Sunday (11th Dec. 1881) “Mr. Bishop from Bourne preached. Morning service text “Lord it is good for us to be here.” Good for us to withdraw from the world a while. The world engrosses much of our thoughts and much of our time every day; good for us to meet with the saints… also in our private meetings. The Christian life is not all toil, all trial, all combat; there are seasons of hallowed communion in the presence of Jesus. Yet these exalted seasons are not always to last, here Peter made the mistake; then, what is the object of them?

1st they are to refresh us, we often get weary – they are to strengthen the weak hands and confirm the feeble knees.

2nd they are to fit us for future service, the Apostles had high and heavy service awaiting them; the lunatic is at the foot of the mountain and the Father is longing to have him cured, oh that Jesus would come . . .

I enjoyed the sermon very much; Saturday had been a trying day, 2 or 3 things tended to make it so and to close with dear Alf (Emily’s unsaved brother) came home more fatigued and dull than usual, for generally he is in good spirit, the dearest dear Brother one ever knew, if things are extra annoying he mostly keeps cheerful for our sakes.”

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.