CHAPTER XI.

[1822.]

GIVES UP WORLDLY CALLING-GOES TO MARKET-DRAYTON-IS CHOSEN

PASTOR-WIFE AND FAMILY JOIN HIM, APRIL 1822.

SCARCELY had I returned home again to my wife and children, when another engagement was made for me by Mr. Greenhough. By this time my affairs at home were in such a state as to require my immediate attention and decision. For this I sought direction of the Lord, and set apart a special time for prayer on the subject. He answered me with these words, "No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." 2 Tim. ii. 4. Having received this warrant to abandon my lawful calling, I relinquished it to live henceforth on the things of the altar. Thus relieved from the cares of worldly business, I hastened to fulfil my new engagement, which was to serve the church at Market Drayton, Shropshire, for four weeks; but I was again to go forth in weeping, temptation, and perplexity, though not unmixed with strong consolations. On the eve of my departure, my wife was suddenly taken ill. The disorder was a serious one, being an inflammation in the head and eyes. As it increased during the evening, I deliberated whether to go or stay, and passed several sleepless hours in suspense. At four o'clock in the morning I rose, my wife being by that

time quite blinded by the attack, and on my knees spread the case before the Lord. The answer seemed to be, "Go," and my dear wife, moreover, ill as she was, urged my departure. I set off to the coach which was to take me to Newcastle-under-Lyne, and where a horse would be waiting to carry me to Oakley Mills. I had suppressed my feelings until I reached the threshold of my door, when the thought of leaving my poor wife, blind and helpless, with her infant children, so overcame me that I burst into tears. The Lord then sent this passage to my heart with great power: "He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." Ps. cxxvi. 6. The comfort and support of these words strengthened me to cast my dear wife and children upon God, and believe that all would yet be well; and during the rest of my journey to Newcastle I was favoured with a most blessed season of prayer and communion with God. In this frame I reached Oakley Mills in the afternoon. Mr. and Mrs. Riley received me most kindly and hospitably.

The next morning was the Sabbath. My host conducted me through a beautiful grove to Market Drayton, where I was to deliver my first sermon. My comforts of yesterday had by this time vanished, and a sharp temptation of the enemy beset me; my troubles all returned afresh, and the rebellion of the heart was stirred up; I felt completely shut up in spirit, and anticipated nothing less than to be put to silence before the people. My life at this moment seemed too miserable to be endured, and I hastily wished it might be taken from me. Nothing could be more hateful and unjustifiable than this rebellion in the sight of God. He had an absolute right to do with me as he pleased, and my lips were his and not my own, either to shut or to open. In this state I

entered the chapel at Drayton for the first time: a spot where it had been ordained, though I knew it not, that I was to receive my first charge as a settled pastor in the ministry, and where I was to experience greater power, sweetness, and comfort in the pulpit than had hitherto been bestowed upon me. On that Sabbath I had entered the chapel without a text, though three sermons were expected from me that day. The second hymn was being concluded, and utterly at a loss for a subject, I opened the Bible at hazard. My eye fell upon Ephes. i. 4. " According as he hath chosen us in him, &c." I read these words, though I had never preached from them before, and as I was giving out the text the second time, three distinct heads or divisions of the subject presented themselves to my mind. This was all I had to begin with. But in a moment the Lord broke into my soul, set me at liberty, and favoured me with such power, light, unction, and sweetness, that I rejoiced in God, and my soul was filled with his power and presence, and I preached for an hour and a quarter. "Mr. Blackstock," said one of the deacons, (Mr. Sambrook, a man of as kind and tender a heart as I ever met with, though somewhat peculiar in manner,)" you have kept us just one quarter of an hour too long;" but he added, "it was an excellent discourse. That sermon was studied, and well studied too." The reader, who is in the secret, will have perceived how much study had been bestowed upon it. My kind friend, Mr. Sambrook, at that time knew but little of the manner in which the Lord leads his ministers.

On that, and on the following Sabbath, I had the sweetest and most powerful, as well as comfortable times that I had ever felt, and the people generally were very friendly and very kind in their manner.

The account of these visits at the outset of my

career may seem to some homely, and to many perhaps even prolix and tedious; but to others who are acquainted with the way in which the Lord leads his ministers, I trust these minute details will not be altogether unacceptable: they serve to show that God sent me to preach the gospel in a state of complete dependence upon himself. Yet let it not be inferred from the incident at Dravton, that I therefore neglected the duty of studying for the work. Learning, indeed, and knowledge of the original languages of the Bible, I possessed none; and it has often been a matter of regret to me that I had entertained a prejudice against it; for though it is liable to be much abused, yet, by the grace of God, learning may be rightly used as an handmaid to Faith. Ministers are not apostles of Christ. For my own part, during my first three years in the ministry I possessed no books but a Bible, without commentary, notes, or references; two or three hymn-books, and a pamphlet. Yet with these, had I been favoured with diligence in reading the word and prayer, I might have grown and increased.

A young servant of Christ will do well to read much the word of God, to pray over it, to compare his own experience with it, to search it deeply, and to compare Scripture with Scripture, and spiritual things with spiritual. Those of God's ministers who have taken a lesson from the bee, have most excelled. In sunshine she leaves the hive, hastens among the flowers, gathers her honey, and at night returns laden to her hive! Young servant of Jesus Christ! let the Scriptures be thy field, or garden; its choice sayings, truths, and promises are flowers; in thy Lord's strength work there, especially when the Sun shines upon thee: there, thou hast a right to gather, and there, if possible, be thou always gathering. And to "such I should say, study to obtain proficiency in

Greek and Hebrew, so as to be able to read the Old and New Testament in the languages in which they were written; by this means you obtain knowledge at the "fountain head." But when you are before the people, be careful to use nothing but great plainness of speech. As regards myself, perhaps it was better for me, in some respects, that I had no resource but the Bible, such a necessity tends to keep a man closer and sounder; it binds him to his own things: "Let them be only thine own, and not strangers with thee." Prov. v. 17. I leave others to admire the sight of a set of ministers following (like so many horses in a team) some great man as their leader. We have examples in the Bible, without requiring other guides.

A few days after my arrival at Market Drayton, a letter arrived from my wife, with the welcome news of her sight having been restored. She had been bled in the arm, and the relief thus afforded was almost immediate; and she was very soon as well as ever. It is well to be compelled to trust in the Lord, for his mercies are infinite.

The result of my first Sabbath at Drayton was satisfactory; though unacquainted with the congregation personally, yet in my feelings I had been at home among them, and in the pulpit I had certainly found the Lord's presence. I could say of it, Jehovah Shammi. The chapel was much to my taste, and upon the whole I felt that if the people should give me a call, I should find it difficult to refuse. They, on their parts, were friendly and cordial, and at the end of five or six Sabbaths they summoned a meeting of the church, at which all the members but one elected me their pastor. I accepted the pastoral office. They offered me fifty-two guineas per annum, with a good house and garden, rent free. As this sum seemed to me large for so small a congregation, and I thought I