This year, too, Mr. Spurgeon uttered some of his strongest protests against the union of Church and State. Exception had been taken to some remarks he was reported to have made on the subject; and this is how he replies :—" Our personal thanks are due, and are hereby tendered, to certain fervid churchmen who have published abroad an expression said to have been used by us at the Liberation Society, together with two letters by us explaining the same. These are printed as a leaflet, and are also inserted in Tory newspapers. The motives of these gentlemen we think we can guess, but their action causes us considerable satisfaction. Let them publish to the four winds of heaven that Spurgeon, as they call him, believes the present Puseyite Church of England to be an abomination, and that the sooner such a State Church is swept away the better for the land. The further they spread this the better pleased we shall be. We have no war with men, but to the very principle of a State Church we are constantly opposed, and to that form of it which is seen in the Anglican establishment we have the further objection, that it is the nurse and propagator of Popery. It saves us considerable expense when the opposite party are diligent, as in this case, in spreading our views; they have our cordial thanks, but we will not offer a return in kind. We suppose that they consider it to be a mortal sin and a terrible blasphemy to denounce their system; we think it would be a crime to be silent, or to speak in velvet words concerning a corruption which grows grosser every day."

In the month of September, a day of fasting and prayer was solemnly kept by about a hundred and twenty ministers and students at the Tabernacle. It was such a season of blessing as few present had ever enjoyed before. Fasting was found to be a great help to prayer; and the devotions being unbroken by the necessary distractions occasioned by taking refreshment, grew more and more fervent, till around

the table of the Lord all hearts appeared to glow with love most vehement. The result was felt by those present in the increased power of their ministry, and in a larger measure of success attending their labours.

At the close of the year, Mr. Spurgeon had an opportunity of addressing a large meeting of the Society of Friends, on the "Life and Labours of George Fox." He thus refers to the occasion :- "Some time ago we felt an intense desire to speak to the Society of Friends, hoping that it might be the Lord's will to arouse that most respectable community to greater energy and zeal. Our belief was, and still is, that it is the bounden duty of Friends in these perilous times to renew more distinctly their testimony against formalism, ritualism, and unspiritual worship in its many forms, and we hoped that a respectful brotherly admonition might be accepted by them and owned by God. Our doctrinal views widely differ, but on the vital point we are one. After the lapse of some months a door of utterance was opened, and on the evening of 6th November, with very great thankfulness, but bowed down under our responsibility, we found ourselves in the midst of a most cordial company of about twelve hundred Friends, in their meeting-house at Bishopsgate Street. The great kindness of the brethren who met us made us feel at home at once, and although suffering much physical pain, it was one of the happiest seasons of our life when we stood up in the crowded assembly to speak for Jesus to those who love His name. Our object was not to moot points of difference, but to stimulate brethren to strive for those precious things wherein we agree.

The meeting was all that could be desired, with the exception of one thing-Mr. Spurgeon would have liked permission to pour out his soul in prayer upon the spot, but it was intimated to him that silence would be preferable. This was not satisfactory to all. One of the most eminent

ministers among the Friends published a letter afterwards, to the following effect:-"It was my privilege to attend C. H. Spurgeon's lecture on George Fox, at Devonshire House, on the 6th inst. It is almost superfluous to say how cordially I united with his powerful, truthful, and loving appeal to our Society. Indeed, his address altogether seemed to be an embodiment of what has been my own concern for years past, and which I have endeavoured, with far less ability, to impress upon my fellow-professors in religion. I cannot but view the whole thing as a message of mercy from the Almighty, and I am sure it will add greatly to our responsibility, as well as to our condemnation, if much fruit does not follow this renewed evidence of divine regard. I could really say in my heart, while listening to the earnest, simple pleading of this dear servant of Christ, 'It is the truth, the very truth, and nothing but the truth;' so entirely did my feelings and my judgment go with it all.

"One thing caused me sorrow, however; I do not think our views and our practice on the subjects of prayer and of worship were correctly represented on this deeply interesting occasion. No doubt there was a jealousy in some minds lest these views should in any way be compromised, and I apprehend that these honest, though groundless fears were the cause of their being, to a certain extent, misrepresented. Our worthy chairman told us, at the beginning and at the end, that it was to be a silent approach to the throne of grace. Now, if I know anything of Quaker principles we have no more right to enforce silence than to enforce a vocal offering. Either way, I believe the work of the Spirit, upon or in the heart, should be left unfettered.

"I am sure the spirit of prayer was over the meeting at the beginning, and still more evident was the spirit of thanksgiving at the end; and I believe there was a call from the Lord for vocal utterance, which was prevented by human interference. Surely we might have safely

trusted our dear brother, the lecturer, to follow his own convictions of duty in this matter; and I know that if he had not felt called upon to address the Almighty, there were other lips that would have been opened had liberty been granted; and I think such an end to such a meeting would have been altogether in accordance with gospel order, and with our own belief on the subject of divine worship.

"In conclusion, I venture to express a hope, that should we be favoured with another visit from one who is clearly prepared to appreciate and to approve our leading views of gospel truth, he may be left at liberty to do his Master's work in his own way, a condition to which he is fairly entitled, and which we claim for ourselves when similarly circumstanced.-J. G."

After a short visit to Paris at the close of the year, Mr. Spurgeon returned to his work at the Tabernacle, refreshed with new life and energy. One of the first public engagements of 1867 was the delivery of an address to the Sunday School Teachers of South London, on "How to Raise the Dead." This address was most powerful and effective in its delivery, and in its published form has been extensively useful. The month of February was set apart, as in former years, for purposes of special conference and devotion. Monday, the 18th, was a whole day of fasting and prayer, beginning at seven in the morning, and continuing without a pause or breaking up for meals, until nine at night—a day of prayer, in which the Holy Spirit was manifestly present all day. "Throughout the day it was felt that the presence of the Lord God of Hosts overshadowed the place. The evening meeting in the Tabernacle was a most remarkable one. The prayers for the conversion of souls were unusually fervent, and the Lord was pleased to grant the request of his servants, even as he always does listen to the desires of believing hearts, in the salvation of precious souls." Of the entire course of meetings, it is said

that they were seasons of great spiritual refreshing, and that an abundant blessing followed them.

On the 12th, Mr. Spurgeon
An amusing and graphic

March was a busy month. was among the costermongers. description is given of his visit by one who was there :— "On Tuesday, the 12th of March, Mr. Spurgeon preached a sermon to the street-vendors of Golden Lane and its vicinity, in the Evangelists' Tabernacle. Some of the dealers came with unwashed faces and uncombed hair, but the majority were dressed in their best clothes; and those who could not recognise them would hardly think that some were costermongers' wives. There were several in the fried fish line, two or three pickled whelks merchants, a number of cabbage and vegetable dealers, coke-sellers, wood-choppers, picturedealers, and some representatives of street-sweepers. At seven o'clock Mr. Spurgeon ascended the platform, and opened with prayer. Then a hymn was heartily sung, and a chapter read and expounded. The preacher's prayer was frequently responded to; and when reference was made to the bodily aches and pains which so many suffered, and the poverty experienced by others, there were many deep sighs. The preacher's easy delivery, rapid flow of words, masculine thought, earnestness and directness, were thoroughly appreciated; and the little anecdotes, homely illustrations, and forcible hits, were much enjoyed. One curious bit of criticism we heard from several. A coster's living depends largely upon his 'voice.' He therefore knows the value of good lungs, and is a connoisseur in voices. The preacher's voice was eulogised as 'wonderful,' 'stunning,' 'I never,' and other equally significant phrases. One coster had lost his voice, and probably he envied the preacher's gift. Another poor fellow7-a follower of Joanna Southcottretired from the hall, expressing great disappointment because no reference had been made to his own peoplethe Jews; and nothing had been said about the millen