with
a reference to the triumph and danger of liberty--that man might go
whether with God or without Him. Man was free, nor was his religion one
of slavery. To those who considered such a statement to be a grand
contradiction of what we know of eternal decrees, it was sufficient to
reply that it could only be harmonized in the ecstasy of light and love.
God will not make everything straight, but only in proportion as we trust
Him and live with Him will our difficulties diminish. As to his text in
particular, remarked Dr. Parker, it was first a warning--there are
crooked places. It was a promise--the crooked places God would make
straight: all that we required was patience. Also it was a plan--God
would go before us. Say some, that is God's sovereignty--that is the
omnipotent Jehovah. No, it indicated His love, His tenderness, His care.
In such an idea we do not dwarf God, but exalt Him. Then came the
limitation of the promise. This going before was a question of
character. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. That,
however, was no motive for carelessness, but the reverse. The Doctor, in
conclusion, spoke of himself. He had been told that in leaving
Manchester and coming to the Poultry he was moving into a crooked place.
In explanation he stated he did not look for the ordinary course of a
minister. He looked at London, that immeasurable centre; he thought of
the young men who come strangers to the metropolis, and with no friends
to guide and guard them; and if he did not get people to come and hear
him on the Sunday, he trusted they would do so on the Thursday, when
there would be a service from twelve to one, when he would aim simply to
touch the heart with a sense of sin and forgiveness. He also intended to
use the printing-press. He had great faith in the printed page. It
remained to be read at spare moments when a man had nothing to do.
Finally, said Dr. Parker, he spoke with fear and trembling, but he came
there with a strong determination to succeed, and he appealed to all
around to do their duty--not to carp, or criticise, or say unkind words,
but to resolve to labour and to be guided by heavenly power and wisdom.
At the close of the service there was a collection. After this the
immense congregation streamed out into the open air, much to the
astonishment of casual passengers, who did not understand what was the
matter. The Poultry has a prosperous look, and they have got a new
pul