All this money, it must be remembered, has come from a congregation, which though numerous, has not been rich; and it has been contributed by them, not as a compulsory tax, but in addition to the compulsory taxes which they have been compelled to pay towards the Church Establishment from which they have conscientiously dissented. We have, therefore, “not robbed other churches” for the support of our own; but all our contributions have been given on the voluntary principle, and as a freewill offering, which in many cases have, no doubt, been given as unto the Lord, and not unto men. It has indeed been contributed by a people who have often been taught the duty and importance of giving both money and personal efforts to the cause of Christ, as a testimony of allegiance to their Lord and Master, and as a means of personal prosperity and usefulness. And let any people, under the influence of religion, which is the true voluntary principle, be suitably appealed to by their minister for pecuniary help, on behalf of institutions for the spread of the gospel, and he will be far from injuring either them or himself. They will become better and happier by helping others, and he and his family will be the better and the happier too—at least such is the testimony which the pastor of Prince’s Street can bear, relative to himself, and to his liberal congregation.
Such, brethren, is our eventful and varied history, as a church and congregation, during the last thirty years—a history which, on the review, most impressively reminds your pastor of many imperfections and infirmities, which have been connected with him as a man, a christian, and a minister; and on account of which he finds it needful every day to humble himself before God, and to say, “Enter not into judgment with thy servant, O Lord;” and yet a history which, even so far as he is concerned, has afforded many remarkable manifestations of divine love and mercy. He had, for many years, an abundant degree of bodily health, which enabled him to do the work of the Lord laboriously and happily; he has had a large share of domestic comfort and privilege, and now is surrounded by a beloved family, most of whom are his spiritual as well as his natural relatives, and some of whom are gone to be for ever with the Lord; he has been privileged with a large degree of public friendship and approbation, and has many beloved and esteemed friends in surrounding churches, some of whom are of other denominations, and some of whom are the fruits of his ministry; he has, above all these things, been abundantly honoured and blessed by the Great Head of the church, in promoting the conversion of sinners, and the peace and union of the church, in whose affectionate confidence it has been his privilege to live; and though latterly health has occasionally failed, and now and then he has been admonished that his master will soon require his services in another world, yet, thanks be to God, for that degree of vigour and buoyancy which yet remains, and which he is more desirous than ever should be consecrated to your spiritual welfare; and, thanks be to God, for that good and joyful hope which he cherishes, that when his earthly labours are concluded, he shall be gathered to the fellowship of the redeemed and the Redeemer, in the many mansions of his Father’s house.
But, beloved brethren, the history of the last thirty years affords many subjects for grateful and humbling review to yourselves, as well as to your pastor. You have erected a noble chapel, which will be, I trust, during future years, as it has been during the past, the spiritual birthplace of immortal souls; you have had a Christian church formed among you, in which “one is your Master, even Christ, and all ye are brethren,” and which, through the power and grace of the Holy Spirit, has increased, from fourteen, to nearly seven hundred members; you have enjoyed, amidst the services of the sanctuary, many a time of sweet and heavenly refreshing; you have, in connection with your own place of worship, many valuable institutions, conducted by zealous and laborious individuals, and which are the salt and savour of the church; you have two very important and interesting village stations under your care, in one of which you have built a chapel, and in both of which you support a worthy missionary, preach the gospel, and teach Sunday Schools; you have cheerfully and sufficiently supported your own minister; you have paid your own congregational expences; and you have contributed to various religious objects and institutions the noble sum of twenty-two thousand five hundred pounds; and now, at the close of the first thirty years of your ecclesiastical history, you have assembled together, to review the past with humble gratitude to God; to testify your unabated attachment to the pastor of your voluntary choice; and to enter upon another thirty years, which, as they roll along, will bear away many of you, and me also, into the eternal world. “Let thy work, O Lord, appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children. And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us; and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.”
THE GOOD PASTOR.
Thirty years have rolled away,
Since that holy, happy day,
When amongst us first he came,
In his Master’s cause and name,
Hearts to gladden—souls to win
From the power of death and sin.
Thirty years their dews have shed
On his loved and honoured head,
Since, in all the glow of youth,
Champion of celestial truth,
He his hallowed task began,
Holiest work of fallen man.
Since that holy, happy day,
Many a soul hath passed away—
Many a soul that listened long,
To the pleadings, soft, yet strong,
From his kindled lips that fell,
For the Lord he loved so well.
Since that holy, happy day,
Who amongst us all can say—
Say how many hearts have felt
Stubborn pride within them melt,
As, with tenderness and love,
In the Saviour’s cause he strove?
Who shall say how many a mind,
Erewhile erring, weak, and blind,
Hath, beneath his guiding hand,
Sought and found “the better land,”—
Seen its darkness flee away
In the blaze of gospel-day?
This we know and this we feel:—
Something of his quiet zeal;
Something of his holy love,
(Likest that which blooms above)
Ever quick to soothe and bless
With its tones of tenderness;