Tuesday Noon
Now every part of the Pillar-room was occupied. It was a solemn time. After waiting on God in silent prayer, all hearts and voices joined in singing the hymn beginning―
All hail the power of Jesus name,
Let angels prostrate fall:
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all.”
A suggestion was then made, that praise should be offered to God for so mercifully and abundantly answering prayer that had been made at the last half-yearly meeting for Sligo, when simultaneously all seemed to rise and sing―
Glory, honor, praise, and power,” etc.
Many requests for prayer for God’s blessing in many parts of Ireland were then read, but the requests for prayer for individuals were too numerous to bring before the meeting. Then, for nearly an hour, hearts were again lifted up in earnest crying to God, for His blessing on the gospel in many parts of Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, Abyssinia, Ceylon, etc., etc.
There was then sung the well-known hymn beginning with―
“There Is a name I love to hear,
I love to sing its worth;
It sounds like music in mine ear, ―
The sweetest name on earth.”
Mr. DISNEY spoke of the importance of such meetings, the blessedness of Christians walking together, and forbearing one another in love. He called attention to Philippians 2:1-5― “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind, Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus”―and exhorted believers to watch against pride of intellect, and self-love. He enlarged also on the importance of avoiding doing anything through strife or vainglory, and of esteeming others better than ourselves.
The hymn was then sung―
“My God I am thine―
What a comfort divine!
What a blessing to know
That my Jesus is mine!
Hallelujah, thine the glory!
Hallelujah, Amen.
Hallelujah, thine the glory!
Revive once again.”
To this a stanza from another hymn was added, ―
But come, Saviour, come,
And take us all home;
We long for the glory
With Thee on thy throne.
Hallelujah. thine the glory!
Hallelujah, Amen.
Hallelujah, soon the glory!
Come, Saviour, again.”
Mr. DENHAM SMITH remarked, that he felt exceedingly the solemnity of such a meeting―such a number of believers gathered together around Jesus. He said, “We read of five hundred brethren seeing the Lord at one time, but there is a much greater number than that now assembled.” He enlarged on the preciousness of believers to God; His grace in making us what we are; His full salvation, making us complete in Christ Jesus, who is the head of all principality and power. He referred also to the doctrine of “circumcision made without hands,” brought out in Colossians 2:11, ― “In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ,” to show how completely God had judged and set aside man in the flesh, and given us a standing of completeness in a risen Head. He sought also solemnly to lay on the conscience of believers the REALITY of these things. “We want, brethren,” said he, “to deal solemnly with ourselves in these matters. Are these things regarded by me and by you as REALITIES? Then how happy we ought to be.”.... He concluded by giving out the following hymn: ―
“A mind at perfect peace with God.
Oh, what a word is this! ―
A sinner reconciled through blood!
This, this indeed is peace.”
After which, Mr. BARTON prayed, and closed the meeting.