The Life And Ministry Of E. M. Bacon

Earthen Vessel 1895:

E. M. Bacon, Plymouth

Dear Brother,—The year 1858, on August 23rd, in the ancient city of Coventry, was the time and place fixed by the Great First Cause of all events for ushering into this world—beautiful in its created glory, though blighted by Adam’s sin—of the one who has been spared to write this.

I was left fatherless when nearly eight years of age, but was tenderly loved and cared for by a godly mother, who leaning hard upon the God of the fatherless and widow, was enabled to struggle on amidst difficulties in educating and starting her boy in life. I was duly apprenticed to learn the trade of printing and stationery. My parents and family belonging to the Church of England, I was, in babyhood’s days christened, and at the age of sixteen years took upon myself those solemn vows made on my behalf by sponsors, but which, alas! they could not themselves keep or enable me so to do.

It was about this time the first early convictions of my depraved and ruined condition by nature manifested themselves—besetting sins, secret and open, produced a terrible conflict, and a warfare raged that was known only to God, the Searcher of all hearts, and my own soul. During this solemn period it was that the glorious truths of sovereign grace and electing love were graciously wrought upon the heart—thus (as it has been discovered to me since) did the Spirit of the Lord begin His wondrous work upon my soul. It was my happy privilege to have the friendship of a dear pilgrim—a veritable spiritual father—who, like myself, was a member of the Church of England, and knew the truth as it is in Jesus, so concisely and sweetly embodied in the Thirty-nine Articles, and our souls “loathed the light food” that was often put forth from the pulpit of the church we attended, though a strictly Evangelical Church in those days. At this time, though far, far from being able to read my title to those “precious fruits brought forth by the sun and put forth by the moon” (the true Church in her ordinances), yet a something within me revolted against the statements given forth as Gospel, which detracted from His power, His sovereignty, His grace, and His glory.

A dear man of God, the late W. L. Rolleston, Vicar of Scraptoft, Leicestershire, used occasionally to visit Coventry, and occupy the pulpits in one or two of the churches. Oh! how blessed was the message of love and mercy through his lips! My hungry soul would count the days till he came to fulfil the engagement, and then sit as it were at the feet of Jesus listening to utterances that came only by the power of the Spirit of God. When about seventeen years of age my conflict branched off in another direction; I became torn and rent with thoughts of infidelity, the improbability of the truth of Scripture, the Being of God, &c., &c. I read the Word, and prayed almost incessantly to be delivered, and was brought to my “wit’s end.” Deliverance from this came suddenly and unexpectedly. Crossing an open space on my road home one glorious starlit night, I was led to gaze upwards, and as I thus beheld the glory of God in the heavens “a small, still voice” seemed to say, “Who hath created these things?” &c. (see Isa. 40:26). That moment the snare was broken, the conflict in that particular form was ended, and falling on my knees on the greensward I poured out my heart to the God of my life.

My health now gave way, and the first stages of that insidious disease, consumption, manifested themselves. At nineteen years of age, I was so ill that I could no longer follow my calling, and in the providence of God went to Torquay, to winter at the Western Hospital for Consumption. Gaining a little strength I returned the following spring to Coventry, but had to return in the autumn to the same place. This time I met amongst the patients two dear children of God (both long since gone to their rest); one of these (Mr. Collins, of Trowbridge) was the instrument of my first visit to a Strict Baptist Chapel. Occasionally I went with him, loving in my heart what I heard preached, but still clinging to the forms and ceremonies of the religion of my fathers. In the hospital on one occasion being confined to my bed, I was reading the Gospel Magazine, and was much blessed while reading dear Dr . Doudney’s portion in the current month’s number, “He must needs go through Samaria.”

Being advised by the doctor to stay in the West of England, the door of Providence was opened, and in April, 1880, I entered a situation in the stationery business at Devonport. Ill and weak, a stranger in a strange place, my employer (who engaged me without an interview), when he saw me, remarked upon my delicate appearance. The names of several truth-lovers having been given me by friend at Torquay, one of whom (Mr. Lee) I visited the same evening of my arrival, gave me a loving, Christ-like welcome. This proved to be the Lord’s doings, for in him and his late wife I found true and sincere friends. But the remark they made upon seeing me, and which I learned subsequently, will show how near, apparently, I was to the grave—“There’s a dying young man!” These dear friends took me on subsequent Lord’s-days to various places of truth (for I had secretly determined, in the fear of the Lord, to sever my connection with the Church of England), and I heard the Word gladly. At one place in Stonehouse (Corpus Christi Chapel), a man of God had just come from London to supply, with a view to the pastorate; after hearing him preach my heart was so knitted to him that I felt this must be my future resting place. This servant of the Lord was Mr. W. Trotman. We were entire strangers to each other, but from the time I first heard through him the “joyful sound,” an unity of heart was manifest, which “neither life, nor death, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, shall be able to separate even the love of God”—and the unity of the One Spirit—“which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” It was within a few months of that time that Mr. Trotman preached a sermon from the words in Rev. 1:5,6, “Unto Him that loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.” That sermon was the means of my deliverance, after five years of bitter conflict. As he preached, the Lord the Spirit led me step by step up Jacob’s ladder, until the gates of heaven were reached, and the glories of everlasting love unfolded to my vision, and I was enabled to realise that I was “in Him, that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ, the true God and Eternal Life.”

A short time afterwards, I was brought to see the ordinance of believer’s baptism by immersion, and after giving my experience of the Lord’s dealings with my soul before the Church, was baptized at Howe- street Chapel, by Mr. Trotman. Changes in the Sabbath-school having taken place, I was called from the position of a teacher to that of superintendent; and shortly after, in the year 1883, Mr. Trotman being too unwell to fulfil his engagement on the Sunday afternoon at the Stonehouse Workhouse, requested me to go in his place, and conduct the service, which, after much exercise and prayer, I did. Speaking from the words in Isa. 55:1, “Ho, every one that thirsteth,” &c. After this, I was compelled by circumstances over which I had no control, to speak to the Lord’s people one Wednesday evening, at Corpus Christi Chapel, and later on I went to supply causes of truth in the villages around and towns at a distance, where the Lord was graciously pleased to grant His sweet and sanctifying presence, and blessed His own Word,—space forbids that I should give details of many an instance where in a signal and unmistakable way He confirmed me in this solemn but precious work.

In the year 1884 I was married to a daughter of Mr. Trotman, and thus became bound to him by the ties of nature as well as grace. My dear wife was enabled sometime afterwards to confess the faith of Christ crucified, and was baptized by myself at Newquay, where I was in charge of the Church during the summer season. In 1892, entirely unthought of, and certainly unsought, I was called upon to speak in the Lord’s Name at Trinity Chapel, Plymouth. This led to further engagements, as the Word was manifestedly blessed to many seeking, hungry souls. The Church having got somewhat out of order, it was laid upon my mind to reconstruct on Strict and Particular Baptist lines, which was duly accomplished; and I was afterwards requested to take the oversight of God’s flock for twelve months; at the end of that time the Church, by an unanimous vote, beholding the good hand of God in the most gratifying increase and additions that had been made to the Church, called me to the pastorate, in which solemn office He has wondrously and blessedly sustained me amidst all that appertains in the form of suffering, affliction, and persecution. Many most useful and beneficial alterations have been accomplished, and a Sabbath-school (the first since the chapel was opened in 1828) successfully started. My deacons, and the people generally, some of whom have seen the cause drooping and ready to die, say, “The Lord hath done great things for us whereof we are glad.”

I have not in this narrative dwelt much upon my troubles. I have them in strange and fiery forms, but they pale into insignificance when I remember the way He has led me—the compassion, the faithfulness, the longsuffering, and the forbearance of a gracious God to me—the sinner, me. Many a precious promise has He blessedly applied to my heart: one in particular, that was given in a remarkable manner, “For He hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee”; another, when He whispered, “I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not”; another, “The Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.”

How wondrous are the ways of God! I am spared, and spared for His own purpose and glory. A measure of health has been bestowed, and from the gates of the grave He has raised me up, “the living (spiritually), the living (naturally), to praise Him.” “Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; kept by His power, blessed with His grace, washed in His precious blood, I desire to follow on; not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect—if so be I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Faithfully yours in the everlasting Gospel,

E. M. Bacon

20, Headland Park, Plymouth