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April - the Free Presbyterian church of Scotland

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Book Review 123aloud: “Ho”. How precious is water to <strong>the</strong> exhausted traveller! Were we in<strong>the</strong> wilderness almost perishing <strong>of</strong> thirst, and were <strong>the</strong> smallest fountain <strong>of</strong>water discovered, how quickly we would rush to it! How eagerly we woulddrink <strong>of</strong> it, muddy and polluted though it might be, even amidst <strong>the</strong> thirstycamels’ feet! And when we are in <strong>the</strong> moral wilderness and when our soulfaints in us, how amazing that, when <strong>the</strong> fountain <strong>of</strong> life has been pointedout, we should need to be urged to drink <strong>of</strong> it! He who freely <strong>of</strong>fers <strong>the</strong> livingwater knows that we must perish if we do not drink; and <strong>the</strong> passionate andurgent cry is, Come, come, come, and take freely, not only water, but wineand milk, without money, and without price – water, to save from death;milk, to nourish and streng<strong>the</strong>n; and wine, to cheer and gladden <strong>the</strong> faintingsoul. “The Spirit and <strong>the</strong> bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say,Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take <strong>the</strong>water <strong>of</strong> life freely.”Book ReviewArchibald G Brown, Spurgeon’s Successor, by Iain H Murray, published by<strong>the</strong> Banner <strong>of</strong> Truth Trust, hardback, 419 pages, £16.00, obtainable from <strong>the</strong> <strong>Free</strong><strong>Presbyterian</strong> Bookroom.Brown (1844-1922) was a Baptist pastor very much in <strong>the</strong> mould <strong>of</strong> C HSpurgeon. He did spend around three years as pastor <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> MetropolitanTabernacle some years after Spurgeon’s death, but during <strong>the</strong> most activepart <strong>of</strong> his life he was minister <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> East London Tabernacle, which wassituated not far from where <strong>the</strong> <strong>Free</strong> <strong>Presbyterian</strong> congregation in Londonpresently worships.From <strong>the</strong> numbers attending, Brown came to <strong>the</strong> conclusion in 1869 that<strong>the</strong> original building at Stepney Green ought to be replaced by one whichwould be at least three times as large. The new structure could accommodate3000 and many found salvation <strong>the</strong>re through Brown’s preaching. One instance,which illustrates <strong>the</strong> difference between <strong>the</strong>n and now in Evangelicalattitudes to worldly entertainments, was a young local woman who first attended<strong>the</strong> East London Tabernacle on a Sabbath evening. “For nine years heroccupation had been to sing at a playhouse and to dance in ballets. That iswhere she would have been found <strong>the</strong> previous evening. But <strong>the</strong> word preachedso touched her heart that she could not go back to it <strong>the</strong> next evening.Pike [an earlier biographer] has recorded her reaction: ‘Knowing what shenow did <strong>of</strong> her condition as a sinner in <strong>the</strong> Lord’s sight, she was afraid togo; and although <strong>the</strong> employment represented her livelihood she has never

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