in the busiest of winters, amidst ever-pressing duties and cares within the church and without. The pages contain only hints and suggestions, and are, of course, very limited and incomplete. They were not written for those in the ministry older and wiser than the writer, but in the hope that something might be said that would practically help many earnest builders in the Church of God that are asking, "Who is sufficient for those things?" and prayerfully seeking aid wherever it may be found.

This is an age ripe for the builder's work, that the Church of Christ may be a temple worthy of her glorious Lord. It is good to know our tools. It is needful to come back to that place where we can see what great things God can do with weak and imperfect men, if they only trust him and act on his word, as seekers after souls. Their power hides here. It is important to see that our failure, when we fail, lies in our own want of faith in God. Moses and Joshua, and Gideon and Paul, and the long line of conquerors in the divine kingdom, have been faith-men. They have taken God's word when He has said: "I will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle; by horses, nor by horsemen, but by the Lord their God." Such confidence in His promises has made them mighty spiritual warriors, for their hold on the sword of the Lord has led them to wield with a powerful hand the sword of Gideon also.

The spirit required for the workman of Christ, East and West, is essentially the same. What will

The

succeed in one place will, as a rule, in another. failure is not so often from want of ability or learning or right location as it is from the want of deep, believing piety. Many workers often comfort themselves too easily. They contend that the age

of miracles is past; that apostolic methods are not for us, and revivals are not wise; so in the morning they sow the seed, and in the evening they withhold their hand. Little matter, they say, about their success; that is God's part, the great thing is faithfulness. Fidelity is a great thing; but Noah's fidelity in the building of the ark would have availed little, if he had not possessed the skill also to lead in the households under his care. The faithfulness which God rewards is that which is not content till it brings results to pass. It is never satisfied to tread the old rut, year after year, making it deeper, while the churches are gradually decaying and dying under it. The truth is, faithfulness is success. It never stops with routine. It carries power and conveys blessing, and, although it may not always add to the number of the saved, there is a light and splendor in the fulness of its devotion to Christ that makes the place of its feet glorious.

It stands knocking until Christ comes in and unveils His beauty, and fills the parish with a sense of divine power, making all things new.

This preaching and going to sleep on our faithfulness till God gives the increase, is what is wasting us. The pastor who calls nothing fidelity which does

not bring constant blessing from heaven in some form on his people, and is ever close up to his Lord's side, pleading for mercies and blessings, will be successful in conveying spiritual gifts unto men, as well as faithful in his work. The writer lives and works in a great and abiding faith in these promises of God to bring forth fruit.

୧୯

The Priest to the Temple," by George Herbert, of Bemerton parish, suggested a kind of form for this little work. His happy home, in sight of the wonderful spire of Salisbury Cathedral, miles away, shining through the vine-covered study windows of his pretty parsonage in green and beautiful England, was often in the author's mind as he wrote, as well as the thought of what Herbert left behind in the pomp and vanity of a courtier's life, that he might be simply a faithful priest of the Temple. And the gentle step and helping hand at his side, ministering good, were also as often brought to mind by the offices of love that gladdened the author's own home as he wrote.

The closing articles, contributed to the "Congregationalist" by the graceful and loving hand that presides at the Pilgrim parsonage, are added to this volume, as altogether pertinent to the church-building work.

Grateful for the favor with which the articles were received, I commend this little volume in the name of Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

C. L. GOODELL.

ST. LOUIS, Sept. 25, 1883.