BEFORE Berridge was appointed to the curacy of Stapleford, the following words were addressed to him by his bishop: “And now again we exhort you, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to seek for Christ’s sheep that are dispersed abroad, and for His children who are in the midst of this naughty world, that they may be saved through Christ forever.” But strangely enough, this most excellent exhortation was shorn of meaning. Berridge was not supposed to venture outside his parish in search of Christ’s sheep; by the expression “this naughty world,” was meant only so much of it as was laid down in the parish map! When he, while vicar of Everton, preached in other places, the same bishop asked indignantly, “Did I appoint you to such and such places?” But the new desire given him for the salvation of others, led him to break the parish bounds, and in the true spirit of the exhortation, he began to seek for those dispersed abroad. Hidden in all the ignorance and darkness around him, like the treasure hid in a field, there were those whom God had chosen for eternal glory―those for whom Christ had died―and he, carrying the good news of God, went forth to seek them, that by the power of the Spirit of God, they might hear, receive it and live.
His itinerancy seems to have been confined for a time, to private houses, probably having such meetings as brought Whitefield into disgrace. In August 1758, Mr. Hicks, a clergyman of Wrestling worth, a little place four miles from Everton, was converted to God, and as Berridge’s son in the faith, often accompanied him on his preaching tours.
The following letter, written in May 1759, is interesting as giving Berridge’s account of his work, and of his first open-air sermon.
“On Sunday sen’night, a man of Wybersley, a Nathanael indeed, was so filled with the love of God during morning prayer, that he dropped down and lay as one dead for two hours. He had been so filled with love all the week before, that he was often for a time unable to work.” On Sunday night last, as I was speaking in my house, there was a violent outcry. One soul was set at liberty. We sung near an hour, and the Lord released three more out of captivity.
“On Monday sen’night, Mr. Hicks accompanied me to Meldred. On the way we called at a farmer’s house. After dinner I went into his yard, and seeing near a hundred and fifty people, I called for a table, and preached for the first time in the open air. Two persons were seized with strong convictions, fell down, and cried out most bitterly. We then went to Meldred, where I preached in a field, to about four thousand people. In the morning at five, Mr. Hicks preached in the same field, to about a thousand. And now the presence of the Lord was wonderfully amongst us. There was abundance of weeping and strong crying; and, I trust, beside many that were slightly wounded, near thirty received true heartfelt conviction. Seeing about a dozen people in the brew house, I spoke a few words. Immediately the farmer’s daughter dropped down in strong conviction. Another was also miserably torn by Satan, but set at liberty before I had done prayer. At four I preached in my own house, and God gave the spirit of adoption to another mourner.
“On Monday last, I went to Shelford, four miles from Cambridge, near twenty from Everton. The journey made me quite ill, being so weary with riding, that I was obliged to walk part of the way. When I came thither, a table was set for me on the common; and, to my great surprise, I found near ten thousand people round it, among whom were many gownsmen from Cambridge. I was hardly able to stand on my feet, and extremely hoarse with a cold. When I lifted up my foot to get on the table, a horrible dread overwhelmed me; but the moment I was fixed thereon, I seemed as unconcerned as a statue. I gave out my text, Galatians 3:10, 1110For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. (Galatians 3:10‑11), and made a pause to think of something pretty to set off with, but the Lord so confounded me (as indeed it was meet, for I was seeking not His glory, but my own) that I was in a perfect labyrinth; and found, if I did not begin immediately, I must go down without speaking. So I broke out with the first word that occurred, not knowing whether I should be able to add any more. Then the Lord opened my mouth, enabling me to speak nearly an hour without any kind of perplexity; and so loud that everyone might hear. The audience behaved with great decency. When my sermon was over, I found myself so cool and easy, so cheerful in spirit, and wonderfully strengthened in body, I went into a house, and spoke near an hour, to about two hundred people. In the morning, I preached again to about a thousand. Mr. Hicks engaged to preach in Orwell field, on Tuesday evening. I gave notice that I designed to preach on Monday sen’night, at Grandchester, a mile from Cambridge. Mr. Hicks and I have agreed to go into Hertfordshire; afterward to separate, and go around the neighborhood, preaching in the fields, wherever a door is open, three or four days in every week.
“Believe me, your affectionate servant,
“JOHN BERRIDGE.”
There are certain expressions in this letter which must be referred to again; at present it will be well to follow Berridge in his work.
Let the reader turn if possible to a map of England, and notice the extent of the counties of Bedford, Cambridge, Essex, Hertford, and Huntingdon, and he will see that the district in which Berridge set himself to labor was no small one, while at the same time he fulfilled his duties as Vicar of Everton. For years his horseback journeys frequently covered a hundred miles a week. On Sundays he preached at Everton at 7 o’clock in the morning, and even at this early hour people who came distances of twenty miles would be present, having set out at midnight. He preached again at half-past ten, at half-past two, and in the evening. On his journeys he preached in barns―his “cathedrals,” as he called them―or in farmyards, or wherever he found opportunity. Labor of this kind was worrying work for body and mind, and he was often thoroughly worn and exhausted; “but when he is weakest,” a friend wrote, “God so strengthens him that it is surprising to what a distance his voice reaches.”
Lady Huntingdon once invited Berridge to Bath, recommending another to fulfill his duties during his absence. He wrote in reply: “I do not want a helper merely to stand up in my pulpit, but to ride round my district, and I fear my weekly circuit would not suit a London or a Bath divine, nor any tender evangelist that is environed with prunello [i.e., clothed in fine black cloth]. Long rides and miry roads in sharp weather! Cold houses to sit in, with very moderate fuel, and three or four children roaring or rocking about you! Coarse food and meager liquor; lumpy beds to lie on, and too short for the feet; stiff blankets, like boards, for a covering, and live cattle in plenty to feed upon you! Rise at five in the morning to preach; at seven breakfast on tea that smells very sickly; at eight mount a horse with boots never cleaned, and then ride home praising God for all mercies!”
“If every parish church were blessed with a gospel minister,” he wrote to another, “there could be little need of itinerant preaching; but since these ministers are thinly scattered about the country, and neighboring pulpits are usually locked up against them, it behooves them to take advantage of fields or barns to cast abroad the gospel seed....
“Never preach in working hours; that would raise a clamor. Where you preach at night, preach also in the morning; be not longer than an hour in the whole morning service, and conclude before six. Morning preaching will show whether the evening took effect, by raising them up early to hear.
“Expect plain fare and plain lodging where you preach, yet, perhaps, better than your Master had. Suffer no treats to be made for you, but live as your host usually lives, else he may grow weary of entertaining you... If the clergy rail at you where you go, say not a word about it, good or bad. Matt. 15:2323But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. (Matthew 15:23). If, you dare be zealous for the Lord of Hosts, expect persecution and threats, but heed them not... The chief block in the way will be the prudent Peters, who will beg, entreat, and beseech you to avoid irregularity. Give them the same answer that Christ gave Peter. Matt. 16:2323But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savorest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. (Matthew 16:23). They savor of the things that be of men; heed them not. When you preach at night, go to bed as soon as possible, that the family may not be kept up, and you may rise early. When breakfast and morning family prayer is over, go away directly, that the house may be at liberty. Do not dine where you preach, if you can avoid it; it will save expense and please the people. If you would do work for the Lord, as you seem designed, you must venture for the Lord. The Christian’s motto is, Trust and go forward, though the sea is before you. Ex. 14:1515And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: (Exodus 14:15). Do then as Paul did, give up thyself to the Lord; work, and confer not with flesh and blood, and the Lord be with thee.
“Dear brother,
“Yours affectionately,
“JOHN BERRIDGE.”
W. J.