The Life And Ministry Of J. W. Humphreys

Earthen Vessel 1896:

Call By Grace

I was born on July 12th, 1873, at Tring, a little town in Hertfordshire. My soul praises God for the untold blessing of being the son of a saintly mother, one who, as soon as I could utter words, taught me to pray. At the early age of five years, the first sorrow that I can remember came. When my wayward feet seemed most to need a mother’s guiding hand, the loved one was taken away. I shall never forget gazing upon that cold, lifeless form; the whole scene appears to me as vividly now as though it were only a few days past. From that time forward I was terrified by a great fear of death; at night when trying to go to sleep the thought would occur, “What if you were to die in your sleep?” Then, shaking with fear and dread I would utter a prayer, vowing that if I were but spared till the morning, I would serve the Lord. The morning came, and as might be expected my prayers were forgotten and my vows broken. Nevertheless, from this time forward, death, judgment, and eternity, were great and dreadful realities to my soul; I was led to realise that apart from the grace of God I was hopelessly and eternally lost.

At an early age, I was sent to the Sunday-school, held in connection with the Akeman-street, Baptist Chapel. As a scholar there, I spent many very happy years, but one year stands out above all the rest; I refer to the year spent in the class taught by my beloved friend Mr. Glover. With grateful feelings I look back upon that period of my history, for it was a time when I was led to esteem the Bible as being the very Word of God, and to take a keen delight in Bible study. About this time, Mr. Belcher came to preach at Tring. His subject one Sunday evening was “Zaccheus;” this was the first sermon that I remember having listened to throughout; upon that occasion I both listened and enjoyed.

In the month of April, 1887, Mr. Thomas was elected pastor of the Akeman-street Baptist Church, at which period I was in the seeking-stage of a believer’s experience. His ministry was much blessed at this juncture to my soul, but I was helped still more by one or two private conversations and by the Bible-class that he conducted. I was also led to form the friendship of a young man who, like myself, was seeking the Lord. The companionship was much blessed to my soul; frequently we would get alone for Bible study and prayer. God, ever faithful to His promise, answered the prayers; clearer light dawned at last; I realised that my case was not hopeless. The Spirit led me away from self to the place called Calvary, and there with eyes fixed upon the bleeding Son of God I was enabled to exclaim, “my Saviour,” “my sin bearer,” “my Righteousness,” “my Lord and my God.” I felt that Jesus was all and in all for my soul’s full salvation. Not long after this, an utterance used by Mr. Thomas in prayer, led me to feel it to be both my duty and my privilege to own my Lord by being immersed. On the last Sunday in March, 1890, in company with four others, I was baptized by Mr. Thomas in the name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 

Call To The Ministry

Some short time before reaching my teens, I began to take a great interest in politics; when in my twelfth year, I went to work half-time in a weaving factory; seeing that my interest in politics was very lively and ardent and maybe rather amusing, the persons at this place, who were older than myself, sought to draw me out to give expression to my opinions. This experience led me to a knowledge of the fact, that whenever deeply moved, I should find no difficulty in giving expression, either to my thoughts or feelings. I take this to be one link in the chain of circumstances leading up to my entrance into the ministry. After this there followed another experience which I think I can look upon as the second link in the chain. At an early age, I had become deeply imbued with the distinctive doctrines of grace; at least, I should say my brain was deeply imbued with them, for their savour had not then reached my heart. Upon several occasions I posed before my elders as a furious opponent of Arminianism. I dislike Arminianism now, most intensely, but I have not a word to say in defence of my conduct when a youngster. Certainly, modesty was sadly wanting, to say nothing of the inadvisability of being furious when talking upon subjects of religious controversy. But even this experience was not a purposeless one, for after one of these outbursts, a listener exclaimed, “Build him a pulpit.” This suggestion of a pulpit spoken in jest, filled my soul with anxious thought. I wondered if I ever should preach; it seemed to be quite impossible. I could talk about politics for a long time, but how I should ever hold forth for three quarters of an hour upon one text I did not know. The fact of men being able to stand up and preach before the same people Sunday after Sunday I thought to be nothing short of miraculous. My religious experience at this time was far from being either clear or decided, but as God deepened my experience my feelings upon this subject deepened too. Whilst seeking I thought that did I ever receive light, God helping me I would not be silent.

When Mr. Thomas came to Tring, circumstances occurred which brought the matter with great solemnity and power to my mind. At a Bible-class he had opened, I was asked to deliver a paper upon the subject of the “Paschal Lamb.” I read the paper at one of the Monday night meetings. At the close of the reading, Mr. Thomas rose to pray; in the delivery of his prayer he used words to this effect, “O Lord, we do not know what Thou intendest to do with Thy young servant, but we believe he will be made great in Thy service.” Then he went on to pray that I might be prepared for all that lay before me. Soon after this, I was brought into great trouble. There were but few who understood the nature or intensity of the trial; some understood in part, but scarcely anyone knew all. I felt like one in despair. My sister, who knew more about my experience than anyone else, wrote to our pastor. In reply to her letter he declared that he had never known a boy called to face such an accumulation of difficulties at so early a stage of his experience; he also repeated the expressions he had used at the Bible-class, saying that he believed the Lord was preparing me for definite service.

In the year 1890, a party of young men commenced going to the villages around Tring on Sunday evenings to conduct the services; two or three of them went to each place. Towards the end of the year, I was asked to accompany these parties; my first attempt at preaching was at Wiggington, where I spoke for about one quarter of an hour from the words, “Leaving us an example that we should follow in His steps.” Shortly after this I preached at another village station named Aldbury, from the words, “Unless your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees ye shall in no wise enter the kingdom of heaven.” The word was well received, and from persons of varied ages and experiences, I received the advice to “Go forward.”

God’s time to speak very definitely now arrived. In the month of December, 1893, I had a most severe illness; I became quite prostrate and helpless. My illness took me very suddenly one Saturday morning. On this morning I was busily engaged preparing a sermon for the following day from the words, “Follow Me.” I had to obey this voice by following my Lord into retirement for a while, there to be taught by Him as to my future course. Whilst ill, the words “Follow Me” were much upon my mind; my thoughts were turned into the most solemn channel. In consequence of many searchings of the heart I declared, that should I should ever get well, by the help of the Lord, I would devote myself more fully to the work of the ministry. I knew that this stand involved a great deal, but it was not mine to argue, the message had been received, my course was settled; I determined that come gain or loss, encouragement or opposition, I would go forward with this great undertaking. I could do no other. I felt that I must say with Paul, “Woe is unto me if I preach not the Gospel.”

From this time my sphere of labour became much more extensive; many doors were set open before me, and it appeared to me then, as it does now, that I had four things that seem essential to the knowledge of a call. First, “The inner promptings of the Spirit.” Secondly, “The testimony of God’s Word.” Thirdly, “The agreement of circumstances;” and, fourthly, “Acceptance amongst God’s people.”

Call To West Ham

In 1895, I received an invitation to supply several Sundays at Chatham-road, Wandsworth Common. Here I found many kindred spirits, the deacons being especially kind. I was much helped in preaching the Word; the two sermons preached on my third visit were followed with very marked blessings. On August 2nd, I received an invitation to fill the pulpit for the first six months in 1896, and was also asked to take no invitations for anywhere else beyond that period. This I accepted. As far as any human being could see, my future course was now definitely settled; but we poor creatures are short-sighted, we have to walk by faith and not by sight. Man thought that Wandsworth must be my sphere, but God’s ways and thoughts are very different to ours. I thank God that I went there, also for the pleasure afforded in spending about two months under the hospitable roof of brother Clark. I realised that there were lessons to be learned at that side of London which could be taught me nowhere else. As it was necessary for Elijah to visit Zarephath, and Ezekiel to go to the side of Chebars river, so it was just as essential that I should go for a time to Wandsworth Common. It was an important part in the ordered plan of one human life.

On July 21st, 1895, I preached at West Ham, Stratford, for the first time; I had taken one Sunday each month for three months. After my first visit I was asked to preach on the first Thursday in August. This developed into a request to preach each Thursday in that month, and this was followed by my being asked to preach every Thursday until further notice. The Lord blessed these services abundantly. He answered the earnest prayers that many had been offering for a long time previously. Good seed that had been previously sown now sprung forth into blade, and ear, and full corn in the ear. Five persons were led to follow in the Saviour’s blessed footsteps, and were baptized by the late minister, Mr. W. J. Styles. In the meantime I was still staying with brother Clark. My kind host (who I must, after having seen so much of his private life; hold in high esteem) was all this time watching the hand of the Lord.

The last week of November and the first of December will ever stand out very prominently in my life’s history. During the last week in November a Church meeting was held at Chatham-road. At this meeting the Church resolved to give me up to West Ham. They expressed themselves as having the same feelings of love towards me as ever, but they thought it would be acting against the Lord’s will to seek to bind me down to my engagement. This communication I passed on to Mr. Upsdale the next day. A Church meeting was called for the following Monday evening. On the morning of the same day I went to Hastings. Whilst this meeting was being held I was (in company with Mr. and Mrs. Stockdale and Mr. Stockdale, jnr.) asking the Lord to guide the Church to a wise and God-honouring decision. The next morning I received two letters: the first one I opened told me of an unanimous invite for six mouths, the second letter was to the same effect; by the next post I received the official communication, to which I replied, accepting the call. The Lord still continued to own His Word. Towards the end of March eight souls professed their repentance toward God and their faith in the Lord Jesus, upon which profession they were baptized in the name of a Triune God. On April 13th, a meeting was called to take the final decision of the Church. Each member present voted in favour of my becoming their pastor, there being neither “neutrals” nor “noes.” I felt that again, as in the call to the ministry, I had the fourfold leadings, and consequently accepted the call. My most heartfelt prayer is, that the Lord may abundantly bless the union, that both pastor and people may seek nothing apart from, or short of, “The glory of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”