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Dinsdale, hm. £1 1s; Mr. J. Lund, hm. £1 1s; Mr. P. Milligan, M.D., hm. £1 1s; Mr. J. Rhodes, hc. 10s; Mr. W. Roper, hm. £1 1s; Mr. W. Snowden, hm. £1 1s; Mrs. Stephenson, hm. £1 1s; Mrs. Summerscales, hm. £1 1s; Mr. J. Sugden, hm. £1 1s; Mr. C. H. Wilkinson, hm. £1 1s Rochester-Mrs. Bartholomew, hm. £1 1s; Mr. Benton, hc. 10s 6d; Mr. Belsey, hc. J.P., 10s; Mr. G. Cole, hc. 12s; Mr. Edwards, hc. J.P., 10s; Mr. Moore, hm. £1 1s; Mrs. Moore, hm. £1 1s; Collections at Bartholomew's Free Church, £1 108; Frinsbury, £1 8s; Gillingham, 12s 1d; New Brompton, 14s 4d; Ordnance Place, 6s 1d; Public Meeting, £2 14s 2d; Rainham Lower, 5s 10d; Rainham Upper, 5s 7d; Star Hill, £1 148 2d. Less Expenses, 8s 9d Net Shepton Mallet ... 37 1 7 0 0 St. Agnes Burton-on-Trent-Mr. D. Bassett, 5s; Mr. S. R. Deaville, 58 0 6 0 0 18 0 4 3 19 9 1 4 0 ... Birmingham 1st ... Brackley-Bro. Barrett, Penny Preaching, £1 Os 6d; Mr. ... Rotherham-Mr. H. Butcher, hm. £1 1s ... ... ... Dover-Mr. G. Flashman, bm. £1 1s; Mr. G. R. Killick, ... Andover-Collections at Andover, £1 1s 7d; Collingbourne, 8s 1d; Hurstbourne, 8s 4d; Longparish, 6s 4d; Thruxton, 4s 6d; Vernham, 11s 4d; Wallop, 5s 6d; Wherwell, 11s 6d; Whitchurch, 17s 6d; Small sums, 10s 4d Towcester 2nd Bayswater-Mr. Brewer, hm. £1 1s; Mr. Knight, hm. Pateley Bridge-Mr. P. Eskholme, qly. 28 6d Frome-Mr. W. Fussell, hm. £1 1s; Mr. J. Brimson, hm. 000 ... : hm. £1 1s; Mr. J. Glover, 5s; Mr. L. Joel, hm. £1 1s; Mr. W. Parker, hc. 10 6d; Mr. W. Parlby, hm. £1 1s; Mr. A. Priestley, 68; Mr. J. Wild, 5s; Mr. Councillor G. Woodcock, hm. £1 1s. The following by Mrs. Freeborough Mr. C. Burgon, 5s; Mr. W. H. Downing, 2s 6d; Mr. B. Freeborough, hm, £1 1s; Mrs. Freeborough 5s; Mr. J. Milner, 2s 6d; Mr. Redfern, 10s; Mrs. Redfern, 10s; Mrs. J. Smith, hm. £1. The following by Miss Sharman : Mr. J. Aislewood, hc. 10s; Mrs. H. Alcard, hc. 10s; Mr. W. Batt, hm. £1 1s; Mr. G. Binns, hc. 10s; Mrs. Blyde, 2s 6d; Mrs. Booth, 2s 6d; Mr. D. Chapman, hc. 10s; Mr. J. Chapman, hc. 10s; Mr. T. Chapman, hm. £1; Mr. T. Chapman, Jun., hm. £1 1s; Mr. J. Clarke, 5s; Mr. Cocker, 28 6d; Mrs. H. E. Dutton, hc, 10s; Mrs. Elliott, 2s 6d; Mr. J. Ellis, hm, £1 1s: Mr. J. Gallimore, hm. £1 1s; Mrs. W. Gallimore, hm. £2 2s; Mr. J. Garfitt, hc. 10s; Mr. Hardy, 2s 6d; Mr. J. Ibberson, 2s 6d; Mr. J. Kaye, hm, £1 1s; Mr. Knowles, 2s 6d; Mr. G. S. Lee, hc, 10s 6d; Mr. Peace, 5s; Mr. J. Peace, 2s 6d; Mr. T. Roberts, 58; Mr. J. Howarth, hc. 10s; Mr. A. Sharman, hm, £1 1s; Mrs. A. Sharman, hm, £1 1s; Mr. A. Sharman, hc. 10s; Mr. Jabez Sharman, 5s; Mrs. John Sharman, hm. £1 1s; Ditto in memory of Mr. John Sharman, hm. £1 1s; Mr. G. W. Sharman, hm. £1 Is; Mr. J. H. Sharman, hm. £1 1s; Mrs. B. Smith, 2s 6d Mr. J. Starr, 5s; Mr. G. Travis, 7s 6d; Mr. G. W. Travis, hm. £1 1s; Mrs. G. W. Travis, hm. £1 1s; Mr. J. Walton, 5s; Mrs. C. Wardlow, hm. £1 1s; Mr. S. Wardlow, hm. £2 2s : Mr. R. Wheen, 5s; Mr. G. Wilkinson, 58; Mr. G. Woodhead, 2s 6d; Mr. J. Wragg, hm. Scarborough-Rev. N. Boynes, 5s: Mr. Calvert, hm. £1 1s; Thornley Sleaford 5 13 6 ... Maidstone ... ... Office List --Mr. W. P. Griffith, hm. £1 1s; Rev. I. Jones, ... Croydon-Mrs. Ward, hm. £1 1s ... Hinde Street-Mr and Mrs. Bowles, qly. 2s; Mr. Bousfield, ... 300 THE FIRST SHALL BE LAST AND THE LAST FIRST. A SERMON BY THE REV. T. A. SEED. Matt. xix. 30. THIS favourite saying of our Lord admits of many illustrations, and is capable of all but universal application. In the passage before us, it is used in reference to the Day of Judgment; but in many minor judgments, before that of the Great Day, this saying is seen to be true. In the judgment of reason, e.g., many things that were first come to be last. A man often turns right round the judgment he formed in earlier days concerning men and things. "When I was a child I thought as a child; but, when I became a man I put away childish things." Thus, in some degree, in the judgment of our reason, things which were first come to be last, and the last first. So it is, too, in the judgments of life. Boys who, in the opinion of the school, have been first, in the judgment of life have come out last. On the other hand, the boy who was the last at school has often taken the prize of life. Mr. Gladstone is said to have been thought quite a dunce at figures when he was at school; but the all but universal judgment of life has placed him first among the Chancellors of the Exchequer. And so it has been with thousands of others. I need not multiply instances to show that many who have been last in early life have come to be first in their maturer years, and that many who have been first have come to be last. Nor need I more than remind you how the truth of the text has been illustrated and confirmed by the judgment of history. The records of time are crowded with examples. Indeed, I might say that all history is one long illustration and confirmation of this saying. Instances in abundance will occur to you of men and of nations that have sunk from the highest to the lowest, or that have risen from the lowest to the highest positions. But not only has this actually been the case; the judgments which men have formed of men and things have often been reversed, as time has marched along. It is not, therefore, surprising that we should be foretold (as we are here) that the final judgment will, on a still larger scale, show the first to be last and the last to be first. In many cases, then, the judgment of time will be reversed at the last Great Day. Why? I. Because the standard by which men will be judged will be different. The rule by which men now judge human actions, is results. The world pays according to results. If a man does much, even though in doing it he has made no great moral effort, men will applaud and reward him greatly; but if he does little, even though that little may have cost him a supreme moral effort, men will give him but little reward. For one man to resist a certain temptation, it requires an agony of moral effort; but for another man to resist the very same temptation, it requires no effort JUNE, 1881. M at all. To attain a certain excellence, one man has to strive with all his might for many long laborious years; whereas to another man the very same grace seems to come without any effort. Men who are highly gifted in head and heart, may confer a boon upon society with no more selfdenial than is exercised by a very rich man in giving a handsome donation; whereas a man who is poor in such gifts of head and heart, is only able, after much prayer and effort, to do a very little good; just as a poor man is able only, by positive self-denial, to give away a little of his substance. Now, the world, and I am ashamed to say the Church, reward both these classes simply according to what they do, or do not do. They do not take into account the different gifts and means of different men, and then, comparing these with the results, try to form an equitable judgment. There are exceptions, I know; here and there you will find a man, who, in forming his opinions and distributing his rewards, takes all the circumstances into account. But such men are exceptions. The mass of men judge simply by results. Let a man be successful, and society will crown him; let him be unsuccessful, and, though he may deserve many crowns, society will pass him by. So much the worse for society. "Well done, But the final standard is not results, but faithfulness. good and faithful," not successful, "servant," is the sentence of the last tribunal. Not simply according to what is done, but according to what a man has, or has not to do with, will be the rule in that judgment; "for unto whomsoever much is given, of him much will be required." "If there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what a man hath and not according to what he hath not." Such a rule will reverse many of the judgments of men. The widow who gave her two mites, which was her all, though last, in the judgment of the keepers of the treasury, will there be first; while many who cast in only of their abundance will be last. Many, who in adverse circumstances, and in spite of fierce temptations, have maintained an upright and godly character, though here they may be last, will there be first; while many who are here applauded for a saintly character, which their temperament and training and circumstances almost thrust upon them, will be last. Many a popular preacher, many a prominent leader in the Church, first here in honour and reward, will be last there; while many humble, obscure workers here, because of their fidelity will there be first. II. But, secondly, there is another reason for this reversal of human judgments. Men judge the act; God will judge the motive as well as the act. Human judgment, in very serious and public cases, endeavours to take note of the motive; but, usually, it is felt that, as motives are beyond our sight, so they should be beyond our praise or censure. Bad men will sometimes take refuge in this fact, and appealing to the common sentiment will say: "You have no right to call in question my motives." |