The Life And Ministry Of Charles Suggate

Earthen Vessel 1899:

Our brother, Mr. Charles Suggate, was born at Brampton, Suffolk, on March 12th, 1834. His parents were poor, but, though not spiritual, highly moral and respectable. They were attendants at the parish Church, the only place of worship in the village, and endeavoured to bring up their children according to the best of their light and knowledge. His mother had indeed been in far better circumstances, coming of a family of the name of Rand, of some note in Hadleigh for generations past. Her father, a farmer of good position, removed into the neighbourhood of Brampton, where financial misfortune overtook him, and his daughter had to leave a boarding school to take a situation as a servant. Although brought up in comparative affluence she cheerfully adapted herself to her altered circumstances, and became a most excellent wife and mother, and to her exemplary conduct and loving counsels our brother was greatly indebted.

There was no day school at Brampton in his youth, so that all the education he received, beyond what his mother imparted, was at the Church Sunday School. The children of the family were not allowed to roam about on Sunday evenings, but kept in, and taught to read the Bible aloud in the presence of their mother—an excellent example, well worthy of being extensively followed.

At nine years of age our friend commenced working in the fields, and at eleven and a half he left home to live with an aunt, a godly woman, with whom he stayed until he was seventeen. His aunt was a member of the Strict Baptist Church at Beccles, then under the pastoral care of Mr. George Wright, but, living at some considerable distance from Beccles, could only attend his ministry occasionally. The gracious life and conversation of his aunt made deep impressions on the mind of young Charles. The Wesleyans had a place of worship in the neighbourhood, and there he was generally found when it was open. The importance of eternal things began to be impressed on his mind. He felt his need of them, and a strong desire to possess them. He listened to the word with deep attention, but occasionally hearing Mr. Wright produced great disturbance in his mind. The Wesleyans urged him to accept Christ and believe; but Mr. Wright’s preaching cut him down. After hearing searching sermons by Mr. Wright, he would return home in a most wretched state of mind, concluding that he was not one of the elect, and must perish. He would then determine to give all up, and pray no more; but could not continue in that state, for his need remained. At times he heard one good old Wesleyan preach some experimental truths which seemed to fit him. He loved the people of God, and earnestly desired to be numbered with them, but feared he never should be. Thus he spent about five years and a half, walking alone, and not daring to open his mind to anyone. Sometimes a little hope would kindle in his breast, but for the most part he was pensive and sad; spoiled for the world, for sin was bitter to him, yet not knowing he was a saved sinner.

Owing to a change in his aunt’s family he returned to his home at Brampton. Here there was only the parish Church. Bad as it had been before, it was now far worse, for not a word of Gospel could he hear at the Church. The solemn things gabbled over by the minister, people, and children appeared to Him an awful mockery, and soon became unbearable. Hearing that services were being held in a cottage, about two miles distant, by some Wesleyans on Sabbath afternoons, he began to attend them. The people were very kind, and tried to get him to their class meetings. They talked with him, and questioned him, but could get nothing from him. He felt to need something more than their ministry afforded, though what it was he could not tell. They told him to believe, and he would have given a world, did he possess it, to have been able to believe; they urged him to receive Christ, but his feeling was, would Christ receive such a poor sinner as he felt himself to be? Yet he dared not blame them, but was quite willing to grant that the fault was in himself. There were times when he felt encouraged, but again felt perplexed and dissatisfied, craving something he could not find. After about a year the meeting was closed, and he fell into a worldly, carnal, indifferent state; his desire for spiritual things abated, and the little encouragements seemed gone, and their loss but little mourned. Yet through all this strange experience there was an aching void which the world could not fill. The following lines often expressed his feeling.

“God is in this and ev’ry place,

But, O, how dark and void,

To me, this one great wilderness;

This earth without my God!”

Through a relative, who attended the late J. W. Gooding’s ministry at Halesworth, our brother was led to go there one Sunday afternoon, when the minister dwelt upon Isaiah’s wild bull in a net, which seemed to describe his own state. From that time he regularly attended at Halesworth, and heard the great truths of the Word opened up— “Man’s total ruin, and utter helplessness; the character of God, the purity of His law, and the claims of His justice,” were enforced with power upon his conscience.

We give this solemn part of his experience in his own words:—“I was under condemnation” [and] could only regard the future with fear and dread. I envied the cattle that grazed m the meadows. I wished myself a toad rather than a human being. ‘The sorrows of death compassed me about; the pains of hell gat hold upon me,’ and if sent there” [I felt I] “must justify the Divine Being in the act. I felt I was the chief of sinners; the strangest being in the world; alone in a wilderness; a land of great drought. Temptation set in—I was not one of the elect; I had sinned the unpardonable sin; and, indeed, everything war against me, and seemed to sink me lower and lower. Still my anxiety to hear increased, and as Christ was preached in His person, work, and offices, bloodshedding, righteousness, and merits, the entire salvation of a poor sinner, I was filled with wonder: and as I saw the adaptability there was in this precious Christ, and this Gospel order of things, l was at times delighted. Now I saw sin in the light of Christ’s sufferings, and that He was exalted to give repentance: His bloodshedding my exemption from curse, sin, and the guilt thereof; His righteousness mine to justify” [me]. “These and other kindred truths were opened up to my mind as I heard the word, and searched the Scriptures.”

Our brother received these blessed truths with the avidity that a starving man receives food. Still there were seasons of darkness and temptation, when he greatly questioned his personal interest in them. Newton’s hymn commencing—

“I asked the Lord that I might grow

In faith, and love, and every grace.”

was made a great blessing to him under these sharp exercises. The preached word at times was very precious to his soul and one sermon in particular from the words—“Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father,” was greatly blessed to him. He writes of this—“My soul seemed too big for my body, and if ever I found relief from tears, I did now; they were indeed tears of joy. This was a sealing time beyond what I had ever before experienced.” For a time after this he was greatly favoured, and on Oct. 28th, 1857, he was baptized and received into Church-fellowship at Halesworth, by Mr. Gooding.

Our brother had strong feelings of pity for his fellow creatures around him who were living in darkness, and a desire to tell them what a dear Saviour he had found. The Lord in His providence opened the way, and in conjunction with two other earnest Christians he commenced cottage-meetings in the villages around. He was helped beyond all his expectations, and soon had given him as a seal the soul of an elderly woman brought out of almost heathen darkness. This order of things continued for about two years. Mr. Gooding, his pastor, had engaged to preach at Yarmouth, and was unable to go; he pressed his young brother to take the engagement for him, and after much argument induced him to go. He went with much trembling and prayerful exercise, and was so graciously helped that the people invited him to go again, and shortly gave him an invitation to supply the pulpit for three months.

He continued to serve the people at Yarmouth under considerable difficulty for six years. Being in business he could not get to Yarmouth until late on Saturday nights, and had to rise at 4 o’clock on the Monday mornings to get home in time to resume his secular occupation. The work was indeed arduous, but so many testimonies were given of blessings received that he persevered, Soon after he ceased to preach regularly at Yarmouth, Mr. Gooding resigned his pastorate at Halesworth. Under supplies the Church got very low and into debt. In its trouble it appealed to him to occupy the pulpit. This he consented to do from love to his old home. For two and a half years he laboured, and had the joy of seeing the people united together, the congregations increased, and prosperity returned. He then accepted the Church’s invitation to become its pastor, and was recognized as such in July, 1873, brethren Bland, Brand, Broom, Leggatt, and others taking part in the services.

For fourteen years our brother continued his pastoral labours, preaching three times every Lord’s-day—the evenings being devoted to services in the villages around Halesworth—leaving his home at 9 a.m., and not getting back until 10, 11, and sometimes 12 p.m. These exertions together with a week-evening service, and a fair share of anniversary work besides, and the wear and tear of a worrying business told their tale on his health, and with some other reasons led to his resignation of the pastoral office, though he continued to supply the pulpit on Lord’s-days for eighteen months longer, making eighteen years in all, terminating in 1888. He had the joy of receiving 67 members into fellowship, the greater number of whom he had baptized.

Since 1888, our brother has supplied among the Churches, having all his Lord’s-days fully occupied. He has preached in nearly all the Strict Baptist Chapels in Suffolk, several in Norfolk and other counties, also in London, while the village in which he resides has not been overlooked nor neglected. Many have been the testimonies which he has received that his labour has not been in vain in the Lord. Though in his 66th year he is blessed with good health, and is as ready as he was in his youthful days to spend and be spent in the service of his Lord. May he be spared for many years of further service and usefulness.

We conclude this brief sketch in our brother’s own words. “How unworthy and unprofitable I feel myself to be, and often wonder how the Lord will be able to say, ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant;’ and at times almost ready to believe I have lived an ass, and shall die like a fool. At other times receiving encouragement from the Saviour’s commendation of the woman— ‘She hath done what she could.’ Dear readers, unite with me in praising a precious Christ for his kind forbearance, and faithfulness to His promise—‘A bruised reed He will not break.’ Ye Heralds of the cross, look up, ‘the Lamb is still in the midst of the throne!’ It may be that—

‘Our passage lies across the brink,

Of many a boisterous wave;

The world expects to see us sink,

But Jesus lives to save.’”

[Condensed from an excellent account supplied by Mr. Suggate. Want of space prevents us from giving it entire, but while changing the person, and condensing the matter, we have kept as nearly as we could to our bother’s own expressions.]

Edward Mitchell