Gods Answers | Page 6

friend, not one soul of them with a warm heart towards the
Lord Jesus Christ. They read and answered my questions on Scripture
better, and sought after the library books with more interest, than any in
the other villages; but it was all head-work, no heart; all intellect, no
love. On Christmas Day six of these joined our coprolite party to tea,
and from eight to ten solemn prayer seemed laid on every heart for
them; and again the following evening nineteen young men met to pray
still for this village. Last evening eighteen Christians of various
denominations met in a cottage at this said village. There was no
formal address, but after earnest prayer, one of the brethren felt this
passage laid solemnly on his heart, 'To-day, if ye will hear His voice,
harden not your hearts.' Then some converted stone-diggers pleaded for
a blessing. The answer of four years' prayers came, and the feeble
infant wail was heard from one after another amid weeping and sobbing.

Surely the angelic host had songs of praise while, in that holy stillness,
these young men had a sight of themselves. Oh, pray on that our faith
waver not, for we believe we shall see still greater things.
"You remember the village where you preached upon 'Jesus passing
by.' There is now a band of more than a dozen praying young men
meeting constantly in their little outhouse.
"The more we go forward in this labour of love the more evident it is
that the cursed drink is our great difficulty. This stone must be rolled
away. Another evening home for these men is a stern necessity, and
must be provided; a place which they may call their own. Each building
would cost 30 pounds. The men would furnish it cheerfully and support
it nobly. Two such buildings have been erected, are now in operation,
and answer beyond my most sanguine expectations. Morning, noon,
and evening, groups of men, while at their hasty meals, are willing to
listen to the Holy Scriptures or whatever else may be brought before
them."
"The memory of the just is blessed." It is sweet to recall any incident in
the life of him who will ever live in the hearts of many. Miss
Macpherson thus records the day of blessing:--
"It was at a meeting in July 1864, at Mildmay Park, that it was laid on
my heart to gather together, before the harvest-time, the stone-diggers,
villagers, and their friends, and to invite the Rev. W. and Mrs.
Pennefather to see face to face the hundreds of souls for whom they had
wrestled with God. Early in the afternoon of the day appointed, streams
of poor men and women came, having walked distances of from two to
ten miles to be with us. Conveyances brought earnest lively Christians
from Cambridge, and, including the stone-diggers, there were
representatives from more than thirty towns and villages. On the arrival
of Mr. and Mrs. Pennefather, great was our joy; and who of you cannot
imagine our beloved friend in the midst of this multitude, of warm
hearts, as with tears in his eyes he exclaimed, 'This is another
conference'? Gatherings on the grass were formed as tables were
insufficient, and our dear friend went in and out among them, every
feature showing forth the love with which God had filled his heart. His

loving eye alone discovered poor Tom, lately out of the workhouse,
standing trembling, and afraid to approach the party; behind the tent
tears of joy streamed after he had secured, amid the rush for tea, a
supply for the wants of this poor Tom. A lovely sunset was shedding its
radiance over the humble gathering, when Mr. Pennefather rose and
spoke to them of 'the coming glory,' first reading Luke ix. 25-35; and
knowing that many before him would as Christians be called upon to
endure ridicule from ungodly companions, he pointed out to them that
in all the Gospels which speak of the Transfiguration, the event is
preceded by an account of the Christian's path of self-denial. After an
earnest address to the unsaved, this delightful gathering was closed by
his telling them that a little offering had been made at Mildmay Park,
and that, by the help of that money would now be presented to each
man and woman, (stone-diggers and boys included), a pocket
Testament, to be used in the intervals of harvest toil.
"Many are their struggles in resisting bad companionship and drink, in
trying to improve in reading, in seeking to clothe themselves, to help
their parents, to work for Jesus with little light, and less time, and few
talents. Oh, how much do they glorify God compared with some in
other circumstances, who have been surrounded by heaven-breathing
associations all their days!