WESLEYAN MISSION, TEMUKA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1566, 17 March 1887, Page 3

WESLEYAN MISSION, TEMUKA.

There was a large attendance on Monday evening. Miss Brown sang a solo entitled “I know He is mine,” and Mrs Smalley another one called “ Have you any room for Jesus ? ” Mrs Smalley then presented various requests for prayer. The Rev. J. S. Smalley dealt with a question sometimes asked : “ Why does not God kill tho Devil?” in which the evangelist clearly showed that there was much in the Divine administration that was very mysterious, and yet truly beneficial to the human race, and that temptation was a necessary test of virtue. He then proceeded to answer another weighty question : “ Why are not all the people truly converted ? ” Some of the causes were preoccupation, absurd prejudice, and love of sin. The latter he thus illustrated ; —An eagle was seen far up in the sky, but, rapidly falling to the earth, a person near ran to examine the royal bird and saw a weasel running from it. Blood was still oozing from the dead creature. It was evident the weasel had been taken up by the eagle in its talons, and while in mid-air bad managed to get near the bird’s heart, pierced it, and thus killed its proud captor. Si ais a weasel, and unless it is taken from ns by Jesus Christ it will surely destroy us. On Tuesday evening the hall was well filled. Mr Smalley gave a running comment on part of Matthew xv. “Our prayers,” said he, “were like runaway knocks ; when God opened the door the petitioners were not there,” If we were dead-in-earnest we should knock in faith, and persist till the answer came. After requests for prayer had been offered, Mrs Smalley gave an impressive and searching address on “ What lack I yet!”—first to Christians, that they may get God’s fulness of salvation ; and then to the unconverted, that they may now “ repent and believe the Gospel.” Several came into the enquiry-room on both evenings for further instruction.

This afternoon (Thursday) a women’s meeting will be held t 3 o'clock, to be addressed by the lady evangelist. Others beside women may be present in the hall to hear the address. To-night there will be a monster temperance meeting. Rev. J. S. and Mrs Smalley will give addresses on the subject of Christian abstinence, and are expected.to say some very startling and rousing things thereon. This will conclude the mission, which has been eminently successful.