ivine purpose is intended for you.

I had delivered that morning my farewell sermon before departing on a
long journey around the world. My prayer, in which the silent sympathy
of a vast congregation joined me, had invoked the Divine protection and
blessing upon us, upon all who were present at that time, upon all who
had participated in the great jubilee service of the preceding week. On
the tablets of memory I had recalled all the kindnesses that had been
shown our church by other churches and other pastors on that occasion.
The general feeling of my prayer had been an outpouring of heartfelt
gratitude for myself and my flock. As I have said before, God speaks
loudest in the thunder of our experiences. There were several narrow
escapes, for the fire spread with great rapidity, but, fortunately, all
escaped from the doomed building in time. Mr. Frederick W. Lawrence and
Mr. T.E. Matthews, both of them trustees of the church, were exposed to
serious danger and their escape was providential. Mr. Lawrence crept out
on his hands and knees to the open air, and Mr. Matthews was almost
suffocated when he reached the street.

The flames spread rapidly in the neighbourhood and destroyed the Hotel
Regent, adjoining the church. At my home that day there were many
messages of sympathy and condolence brought to me, and neighbouring
churches sent committees to tender the use of their pulpits. In the
afternoon the Tabernacle trustees met at my house and submitted the
following letter, which was adopted:--

"DEAR DR. TALMAGE.--With saddened hearts, but undismayed, and with
faith in God unshaken and undisturbed, the trustees of the Brooklyn
Tabernacle have unanimously resolved to rebuild the Tabernacle. We
find that after paying the present indebtedness there will be
nothing left to begin with.

"But if we can feel assured that our dear pastor will continue to
break the bread of life to us and to the great multitudes that are
accustomed to throng the Tabernacle, we are willing to undertake the
work, firmly believing that we can safely count upon the blessing of
God and the practical sympathy of all Christian people.

"Will you kindly give us the encouragement of your promise to serve
the Tabernacle as its pastor, if we will dedicate a new building
free from debt, to the honour, the glory, and the service of God?

"TRUSTEES OF THE TABERNACLE."

On reading this letter, or r