rules which we apply to public preaching. The tender years of the speaker, and being besides self-taught in divinity, and in most of the branches of human learning, these should induce a spirit of forbearance. The desire and the ability to preach, God had implanted within him. Experience could only be learned by the exercise of the gifts which had been bestowed. The New Testament teaches, that both the operations of nature and of grace are progressive, that we have first the "blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear." These early preaching efforts were acceptable to the people, and they were owned and blessed by God. From an aged and experi enced Christian who heard Mr. Spurgeon preach before his call to London, we learn that his addresses were very instructive, and often included illustrations derived from history, geography, astronomy, and from other branches of school occupation, evidently adapted from his daily duties, and thus made to serve as instruments in religion as well as in training and informing the mind. Since Mr. Spurgeon has been the popular preacher of the day, we have often heard mammon-getting men of the world ascribe his popularity to motives so mercenary that we will not betray the ignorance of our fellow-citizens by repeating them. They have gone beyond the point of impugning the preacher's motives, and have censured his deacons as participators in the results we have referred to, and prompters to a course of action as base as can well be attributed to fallen human nature. All such notions are as groundless as they are uncharitable, and as unreasonable as they are untrue. For

several years, Mr. Spurgeon had no gain whatever from his benevolent labors, but hopes of many kinds. Even at the present time, though he is the almoner of the bounty of many, and the generous bestower of his own goods to feed the poor, yet he has neither the riches nor the influence which are often ascribed to him. Few public men are paid worse than public preachers for benevolent objects. The early ministry of Mr. Spurgeon was not only gratuitous, but often attended with demands on his small salary which he willingly gave to God not to be seen of men-but to help the needy. The poor man's preacher, in all ages of the church, has always been poor, and though the bounty of others may make him the dispenser of their wealth, yet he can not himself preach the everlasting gospel, and amass riches for his reward. From the commencement of Mr. Spurgeon's ministry, it may be truly said, that "the common people heard him gladly." From the first, the result has been the same in two respects, his hearers have been uniformly numerous, and his preaching as uniformly acceptable. The motives which impelled his choice justify the result. He has often said in effect,

'The love of Christ doth me constrain,

To seek the wandering souls of men."

This had been the earnest desire and prayer of his parents for many years. Anxiously did they pray that their son Charles might be a servant of Christ and a preacher of righteousness. On one of his visits home, he was told by his mother that she had thus prayed for

him, but she added that she had never prayed for him to be a Baptist. The ready mind of her son at once replied, "Then, mother, God has answered your prayer, and, like his bounty, has given you more than you asked." It will be remembered that both his grandfather and his father are ministers in the Independent body. There is a command addressed thus to all children-" Obey your parents in all things." Mr. Spurgeon was long in correspondence with his father in reference to this change in his religious profession, and, like a dutiful son as he had always been, did not give up his connection with the Independents until he had obtained the free and full consent of his father to do so. A son who is obedient to his parents will also obey God. Would that the example of this young man had been followed by many who have professedly given up the religion of their fathers, and have become perverts to the heresies of Rome. Had they first assigned their reasons to their parents, and asked their counsel and consent, there might have been no Cardinal Archbishop now in England, allured here by the false idea of the heart of the people leaning toward Rome. God loves obedience, and he will as assuredly punish those who are guilty of the opposite sin as he punished the disobedient prophet, or Saul, the first king of Israel. Children, young men, Sunday-school teachers, learn a lesson from this young man: although his reason was convinced, and his judg ment persuaded, still he yielded not to either till he had complied with the command of God—" Children, obey your parents."

In some of the thirteen village-stations around Cambridge and Waterbeach, to which Mr. Spurgeon devoted all his evenings, the preaching was held in a cottage, in others in a chapel, and occasionally the open air alone could furnish the accommodation required. Some of these chapels belonged to the Independents, others to the Wesleyans or the Baptists, and members of each denomination flocked in large numbers to hear the "boy preacher."

At the village of Waterbeach, Mr. Spurgeon was received in a marked manner of approval. In most of the places in which he had preached, the effect was very much alike in the large numbers attracted to hear the Word of God, and in the success which God was pleased to bestow on his labors. Even at that early period of his ministerial career, invitations to preach special sermons in towns and villages at a distance soon rapidly increased. At Waterbeach, however, the little church saw in the young man a suitability to their wants, and they gave him an invitation to become their pastor. The building used as a chapel there was formerly a barn, with a high pitched roof, which is covered with thatch. The walls are a conglomerate, although made to look neat and clean by a plentiful coating of whitewash. It is an edifice which is sure to attract the attention of the passer-by. The following engraving is from a sketch recently made by Mr. E. Bowman, of Castle End, Cambridge, for this work.

We quote the following notice of the young pastor of the Baptist church at Waterbeach, from a communica

BAPTIST CHAPEL, WATERBEACH, CAMBRIDGE.

tion kindly furnished by Mr. C. King, one of the deacons of the church:

"From Mr. Spurgeon's first coming to Waterbeach, he was generally well received, and soon became quite popular as a preacher. It was no unusual thing to see the laborers on the farms at a distance from the village literally running home when the duties of the day were over, that they might be in time to attend his ministry in the evening. At the early age of eighteen, he was unanimously chosen pastor of our little church. We have often sat under his ministry with a mixture of pleasure, profit, and surprise, and have been ready to exclaim with the inquiring Jews named in the gospel, Whence hath this young man this wisdom and these mighty words? Our congregation soon rapidly in