Committing children to the Lord in faith— The lame captain— Sent to Scarborough, when there was no one else to preach— The full gospel much needed— The Lord’s bag— The work begun at York— Preaching at the funeral of a Roman Catholic— Lecture on the sign of the times— An after meeting in a cottage— T.S. sent to York, and then W.T.
Just about this time I well remember an incident that may encourage many a parent in prayer. More than seventy years before this event, a godly mother committed her babe to the Lord, in faith that the child would be converted, and join her above; such was her faith as she departed, to be absent from the body, present with the Lord. For seventy years there was no sign of answered prayer. The child grew up a careless, ungodly man, a captain of a man-of-war. He had had both his heels blown off by a splinter of a shell. He was now an aged and lame man. He had been brought to hear the Word, being carried into the crowded room. That night the Spirit led me to preach from “Mephibosheth.” (See the tract written about that time). I was describing the sinner’s utterly lost, lame condition, and the kindness of God shown in Christ, not only in giving Christ to die for our sins, but in fetching the poor sinner, just as he is, to His own presence, as David sent and fetched Mephibosheth, lame on both his feet. I said, “Now, you poor lame old sinner, you who have been fetched into the presence of God tonight, where are you?” The poor old captain felt it was God speaking to him, Who knew all about him; and trying to get up, he cried out, “I am here.” God saved his soul that night, and thus answered a mother’s prayers, but in His own way and time. It was a happy sight to see the dear old captain rejoicing in Christ Jesus, and sitting at the King’s table as a King’s son, “and he was lame on both his feet.” Read, in connection with this story of grace, 2 Samuel 9.
We were having a little prayer meeting one Saturday evening, when I had a very distinct call, that I was to go to Scarborough again, to preach on the following day. I went home, but my dear wife on this occasion did not feel it was the Lord’s mind that I should do so. I asked the Lord that if it were His will, He would give us both the same judgment about it. After prayer, I went to bed and fell asleep. At two o’clock I found myself standing on the floor, and the Lord said, “You must go to Scarborough.” I awoke my wife, and now she was of the same mind. I quietly prepared a little breakfast, and then walked to the station. There was a train to York and I went by it in faith. After waiting a little at York, I found there was, at that time, a train to Scarborough on Lord’s Day morning. I arrived there about nine. I thought I would not call on any one until the time that a few Christians met to break bread, according to the Scriptures, in the name of the Lord Jesus.
I walked down on the shore, and there I saw G. A. walking slowly, and looking rather down. I walked up behind, and laying my hand on his shoulder, I said, “How are you?” He turned round and said, “Well, this is a rebuke: Mr. B. has been suddenly called to a funeral in London, and there will be a large company at the room tonight: I was feeling down at the thought that there would be no one to preach, and now the Lord has sent you.” Those who have never experienced this kind of direct guidance, cannot have any idea, what a solemnity it gives.
There was another thing that gave great interest in preaching the gospel in those days. And this was caused by the great delight of breaking up new ground. You might often go into a town or village, yes, even a city, and there would scarce be a soul in it, that enjoyed the certainty of eternal redemption. If you had asked them the meaning of Hebews 10:2-14, they could not have told you. And real Christians had only “a good hope that they would be saved.” Then, in almost every case, you found souls under the law, and therefore in bondage. It was my delight to go throughout all England, telling out the full gospel of God.
I was by no means rich in this world’s goods, yet I always had the means to go and preach wherever the Lord sent me. Perhaps the reader would like to know how this was the case. I will tell him. I had a little bag which I called the Lord’s bag. Whatever was given me by the Lord’s people for traveling expenses was put into that bag, and for all those years of gospel work, I never could reach the bottom of it. This continued until the Lord gave me the greater privilege of Acts 20:3535I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35).
I will now relate how the Lord began His work in several places, and these can only be a few samples out of many. The city of York had been on my mind for some months, and I often looked to the Lord in prayer about it. I was returning home one day from Scarborough, and had about three hours to wait at York. As I walked over the bridge, I lifted up my heart in prayer, and asked the Lord, that if it were His will that I should preach the Word there, to give me a congregation that day. Whilst I was in prayer, I met a great crowd turning down by the castle. The Lord said, “Follow this crowd.” I found there was going to be a funeral of some Roman Catholic dignitary. We walked on until we came to a large shed. The rain fell at this moment, and the people rushed in and filled the shed. I felt it was the Lord’s will I should stand at the front of the shed. I took out my Bible and read the words, “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord.” A very large company gathered at the front. Some hundreds heard the word with marked attention. The Roman Catholics seemed to think I was one of them, and crossing themselves, came very close. I was led to dwell first on the blessedness of those who now fall asleep in Christ. I did not refer to the special time to which this text applies; but, as a general fact, how blessed is the soul that departs from this scene to be with the Lord. I then showed that the Word did not say, “Blessed are they that die in the Roman Catholic Church, or in the Protestant churches, but IN THE LORD.” This caused rather a flutter, and then even greater attention, whilst I endeavored to show from the Scripture, what it is to be “in the Lord.”
As I closed, a man asked me, in a distinct, clear voice that was heard by all, “Do I understand you to say, that a man may know in this world that he is saved, and that he has eternal life?” This question, and the answer, appeared to have a great effect on many, as I showed from Scripture that it was the privilege of all believers, to know that they were “justified from all things,” and had peace with God. For the Word says, “Be it known unto you, therefore men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins; and by him, all that believe are justified from all things.” If we believe God, how can we doubt what He says: “Be it known unto you”? Other Scriptures were quoted, and just as I finished my answer, the head of the funeral approached us, being about two hours behind time. Let us not say this was very strange. It would not be so at all if we walked more in faith.
Some little time after, I felt led to go and give a lecture in York, on the large market space, called the Pavement. I put out a little notice, “Lectures on The Signs of the Times.” This was at the time of the Chartist agitation, just at the crisis. Somehow a report got abroad, that I was a Chartist, come to revolutionize the city. The Mayor sent for me, and as I was only a Christian that belonged to no denomination, he could not understand it, and therefore thought it must be wrong. He thought it best to order out a large force of police, to keep the peace. There was an immense concourse of people, which filled the market place. I was very weak, and had almost to be lifted into a chair to speak. It is a solemn thing to address so many thousands of souls, all of whom will be so soon in eternity. I dwelt much on the approaching judgment of the living nations, at the glorious appearing of Christ. Then I showed Christians how the Lord would come first and take them to Himself (John 14:1-31Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:1‑3); 1 Thess. 4:13, 1813But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. (1 Thessalonians 4:13)
18Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:18)). All this was quite new then in the city of York. And as the preaching went on until it grew dark, the thunder rolled and lightning flashed. Altogether, it was a night never to be forgotten by many.
I should have said I had heard of a Christian of the name of S., and though unknown to him, I went to his house before the lecture, and asked him if he would allow me to preach Christ in his house at ten o’clock that night. He looked somewhat astonished, but consented. A little before ten the lecture closed. I then invited all those who were anxious, or desired to know more of these things, to go with me to his house. The largest chapel would have been filled had it been opened. The little house was crowded, and we had the after meeting until near twelve o’clock.
That night the Lord sent His servant, the late T.S., from Leeds, to labor awhile in York. He arrived late, went to his lodgings, and heard nothing of our meetings. Early the next morning, the Lord directed him to that very house; and there the work began, and there the table of the Lord was spread in the city of York. Soon the work spread, and the Lord sent His dear servant, the late beloved W.T.