OUR CHRISTMAS NUMBER. DINNERS to Poor Children in Clerkenwell. The Special Christmas Double Number of Word and Work,' DECEMBER 23rd (ordinary price, One Penny), will be published on Wednesday, December 22nd, and will contain special and seasonable articles full of interest to all. ORDER EARLY OF YOUR BOOKSELLER. We trust many of our readers will aid us, by ordering of their bookseller one or two extra copies and sending them to their friends. As we anticipate a large extra demand for this special number, orders should be given early, so that copies may be secured on day of publication. "Word and Work" Special Christmas Number. December 23rd. Publications. Just published. In tinted wrapper. THE FIRST ADVENT. Watch Night at Bethlehem-Ascription of Praise by the Angels-Blessings vouchsafed to Mankind-Does the Language of Earth correspond with that of Heaven ?-Thoughts on these subjects by the late Dean Goode. Price 9d. per doz., 58. per 100. Llandudno: HERBERT TOMKINSON, 45A, Mostyn Street. London: JOHN F. SHAW & Co., 48, Paternoster Row. TO PILGRIMS AT LLANDUDNO. A PRAYER AND A PROMISE. Beautifully printed in black and crimson on stiff cardboard Suitable for a Christmas present. Post free, 3d. each, or 28. 9d. per dozen, from Llandudno: HERBERT TOMKINSON, 45A, Mostyn Street. London: JOHN F. SHAW & Co. New Year Addresses. 32pp. Illustrated., One Penny each, or 18. per dozen. CLINGING and CLIMBING, By REV. GEORGE EVERARD, M.A.. BE QUICK! For the Young. By J. FORBES MONCRIEFF. 16pp. 6d. per dozen. By REV. J. B. FIGGIS, M.A. WILLIAM CATLIN, Gen. Supt. FUNDS URGENTLY NEEDED. COLLECTING CARDS ON APPLICATION. FURNITURE.-NORMAN & of STACEY'S SYSTEM. commends itself to all classes. Deposit not necessary. It combines real economy on sound commercial principles, with strictly private arrangements, without the objectionable formalities dealers and others. Payments can extend over 1, 2, or 8 years. The 60 wholesale firms embrace the best manufacturers, who have large stocks for selection. Intending purchasers should call personally, or send for particulars.-Offices, 79, Queen Victoria St., E.C., 121, Pall Mall, 8.W., and 9, Liverpool Street, E.C., Carriage Paid. FITS! FITS!! FITS!!! ALL PERSONS SUFFERING FROM EPILEPSY Should send Name and Address to JAMES OSBORNE, Medical Pharmacy, ASHBOURNE, DERBYSHIRE, who will forward, free of charge, full particulars (with Testimonials) of the most successful Remedy ever aiscovered for this dis tressing malady, and which is now sent to all parts of the world. Reference permitted to the Rev. J. BAKER, M.A., A 80, Bolton Road, Pendleton, Manchester. WRITE TO-DAY. Write for this valuable little book. Fifty Years' Record of Facts, Principles, and Discoveries Relating to the Im COPY provement and Preservation of Human Life on Earth. 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Apply at the Office of the BIRKBECK FREEHOLD LAND SOCIETY, as above. The Birkbeck Almanack, with full particulars. on application. FRANCIS RAVENSCROFT, Manager. CHRISTMAS CRIES FIELD LANE REFUGES AND AND CHRISTMAS COMFORTS. "I have COMPASSION on the multitude, because they have NOTHING TO EAT."-Matt. xv. 32. "Whoso hath this world's gooas, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of COMPASSION from him, how dwelleth the love of God in Him?"1 John iii. 17. EVANGELISTIC MISSION. Following in the footsteps of Him who had compassion on the hungry multitude, this MISSION endeavours not only to preach the Gospel to the Poor, but as far as possible to relieve their Bodily Necessities. While these are always great, they are greater at this season of the year, aud keenly felt. A celebrated preacher once said he "did not think any man was ever converted while he had cold feet;" and it is painfully evident that the destitute condition of many interposes a barrier in the way of their reception of the Gospel. Will some of our friends, by the exercise of a little SELF-DENIAL, enable us to do something to roll away this stone, by providing funds for the FREE MEALS, which have been occasions of such undoubted good in past years that we desire to repeat and, if possible, extend them as follows:- kind 1. To the AGED and DESTITUTE POOR in several Districts. 2. To FRIENDLESS and FALLEN WOMEN (largely attended and greatly blessed on previous occasions in preference to "Midnight Meetings"). 3. To MOTHERS connected with the Mothers' Meetings (with a gift of clothing, where specially needed), ORPHANS, and DESTITUTE CHILDREN in various parts of London. As last year, I rejoice to be able to state that the Gospel Meetings, held at the respective Halls and other places in London and the Provinces, are largely attended by those hitherto unreached by ordinary religious agencies, many of whom appear to have given evidence of true conversion to God in a changed life. The RELIEF FUND is now exhausted, though truly needy and deserving cases frequently come before me which call for ministry of various kinds. Relief is chiefly given either in food, fuel, or clothing, or in suitable employment when possible. THE GENERAL CURRENT EXPENSES FUND is also in much need of help. "The harvest truly is plenteous, but the iabourers are iew." C. RUSSELL HURDITCH. 164, Alexandra Road, St. John's Wood, London, N,W. RAGGED SCHOOLS Maintain and benefit 3,500 persons weekly. CRECHE FOR INFANTS. HOMES FOR BOYS AND GIRLS. REFUGES FOR MEN AND WOMEN. We have already overdrawn our account at the Banker's £1,000. £1,600 is required to enable us to close the year free from debt. Will any of your Readers kindly send a Contribution? HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF CONNAUGHT has characterised the work of this Institution as "A perfect network of charitable operations-an immense boon to the poor. THE LATE EARL OF SHAFTESBURY, K.G. (the late President of the Institution), said: "His Royal Highness has not said a word too much-every word he has uttered is well merited by the Institution and those who conduct it.' President: THE EARL OF ABERDEEN, K.G. Treasurer: WILFRID A. BEVAN, Esq., 54, Lombard Street, E.C. MESSRS. BARCLAY, BEVAN, & Co., 54, Lombard Street, E.C. Contributions thankfully received by the Treasurer, Bankers, or by PEREGRINE PLATT, Secretary, Vine Street, Clerkenwell Road, E.C. An earnest appeal for eighty £5 notes The COMMITTEE of the LATYMER ROAD MISSION earnestly ask for help from the readers of Word and Work. The funds are unusually low, and in order to close the present year free of debt upwards of £400 are wanted. The expenses of the Mission at this time of the year are very heavy. The children are looking forward to their usual Christmas treat, and the Committee wish to have funds in hand for their Soup Kitchen and Relief Funds. Many poor people are already applying for assistance, but our exchequer is exhausted. The following are some of the Agencies: Gospel Meetings, Temperance Meetings, Evening Subscriptions, however small, may be sent to Scripture Readers' Society for Ireland. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9th, 1886. Topics-Terse and Timely 825 God as Father God as Judge 826 Modern Bocinianism From a Hearer's Notes......... 827 For the Young 829 Prayer Heard and Answered...... 29 Cage Lane Mission....... 830 Dr. Somerville in Highlands... 830 A Supper for Seamen ..... 830 Mission Work in Taverns ......... 830 Correspondence 836 PAGE 833 833 834 835 Satisfaction without Atonement 835 836 837 Rescue Work......... ........ ........ 837 Leaf from the Ship's Log Personal Dealings... Hammersmith Y.M.C.A. Home Mission Notes... ...... 838 838 ... 838 838 838 839 Nine Elms Mission Mount Hermon Orphan Homes 840 Governesses and the Holidays 836 "The Grace of God in Dufftown" 810 Barbican Mission to Jews ...... 836"The Increase". The Sailors' Rest, Marseilles... 887 A Princeton Professor Nelson Street Ragged Schools 837 Notices of Books Village Churches 837 810 840 841 Forthcoming Meetings 842 A Band of Witnesses. BY PEARL FISHER. LAST week I went East, this week I have gone West; finding in Notting Hill much to interest and encourage. The quiet and plodding, but earnest and prayerful, work carried on by the Latymer Road Mission abounds in delightful tokens for good. Many whom I have met personally are indeed living witnesses of the power of Christ to save from the lowest depths and unto the uttermost all that come unto God by Him. In The district, be it noted, needs such work. Although in the West End, it is inhabited by the poorest classes, and a large proportion of the houses are sublet in one-room tenements. Many houses, however in the district are occupied by respectable working men, and are by no means overcrowded. very many instances the women are the bread-winnerssorely to the ill-being of the children, who are, from the youngest age, left pretty much to themselves. Drink is the too common bane of the neighbourhood. Such is the locality occupied by the Latymer Road Mission, which, for a number of years, has been doing good service amongst old and young. The great hope, it is felt, lies in the children, and amongst these its efforts have been very successful-the Sunday afternoon school now numbering over four hundred children. Why don't you go home to bed?" Please, sir, mother aint home yet." "When will she be home?" "Ten o'clock." Her simple story is eloquent enough. It must be remembered there are here also children of respectable parents, who gladly encourage their little ones to come here instead of playing about in the streets at night. In the Shelter the boys read and amuse themselves; the girls (in a separate room) read and learn to sew. For both boys and girls night schools are held by certificated teachers. But it may be said, "This is not Gospel work." Direct Gospel work and earnest efforts to win the children to Christ are chiefly to be found in the Sunday schools (morning and afternoon), and the children's services; but in the Shelter they are under Christian influence, and from it, it is hoped, they have received first impressions which have led them to the Saviour. For the very tiny ones there is the Crêche, where mother leaves her baby before going to work, to have it amused, tended, and cared for. Better far than that it should be locked in all-day, with, perhaps, a sister not much older to mind it, or placed out in the care of some elderly person who has no special convenience for the comfort of the infants. In coming, as these mothers do, morning and evening to the mission, splendid opportunities are afforded for direct dealing and personal invitation to the services. Gospel Services. Specially for the adults there is not only the Sunday evening Gospel service-where many of the most careless are to be found, brought by the personal influence of Christian working men and women-but also the week-day Gospel service and the Gospel Temperance meeting on Mondays. Owing to the great amount of intemperance in the district great importance is attached to the latter meeting. A Christian working men's band has been formed-chiefly of men saved from the power of strong drink-and the members not only pray for their workmates and neighbours, but stimulate one another to endeavour to bring them in. Many instances have occurred from time to time showing the real efficacy of this personal effort. The man, whose changed life is known by every corner lounger, has a singular power (when he is brave enough to face a little harmless chaff) over these men. They know what he was, they see what he is. Several such resolute witnesses may be found amongst the Gospel Temperance Band. It will be interesting to give a few instances of the blessing God has been pleased to bestow on this personal work, watchfulness for individual souls, and earnest prayer. How He was Won. Here is one; long known, under a very significant sonbriquet, as an habitual drunkard and corner loafer. To-day he is serving God faithfully, walking soberly and righteously, and seeking what in him lies by personal testimony and quiet persuasion to lead others to Christ. Not only is he a useful worker at the mission, but he is also a member and officebearer in a neighbouring church. How has the change been wrought? Simply, so far as the instrumentality goes, through the open-air service and the persevering efforts of the mission manager, who kept at him, went to him again and again, and at length induced him to attend the mission services and hear words whereby he was saved-saved from the very mire of sin. The little one came, true to her word, and Mr. Macaulay wrote a letter to the parents, asking them to permit her to attend. They were pleased at the attention shown, and consenting: She continued from that time regularly to attend, and by and by her mother and she, gave every evidence of a genuine change. The father is even now apparently under conviction of sin and struggling into light. The home is simply a new home" in every way. One more instance must I give. Mr. Macaulay has been for some time visiting the home of every child in the schools 66 Came and See. Such are a few cheering tokens, gleaned from many such, in this West-end district. God has been pleased to bless the work greatly. Only a tithe of the efforts have I mentioned, but these are illustrative of the work going on daily all the year round. In every way, and at all points, the mission seems to touch the people. Even for those who are out of work a woodchopping business has just been started (a lady helper in charge)-not to give regular employment, but to assist the destitute at the pinch, by affording them the opportunity of earning something towards the support of their families. Surely many readers will help this effort by sending promptly orders to the mission for firewood. Then at the cocoa concerts, held on Saturday evenings, a pleasant hour or two may be spent in a harmless way, and very largely to the helping of those who have been accustomed to spend that evening in the public house. Both old and young find constant delight in these Saturday evenings, which do good service in attracting and interesting some it would be hard to reach otherwise. To many of my readers Latymer Road Mission is at the doors. May I suggest, such would do well to see for themselves? So doing they would be deeply interested, and not a little stirred, by the varying phases of the mission efforts. May I add there is very urgent need for more workers and liberal help? Too frequently this neighbouring mission is overlooked in helping those further off. Let not the other suffer, but let this one close by the doors be also helped. I understand the funds are unusually low, while at this season there is special necessity for vigorous efforts of many kinds. I trust not a few will give sympathetic attention to the statement made by the Director on page iv. Communications should be addressed: Mr. Aulay Macaulay, Latymer Road Mission, Blechynden Street, Notting Hill, W. This West End Mission is doing a good and successful work ; but it needs to be backed up by the earnest prayers and warm sympathies of those who seek the true well-being of the poor. A Call to the Weary. COME, ye weary, do not tarry, Bring to Jesus all your grief; Why your burden longer carry Heavy laden, sin distrest, Come to Jesus, He imparts On His lips is no upbraiding, Though from God thou far hast strayed, Come and welcome, do not wait, Vile and most unworthy feeling, G Notes for Bible Reading. BY CAPTAIN DAWSON. "God Speaketh." "God worketh. Job xxxiii. OD is greater than man, why dost thou strive against Him? for He giveth not account of His matters. GOD LOVES THE SINNER AND SPEAKS TO CONSCIENCE AND HEART. 14. For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth or regardeth it not. 15. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; 16. Then He openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, 17. That He may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man (that is to humble man); 18. That He may keep back his soul from the pit (from ruin), and his life from perishing by the sword (that is, from judgment). GOD SPEAKS IN ANOTHER WAY-BY SICKNESS AND PAIN. 19. He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain: 20. So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat. 21. His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out. He is a dying man. It is a solemn thing to die. It is an awful thing to die unprepared. "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." Heb. ix. 27. 22. Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers. GOD SENDS A MESSENGER FROM HEAVEN, THE SINNER'S SAVIOUR. "The grace of God that bringeth salvation." 23. If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show unto man what is right for him; 24. Then God is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver or redeem him from going down to the pit, I have found a Ransom (margin, atonement). 66 Jesus Christ is the Messenger from heaven, the Chiefest among ten thousand." He coines to vindicate GOD's righteousness and to show man that he must submit to GOD. Romans x. 3. He speaks of the Father's love, He interprets the language of heaven. He is the Great Physician to heal the sick patient. He undertakes the case. When man receives and obeys the Messenger, GOD deals in grace. GOD is just and could not pass over sin. "Without shedding of blood is no remission." GOD sent His Son. GOD found the Ransom, man could not. The Lord Jesus Christ became the sinner's Substitute. He gave His life a ransom for many. He "obtained eternal redemption for us." ATONEMENT signifies satisfaction rendered to GOD on account of sin. GOD's character as the Holy One must be vindicated, and His righteousness maintained. This could not be done if sin were not punished. CHRIST, as the Sin-bearer, gave Himself as the sacrifice for sin, and bore the judgment of Gop against sin. Thus atonement, or expiation, was effected, ani a ground provided whereby GoD can righteously pardon and accept the guilty sinner. "It is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul." sin: personal and particular. Renunciation: thorough and for ever. Return to GOD.-Isa. lv. 7. Repentance-the tear dropped from the eye of faith at the foot of the cross. 28. God will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light. Deliverance from death. Saved from the wrath to come. Light from heaven. Present comfort and everlasting happiness. 29. Lo, all these things God worketh oftentimes with man 30. To bring back his soul from the pit to be enlightened with the light of the living, or the light of life. Important question: Is it right between GoD and us? Grace-Love-Communion. Words Spoken from a West End Pulpit.* "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen." IN 'N connection with this benediction we may read the blessing which the high priest was instructed to pronounce upon the children of Israel in the book of Numbers (chap. vi. ver. 24-26), "The Lord bless thee, and keep thee; the Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: the Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." In the threefold benediction there given we have an intimation of the doctrine of the Trinity, announced in this last verse of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians, and indeed the doctrine, though dimly, yet distinctly enough, is to be found by the careful student no less in the Old Testament than in the New. * It is a mysterious doctrine, I admit; we must receive it because it is revealed in the Word, but to understand it in its depth and height is clearly beyond our finite capacity. We must approach with great reverence this doctrine of the Trinity. The word itself implies more than may at first sight appear. Not so much threefoldness as three-in-one-Tri-unity. The unity of God is the basis, but we are taught here that, while God is One, He is yet revealed to us in three distinct personalities. Let us notice the difference between distinction and division-three Persons in the one Godhead. As the Athanasian Creed has it, "We worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity, neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the substance." I do not make the attempt to explain how God is One yet Three. I do not assert that God is One in the same sense in which He is Three. This threefold distinction is brought before us perpetually in the natural world, as in the spiritual. Indeed, when we come to consider the structure of things around us, we find it on every hand. Take matter, substance, for example. I see matter, I feel matter, I believe in the existence of matter. I am told that it must have form, extension, divisibility. A great deal of the subtlety of metaphysics lies in playing with these distinctions; but, when all is said, I do not understand matter, nor do we know anything of mind in its absolute nature and intricate working. Is it wonderful that in my ignorance of matter, in my ignorance of mind, I am unable to explain the mystery of Godhead? I must be content to accept the statements of Scripture concerning it. Nature knows nothing of it. It is only as revealed to us in the Book that we become acquainted with the doctrine of the Trinity; and when we confine ourselves to the teaching of Scripture we find no difficulty in accepting it. It is revealed to us clearly in the New Testament; dimly and less directly, though yet unmistakably in the Old. I said dimly in the Old Testament. Look, for instance, at Gen. i. 26, "Let ՂԱՏ make man in our image, after our likeness." "Oh," you tell me, "that is merely the plural of dignity." Not so. It is nothing of the kind. The Hebrew language knows nothing of the plural of dignity. It is a modern distinction, a modern usage, and we cannot import it into an ancient language, * Preached on Trinity Sunday, June 20th, 1886. used by an ancient people who had never heard of such a distinction. So, again, when God says, chap. xi. 7, "Let us go down, and there confound their language," there is the same reference to threefoldness as we have in the former passage. In the well-known passage, Isa. lxiii. 9, "In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the angel of His presence saved them, in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bare them, and carried them all the days of old. But they rebelled, and vexed His Holy Spirit ; therefore He was turned to be their enemy, and He fought against them," we have the three Persons distinctly referred to-Jehovah Himself, the Angel of His presence," in whom we recognise the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, and who calls Himself" the God of Bethel" (Gen. xxxi). 13, comp. v. 11), of whom, later on Jacob speaks as "the Angel who hath redeemed me from all evil," and whom he implores to "bless the lads," Ephraim and Manasseh. You will find this "Angel of the presence," "Angel of the Lord," and "Messenger of the covenant," again and again mentioned under circumstances which leave no doubt as to His identity; and we have here a third-" His Holy Spirit, against whom they rebelled, and whom they grieved." Note, it is a Person who is spoken of. We do not grieve and vex an attribute or an influence. Therefore, we have the Triune God revealed to us in the Old Testament, as I have said. * But it is in the development of the Divine plan and purpose in the New Testament that we have "the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost" clearly made known to us. And when we come to the apostolic. benediction we have them in the order in which they have actually been revealed to us. God had manifested Himself as the Creator to all the nations of the earth; but "they did not like to retain God in their knowledge," "and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things." In heathenism we see the full extent of man's alienation from God, the intense antagonism of the creature towards the Creator; but there is enmity in every natural heart, civilised or savage, against God; and how is this great gulf, not of distance, but of dislike, to be bridged over? How is this distrust and dread to be replaced by desire and delight? That is the problem to be solved, and it is solved by "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ." * We know comparatively nothing of God until He reveals Himself in His Son. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him." "God is spirit ;" and what do I mean by spirit? Something intangible, something I cannot put into words; but if God takes human form, walks up and down amongst men, healing the sick, raising the dead, casting out devils, rebuking sin, inviting the sinner to come unto Him, comforting those in sorrow, giving sight to the blind, I can read Him, read His thoughts and His feelings in His words and deeds. That is the great meaning of the Incarnation. God tabernacling with man, that He might reveal Himself to men. men hated Him when He was thus revealed. "They hated Me without a cause." Ah! Man's hatred to God was never more fully shown than when He had fully revealed Himself in His |