15, 1615And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. 16And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, (Revelation 11:15‑16)); and then endeavored to shew the difference between “the kingdom of heaven” and “the church of God,” as an example of the necessity of digging deeply into the Scriptures, if we would have right principles.
Mr. TURPIN called attention to believers walking in love, to put on, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering, forbearing one another in love, &c.
Mr. J. ALFRED TRENCH most solemnly and earnestly called attention to the Lordship of Christ, as emphatically a truth for the times. He referred to the way in which this was set aside by many, and that Jude spoke of the last times as characterized by “denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” He shewed that the Holy Ghost alone taught us to own and confess Jesus as Lord (1 Corinthians 12:33Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. (1 Corinthians 12:3)) that when evil abounded among the Corinthian saints, the Holy Ghost, through the apostle, continually in his First Epistle, insisted on the Lordship of Christ; and in Paul’s Second Epistle to Timothy, when also terrible failure had set in, he most pointedly called attention to the Lordship of Jesus. He also gave references to Scripture, to shew the blessing always connected with obeying the Lord Jesus, and gave earnest exhortations to believers, to search and see if any were lacking in punctually carrying out the commands of Jesus our Lord.
Mr. T. S. HENRY then gave out the hymn beginning―
Lord Jesus, are we one with thee?
O height, O depth of level
Once slain for He upon the tree,
We’re one with thee above;”
and the meeting separated.
Friday, January 6th.
Today upwards of 100 believers breakfasted, dined, and took tea together, at the invitation of another Christian gentleman. A good part of the day was spent in united prayer, and short expositions of the Scriptures. Mr. Bewley read Romans 14 to 15:6. Mr. Whitfield spoke on the necessity of being without care, making our requests known unto God, and being thankful, if we would experience “the peace of God;” and also on dwelling on things godly, to enjoy the presence of “the God of peace.” Mr. Reid exhorted to walking in love, &c., and Mr. Rainsford expounded Paul’s prayer to the Ephesian saints, in chapter 3. In the evening Mr. Bewley read John 15. Mr. Code called attention to verse 3, “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you,” and shewed that all our blessing proceeds from God’s perfect love to us, and that it is so complete that “He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified,” and we are also told, that “as He is, so are we in this world.” Mr. Cross made, also, some remarks on the two natures of the believer. Mr. Disney also called attention to the connection between love and knowledge in Philippians 1, “That your love may abound yet more and more in all knowledge, and in all judgment.” After which the meeting concluded by singing, “Glory, honor, praise, and power.”
Saturday Evening.
Another Christian gentleman invited several believers to tea, and to spend the evening in prayer and praise, in reference to the meetings of the week. It was a blessed time. About fifty prayers were uninterruptedly presented to God; for the most part brief, pointed, and earnest. At the request of some English present, prayer was often made for revival of the work of God in England. After which Mr. SNELL remarked, that he judged that the secret of their blessing in Ireland was the earnest, simple spirit of prayer to the Father in the name of Jesus. He exhorted them to watch on this point, and to be alarmed the moment the spirit of prayer declined. He read parts of Revelation 17 18. 19, and 21 to show―1st, that there was a mighty power of Satan all around us, and that we needed the power of the Spirit as much to discern “the harlot,” as “the Bride the Lamb’s wife;” 2nd, in Babylon “gold” stands at the top of the list, and “souls of men” last; with true, earnest saints the worth of souls was uppermost; 3rd, Babylon, the false thing, is most attractive to the senses, but gives nothing for the conscience and heart— her wine from the golden cup only intoxicates; 4th, our glory is not in scarlet and precious atones, but the fine linen a the righteousness of saints, and our cup is the cup of blessing―the communion of the blood of Christ. Drinking of this cup, we shall flourish and prosper in the things of God. Let a beware of taking even a sip out of the harlot’s cup.
Mr. J. HAMELETON said he would like to add a few words to confirm what had just been said He exhorted the dear saints in Ireland to cultivate this spirit of prayer, and to watch against the ten thousand ways in which Satan is seeking to allure us through the eye and ear, and hoped we should discern between those things which differed, and live upon “Jesus only,” hold fast “Jesus only,” drink out of the cup of “Jesus only,” and glory in “Jesus only.”
The believers now separated, blessing God for a week of remarkable refreshment and blessing, after singing―
Now, to a song of grateful praise,
To our dear Lord our voice will raise;
With all His saints will join to tell,
Our Jesus, has done all things well.”