Thursday, April 05, 2012

Church Anniversary 2012

God willing, the 161st Anniversary of Crosslanes Chapel will be marked by a Service at 6pm on Saturday 12th May, at the church.

The preacher will be the Rev. Jeremy Brooks of the Protestant Truth Society.

Refreshments will follow the service.

Rev. Brooks will also preach on the Sabbath (13th May) at 11am and 6pm.

Listen online:


If Jesus visited your church (Matthew 21 v 12)
Quench not the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5 v 19)

The Proclaimer, Spring 2012



Magazine of Crosslanes Chapel

News of the Fellowship
Prayer for Church & Nation
Bible Distribution
Divine assistance in stormy weather
Psalm 19 with Notes by John Brown of Haddington
Duties after the Lord's Supper, by John Willison
C H Spurgeon Philippians 4 : 19

Sermon: C. H. Spurgeon

But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:19

I have seen the Christian man in the depths of poverty, when he lived from hand to mouth, and scarcely knew where he would find his next meal, still with his mind unruffled, calm, and quiet. If he had been as rich as an Indian prince, yet could he not have less care; if he had been told that his bread should always come to his door, and the stream which ran hard by should never dry – if he had been quite sure that ravens would bring him bread and meat in the morning, and again in the evening, he would not have been one whit more calm. There is his neighbour on the other side of the street, not half so poor, but wearied from morning to night, working his fingers to the bone, bringing himself to the grave with anxiety; but this poor good man, after having industriously laboured, though he found that he had gained little with all his toil, yet hath sanctified his little by prayer, and hath thanked his Father for what he had; and though he doth not know whether he will have more, still he trusteth in God, and declareth that his faith should not fail him, though providence should run to a lower ebb than he had ever seen. There is “the peace of God which passeth all understanding”.

I have seen that peace, too, in the case of those who have lost their friends. There is a widow – her much loved husband lies in the coffin; she is soon to part with him. Parted with him she has before: but now, of his poor clay-cold corpse – even of that she has to be bereaved. She looks upon it for the last time, and her heart is heavy. For herself and her children, she thinks how they shall be provided for. That broad tree that once sheltered them from the sun beam has been cut down. Now, she thinks there is a broad heaven above her head, and her Maker is her husband; the fatherless children are left with God for their father, and the widow is trusting in Him. With tears in her eyes she still looks up, and she says, “Lord, Thou hast given, and Thou hast taken away, blessed be Thy name”. Her husband is carried to the tomb; she doth not smile, but though she weeps, there is a calm composure on her brow, and she tells you she would not have it otherwise, even if she could, for Jehovah's will is right.

Duties after the Lord's Supper

A SACRAMENTAL CATECHISM by John Willison (1680-1750)

Concerning Duties Required after Partaking in Communion: part 2.

Q. What is that suitable frame and disposition of spirit which communicants ought to have when they rise and come from the Lord's Table?

A. We ought to come away from this ordinance:
1. In an admiring frame.
2. In a thankful frame.
3. In a rejoicing frame.
4. In a humble frame.
5. In a watchful frame.
6. In a praying frame.
7. In a charitable frame.
8. In a willing and obedient frame.
9. In a fixed and resolute frame.
10. In a longing and heavenly frame.

Continued from last time.

Q. Why should we come from this ordinance in a praying frame? Do we need anything more than God has freely given us?

A.1. Though all things needful are freely promised and sealed to us in the sacrament, yet we must continue to pray for the accomplishment of these promises, Psalm 119:49.

A.2. We must continue to pray for the Spirit's influences and grace to preserve in us that tenderness of heart, warmness of affections, and liveliness of frame which have been wrought in us by means of this ordinance, 1 Chronicles 29:18, Psalm 68:28.

A.3. We must pray for strength to keep the promises and pay the vows which we have made to the Lord at this occasion, and that God may save us from apostasy and backsliding, which our hearts are naturally bent unto, Psalm 17:5.

Q. Wherein lies that charitable disposition which we ought to have when we come away from the Lord's table?

A.1. In bearing good will to the souls of all men, and heartily wishing their welfare, 1 Thessalonians 3:5, 12.

A.2. In having a true love for all the members of Christ's mystical body and in bearing with them, though in various things they differ from us.

A.3. In readiness to relieve the poor and indigent according to our ability, Galatians 6:10.

A.4. In a disposition to forgive those who have been injurious to us. And surely all who have been sharers of God's mercy and grace in the sacrament will come away from it with such a charitable disposition.

Q. What is that willing and obedient frame which communicants ought to have when they come from the Lord's table?

A. It lies in these things:

1. In a grateful sense of the many ties and obligations we are under to serve Him.

2. In making it our great scope and design to approve ourselves to God in all things.

3. In making it our study to know God's mind and will, and what it is that is most acceptable and pleasing to Him.

4. In having a universal respect to all God's commands, and a readiness of mind for every good work.

5. In being active and zealous for the glory of God and the interest of His kingdom among men.

Q. What is that fixed and resolute frame which they ought to have?

A. It is the soul's deliberate and steadfast resolution to adhere to Christ, His ways, and His interests, in the midst of trials and difficulties. We must now be at a point in this matter where we are fully determined, by the grace of God, to look and to go forward in our Christian course, and that no solicitation or temptation shall move us either to look back or to draw back, but that with purpose of heart we will cleave unto the Lord, Psalm 119:30-31, 115, Acts 11:23.

Q. What is the longing and heavenly frame which we ought to have when we come from the Lord's table?

A. It consists in these things:

1. In a firm belief in Christ's second coming, and in the life everlasting.

2. In a lively meditation upon Christ's coming and future glory.

3. In an earnest looking for that blessed hope, and a joyful expectation of the glory to be revealed, Titus 2:13, Romans 5:2.

4. In a constant watching and preparing for the coming of the Bridegroom, Luke 12:36-37.

Q. Are not our hearts prone to lose their tenderness and spirituality after the sacrament? How the shall we retain our liveliness, and keep up in some measure our communion frame even when the communion is over?

A.1. We must have deep impressions of the treachery and falseness of our hearts, and of their woeful, natural bias to depart from God and turn carnal, Hosea 11:7.

A.2. We must be humbled under a sense of our own weakness and insufficiency to preserve our spiritual life, or too humbled as to think a good thought of ourselves; for God gives grace to such humble souls, 1 Peter 5:5.

A.3. We should be keeping up a constant thankful sense of God's kindness to us at the sacrament, and be frequently praising Him for it; and this is an excellent way to engage the continuance of His mercies, Psalm 67:5-6.

A.4. We should be frequently thinking on these affecting sights which we saw at the Lord's table, and study to keep up the impression thereof on our minds. I made mention of these sights before.

A.5. Let us study and learn the art of deriving life and influences from Jesus Christ by a constant and believing dependence upon Him as our Fountain of life and Head of influences, John 10:10.

A.6. Let us watch over our hearts and frames with much holy suspicion and jealousy lest Satan, the world, or our lusts should rob us of the spiritual treasure we have gotten. And especially let us watch against the first declining of the heart and beginning of deadness, and presently cry to the Lord for help and quickening.

A.7. Let us be much in secret prayer, pleading with God for the constant supplies of His Spirit, which are the fire that alone only maintain warmness and liveliness of frame in our souls against all the cold blasts of the devil and the world.

A.8. Let us delight in the company and conversation of lively Christians; for one coal makes another to burn, Hebrews 10:24.

A.9. Let us delight in attending sacrament occasions, and be still longing for the returns of this quickening ordinance, and for the Lord`s special presence therein.

A.10. Lastly, let us always guard against those things that tend to deaden our hearts or that may occasion the losing of our frames. And these I mentioned before when treating the causes of spiritual deadness.

Metrical Psalm 19

Notes by Rev John Brown Haddington

Psalm 19 ,To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

Now the books of God are opened, not for my trial and condemnation in the last judgment, but for my instruction. Let my soul look and read therein (1.) The book of creation and providence, in which all the works of God instruct mankind in general, concerning the eternal wisdom, power and goodness, of their Maker, ver. 1-6. (2.) The book of inspiration; the sure, the right, the pure, the true, the perfect and powerful oracles of which instruct, convert, comfort, and warm the members of the church; and in keeping of which there is an exceeding great and everlasting reward of glory obtained, ver. 7-11. (3.) What conviction of sin! what supplication for pardon of it, and preservation from it! and for the acceptance of our duties through Jesus' blood, doth or ought to ensue upon a proper perusal of these volumes of heaven, ver. 12-14.

While I sing these matters, let me, conscious of my own ignorance and folly, in all things consult the mind of God. Let me blush that my experience of the powerful influences of God's word is so scanty; and that in me, still dwell such fearful remains of sinful corruption. Let me cry mightily to God, for the subduing and destruction thereof.

1 The heav'ns God's glory do declare,
the skies his hand-works preach:
2 Day utters speech to day, and night
to night doth knowledge teach.

3 There is no speech nor tongue to which
their voice doth not extend:
4 Their line is gone through all the earth,
their words to the world's end.

In them he set the sun a tent;
5 Who, bridegroom-like, forth goes
From's chamber, as a strong man doth
to run his race rejoice.

6 From heav'n's end is his going forth,
circling to th' end again;
And there is nothing from his heat
that hidden doth remain.

7 God's law is perfect, and converts
the soul in sin that lies:
God's testimony is most sure,
and makes the simple wise.

8 The statutes of the Lord are right,
and do rejoice the heart:
The Lord's command is pure, and doth
light to the eyes impart.

9 Unspotted is the fear of God,
and doth endure for ever:
The judgments of the Lord are true
and righteous altogether.

10 They more than gold, yea, much fine gold,
to be desired are:
Than honey, honey from the comb
that droppeth, sweeter far.

11 Moreover, they thy servant warn
how he his life should frame:
A great reward provided is
for them that keep the same.

12 Who can his errors understand?
O cleanse thou me within
13 From secret faults. Thy servant keep
from all presumptuous sin:

And do not suffer them to have
dominion over me:
Then, righteous and innocent,
I from much sin shall be.

14 The words which from my mouth proceed,
the thoughts sent from my heart,
Accept, O Lord, for thou my strength
and my Redeemer art.

Bible Distribution

Distribution of Bibles and other Scripture portions in the New Forest Area.

Besides the TBS calenders that were delivered into the near vicinity of the Chapel, and the ongoing distribution of Gospels and TBS leaflets in the open air and local towns and villages, last year, for which, we give God alone the praise, we here at Crosslanes Chapel were able to distribute just over 150 Bibles to schools and individuals in the New Forest. With the help of the Wessex Auxiliary of the Trinitarian Bible Society our Pastor was able to give another 152 Bibles into three more schools in the New Forest, Bartley Junior, Brockenhurst Primary, and Milford on Sea Primary, schools.

Beside the Bibles that have gone forth into the schools, the chapel was also able to send over 1800 other TBS items including 120 large print New Testaments and 150 large John's Gospels.

Our Pastor, in delivering some of the Bibles and other items personally to the schools, had the opportunity to speak to over 800 Children concerning the Bible, and particularly the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We are truly thankful to God for this opportunity the Lord has granted us, and we pray they many will be made wise unto salvation and come to faith in Jesus Christ.

The apostle Paul wrote, in 2 Timothy 3:15 “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

News of the Fellowship

We were very pleased to welcome Rev. John Thackway from Holywell Evangelical Church, North Wales to our 4th Annual Autumn Meeting. We were greatly blessed through the preaching of God's Word on the Saturday and following Lord's Day.

We were delighted to receive three new Members into our fellowship on 6th. November. They were Mr. and Mrs. Adamson and Mrs. Gould, all who were previous Members at Holywell Evangelical Church, North Wales.

The Annual Luncheon took place on January 12th. We were pleased to welcome friends from other Churches who enjoyed a lovely meal. Our Pastor concluded a happy time of fellowship with an epilogue from God's Word.

We are thankful for the contacts we have had here with a number of schools in the New Forest. For a full report please see the article on Bible Distribution. This year, for which we give God the praise, contact has been made with 12 schools so far. Each school has, or is, receiving a Special edition Queens Diamond Jubilee Bible. In total so far 210 New Testaments have been requested and are being sent into the schools. Along with this, a number of colouring books and bookmarks from the Trinitarian Bible Society. We are also encouraged that one independent school's headteacher, which was visited by our pastor, at the beginning of March, has requested that Bibles be supplied to the pupils leaving the school this summer. We do pray that these young people, aged 16, would be found reading the word of God and blessed by the Lord in their own hearts. We are particularly grateful to Mrs Dorothy Gould and others who have given their to time to prepare the orders for the schools.