INCIDENTS OF GOSPEL WORK
or
THE WAY THE LORD HATH LED ME
by
Charles Stanley
Chapter 7
At that time I was accustomed frequently to preach in London. I named to a few that it was on my heart to take
the Myddelton Hall, Islington, for a week’s preaching. Some doubted, but many hearts were lifted up
in prayer to God. It was taken in
dependence on God. I had no
arrangements or preparation, or even knowledge of what subjects I might speak
upon. The hall was filled every
night. Many written petitions for
prayer for dear ones were offered up. A very solemn circumstance occurred one
night. As we commenced, a person came
bringing a request for the prayers of the meeting, for a lady in a worldly family,
who was dying without Christ. Mr. G.,
now with the Lord, went back with the messenger. We bowed in solemn earnest prayer. He found the poor lady in the midst of the folly and finery this
world can produce. But none there knew
Christ, or could speak a word to an affrighted soul, about to pass from London
society to outer darkness and eternal woe.
God answered prayer. He opened
the heart of this poor lady to receive the word of life; she was eternally
saved. There was a great solemnity fell
upon the meeting. Eternity felt very
near to us all. We asked the anxious to
retire into an anteroom. In a few
minutes it was crammed. It was a
wonderful sight to see young and old, rich and poor with streaming eyes and
anxious looks, asking what they must do to be saved. We were obliged to go into the large hall. And whilst some looked to the Lord in silent
prayer, others spoke to anxious souls.
The interest seemed to deepen every night; the large hall being quite
full. Known only to the Lord is the
number of those who passed from death unto life.
About this time I was invited by the Hon. B.N., to preach in
John Street chapel, three
nights. The subject was the righteousness of God in justifying the sinner. After preaching we invited the anxious into
the schoolroom adjoining. Nearly 200
came in. It was impossible to speak to them all individually. I was too exhausted to speak again. And so Mr. N. went over the discourses, and
enforced it with most sweet simplicity.
This was remarkable, as I was told he had held different view on the
subject. He now explained very clearly
how God Was righteous in justifying the sinner that believes Him, through the
dearth and resurrection of Christ.
I dwell on this a little, to shew that the preaching was not
in the least of a revivalisitic character.
Indeed, Mr. N. said to a friend, that they were more like lectures on
divinity. I am more and more convince
this is the kind of preaching needed; not excitement, but the calm unfolding of
the gospel of God.
After Mr. N’s addresses in the after-meeting we spoke to a
few, and then dismissed them. I shall
never forget one case; a fine tall old gentleman, about seventy years of
age. He had long been in the dungeon of
dark despair. I had been speaking of
the deep joy of God, in receiving the prodigal. The work of the shepherd was done; He had sought and died for the
sheep. The Spirit had come down from heaven to seek and to find the lost one,
like the woman that swept the floor for
her lost piece of silver. And now the
Father in righteousness and grace can meet and receive, can kiss and clothe the
prodigal. I heard the deep groan of
that tall old gentlemen, or once a gentleman.
He said, “I have spent all. I have spent my health, my fortune, every
comfort, wife, children, all gone: here I am, sunk in sin, and misery,” etc,.,
etc/., It is impossible to describe the
agony an distress of this aged man. We
put the gospel before him, and we trust the grace of God shone into his dark
soul. Where is he now?
Many souls professed to find peace. But I rather judge the Lord used these three
preachings to many who were the children of God. At this time I had invitations to preach in the large chapels in London,
but felt more led to preach in town halls, assembly rooms. Etc.,
I will now try to describe a week in the Eastern
counties. I stayed with a Christian
lady in Ipswich, had met her in Birmingham. I had barely time to take a cup of tea on my
arrival from London, as a large
audience was waiting at the assembly rooms, at seven
o’clock on the Saturday evening.
I went to the hall, gave out a hymn, but felt all a blank in my
thoughts. Not a scripture or a thought
had I on my mind. I knelt down in prayer, still all appeared a
blank. As I rose from my knees that
scripture came to my mind, ”There is therefore now no condemnation to them
which are in Christ Jesus.” I said,
“Lord, I will tell them that, any way.”
I read the words. That night
will never be forgotten. Years after, I
met a lay who told me she, and her brothers and sisters, received blessing that
night. They were then quite young
people. And many others, especially the
young, were brought to God. The next
day, the Lord’s Day, we had preaching at Needham
Market, at half-past two. The number
was so great that all could not get in, and the power of the Lord was
felt. At night the Assembly Room, Ipswich,
was crowded. A large bundle of
petitions, for relatives, were sent up to be read. As I read them out, before lifting up our hearts in prayer, I had
noticed an aged man near me, hang down
his head in deep distress. He was
filled with sorrow that he had not sent up a petition, for his daughter. Just
as I closed reading the papers. I saw a
tall young lady forcing her way through the crowd, with flushed face and
weeping eyes, she came close up to the aged man, and sinking down by his side,
said, “Father, won’t you pray for me?”
The coming day, so near, will declare the results of that night. It was late before we could leave the many
anxious souls. The following night the
interest was equally great.
On Tuesday afternoon we had a meeting at Stowmarket at four,
for prayer and fellowship. Well do I
remember one prayer. A dear Christian from Bury said, “Lord, thy servant is
here, we do not ask him if he will go to Bury, but we ask Thee if he is to come
and preach Thy word there.” Those words
are as fresh as though I had heard that prayer last night. The large new corn exchange was taken, and
at seven it was full. People had come
in from all around the country, in carts, wagons, carriages, etc., Hour after
hour went on, still the interest deepened.
If we closed, all remained, only to go on again; until at last, about
eleven, the gas was turned off. I then
spoke of the coming of the Lord, and the vast company still remained in the
dark. It was near twelve when we got
away. God only knows the results. Many
professed to be saved. In many cases,
no doubt, the work had been going on before.
On Wednesday at two o’clock,
a large company was assembled in the Theatre, or Assembly Room, Norwich. And at seven the crowd was so great that it
quickly filled; two other large buildings were also filled. At about nine
o’clock the crowd outside was so great, still waiting, that the one
company went out, and the place filled again for another service. One aged minister stood up and said, he had
never known real peace with God before that night. This produced a deep solemnity.
It was felt God was working by the Holy Ghost. Very many professed to have been brought to Christ that day.
The next day I went on to Bury St. Edmunds. The brother who
had prayed at Stowmarket had taken the large Town Hall. Some Christians had
rather remonstrated, saying it would be so discouraging to see the large place
half filled. At seven there was scarce
a seat to be found. Here the word
seemed to be specially blest to such as had been under serious impressions. There were many also, that had never enjoyed
the certainty of sins forgiven, and sin not imputed. Oh how blessed that God is righteous in reckoning us righteous
before Him.
When I look back upon that week, I say, “Who but God could
have given strength to a poor weak body to go through such a week of labour,
with only one sound lung? And who but
God could have gathered such numbers of anxious souls to listen to His blessed
word?” Often unknown to me, and without
any effort but simply obeying the guidance of His eye, and leading of the
Spirit of God, doors of blessing have been opened; and in altogether a
different way from the above. On
another occasion I was at Ipswich, and it was much on my
heart that I should go to Sudbury
and preach Christ. I named it to
several, but they discouraged me, all except one brother. I only knew the name of one person there. I
wrote and said I hoped to come and preach on such a day. I called at Bury on my way, and found the
brother who prayed at Stowmarket had been praying for Sudbury
about two years. How much have such
praying Christians to do with the work of the Lord! The brother said he would go with me. I will give this as a
specimen of many a first visit to a town.
We arrived at Sudbury
station. A young gentleman came up to
me, and asked if my name was Stanley? I replied it was. He said his mother would be glad to see us at her house, and
there were a few waiting to read the word.
We found quite a company at four o’clock. Of course, all were strangers to us. We had a very blessed time over the word,
and whilst reading, a minister sent word to offer me his chapel. I said I could not accept it, unless on the
understanding that I was free to speak whatever the Lord gave me to speak. He made one condition. However, I said I would come on at the time,
seven o’clock. I went, and the chapel was petty well
filled. But I felt I could not go on there; and I was led to propose that we
should go outside, and have the preaching in the open air. They were quite agreeable, and we all went
out. To my surprise there was a large
company assembled on the green, by the parish church, who would not come into
the dissenting chapel. I preached there in the open air until about ten
o’clock, to a large company.
It might be asked, How could all this be? How could they get to know?
I will tell you. I was told afterwards
(I had only to obey the Lord at the time) Mr. H. Had been preaching in the
parish church. And had given it out
that I was expected to preach in Sudbury
during the week, and he begged his congregation to come and hear.
It might also be asked, Where should I lodge upon going
thus, as a stranger, to different towns.
Well, at the close of the preaching, a lady came up to me, and said a
gentleman, who could not be there himself, owing to the funeral of a near
relative, at a distance, had sent his carriage, and begged us to accept his
hospitality for the Lord’s sake. We
drove a few miles, came to a mansion, and had a meeting until near midnight,
and then another for the large household in the morning, returning to Sudbury,
where we had a reading the whole day.
As I write this, a letter has just turned up, from which I
will give and extract: “You may remember standing up to preach God’s glad
tidings, on a bit of ground call the Croft, Sudbury. I was amongst that crowd; and through the
Lord’s grace and love, got complete deliverance….and was brought into the
glorious liberty of the children of God, and can bless and praise the Lord for
His wondrous love to me, in giving One who could, and did, do all things for
the poor sinner. By the Spirit of God
you shewed me it was all on the Lord’s side, that a complete satisfaction had
been made to God by the Lord Jesus Christ; and that God’s mercy had been shewn
out to the utmost, when He gave His Son.
I felt like one unfettered from the influences of Satan and the bondage
of men, content to come outside the camp to that blessed object who is outside
all man’s pretensions.”