The Life And Ministry Of William Kern
Earthen Vessel 1890:
Mr. W. Kern, Pastor, Bethesda Chapel, Ipswich, Suffolk
Dear Mr. Editor,—I was born at Lards-hill Common, in the parish of Wonersh, Surrey, on the 12th of August, 1836; and was not expected to live but a very short time. All but my mother who saw me said I should soon die. As I grew up I proved to be very delicate and weak, which sometimes filled me with fear. When about 12 years old I met with an accident. I was sitting on a loaded cart, and it tipped up, and the front part caught me by the neck, and I was suspended by it; a man lifted me down and held the torn part till a doctor came and sewed it up. I had to lay on my side for nine weeks, and could only take liquids. I was watched over by a gracious God and a fond mother, and recovered, though many thought I should not; but an unseen hand prevented the gash in my throat proving fatal. I was very fond of pleasure and of company, but was kept back by my mother from doing as I pleased. I sometimes thought and said to myself, “When I get away from your eye and control, then I will do just what I please and go just where I please.” But even then I used to have such pricks of conscience that made me afraid. I was always afraid of death, and made many vows, but broke them all. I loved sin, but I feared the consequences, and as an opiate said my prayers over and over again. I wanted to enjoy this world, but I did not want to go to hell. I wanted then, what I fear some want now, to be saved in their sins. It was in the summer of 1853, my mother had been to hear Mr. Osborne, from America, and in telling me about his sermon she broke down, and said, “Oh, William, if you die as you live, what will become of you?” This made a very solemn impression on me, but it wore off. My mother died in August, I853, and her death, by God’s blessing, fixed the words in my heart. I wanted to know what would become of such a vile sinner, and the first ray of light I had was when Mr. Spencer (who now lives at Bath), was preaching from, “That I may win Christ and be found in Him.” Then I met with a dear brother, Mr. J. Lambourne, now pastor at Warboys, Hunts. He very kindly took me by the hand, and it was at his house at Stoke, Guildford, that I first prayed before anyone. I trembled all over when I had done, and he said to me,—“Do you call that prayer?” I answered, “No, sir.” He said “I do then.” I was also helped under the late Mr. Hanks, of Woolwich, and under a sermon by Mr. Spencer just before I left Guildford for London, in 1858. I then realised my interest in a precious Christ but I soon got into darkness and bondage again, and under a sermon by Mr. James Wells I again realised joy and peace in believing. But my sealing time was while I was employed at my secular avocation, by these words being applied with Divine power to my soul, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us.” I was melted down, and my mates thought I was gone out of my mind; I was very nearly out of my body. I now felt a great wish to follow my Lord, in the ordinance of Baptism, and while listening to Mr. Wells I resolved to put my name down at the close of the service, but kept postponing it till these words settled the matter, “He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me.” I came before Mr. Wells and the deacons, in February, 1859. Till then I thought Mr. Wells rather an austere man; but I found him to be a kind, tender, loving friend. I was baptized at the old Surrey Tabernacle, in March 1859, with 44 others, and a solemn, sacred, and profitable time it was to my soul. In the August following, I was taken ill, and my health gave way, so I was obliged to leave London and go into the country. My greatest trouble was to leave the ministry of my pastor, Mr. J. Wells. But I was restored and came to reside in London again the next May, and attended at the Tabernacle as often as I could till I joined the late Mr. W. Palmer’s Church at Homerton Row, where my dear wife was baptized. I remember the first time Mr. Palmer called upon me, to publicly engage in prayer. I had to hold on to the front seat, I trembled so. We were removed in Providence to Chilworth, near Guildford, in 1867, and we used to attend at Shamley-green, very near my birth-place. I was now and had been for some time exercised about speaking in the Lord’s name. “He that is ashamed of Me, and of My words, of him will I be ashamed.” These words urged me on. They have run, but I have not sent them; these pushed me back, till one day I went to hear the late Mr. John Hazelton, at Mayford, and he paused in his sermon, and said, “If there is any one here exercised about speaking in the Lord’s name, listen: In Acts 9:11, you see the Lord knows where you live, your name and all about you, and when He wants you He will send for you; do not go before He sends, and do not say no when He does.” This was a quieting message to my troubled spirit. I commenced to speak in a room at Shamley-green, about November, 1869. I went to the prayer meeting at the little chapel in the afternoon, and to the room in the evening. The room became full; then opposition commenced, the landlord threatened to turn them out if they allowed the mad babbler to speak there any more; but as one door closed the Lord opened another, and all without my seeking, till I was asked to supply at the old Baptist Chapel, Castle-street, Guildford. The place was nearly empty, and with only twenty members. I went and supplied them again and again from April to September, 1871, then the Church gave me a call to minister to them regularly. After much anxious thought and prayer I consented, and resigned my secular employment. I thought I was taking the right step; but my fears prevailed, the devil assaulted me, and I sank very low; but I spread my case at the blood-stained seat, and got relief by them words being sealed home, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all things shall be added unto you.” So we removed there in October, 1871, and the Lord blessed the work with many signs following; saints were made glad, sinners were sad, devils cast out, our hearts rejoiced, and a precious Christ was glorified. Then when brother Roland fell asleep I was unanimously chosen to the pastorate, and on Tuesday, October 7th, 1873, the ordination services were held. Mr. John Hazelton asked the usual questions, and gave me the charge from 2 Timothy 2:15. Our brother W. Styles preached to the Church; a red-letter day it was to a great many; we continued to grow and prosper.
In the autumn of 1874 I received a three months’ call from the Church at Mount Zion, Hill-street, Dorset-square, with a view to the pastorate, which after a week’s thought and prayer I declined. In 1875 the chapel, Castle-street, was rebuilt with new vestries, &c., which were greatly needed. In July, 1876, I went to the recognition services of brother Shepherd, at Mount Zion. There I saw Mr. Churchyard, of Ipswich. He asked me if I would supply one Sabbath for them at Bethesda. I did so on Sunday, October 15th, 1876, and on several week evenings afterwards. I received a note from the Church informing me that they had had a special Church meeting to choose a pastor, and invited me to the pastorate. After a great conflict and much prayer, I felt moved to accept the same, and God’s blessing and presence since has proved it was a right step. I commenced my pastorate here July 1st, 1877, with the words, “My presence shall go with thee.” I pray we may still enjoy it. During my stay at Guildford, eighty-four were added to the Church, leaving 94 on the books when I left. May the Lord still abundantly bless us, and all the Churches of Christ.
Yours in Jesus,
W. Kern
William Kern (1836-?) was a Strict and Particular Baptist preacher. In 1873, he was appointed pastor of the church meeting at the Old Baptist Chapel, Castle-street, Guildford, serving this office for four years. In 1877, he was appointed pastor of the church meeting at Bethesda Chapel, Ipswich, Suffolk.
