The Life And Ministry Of Thomas Poock
Earthen Vessel 1890:
The Late Thomas Poock, Of Ipswich, Suffolk
The late Mr. Thomas Poock was born at Brompton, near Chatham, Kent, on the 21st Feb., 1797. His early life was “full of striking incidents and marvelous activeness.” Bereaved of his mother in early childhood, he became a poor, helpless, friendless outcast consequently was placed in a very trying position. An uncle, who lived many miles away, hearing of it, fetched him, and took him to his own home and kindly cared for him for a short time. Soon he had to go to London, where, at the hands of a mother-in-law, he met with very cruel treatment. Before he was eleven years old he was sent to sea, where, on a man-of-war he acted as a cabin-boy for about three years. There He, in whose hands are all our times, provided for him a kind friend, who performed the part of a father, in teaching, guiding, and caring for him. Napoleon said, “Every bullet has its billet.” Amidst bullets and powder our friend’s life was preserved. Once he fell from the mast-head and was taken up for dead. But infinite wisdom had otherwise ordered it, having purposes of love towards him. Returning home, he forever turned his back upon a sea-faring life, and learned the art of turnery, in which he became proficient.
When about sixteen years of age, the purposed time had arrived when God would begin to shew in him the power and riches of His free and sovereign grace, in which he was afterwards so much to delight. Convinced of his state as a sinner before a just and holy God, a terrible law work was carried on in his soul. He felt himself a wretch undone. Ignorant of the plan of mercy and salvation, he knew not what to do, nor where to go. He was in constant fear of hell, having no rest either by day or by night. Afraid to go to sleep lest he should wake up in hell, yet was tempted to take away his own life. He fell in with the Arminians, whom he used afterwards to call Gadarenes. His legal class leader set him to make bricks without straw, to run without legs, and to fly without wings. His prayers being unanswered and his vows broken, caused the terrors of his mind to greatly increase, and he felt he must surely be damned and shortly be in hell. During this time he felt to hate the doctrines of grace, so much so, that he went, on one occasion, “to hear the late Dr. Hawker, having a loaded pistol in his pocket, with the intention of blowing out the brains of the doctor, but instead of this he was entirely broken down in his spirit.” He ever after entertained a very high estimation of the good doctor, and frequently used his “Morning and Evening Portions” in his family devotions. The time came for the dark night to flee away and the ”morning without clouds” to appear. Passing a bookstall one day, he noticed a book lying open, viz., Hart’s “Dialogue with a Poor Soul.” This he took to read. It was blessed to his deliverance. “Behold,” said the Lord, “I make all things new.” So our friend found it. He sang, and cried, and prayed, his lot had become a happy one. Life, light, and love filled his heart. The Master’s voice was heard, “Fear not.” The folly of his doings and vows he saw, and discovered the doings of the Christ of God, and that salvation by Him, was full, rich, and free. Our brother was baptized at Jamaica Row Chapel, Bermondsey, in 1818, and began preaching the Gospel of the grace of God when he was about three-and-twenty, or a little after. God blessed his first testimony as a prelude to the after blessing which attended his ministry. After preaching at different places in and around London, he accepted the pastorate at Andover, in Hampshire, where he remained for a short period. From Andover he removed to Eden Chapel, Cambridge, where, for about eleven years, God greatly blessed his labours, to which some still living can testify. Nearly 140 persons were baptized, and a heavy chapel debt of over £500 was worked off.
Feeling that his work at Cambridge was done, he resigned his pastorate in the early part of 1844, accepting invitations to supply at different places; amongst others was Plymouth, where the Church invited him to the pastorate, which he refused, because there were seven who voted against him, saying, “If there had have been eight I would have accepted it.” The reason assigned was, that there were eight persons in the ark which was saved, but seven being a perfect number against him would eventually overthrow him. When he first went to Dairy Lane Chapel (now Bethesda), Ipswich, he felt inwardly opposed to settling down there, and, in a state of rebellion, told the Lord, when walking up the pulpit-stairs, he would not stay there. But the Lord’s intentions were that he should, therefore He made him “willing in the day of His power.” The cause was low, and a heavy debt was upon the Chapel. However, he there devoted himself heart and soul to the service of God until worn out with age and infirmity, he resigned his pastorate in 1875. Numbers were called by grace and added to the Church and fed with the good old corn of the kingdom. To reduce the debt which was on the chapel, he used to set off on Monday mornings and call upon the friends for a penny. The friends soon became ashamed that their pastor should be working alone; they also set to work and the burden was removed. Side galleries were added and the chapel improved, and as he has told me, upwards of £2,500 were worked off and for years the place was free from the curse of a chapel debt.
Isaac Lord, Esq., says, “During the years I spent in Ipswich, there were many fights about many things; Papal aggression, Church votes, disestablishment, and politics of course; and in these things I remember Mr. Poock as a quiet, genial, and solid man, and generally occupying the right position, as we thought, on such questions.”
As a preacher, Mr. Poock firmly adhered to, and faithfully proclaimed the doctrines of free and sovereign grace, and delighted to expatiate upon the person and mediatorial glories of the Christ of God. When on his dying bed, brother Dearing said to him, “Is there any doctrine which you have preached you would like to recall?” “Not one,” was his emphatic reply. Nay, those doctrines were the strength and consolation of his soul in the prospect of death. Thoughtful and pithy were his discourses, but very tender was he towards the lambs and little ones in Christ’s fold. “Crumb it small for them,” said he to the writer on one occasion when going to preach for him.
His work being done, the Master had need of him, to join the great spirit-host before the glory throne, to enjoy there the fruits of that covenant and that salvation which he had so long delighted to extol and commend to others. Realising that he was upon the Rock, he said, “I want to see His face.” “Glory, honour, &c.;” and on Jan. 15th, 1879, he peacefully passed away to the land of the blessed to behold the Master’s face with joy.—Minimus
Thomas Poock (1797-1890) was a Strict and Particular Baptist preacher. He served as short time as pastor for the church meeting at Andover, Hampshire. He served as pastor for eleven years the church meeting at Eden Chapel, Cambridge. His final pastorate was with the church meeting at Bethesda, Ipswich (the called Dairy Lane Chapel).
