Memorials of the Independent Churches in Northamptonshire Part 17

We then agreed, and solemnly pa.s.sed this as a Church act, that we would not bear with any that were with us that whispered against any of the brethren, or backbited any, looking upon it as abusing that rule in the 18th chapter of Matthew; also very dishonourable to the Lord Jesus, and injurious to the Church; separating between chief friends, and giving occasion to the enemies to blaspheme.

The ministry of Mr. Bettson appears to have been evangelical, earnest, and successful, so that 174 members were added to the Church during his ministry, which continued for 33 years. During the early years of that ministry much comfort and usefulness is indicated; but the latter part of it appears to have been attended with some heavy trials.

In the earliest part of their history they held numerous Church-meetings; had members belonging to the Church from many different places. Occasionally they held Church-meetings at Olney, 12 miles from Wellingborough, in which place and neighbourhood a number of the members resided, until at length they were formed into a Church in that place.

"Mr. Bettson," it is observed, "was a man possessed of much prudence, piety, and perseverance. His trials were many; for preceding the choice of an a.s.sistant, another minister came to the town to preach in opposition to Mr. Bettson. Many hearers left, and the interest was greatly reduced."

From their Church records, it appears that they performed the marriage ceremony among themselves. The covenant of marriage is thus expressed:--

I, J. N., take thee, M. M., to be my wedded wife, and solemnly promise, in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ, to be a loving, tender, and faithful husband, until death.

I, M. M., take thee, J. N., to be my wedded husband, and solemnly promise, in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ, to be a loving, tender, faithful, and obedient wife, until death.

"The date of the first certificate of marriage is 1692, and the date of the last that was given 1714."

_Wellingborough, 22nd day of the 10th month._

These are to certify all whom it may concern, that Samuel Bearly and Susannah Jeffs, both of Wellingborough, did enter into the estate of matrimony the day and year above written. As a testimony of firmly indenting and joining in a marriage covenant, they have hereto unchangeably put to their hands and seals, the day and year above written.

In the presence of the witnesses,

ROBERT BETTSON. SAMUEL BEARLY.

JOHN FOXE. SUSANNAH JEFFS.

It appears that the banns were published in the parish Church where the parties lived, according to the following account:--

Preceding marriage, Mr. Bere received a note from the place where the parties lived, according to the following testimony:--

"These are to certify all whom it may concern, of the banns of matrimony between Brize, of the parish of Clifton, in the county of Bucks, on the one part, and Ann Rollins, of this parish, in the county of Northampton, on the other part, were published three several times in the parish of Wollaston, without any let or contradiction, as the Rubrick directs, by me.

"J. MARIS, Vicar of Wollaston.

"_Wollaston, July 27, 1702._"

When a Christian society is in circ.u.mstances of peculiar difficulty and discouragement, it is important that their state should engage the sympathies and draw forth the counsels of other Christian societies, as a means of encouragement and a.s.sistance under the struggles to which they are called. Acting on this principle, this Church, under its trials, applied for advice to other Churches, and received the following letter from the Church at Rowell, expressive of their sympathy and their counsels:

DEAR BRETHREN IN THE LORD,--Our messengers, sent upon your desire to a.s.sist you in your faults, informed us that you wanted advice respecting your duty towards those members who wilfully left their places amongst you, broke their solemn covenant with you, and entered into a separate covenant with excommunicated persons, to carry on a separate cause with them. Our messengers further informed us of the unanimous advice given by the messengers of several Churches, that you should proceed against them as covenant-breakers; making use of Christian endeavours, evangelical admonitions, for their recovery, if the Lord pleases to bless to the same end; and in case of obstinacy to cut them off. Of this advice we heartily approve as a Church of Christ; and desire that the Spirit of the Lord may be with you in it, and enable you to go comfortably through it, and give you success in it. We pity you under your great and sore trials, and, as helping you, prayed for you, that you may be filled with all the fulness of G.o.d. We pity any who have been deluded from their duty under specious pretences, and desire that the G.o.d of all grace would give them speedily to renounce them.

However, the Lord give unto you (the weak handed) to be found in the way of your duty, for therein is peace. Abstain from your own wisdom; let your weapons be spiritual and mighty through G.o.d, to whose care we remit you, and remain your sympathizing brethren,

M. MAURICE.

THOS. REYNALS.

WILLM. FULLEN.

Sometimes a change in the ministry, when an interest is brought into such a state that it can hardly stand its ground, has a favourable effect; and may, under the divine blessing, be the means of bringing about a pleasing change. Thus it proved in the history of this Church.

Mr. Bettson's age increasing and energies declining, they agreed to invite a co-pastor. A Mr. Grant, another member of the Church at Rowell, was chosen to this office. Finding his ministry acceptable, they wrote to the Church at Rowell, requesting his dismission to them, that he might be ordained as joint pastor with Mr. Bettson. The Church granted their desire, and in their letter of dismission we find the following pa.s.sages:--

It affecteth us greatly that the Lord seemeth to smile upon his precious cause amongst you, so that we hope the night of your affliction is far spent, and the day of much more abounding joy and consolation is at hand. "Weeping endureth for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."

We are glad that any of our dear brethren and sisters, who in the dark and cloudy day have been turned aside from their duty, are brought to their covenanted places in the Church. We have no reason to doubt but the Spirit of G.o.d will in a gracious manner bring others. When He is pleased to plead, who can resist? And we hope the same Spirit will enable you to carry it in all meekness of wisdom toward them, leaving the issue to G.o.d.

We bless G.o.d that the ministry of our beloved brother William Grant has been made so useful amongst you, and that the Spirit of G.o.d doth so fit it for edification and conversion. We pray that such fruits may abound more and more; and in order thereunto, upon your request and his desire, the Church has ordered us, in their names, to sign his dismission to your fellows.h.i.+p.

We should be very glad of the continuance of his fellows.h.i.+p with us, and his labours amongst us; but seeing our dear Lord calleth him to work amongst you, and inclineth his heart thereto, we submit, and think it our duty to rejoice in your mercy.

In reference to the ordination of Mr. Grant, we are informed that "letters were ordered to be written in the name of the Church to the several Churches therein named, for their messengers to come over and behold our order, and a.s.sist us in the ordination of brother William Grant." Thursday, September 21st, 1723, was appointed for this purpose.

This being the day set apart for brother William Grant's ordination, the Church a.s.sembled for it, in order to carry on the solemn work, which was conducted as follows:--

After some time spent in prayer, the Church appointed brother William Curtis to be their mouth to propose the matter to the Church, and also to brother Grant. The matter being proposed to the Church, they gave their consent, by standing up and lifting up their hands; no objection being made by any of them. By their mouth it was proposed to brother William Grant, whether or no he did willingly give up himself to the Lord and his Church, to serve the Lord and them in the work and office of a pastor; which call of G.o.d and his people he testified that he willingly obeyed and accepted. That being done, the messengers of the several Churches then present, as a testimony of their joy and communion, gave the right hands of fellows.h.i.+p. Then brother Hanneswell prayed, and Mr. Maurice preached, and brother Curtis concluded the meeting with prayer; and in the evening brother Grant preached; and so we concluded the day.

Mr. Grant's ministry proved so acceptable, that it soon became necessary to enlarge the Old Meeting, which was done in the year 1726.

A circ.u.mstance which appears to have been rather unusual in the life of a plain country pastor 120 years ago, took place in the history of Mr.

Grant, followed by some interesting results. "On June 11th, 1732, the Church gave consent for Mr. Grant to go to London." This was probably his first visit to the metropolis. What was the special occasion of such an important step being taken does not appear; but it was on this visit that it is supposed the following well-authenticated events took place.

"Mr. Grant was introduced to the study of a learned brother, for whom he was to preach. This and the other book was pointed out as of great importance, and discovering great erudition in the author. Mr. Grant said, 'Sir, I have had no literary advantages; therefore such works are lost to me.' 'I am very sorry, then, that you are to preach to my people, who have always been accustomed to such ministers as have had a very liberal education. But, Mr. Grant, if you should be confused in your sermon, I beg you will soon close the subject.' Lady C----, seeing Mr. Grant's homely dress, felt much timidity about him, and no small aversion to hear him: but at the close of the service Lady C---- and the minister were ready to testify their approbation; and from this time such was her Ladys.h.i.+p's partiality to Mr. Grant, that he frequently went to London in the week to preach a lecture, and returned for the Sabbath; and her Ladys.h.i.+p often came to Wellingborough to spend the Lord's-day."

From this time Mr. Grant had a happy change in his temporal circ.u.mstances; for, connected with the liberal aid of her Ladys.h.i.+p, another event took place which terminated in his favour. One of his hearers had 200 left her, but found great difficulty in obtaining her right. Mr. Grant interfered, and obtained it for her. Such was her grat.i.tude, that she left him 100 at her death.

During the first part of Mr. Grant's ministry at Wellingborough, he had to struggle with great pecuniary difficulties; but he now found true what a poor woman said to him on first coming to Wellingborough--"Mr.

Grant, I wonder what induced you to come to such a reduced and poor people; how do you think you can be supported?" Then, as the effect of an instantaneous impression, she said, "The Lord says, 'The silver and the gold is mine'; and you, sir, shall have your share." Mr. Grant was in very good circ.u.mstances at the close of his life.

In 1734 they determined to build a new Meeting House. They counted the cost of such a building, erected in a plain manner, as they thought would then comfortably contain their congregation, and found it to be about 200. They built the walls, and put up part of the roof; but found themselves, being still poor and weak, under the necessity of asking the a.s.sistance of friends. This was obtained, so that the whole expense was shortly cleared.

Mr. Grant's ministry extended over the lengthened period of forty-eight years, during which 259 members were added to the Church. It was on September 9th, 1770, that he preached for the last time, being very ill, and for some time before this having been carried to the pulpit. On March 22nd, 1771, after a long and painful illness, borne with Christian patience and fort.i.tude, Mr. Grant's death took place, closing a devoted and successful ministry.

It is observed, that "Mr. Grant was very lively in the pulpit. His work appeared so much like the work of heaven, that it often very much surprised his hearers." "His charity was such, that he would deprive himself of some comforts for the benefit of the poor." A friend said to him, "I wonder, Mr. Grant, that you do not keep a better fire this cold weather." He replied, "other people want fires as well as myself." He was a firm Dissenter, and had a great aversion to all saints' days, &c.

His people frequently pressed him to preach on Christmas-day: at last he complied with reluctancy, and chose these words--"Ye are of your father the devil, and his works will ye do."

When the dreadful fire took place at Wellingborough in 1738, such was the distress of the inhabitants that party names were forgotten; and the town requested the Rev. Mr. Grant and the Rev. Mr. Homes, the clergyman, to combine in collecting for the poor sufferers. When Mr. Homes saw the great influence that Mr. Grant had, and the unlimited respect paid to him, he determined he would go with n.o.body else, even on this charitable occasion. Mr. Homes retained a great respect for him to the close of his days, and would frequently say, "He was an honest and great man."

In the closing years of his life, Mr. Grant was deprived of sight. An aged woman came to him on one occasion, when two of his friends were leading him to the pulpit, and said, "Sir, how do you do? for I cannot see you." He rejoined, "nor can I see you; but let us rejoice: there will be no blind people in heaven."

The following outline of a sermon is preserved from one of Mr. Grant's ma.n.u.scripts (Psalm lxxix. 8). After a long introduction, he gives the following divisions:--

I. That G.o.d, as he is the G.o.d of Zion and the G.o.d of his Church, does sometimes remember against his own people their former iniquities, or the Church was mistaken here. "Oh, remember not against us," said they, "our former iniquities." Either G.o.d did remember against the Church their former iniquities, or I say the Church was mistaken; for the Church apprehends it so by her prayer.

At this time she very plainly believes G.o.d did remember against her her former iniquities, and was now dealing with her by laying his rod upon her; therefore under it she cries, "Remember not against us our former iniquities; let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us, for we are brought very low."

II. When a professing people, or particular persons, are under chastis.e.m.e.nts and the severe rebukes of their G.o.d, to plead his tender mercies is the best argument. "Let thy tender mercies," says the Church, "speedily prevent us;" that is, prevent our ruin, or we should be destroyed--we should be brought to nothing as a Church if thou sufferest the enemy to go forward in destroying them that are useful, cutting them off as they have done in times past, and the bodies of the saints should be still continued to be given as meat to the beasts of the field and to the fowls of heaven, as in verse 2--then we should be brought to ruin: but, "Oh let thy," &c.

III. We see from the words of our text, that the people of G.o.d may plead in their pet.i.tions their low estates for G.o.d's help; this may come in by way of pet.i.tion in prayer. Our miseries and G.o.d's mercies are very proper pleas at the throne of grace. The poor publican made use of both in his prayer: "G.o.d be merciful to me a sinner."

IV. Something by way of use, as (1.) Does G.o.d remember the sins of his people by way of chastis.e.m.e.nt? Let us take heed how we sin against him. (2.) Learn from hence, when G.o.d is chastising you, and laying his rod upon you, to turn to him that smites you, when he calls you by his rebukes. Many turn from G.o.d. (3.) We learn from hence, as the Church prays that G.o.d would not remember against her former iniquities, so we should do.

The following letter is inserted because it presents some pleasing indications of the spirit that prevailed in Mr. Grant and his people.

The Church of Christ at Wellingborough, under the pastoral care of William Grant, to those Christian brethren and sisters who have lately asked their dismission from the Church of Christ at Lutterworth, under the pastoral care of John Dowley, sendeth greeting, wis.h.i.+ng grace and peace, &c.

DEAR BRETHREN,--We, seeking the glory of our dear Lord Jesus, and the peace and prosperity of his cause in general, have been willing to concern ourselves in your affair so far as to seek the Lord about it, and then to weigh and consider well the case, which we have now done at no less than four sundry times; and our conclusion is, that we cannot receive you upon such a dismission: for, instead of a recommendation, you have an accusation, that you could not come to a temper; and then a conclusion, that your separation is groundless.