A STORY OF THE LAST CENTURY.
IN one of the populous coal-mining and iron-working districts of the north of England, is a busy, smoky, yet picturesque town of some forty thousand inhabitants. On elevated ground in the middle of the town, approached by hilly streets and steps, stands the interesting old church, with its heavenward pointing steeple; while in the graveyard around lies the moldering dust of the ancestors of many of the town's present residents.
This town, whatever its character today, had, in the early days of Wesley and Whitefield, the unenviable notoriety of being one of the most profligate and wicked places they visited, and where they met with the most active opposition to the ministry of the gospel. A stone in the churchyard marks the last earthly resting-place of the one who first and often entertained Wesley in that town. This man's life was constantly in danger at the hands of his fellow-townsmen; he was often very violently assaulted, and was once dragged through the streets by the hair of his head. His windows were many times smashed, his premises were forcibly entered, and some marvelous escapes of his from his persecutors' hands are on record. Yet God sustained him through it all; he could say, “None of these things move me; " and many were ultimately blessed by the example of his patient endurance, as well as by his faithful preaching.
It was in a village just outside this town that Charles Wesley, with a few friends, was caught in an ambush and most violently assaulted by a ferocious mob, and was only delivered from his assailants by the son of one of his friends driving a team of four horses into the crowd, and thereby opening out a way of escape.
On one occasion George Whitefield was announced to preach in this town. He had preached there before, but met with so much opposition that he almost decided never to go again. Learning, however, that some had profited by his ministry there, he decided to visit the town once more. When it became known he was coming, someone sent the town crier round to announce a bear-baiting, intending to make Whitefield the bear. This announcement brought together the most profligate of the people, to whom baiting a preacher would be even greater sport than baiting a bear.
Like those of whom Bunyan tells us, they would rather indulge in all the wickedness " Vanity Fair " afforded them, and persecute the " pilgrim " preachers, than hear what "Faithful" Whitefield had to say to them; and so extreme was their violence towards him that day, that instead of being able to preach Christ and Him crucified in their hearing; like Bunyan's "Christian " he narrowly escaped from them with his life. These " brutal outrages and savage excesses took place in the open light of day " in what was then a small, and otherwise quiet market town in " Christian England " less than one hundred and fifty years ago ; and all because the glorious light of the gospel of God was sought to be held up. They loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil (John 3:1919And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (John 3:19)). But as the entrance of His words giveth light, so some dark souls by hearing and believing the gospel, became illuminated with the light of God to their own joy and the Lord's glory. "For Thou wilt light my candle; the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness." (Psa. 18:2828For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness. (Psalm 18:28).)
Not only was violence shown towards these preachers, but the greatest contempt and ridicule were also heaped upon them. These “religious fanatics," as they were called, were made the subject of discussion and derision in the alehouses, and mock preachings were held for sport.
One of the ringleaders in this discreditable business was a man of considerable talent and wit, and his conviction of sin and conversion to God were most remarkable.
The night after the "baiting" of Whitefield, this ringleader, with three of his companions in evil deeds, undertook, in one of the public-houses in the town, to make sport for the assembled company by mimicking Whitefield's preaching. It was agreed that these four should mount the table in turn, and, opening a Bible which had been procured, "preach a sermon" from the first text the eye fell upon. This impious arrangement evoked much unholy enthusiasm; and wagers were made as to him who would best perform the self-imposed task. The mock preaching was commenced; three of them vied with each other in the wicked sport, and it came to the turn of the fourth to do his part.
Conscious of his powers of speech, he, the ringleader, sprang lightly upon the table, saying he would beat them all. The Bible was handed to him, and opening it to see what was to be the subject of his banter, his eyes fell upon those words of the Lord in Luke 13:55I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. (Luke 13:5), “Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish."
Those words immediately entered his heart like an arrow from the bow of God. The Spirit of God drove them right home; and there he stood before his companions in guilt with an awakened conscience as to his sinful state, the sharpest pangs of conviction seizing upon his soul. But as he looked at his text, the subject seemed to open itself out before his mind and rill his heart ; and who could tell the extent of the operation of the Holy Ghost his awakened soul experienced during those few moments?
After a brief pause his tongue was loosened, and, out of the abundance of what he felt, he preached before his hearers-preached, not mockingly, but full of reality, finding no difficulty from lack of either matter or utterance. Some of his hearers at first thought it was a splendid performance, and showed signs of approval; but soon became amazed to find that he was terribly in earnest as he went on to show how they all were in danger of perishing unless they repented of their sins. All signs of merriment were cast aside, and none dare attempt to stop his discourse. The pointedness and earnestness of his remarks awed them, while this change in them only seemed to deepen the conviction in the speaker's own heart. As he afterwards said of himself: “If ever I preached in my life by the assistance of the Spirit of God it was at that time."
When he had ended his discourse, and come off the table, not a word was said about the wager, no one was inclined to go back to the subject, and he now hurried home in the deepest distress imaginable. His repentance was deep, for his sin was great; but God is rich in mercy, and “where sin abounded grace did much more abound” (Rom. 5:2020Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: (Romans 5:20)); and so by faith in Christ Jesus, forgiveness and peace were obtained and enjoyed by him. Sometime afterwards, this ringleader in wickedness became the pastor over a congregation in the same part of the town as that in which he was converted in so remarkable a manner; and many owed their conversion and spiritual growth to the faithful ministry of this earnest pastor, which he continued until he was called home some twenty years later.
This story is not written here merely to amuse or interest the reader, but to show the wonderful providence of God in over-ruling all for His own glory, and His marvelous grace in saving sinners of the deepest dye; in the hope that this little bit of local history may come home to the reader's heart and conscience if still unsaved. For whether you revel in wickedness, like those in that alehouse that night, or whether you are making a cloak of religion, like some who come to talk with Jesus, and as many do today, when to be religious is fashionable, let me remind you that it is still true: "He that believeth not is condemned already" (John 3:1818He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18)); and warn you in the words of that text of nearly one hundred and fifty years ago, that, "Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish." But if you will repent, trusting in Jesus, yours shall be a “remarkable conversion " too; for surely it ever will be remarkable that a sinner dead in trespasses and in sins should be quickened and brought into resurrection life, through our Lord Jesus Christ. May the knowledge and enjoyment of this be the reader's portion now. H. W. P.