is this, these reasons are all in us, and not in the gift of Christ. That is perfect, and needs but to be applied, not only in the great things, but in the little things. Do we not find that our defeats mostly come from the little things, because we are tempted to think we can do them in our own power? If we cannot take Jericho, we imagine we can at least take Ai. Luther said that all the angels in heaven had not strength to deal with one sin; but there is One who has. We shall find by realizing our contact with Him, by wholly putting ourselves into His hands, wholly trusting Him in simplicity, that even in the deepest-seated besetment He will fill us with a power which will indeed surprise us. Growing up into Him, we shall be able to bear the testimony that God is able to make, not some, but all, grace to abound towards us; that we, having not some, but all, sufficiency, in not some, but all things, may abound unto, not some, but every good work, not of our choosing, but which God hath prepared for us to walk therein. Christ our Leader and Guide in Service. ADDRESSES BY REV. E. H. HOPKINS, M.A. REV. J. B. FIGGIS, M.A. Thursday Afternoon, June 25th, 1885. HE large hall was quite filled, and after a season of silent prayer hymn 36 was sung- "Jesus, Lover of my soul, Let me to Thy bosom fly." Prayer was presented by Captain BARING, and the Rev. C. A. Fox; and the following address was given by the Chairman, the Rev. E. H. HOPKINS, M.A. Having read Romans xii. 1, 2, he proceeded: I feel that this is a very solemn meeting, because we have come here not so much to listen to truth, though we must have the truth, as to present ourselves to God solemnly, really, and truly. I remember last year going into a meeting, one of a series on this great subject, we were holding in Scotland, when, as we were entering the door, a stranger said, "What may be the particular idea that these meetings are intended to promote?" My friend answered, "The object of these meetings is to convert the idea into the reality." Now that is the object of this meeting to-day. God has blessed us so much in these days of Conference by unfolding to us His truth, and enabling us to see our privileges, that now we long to live the life we ought to live, we want to discover the hindrances that may be in the way, we want to come into His presence to be searched by Him. Many of us in times past have met together to ask especially for power. We have sought the power of the Holy Ghost; but the answer has not come. What has been the reason? Because many of us were not ready to receive the power. We have needed first of all to be spiritually adjusted. Take an illustration. You see that locomotive standing there, the steam is turned on, and it begins to move but very slowly; then it stops. What is the matter? Some one says, "Turn on more steam." "No," says the engineer; "turn off the steam." He steps off, examines the engine carefully, finds a little nut wanting, or a joint loose-something is out of joint, out of gear; that is adjusted. Now turn on the steam; then there is power, and the locomotive goes on its way. Now it is just so to-day. Let us ask God to search us, to deal with all our souls in the light of His presence, to put His finger on that which is out of harmony to Himself, to find that which is contrary to His will, and to adjust us thoroughly. God grant that in many a conflict that may take place in this hall this afternoon He may gain the victory. "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." When this spiritual adjustment has taken place when we are wholly yielded to Him, at His disposal, when our spirit, soul, and body are laid upon His altar-then the power will come and fill our souls, and it will be God working in us both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Hymn No. 55 was sung― "The sands of time are sinking; The dawn of heaven breaks, and the following address was given by the Rev. J. B. FIGGIS, M.A. Will you look at a verse in the book of Numbers, chap. xvii. 5, a verse given by dear Lord Radstock at Copenhagen?" It shall come to pass, that the man's rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom." Then Isa. xxvii. 6: "Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the earth with fruit." And Zech. iii. 2: "Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?" And one more, John xii. 24: "If it die, it bringeth forth much fruit." "The man's rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom." That is what we want to-day. Blossom is the promise of fruit, and we want to bear fruit unto God. "Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the earth with fruit." That is what we want to do; that is what we have met to talk about; that is service. Usefulness and fruitfulness, we want them both; but fruitfulness first, then usefulness. No tree is useful that is not fruitful. There may be much hurry, much zeal, much service, but we shall not please the Lord in our service unless we please the Lord in our life. There must be fruitfulness, and blossom is the promise of fruit. It may be some of those you are the means of converting shall render grand service yet; it may be that in some who have been doing quiet deaconesses' work there is stirring a disposition to go forth; it may be the Lord will say by-and-by, "As thou hast borne witness for Me in Jerusalem, so also shalt thou bear witness in Rome." Some may be pluming their wings in comparatively unknown and humble work, who may yet be sent forth to preach the everlasting Gospel to the ends of the earth. It is good to have the promise; for if there be the blossom the fruit will follow. One who is self-denying in early days, for the sake of a little sister staying at home with a sick mother, that the little one may go to some enjoyment: it is the blossom, and by-and-by we may see the fruit of self-denial in some wondrous sacrifice that shall draw forth the praise of wondering thousands. There is a beginning in these things. God grant there may be the beginning in some now present; God grant there may be blossom now, the promise of the fruit to follow. Let us remember that consecration to God is the secret of the whole thing, and, as Mr. Murray says, "Consecration to God without consecration to one another is an illusion." We long to be up and doing, seeking to win souls to Christ, to convert this and that one, to edify and build up in Jesus those who have just begun to learn the way. BUT CAN THESE THINGS BE? HOW SHALL THEY BE? WHEN WILL THEY BE? Can they be? Yes, thank God, they can be ; for hath God spoken, and shall He not perform? Hath God promised, and shall He not make it good? He said here in type, for instance, "The man's rod shall blossom." "Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the earth with fruit." Thank God for the divine "shall." It comes down to our weakness, it comes down to our feebleness, and to all our wants; and thus descending to our lowness seems to lift us up to His height. Thank God for the divine "shall." The word is full of power, assuring us in all our weakness the Omnipotent Himself is at our side. But can there be fruit-bearing in a life like mine? any beautiful blossom in a character shapen in sin like mine? How? Look at that rod, that rod of Aaron laid up there beforeTM the Lord. It is a dry rod laid up there, not planted in the garden, but laid up there before Him. What less likely to bring forth blossom and almonds? Can anything be more wonderful? Yes, one thing can. Take, instead of that rod cut from the tree, a brand plucked out the fire, and with a great deal of the fire still in it-glowing, burning, so that you can hardly hold it, barely touch it. Yet it is of that brand plucked from the fire God said, "It shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the earth with fruit." The worst of us, the weakest of us, the vilest of us, the most steeped in sin, the one who is most conscious the fire is still in his heart, may yet, by God's blessing, "blossom and bud, and fill the face of the earth with fruit." That is what God wants to see, not merely wall fruit; but, as in the case of Joseph, the branches running over the wall. Not merely fruit unto ourselves, but fruit in others, and so fruit to the praise and glory of God. God hath said it, and it shall be; but How? "If it die, it bringeth forth much fruit." Not till then, not without death. The noblest of God's workers who ever lived, the prince among human servants of our King, look at him. Look at such a man as Paul the aged, the prisoner of Jesus Christ, who laboured more abundantly in sufferings and strife and scourging, who lived a life of almost constant martyrdom, and endured hardships as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Once he was great among his fellows; see him give it all up, and come among the lowly and despised followers of the Nazarene, becoming one of them; see him going in that despised name, working for that despised Master, engaging in His service, and not finding therein a joyful welcome; but suspected, despised, contemned sometimes by his fellow-Christians, even his fellowapostles afraid of Him, and by-and-by even some of his own |