urmur or the slightest abatement of
zeal. He didn't serve the Lord with a footrule in his hand, measuring
and marking off to the eighth of an inch. Abe strode over all narrow
and stinted measurements, and served his Master out of the fulness of
his warm and generous heart.

That miserable devotion which does as little as possible for God, and
magnifies that little into importance, Little Abe knew nothing about,
and he is a poor, pompous, pitiable thing that does; the open heart,
the willing hand, the ready feet, are among the few things that God
Almighty is pleased to see among His people; the penitent that sheds
his tears by the dozen, the man that goes just the length of his
sixty-feet tape-measure and no more, the champion that quenches his
zeal in the first obstacle that comes in his way, and turns back from
the fight, is unworthy the name and honour of a Christian; he is unfit
to march in the glorious succession of martyrs and confessors who
follow a Leader that dedicated His all to the world's welfare and His
Father's will. "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that
though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through
His poverty might be rich."

CHAPTER XIX.

Methodist Lovefeast.

Methodism has created new institutions and coined new words to express
the object of them. The lovefeast is purely Methodistic: it is a
meeting of Christian people belonging to one or more societies, where
they relate their religious experience, and bear their testimony to the
worth and influence of Divine grace in the soul.

Under the conduct of a minister, or someone duly appointed for the
purpose, the meeting is opened with singing and prayer; then, while the
people are sitting, bread and water are distributed to all present, to
suggest that believers are members of one great family, and partners in
the same spiritual provision made by Christ who gave Himself to be the
Bread of Life for men. When this is done the offerings of the people
are gathered, usually for the poor of the Lord's flock. The
formalities ended, the meeting is thrown open for the relation of
Christian experience, and any one speaks that is prompted.

In every period of Methodism the lovefeast has been a precious and
popular means of grace. These meetings are held all through the
country, every little church taking care to have its quarterly or
annual lovefeast. And it is remarkable what a hold some of these
meeting