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Earl's Colne, were held on Tuesday, July 17th. The afternoon service was presided over by Rev. John Cox, of Ipswich. The Rev. G. Woodrow, of Halstead, began the service by invoking the Divine blessing. The Rev. J. Richardson, of Bures, read the Scriptures. The Rev. W, Bentley, of Sudbury, proposed the usual questions to church and pastor. The recognition prayer was offered by Rev. G. O. Frost, late of Woodbridge. The Rev. G. Rogers, theological tutor of the Rev. C. H. Spurgeon's College, then gave a solemn and impressive charge to the pastor, from 2 Cor. vi. 3. The afternoon service was concluded by the Rev. B. Johnson, of Halstead. A public tea was held in a barn kindly lent for the occasion by a member of the Society of Friends. At half-past six the proceedings of the day were resumed in the chapel, under the presidency of the Rev. G. Rogers, when the charge to the church was given by Rev John Cox, from John xv. 9. Addresses were afterwards delivered by Mr. Herbert Hill, Mr. John Cole, Mr. Spurrier, and Mr. Crudginton. A few remarks from the Revs. G. Rogers and A. H. Stote closed a highly interesting and profitable day.

CORSHAM, WILTS.-Interesting services were held in connection with the Baptist Church in this town, on Tuesday, July 24th, for the purpose of recognising the Rev. Joseph Hurlstone as pastor. The afternoon service was opened by the Rev. J. H. Wood, of Melksham. The Rev. David Wassell, of Bath, gave the charge, basing his remarks on 2 Timothy i. 8. The Rev. William Newall, of Bradford, earnestly besought the blessing of God upon the pastor and people. The Rev. S. S. Pugh, of Devizes, then addressed the church from 2 Corinthians ix. 8. The service was concluded by the Rev. H. Young, of Melksham. A public tea followed, with a meeting in the evening. The chair was taken by Mr. Wassell. After his opening address, the senior deacon made a statement relative to the invitation given and accepted. Mr. Hurlstone narrated his experience, views of doctrine, and reasons for accepting the pastorate of the church. Mr. Cox, of Bath, Mr. Wood, Mr. Young, Mr. Bayley, of Castle Coombe, and the Rev. William Cotton, Independent minister, all welcomed the new pastor. Mr. Newell followed. The chairman concluded the meeting. There was a good attendance at the tea; the congregation in the evening was very good; tokens of the Divine blessing have been granted, and the church would thank God, and take courage.

UFFCULME.-On Wednesday, July 18th, services were held in connection with the settlement of Rev. T. G. Hughes, as pastor of the United Baptist Churches of Prescott and Uffculme. The service in the afternoon was commenced by singing and prayer, the devo

tional part of the service being conducted by the Rev. J. S. Spilsbury. After this the Rev G. W. Humphreys of Wellington, delivered a lucid and telling address on "The Principle of our Denomination." Mr. Hughes stated the steps which led to his conversion, entry on the ministry, and acceptance of the pastorate at Prescott and Uffculme. The Rev. J. Field of Exeter, delivered a practical address to the church. Afterwards a public tea was give in the orchard near the chapel, when upward of 200 persons were present. In the evenin a public meeting was held, presided over b the Rev. E. Webb, of Tiverton, when th Rev. U. Foot, of Cullompton, delivered sound scriptural address, on the "Christia Ministry.' Addresses were afterwards giv by Revs. Messrs. Spilsbury, Field, Binni Humphreys, and Wood, and W. D. Horsey Esq., of Wellington.

MINISTERIAL CHANGES.-The Rev. J. E Jenkins, of Rayleigh, having, in consequen of protracted ill-health, found it necessary resign his charge, and to remove to a milder an more genial climate, has accepted a cordial in vitation to the pastorate of the church a Lyme Regis, Dorset. The Rev. D. Jenning of Lyme, has accepted a cordial invitation & the pastorate of the church at RayleighThe Rev. G. Wyard, junr., of Reading, has accepted the very cordial and unasimons invitation to the pastorate of the church at St. John's Hill, Shrewsbury.-The Rev. H. J Betts has intimated his intention to resign the pastorate of the church at Trinity Chapel Bradford.-Mr. Thomas Jermine, of Haver ford West College, has accepted the call of th Baptist church in Upper Lichfield-street Willenhall, as a co-pastor with the Rev. J Davis.-The Rev. J. Sage has intimated bi intention to resign the pastorate of the Baptis church, Kenninghall, Norfolk.-The Rev. C Short, M.A., has resigned the pastorate of the church at Mount Pleasant, after a ministry fifteen years, and has accepted a cordial is vitation from the church assembling at Townhead-street, Sheffield. Mr. Short will com mence his ministerial labours at Sheffield on the first Sunday in September.-The Eer. George Hider, of Sible Hedingham, Essex, has resigned his present pastorate, having ac cepted a cordial invitation to the oversight of the church at Newark, Notts.-The Rev. R. B. Lancaster has resigned the pastorate of the Baptist church, Regent-street Chapel, Lambeth, and is for the present at liberty to sup ply vacant churches. Address, 47, Beresfordstreet, Walworth, London.-The Rev. J. T. Felce, having resigned the pastorate of the Baptist church, Aldwinkle, Northamptonshire, has accepted an invitation to the church at Kislingbury, in the same county, and entered upon his stated labours the second Sab August

THE CHURCH.

Built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone.'

OCTOBER, 1866.

THE WORK AND THE REWARD.

BY THE REV. C. WILLIAMS.

"Then Satan answered the Lord and said, Doth Job fear God for nought ?"—Job. i. 9. OTHERS, beside Satan, have asserted that religion is wholly a selfish thing. confess that the suspicion has often crossed my own mind. When I have tened to a preacher urging on his hearers the importance of being aristians, on the ground that "Godliness is profitable for all things," and aring them that by becoming disciples of Jesus they will make "the best both worlds," I have been unable to repress the query, "Doth Job fear od for nought?" Still more, when I have listened to platform appeals for mey, has this question been suggested. The speaker frequently insists on fact, "He that giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord". "The liberal al shall be made fat"-"He that soweth bountifully shall reap also untifully" and he reminds his audience that the niggardly cannot increase eir store-"There is that withholdeth more than is meet, and it tendeth poverty." And so the collecting boxes go round after these appeals to he selfishness of human nature. What wonder if on-lookers ask, as they e a religious man dropping a sovereign into a box in the confident expecon that it will be returned to him with interest, "Doth Job fear God nought?" We don't forget that Satan is the author of our text. But all we must admit that there is some truth in it, and the force of the queson centres in the partial truth which runs through it. At the same time, the father of lies never speaks the thing that is true without intending "produce a false impression. And so on examination we discover that falsehood underlies our text. We must therefore be careful in its exposition; for Tennyson is right in holding that

"A lie which is all a lie may be met and fought with outright,
But a lie which is part a truth is a harder matter to fight."

Our business is, first to ascertain the truth that is in our text, and the

T

to expose the falsehood of the question. We cannot give an unqualified or No to the accuser of the brethren: our answer to the question, "Dothi fear God for nought?" is rather both Yes and No.

Reading through the notes of the controversy between Job and his th friends, you soon come to the conclusion that the patriarch was bitterly d appointed, sorely puzzled, and severely exercised, by the results of his li service. He had expected a better ending; and, though he cursed not Go he poured out his heart in complaints that he, a good and righteous m had met with such terrible afflictions. Now and then a light appeared him in the darkness, and at these seasons his faith in God inspired him w the hope that he would yet be vindicated hence the exclamation, know that my Redeemer liveth." It is evident that Job did not serve for nought; that he connected reward with service. And he was right doing so. The Lord God does not require any of us to serve Him with thought of reward. Hear what Moses said to the Hebrews-" And it sh come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord t God, to observe and to do all His commandments which I command th this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations the earth; and all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God." (Deut. xx 1 and 2.) And when God spake to Solomon, he repeated the promise another form-" And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy fa walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all th I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments; the I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I mised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon throne of Israel." (1 Kings ix. 4 and 5.) It is the same in the new as in t old covenant.. Peter once answered Jesus, and said, Behold, we ha forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore And this is Christ's reply-" And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say un you, that ye which have followed me in the regeneration, when the Son man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thro judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsak houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundred-fold, and shall inhe everlasting life." (Matt. xix. 28 and 29.) I hear the great apostle assuri me, as I run the gospel race, and saying, "So run that ye may obtai the incorruptible crown. And a greater than Paul in times of trial cal to me- "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown life." The Lord God does not demand of us a service to which no rewa is attached. On the contrary, He promises us well-being as a persuasi to well-doing: "Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness." The best and noble have served God, thinking of the reward. There was Moses. Was he mindful of the interests of self in his godliness? Why did he refuse. be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter? Wherefore did he leave palace for a wilderness, and renounce his position in the royal family

He made his choice,

me one of a despised and enslaved people? deeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in pt, for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward." There was I do not find that he was beyond the influence of the reward. When ling his back to the cross he raised his thoughts to the crown, and the et of the "far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" end him to speak of the "light affliction which is but for a moment." i manly candour the apostle declared, "This one thing I do, forgetting things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of Christ Jesus." Paul, the aged, having "fought a good fight," this course," and "kept the faith," waited hopefully for "the of righteousness." There was the Lord Jesus Himself, in whom was , but who rendered perfect service to the Heavenly Father. He at of self. What sustained Him in prospect of His terrible passionnflict in Gethsemane-the rejection by the multitude-the death of ary! I know that angels ministered unto Him, that the Spirit of God cre him, and that devotion to the Divine will inspired him with invinbeerage; but I also know that the glory that was to follow attracted nward. "Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, sing the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of d." My friends, we can never rise above Jesus; and if he served God, aking of the reward, it cannot be wrong for you and me to do so. "Doth 2d man fear God for nought?" I answer, No; God does not require no render a service without rewards, but has graciously promised to give a rich reward for the service he renders.

Caerlying the question of my text, which I have shown you contains a al truth, is a gross falsehood, otherwise it would not have been asked by n. The adversary meant that Job simply served God for the sake of od things which God gave him. "Hast not thou made an hedge about and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? Thou hast d the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land : put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thy face." (Job i. 10 and 11.) This was a foul libel, as the trial , on the patriarch. The hedge was broken down, his household ed, his worldly all was destroyed. Did Job curse God? Listen to "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name the Lord." Satan returned to the charge: "And Satan answered the , and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his bat put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and all curse thee to thy face." (Job. ii. 4 and 5.) Well, Job was afflicted the sole of his foot unto his crown." One sickens at the thought of ul disease that clave to him. But did he curse God? Listen to gain: "What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall ot receive evil ?" It was not for sheep and oxen, it was not for sons and ters, that Job feared God. When he had lost them he held fast his ity. Thankful for these blessings, he was faithful to God, even though

they were denied to him. True religion is always of this character. I the service of love. Our whole duty is summoned up in these two c mandments-"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart;" "Thou shalt love thy neighbours as thyself." Love serves because it can none other than serve. It is the most powerful of motives, inspiring spirit of self-sacrifice, constraining to painful toil, and making service her A tale is told of the serving man of a Scotch lord which will illustrate meaning. In troublous times, the nobleman had risked fortune and lif a rebellion. He lost the stake, and was compelled to dismiss his serva This serving man refused to leave him. "But I can no longer pay wages," said the master. "I will serve without," was the reply. "In become an exile and fare hard," said the lord. "These hands supply your need," replied the servant. That was a service of love. long as wages could be had, the man laboured for them; but rather t not serve, he was willing to toil without reward. Religion is not n self-seeking. If it came to that, the good man would serve God though t were no rewards. I speak confidently, because Bible history bears me ou the statement. Moses, we have seen, "had respect unto the recompens the reward." But was he a selfish man? Let this incident in his life dec the answer. The Israelites had worshipped the golden calf. God was ang as he is with the wicked every day. And he threatened to consume the offering to make of Moses "a great nation." But the man of God, in unselfishness of his large heart, interceded for the people, and they w spared. Nor was this all. I find he prayed: "Oh, this people have sin a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou forgive their sin-; and if not-" if a sacrifice be needed and I can bec their sin-offering-"blot me, I pray thee, out of the book which thou written." He was willing, you see, in the service of God and for the g of men, to give up "the recompense of the reward." The Apostle P who never lost sight of the prize, did not labour and suffer merely that might win the crown. Nay, he was willing to resign that crown, if ther Christ could be glorified in the salvation of the Jews. It was no light w he spake. He prefaces his declaration with this solemn asservation—“ I the truth in Christ, I lie not; my conscience also bearing me witness in Holy Ghost." And to what does all this lead? The startling stateme "I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, kinsmen according to the flesh." It was not that Paul undervalued his lation to Christ. He says in another place, speaking of "the exceller of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord," "For whom I have suffe the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Chri And yet, if that were necessary, if that might avail for the salvation of Israelites, Paul was willing to be "accursed from Christ." And if " root of the matter be in us," it would be the same with us. We must se God because we love Him. Let us be thankful that we are not put to test. Still, if all our property were taken from us, and we were left per less, to find a pillow among the stones of the way-side-if we were childless, and no little one cheered us with the sweet caress--if we were

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