Metropolitan Tabernacle

NO. 369

NEWINGTON MORE than one thousand persons assembled at 7 in the morning on Monday, March 18 th , to offer solemn prayer. The Rev. C. H. Spurgeon presided, and first addressed the throne of grace. He was followed by one of the deacons, Mr. W. Olney, and one of the elders, Mr. H. Hanks; a student, Mr. Tubb; E. Ball, Esq., M.P. for Cambridgeshire; and Mr. G. Moore, deacon of the church. Fervency and intense earnestness marked every petition and the brethren separated with a firm belief that the Lord would be with us of a truth.

The hymns to be used during the Dedication Service are printed as a penny hymn-book, but as many will not be able to obtain it, we subjoin two of the hymns sung at this first meeting. The first was composed by J. Tritton, Esq., for the occasion, and the second is a specimen of that joyous Gospel which we trust will long be proclaimed within our hallowed walls.

Spirit of glory and of grace, Thy favour we entreat; Thou true Shekinah of the place, Where true disciples meet. Oh! let the labour of our hands Be precious in Thy sight; And long as this our temple stands, Thy presence be its light. Here float the Gospel’s banner wide O’er faithful hearts and brave; And here, O Jesus crucified, Come forth in power to save! Make bare Thine arm, Thou King of saints, To bring dead souls to life; And when Thy children’s courage faints, Renew them for the strife. No Bochim this—a place of woe— But Pisgah’s holy steep; Where dying ones their heaven shall know, Ere yet they fall asleep. While we who live shall urge the race, If Jesus be but here; Spirit of glory and of grace, Revealing Christ, appear! The Law’s tremendous curse, We’ll now the sacred song begin Where God began with us. We’ll sing the vast unmeasured grace Which, from the days of old, Did all His chosen sons embrace, A sheep within His fold. The basis of eternal love Shall mercy’s frame sustain; Earth, hell, or sin, the same to move, Shall all conspire in vain. Sing, O you sinners bought with blood, Hail the Great Three in One; Tell how secure the cov’nant stood Ere time its race begun. Ne’er had you felt the guilt of sin Nor sweets of pard’ning love, Unless your worthless names had been Enroll’d to life above. O what a sweet exalted song Shall rend the vaulted skies, Then, shouting grace, the blood-wash’d throng Shall see the Top Stone rise.

The Bazaar was held during the week and crowned with abundant success.

On Monday, March 25 th , the Rev. O. Rogers presided over the second prayer meeting, and addressed the brethren in a sweet and savory manner upon, “The House of God, the Gate of Heaven.” The first sermons, it will be observed, are admirably adapted to be companion sermons, but the ministers were quite unaware as to what text each had selected.