ly or more earnestly for the conversion of my dear aged
parent, than during the last year of his life; but, at all events, it
did not please the Lord to let me see the answer to my prayers.

April 9. Through the 20l. which came in on March 26, and a number of
smaller and larger donations since then, we have had for the last
twelve days more than usual. But now today our means were again
reduced to 7s. 10d., when the Lord sent in 5l. through a brother in
Bristol, who during this year also, as at former times, has been the
instrument in the hands of God of repeatedly supplying our need when
we were very poor.

We are on the point of sending some money to the East Indies for
Missionary objects. Whilst I was on my knees respecting this object,
5l. was brought for it.

April 10. Today came in still further for the Orphans, with Eccles.
ix. 10, 5l.; also 2l.

April 19. For several months past it had appeared to brother Craik
and me, and to several other brethren who help us in the work of
caring for the saints, that a part of the church meeting together at
Gideon Chapel was a hinderance to our giving that clear and distinct
testimony respecting the principles on which we meet, which we desire
to give to the world and to the church at large in this city. As the
Lord, however, had so abundantly blessed our labours in that place,
in the conversion of sinners, and also in the building up of many
saints, we felt that we ought to act in this matter with the greatest
prayerfulness and consideration; and we had therefore many meetings
for prayer and deliberation with several brethren. On this account it
was likewise, that though we came as early as the 17th of January to
the conclusion that it would be better to relinquish Gideon as a
meeting place, we still deferred the matter for two months and a half
longer, before we even mentioned our difficulties publicly. At last,
on March 30th, we assembled with all the saints, and brother Craik
and I stated to them our difficulties. The following is the substance
of what was stated at the meeting.

Brief statement of certain difficulties connected with our continuing
to retain the occupancy of Gideon Chapel, Newfoundland Street,
Bristol.

In order to enter into the force of the following particulars, it is
necessary to keep in mind the position which, as a body of saints, we
seem called upon to maintain, in this city, before the church and the
world. We meet simply as believe