I think I can say that "every baptism has baptized us into closer fellowship, every marriage has married us into closer union, every funeral that bore away your beloved dead, only bound us more strongly to the living." Every invitation from another church--and I have had some very attractive ones that I never told you about--every invitation from another church has always been promptly declined; for I long ago determined never to be pastor of any other than Lafayette Avenue Church.
What is my joy or crown of rejoicing?
Are not even ye--ye--in the presence of Christ at His coming?
Why, then, sunder a tie that is bound to every fibre of my inmost heart?
I will answer you frankly.

There must be no concealment or false pretexts between us.

In the first place, as I told you two months ago, I had determined to make my thirtieth anniversary the terminal point of my present pastorate.

I determined not to outstay my fullest capacity for the enormous work demanded here.

The extent of that demanded work increases every twelve months.