“Wed. Dec 7th 1881. I see it is just a week since I wrote so I will now give an account of it since last Friday.

Friday 2nd had a good number more at the Bible class than any previous night; the pastor read an Essay on the Character of Enoch, he dwelt more on the faith on which it was based than anything else; I followed with a few remarks speaking more of walking with God; I said Dr. Watts in his Catechism has a note to the effect that when Enoch and Noah are said to walk with God, some learned men have supposed that they not only lived as if in the presence of God and walked so as to please Him, but that in those early days God did appear to those holy men and walk and converse with them in visible form. 

This gave rise to some very sensible remarks and one Scripture was compared with another in a not unprofitable manner. The instance of Jacob “I have seen God face to face” and the conflicting statement of God to Moses “no man shall see my face and live” were compared; Mr. Nichol and Mr. …….. maintained the later conviction and held it in spite of all. I could see Mr. Nichol had not expressed all he felt about it and the next Sunday, Dec. 4th he (Mr. Nichol) took for his text “Blessed are the pure in heart…” from this he explained that man’s walking with God had ever been by communion of spirit and conformity of mind and heart. I thought this a very nice turn for the thoughts of a young minister to take and by it, connected with Friday night’s conversation I felt my mind spiritually enriched. I regretted on Friday night having started the discussion that too much time had been taken up with what was conjecture only but I was soon relieved on that point.”

Some background to this diary: In doing some research for another project I have been privileged to have in my possession the personal diary of Mrs. Emily Kelk. Emily was married in the Metropolitan Tabernacle in March 1882 to Thomas Kelk where they attended during the ministry of Rev. C. H. Spurgeon and where Thomas served as the assistant superintendent to Spurgeon’s Orphanage. There are some very interesting and never-before-seen insights into Mr. Spurgeon’s ministry which will appear in following excerpts from the diary (© 2011; published here with permission).

Prior to  her marriage Emily attended another little Strict Baptist Chapel outside London in addition to Metropolitan Tabernacle. She writes here of that Chapel.