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Memorials, With a Biogr. Sketch by T. Smith
Memorials With a Biogr Sketch by T Smith Author:Samuel Miller General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1883 Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million book... more »s for free. Excerpt: 231 Pastoral Letter to the Congregation of Free St. Matthew's Church. Bridge Of Allan, fth April, 1848. My Beloved Flock, -- The hand of the Lord is upon me ; and I have no difficulty in discovering many reasons why He should thus deal with me. I have much needed this rod, both as a man and as a minister; and, while doubtless it has come in judgment, I cannot but specially recognise in it a manifest token of the faithfulness of the Almighty's love. One view of this dispensation has forced itself so often upon me, that I feel constrained to tell you of it. It is this : -- In looking back upon the tenor of my ministry among you for these last three years and a half, I am struck with the frequency with which I have been led to speak of affliction as one of God's ordinances for awakening the impenitent, and for quickening them that believe. I was led to this by the peculiarly large amount of sickness, tribulation, and death among you during the comparatively short time that I have been your pastor. And yet, during all that time affliction had not once come nigh tomyself! Often, therefore, during these years have I felt -- both in the pulpit and by the sick-bed -- that I was called to speak of that soul-profiting and God- glorifying use of trouble which I myself scarcely, if at all, realised in my own case. Ministers alone can fully appreciate this state of things. Often have I felt burdened by it, and my mouth almost shut when addressing the sick and languishing, from a feeling of inability to use the apostle's language : -- " I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which is preached of me is not af...« less