tion for his various duties, and to general reading. As years passed on he became a successful Class-leader, a thoughtful Preacher, always acceptable in the pulpits of our best Metropolitan chapels, and has faithfully served in the various Methodist Stewardships.

In 1854 he removed to Chipping Norton, entering the woollen factory of Mr. William Bliss, who had then laid the foundation of the business which has since so largely extended. Methodism was in a very low state in the town, the Reform' agitation having all but ruined the Society. At such a time Mr. Beauchamp's influence was of special importance to the Ministers, whom he loyally and zealously supported. Better days soon dawned, and under a sermon preached by the Rev. Jakeh Oats, a gracious revival began, and many were added to the Lord, amongst them being the present mayor of Chipping Norton, Mr. Thomas Mace.

In 1861 Mr. Beauchamp returned to London to manage the town branch of the Chipping Norton firm, and married Amelia, third daughter of Mr. Edwin Bliss. Mr. and Mrs. Beauchamp worshipped for some years at City-Road Chapel, and took an active part in Church work, especially the Chequer-Alley Mission, until their removal to the North of London. From this time Mr. Beauchamp has taken an increasing share in Methodist affairs, not only in his own Circuit, but throughout the country. We believe that he attributes the interest he takes in Connexional matters largely to the influence of the late Rev. John Bedford, who in later years always made Mr. Beauchamp's house his home when visiting London.

When the great Thanksgiving Fund movement was inaugurated, Mr. Beauchamp threw himself heartily into it, and by his generous promise of two thousand guineas gave the undertaking a most valuable impetus.

Space would fail us for the enumeration of the various other organizations which Mr. Beauchamp has in one way or another aided; but we may mention that he is a member of almost all our Connexional Committees, a generous supporter of all our Methodist Funds, and has been a member of the Representative Conference ever since its formation. He was also one of the promoters of the Leys School, and has been an occasional contributor to our periodical literature, setting in this respect an example which we should be glad to see followed by others of our educated and intelligent Methodist laymen. Whilst taking part in various social and political movements, Mr. Beauchamp has ever sought to give his best energies to the work of Christ's Church, and has never allowed other claims to interfere with that most important service. Every good cause finds in him a ready and generous friend, and he is as much to be depended upon

for help in the Sunday-night prayer-meetings and other services in his own chapel, as he is in the more prominent gatherings over which he is so frequently called to preside. In short, it may fairly be said that he is a representative layman of the very best sort: a man who gives cheerfully, time, thought, and money to the great work which Methodism has in hand. Such men are the backbone of our Churches. Whilst we are so rich in godly, intelligent men of business, we need have no fear of declining power and influence.

GOD WITH US, AS WITH OUR FATHERS.

BY THE REV. CHARLES GARRETT, PRESIDENT OF THE
CONFERENCE.

'The Lord our God be with us, as He was with our fathers: let Him not leave us, nor forsake us.'-1 KINGS VIII. 57.

IN

(Concluded from page 204.)

N the second place there is the earnest petition offered that God may be with the children, as He was with the fathers: 'The Lord our God be with us, as He was with our fathers.' We have seen how He was with the fathers, and how He made the 'little one a thousand, and the small one a great nation;' and is there one of us who can help lifting up his heart, and praying that God may be with us, as He was with them? Take care-let me speak a word of warning. I must do it-take care that you rest on no arm but that of the Almighty. We have many advantages. We have the advantage of numbers; we have the advantage of wealth; we have the advantage of learning; we have the advantage of organization; we have the advantage of the sympathy of other Churches; we have the advantage of having the cooperation of influences, some secular and some social, that marvellously help us in our work. We have all that; but there is a voice from heaven saying to us to-night, 'Without Me ye can do nothing.' No; increase your wealth, learning, influence, and perfect your organization; but without the Spirit of God no heart will ever be broken, and no soul will ever be saved. O! lift up your hearts, and say, 'Lord be with us, as Thou wast with our fathers.' That is what we want, brethren. We have a great work to do. Methodism has not done its work. Our work, I say, is to 'spread Scriptural holiness through the land.' We have not done that yet. We have not done it in the big towns and in the cities; we have not even done it in the villages. There is therefore a great work for us to do. The world needs Methodism to-day as much as ever it did. God forbid that I should speak one word that would pain the mind of any member of another Church, but I cannot look out on some of the

other Churches without deep anxiety and pain. I look in one direction, and see Popery throwing its withering blight upon the fairest and the best. I look in another direction, and I see Socinianism sapping the very life and vigour of the Church. And when I see other Churches divided and distracted, and remember that the Church is the only organization that God has called into existence in order that souls may be won for Christ and heaven, I see that there is need of Methodism, and a great work for her to do.

Then what is our duty? Certainly to be prepared for the work. And how better can we be prepared for the work than by catching the spirit, and imitating the example, of our fathers? We boast that we are Methodists. Take care that men see the family likeness. It is said of Alexander the Great that he had in his army a man who was reported to him as being a coward, and whose name was Alexander. The Emperor went to him one day, and said, 'Is thy name Alexander?' The man said it was; whereupon the Emperor said, 'Then thou must either change thy name or change thy conduct.' And so I would whisper to some, change your name or change your conduct. I ask again-Is there a family likeness in you? Are you remarkable for your simple, strong faith? Put the question to yourselves-Have I the family likeness? Are you remarkable for your love? Has the Love-feast a charm for you far more than the ball-room or the theatre? Do you love one another with pure hearts fervently? Do you love your Bible? Do you hide it in your heart? Are you, 'mighty in the Scriptures'? Are the promises your richest treasure? Are the precepts your constant guide? Is there a family likeness? And zeal. Are your markable for this? Are you a volunteer or a pressed man? Have you been to your Superintendent and said, 'Here am I; send me? Do you want a Sunday-school teacher ?—here am I; do you want a tractdistributer?—here am I; do you want a worker in the Band of Hope? -here am I.' Is the zeal of the Lord's house eating you up? Do you speak to all about you about the Saviour, ' telling to all around what a dear Saviour you have found?' Are you remarkable for your holiness? Do you adorn the doctrine of God your Saviour in all things'? Are you remarkable for your happiness? Does your bright face and glad heart recommend religion to those around you? Do men 'take knowledge of you, that you have been with Jesus'? If so, you have a right to expect that the Lord will be with you, as He was with your fathers. God delights to be with men. He tells us His 'delights are with the sons of men.' Now, God will not leave us unless we force Him away. How can we do that? you say. You can do it in many ways. You can do it by disloyalty. Take care that your loyalty be

6

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re

perfect. Let no one persuade you to do dishonour to your Saviour, to be disloyal to your God. You can drive Him away by your worldliness. There is our special danger. Wealth increases, and then temptations come. We want to copy the example of those about us. Somebody else has a bigger house, and we must have larger ones too. Somebody else has started a carriage and pair, now our one horse will not do, we also must have two. And the result is that in many cases it takes all our wealth to support our own extravagance, and we have very little left for the Church, or the world around. O, beware of worldliness! If any man love the

world, the love of the Father is not in him.'

Avoid the ball-room, avoid the theatre, avoid the public-house. Pander not to self and sense, but cling to Christ, and love your Bible. 'Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.' We have to win the world for Christ. Go to your knees and cry to God that He may qualify us for the work. God has taught us again and again that we can do no great work without His presence. When Abraham was going out to an unknown country, God promised to be with him. When Moses was going to lead the children of Israel across the wilderness he said, 'If Thy presence go not with us, carry us not up hence.' I would sooner not go than go without Thee. But God assured him of His presence, and he went on. So when Christ was sending out His Apostles to convert the world, what was His own blessed word? 'Lo! I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.' I am with you; My presence shall be your strength, and guide, and glory. If that is so, my brethren, when we go out into the world we need not fear men nor devils. Through God we shall do valiantly. O!I beseech you let us cry as one man here, and say, 'Lord be with us, as Thou wast with our fathers: leave us not, nor forsake us.'

And now, before we part, I want to say a word or two to any who are here, and are not saved.

Mine is the last appeal that you will ever hear from this pulpit. Many a time in this place you have heard the word of warning. Many a time you have been almost persuaded' to be Christians, but you have delayed. I come to-night and I ask thee, my brother, my sister, for the last time from this pulpit, to come to Christ. He is here to-night. Here mighty to save. O let the last service be the time of decision. Why not? You have put it off and off. Don't put it off any longer; but now as I speak let the cry go up to heaven, 'I will arise and go to my Father.' He is waiting to receive thee. O! why should not heaven be made glad to-night by the conversion of souls to Christ? Why not? All things are now ready, and God is waiting to be gracious.

'Come, all the world; come, sinner, thou!

All things in Christ are ready now.'

O! come this last evening. Come before I close the book. Come before my voice is silent. Come to Christ to-night, and thou shalt obtain eternal life. Is there a wanderer here? O! come back. You are perhaps thinking of the 'peaceful hours' you once 'enjoyed' in this sanctuary, but now you have an aching void, the world can never fill.' Come back. I bring a message to thee. That message is, 'Return unto Me, and I will return unto you.' Come back, and let the God of your fathers be your God for ever and ever. Christian friends, my brethren and sisters in Christ, we go from this place to-night never to come back again. I pray you

'Bear in your faithful minds the end,

And keep the prize in view.'

We shall not meet again until the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised. O! let us be faithful.

it to

It is a grand name that we bear. Keep it so that it shall be grander still when you part with it. Let it be a brighter name when you leave your children than when you received it from your father. Let us to-night, in the presence of each other, and, it may be, in that of our sainted founder, pledge ourselves; let others do as they will, we will try to be simple Methodists-men of faith, zeal, love, holiness and happiness, making the world better than we found it, living near heaven, having power with God, and bringing heaven down to men. Shall it be so? Then will this night be a blessed night. We shall go away 'strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.' And now I leave my message: 'The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.' May 'the Lord our God be with us, as He was with our fathers: let Him not leave us, nor forsake us,' for Christ's sake. A men.