F. E. LONGLEY, 39, WARWICK LANE, E.C. NEW YORK: W. C. PALMER, JUNR:, 14, BIBLE HOUSE. TORONTO: WILLARD TRACT REPOSITORY. DEDICATION. TO THE OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE ST. JOHN'S WOOD CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. MY DEAR FRIENDS, To you I inscribe this small and unpretending volume in grateful and loving remembrance of your warm attachment, your practical sympathy, your unchanging confidence, and your ready co-operation during the eight and a half years of my pastoral relation to you. These years, that seem now to have gone so quickly, were marked by incidents and experiences of no ordinary kind; such as are not likely to be forgotten. There have been times of darkness and trial; times of hardship and of weakness; times when the severer discipline seemed to be our constant portion. But the moment never came in which either pastor or flock could say, or were inclined to say, that the strong arm of God was taken away; or that His grace had ceased to be sufficient. Earthly supports were taken away. Earthly friends failed us. Earthly prospects were shadowed more and more deeply, until they grew very dark! No human eye could foresee, nor could human hand stay these things. But He who, at the time of most trying crisis, said to Moses, "My presence shall go with thee; and I will give thee rest"—and to Joshua, "Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be"and who says to His faithful servants always, everywhere, "Lo I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world"-He has never failed, never forsaken us. Poor in this world's goods, we have been rich in the evidences of Divine faithfulness and love. Weak, so far as human power is concerned, we have been" strong in the LORD, and in the power of His might." Unknown to the high and wealthy and renowned, we have been glad in the consciousness that God delighted to dwell with us. I thank Him for every cloud that has darkened around us-hiding all but Himself. When we were in the cloud it was bright with a heavenly glory; it looked dark only to those without. My heart and flesh have failed sometimes; and then you have not been slow to remind me, by deeds rather than words, of the unfailing Source of strength, and courage, and victory. For your love, and for your labours I thank you; for your prayers, and for your sympathies, I regard you; but, because the larger number of you are my own children in the Lord, and by |