The Life And Ministry Of Eli Page

The Sower 1896:

Minister Of The Gospel

One more standard bearer has been removed from the walls of Zion, one that will be greatly missed, not only by the Church at Mayfield, over which he has been pastor for thirty years, but also by many Churches in Sussex and other counties where his savory testimony to experimental religion has given him a place in the affections of hundreds of the Lord’s family.

His Conversion

For the first nineteen years of his life, Eli Page followed the course of this world. He has described his youthful days as being rough and wild, reveling in the most filthy conversation, but when he lost his father by death, as he stood by his grave the arrow of conviction entered his soul. He often told his hearers that he knew nothing about the dreadful terrors under the law that many speak of, for so graciously did the Lord deal with him that, within half an hour of his being convinced of sin he felt a hope spring up within his heart that the Lord would be gracious unto him. This occurred about the year 1837, on the 12th day of February, a date that he always looked upon as memorable in his life, for it was on the 12th of February that he married his first wife, and he also buried her on the same date of the month.

Mr. Page was living at the Dicker when first called by grace, and he often used to mention a circumstance that happened at that period. He told an old Christian of his exercises and desires; this man replied, “You have life in your soul, what more do you want?’’ Mr. Page said this remark had a very bad effect upon him, and settled him down in a careless state, and very strongly did he warn his hearers against such false and unscriptural teaching.

His Ministry

Mr. Page’s first impressions in respect of engaging in the work of the ministry were felt while attending the ministry of the late Mr. John Grace. After his death he attended the ministry of the late Mr. Blanchard at Bolney, and although he kept his exercises about the ministry to himself, yet Mr. Blanchard became so convinced that the Lord designed him for the ministry that he spoke to him on the subject, and prevailed upon him to preach one week evening at Handcross, where his testimony was acceptable to the people, so that a life-long friendship was formed between him and the little flock at Handcross, and every year since he has paid regular visits to the place where the Lord first opened his mouth. In due time the pillar of cloud guided him to settle as pastor over the Church at Mayfield, where his ministry has been greatly blessed by the Lord. During the last years of Mr. Page’s ministry there was a marked change in his manner of setting forth the truth: while still setting forth clearly man’s fallen nature, and the plague felt within, yet as he gained a closer personal acquaintance with the Lord Jesus Christ, so he laboured to encourage his hearers to go on to seek for closer communion and fellowship with the Lord, and earnestly warned them of the solemn effects of resting on a bare head knowledge either of the malady or the remedy. He warned them also against trusting too much to frames and feelings; he continually brought forth the precepts of the Word, and most earnestly warned his hearers against the Antinomian tendencies of the present day. Another thing was also very marked, namely, how he encouraged his hearers to take more heed to the Word of God, and he spoke strongly against the way some professing Christians set aside the Scriptures with the remark, “It is only the letter.”

His Last Illness

Some year or two ago, Mr. Page’s health seemed to break up, and occasioned great anxiety to his family and friends, but he was still able to continue his ministry, and he often spoke as a man on the verge of eternity, looking forward to his eternal rest.

The following letter, written to Mr. James Boorne, of Wallington, in December last, will show the comfortable state of his mind:—

“My Dear Friend,—Yours to hand. D.V., I quite hope to be with you on next Lord’s Day, and on the morning of 25th. Oh, may the dear Lord come with His poor old servant, who feels deeply the infirmities of old age, coupled with disease, but I have been graciously helped hitherto. I hope I may say with the beloved Apostle, ‘As the outward man decays, the inward man is renewed from day to day.’ I cannot attempt to pen what a view I have of that blessed state there is for us beyond the river death, through our precious Redeemer, washed in His blood, clothed in His spotless robe of righteousness, of which my poor soul by faith has had a precious sight. But oh, the body of death makes me sigh and groan. Oh, how painfully do I travel in Paul’s path of the law in the members which wars against the law of the spiritual mind, which would indeed live holy; and I do hope I can follow him in the deliverance.

“Give my love to your brother deacons, and accept the same yourself.

“Yours sincerely,

“Eli Page”

To another friend Mr. Page wrote, “I certainly feel to get weaker; as to the future, I often feel ‘it is well.’ I had a sweet sight to my soul on Monday last. This body of death is such a plague to me, but then I saw it go down in death, and to rise no more. Oh, how sweet!”

Mr. Page preached his last sermon at Mayfield in the early part of January, from Philippians 4:6, 7, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” What text could have been more suitable for a pastor’s dying benediction to his beloved people?

During his last illness he was sweetly supported. When visited by Mr. Popham, he said to him on leaving, “Good-bye: farewell, brother, I can say all is well. I am like one going on a long journey, all is ready packed: I have not the clear shining, but I know it is all right. Oh, there is not a thing between the Lord and me. Perfectly justified, the truths I have preached will do for me to die by.”

As he drew near his end he said four times, “Jesus only, Jesus only, Jesus only, Jesus only.” “Tell Mr. Popham he is not to exalt the creature, but Jesus only. Nothing wanting to His title.”

The last words he was heard to utter were, “Exalt Him.” He peacefully fell asleep on Sunday, January 26th, at 5.15 p.m.

The Funeral Of A Sussex Pastor

From “The Sussex Daily News.”

There was a most impressive scene at the little village of Edburton on Saturday afternoon, February 1st, 1896, on the occasion of the funeral of Mr. Eli Page, who for forty-three years has been in the occupation of Perching Manor Farm, Edburton. As a farmer, Mr. Page was well known throughout the county, but as the pastor of the Baptist Chapel, Mayfield, for thirty years and over, he was more widely known, particularly in East Sussex, and the high respect and esteem in which he was held was plainly manifest by the hundreds who attended the funeral obsequies on Saturday. He had reached a ripe old age, and for the last thirty years it had been his practice to leave his home on Saturday, and Journey to Mayfield to conduct the service there on Sunday, returning home on the following day. As he preached at Mayfield on the 12th January, the news of his death, which took place just fortnight later, came with painful suddenness to his many friends in the eastern portion of the county. Not in the recollection of the oldest inhabitant of Edburton or the neighbouring villages has there been seen such a large crowd of people as poured into the village on Saturday—on foot from the Dyke Station, in cabs and carriages from Brighton, Hurstpierpoint, Henfield, Hassooka, Burgess Hill, and Haywards Heath. The great majority, perhaps, came from Brighton, where those who were anxious to pay a last tribute of respect to the deceased were joined by between thirty and forty members of the Chapel at Mayfield, among whom were the three deacons (Messrs. Robert Lusted, Henry Holder, and Thomas Ovenden), representing a congregation of between five and six hundred people. By half past one, when the cortage left the late residence of the deceased, there must have been between five and six hundred people present. The coffin, which was of polished elm, with massive brass furniture, was conveyed along the road towards Edburton Church in a closed hearse, quite a score of carriages and cabs, and a very large number of people following.

Service In Edburton School

A halt was made at Edburton School, which is about half a mile from the house and about equal distant between the house and Edburton Church. The coffin was allowed to remain in the hearse, and as many as could gained admission to the school, where a service was held. It commenced with the singing of the hymn, “Why do we mourn departed friends?” Mr. J. K. Popham, of Gloucester Road Chapel, Brighton, read a part of the fifteenth chapter of the first Epistle to the Corinthians, and a part of the seventh chapter of Revelation. Then, addressing the gathering, Mr. Popham said he was there to do that last office for their departed brother at the special request made by the deceased seven years ago. The deceased, he continued, was a great man, if greatness consisted in possessing the grace of God in his soul, and he was likewise a good minister of Jesus Christ. He was a pastor as well. It was not given to every preacher to be a pastor, but Mr. Page was a pastor in every sense of the word, not a pastor by the choosing of the people, but by the Lord setting him over them. The family had suffered a great loss; they had lost their head, the bond that had held them together for so many years had been broken. He wished every blessing bestowed upon them, and he prayed that they would try as a family to hang together and do what they knew would have been the wishes of the departed. The congregation at the chapel at Mayfield, too, were also greatly bereaved, and he prayed God would raise up a pastor after the deceased’s own heart. The workmen on the farm had lost a good master; they would soon know it if they did not know it then; and the neighbourhood was poorer by Mr. Page’s removal to heaven. Mr. Popham concluded his remarks with prayer, the singing of the hymn, “While souls that trust in Christ rejoice,” closing the service in the school. The procession to Edburton Church extended nearly from the school to the churchyard. The coffin was lowered into the grave by eight workmen on deceased’s farm. Mr. Popham then gave a short address and offered up prayer, and the service ended. The inscription on the coffin was: ”Eli Page, died 26th January 1896, aged 78 years.” On the memorial card issued announcing Mr. Page’s death, we find the words:

“A sinner saved by sovereign grace.”

“Then shall I wake with sweet surprise,
And meet my Saviour in the skies.”

Mr. Page leaves a widow and several children and grand-children to mourn his loss.

Funeral Sermons

On Lord’s Day, February 2nd, the day after the funeral, a large concourse of friends assembled at the chapel at Mayfield. Mr. Popham occupied the pulpit in the morning, and spoke from Rev. 14:13, “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord,” &c. He spoke very solemnly upon the nature of true religion, that would enable a soul to die in the Lord. The new birth must be experienced; souls that live will pray; the soul born again must beg his way to heaven. Those who have this good root will die in union with the Lord, “And” (said Mr. Popham), “so died your pastor.”

In the afternoon Mr. Popham administered the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper, and also gave some seasonable advice to the Church. He said: “There is no complete Church without a pastor. The letters to the Seven Churches were addressed to the angel or pastor. May your eyes be up to the Lord, that you may be kept from sliding into the Supply system, so hurtful to a cause, but now so general. If the Lord sends a man among you that He intends for your pastor, you will find his word will be with authority. The blessing of a pastor to a Church is very great, and in losing your pastor you do not yet know how much you have lost.” He then spoke affectionately to the deacons and said, “It will indeed be well with you as a Church, if the deacons do most of their work on their knees.” He then gave some excellent advice to the members of the Church, entreating them to put away all bitterness, to be kind one to another, and the strong should bear the infirmities of the weak. “Do not as a Church put perplexities in the path of your deacons, but be friends to them in secret prayer.”

Mr. Miles preached in the evening, from Isaiah 25:7-9. The record of this late dear servant of God is but brief, but will, we feel sure, be interesting to his many friends; and we trust a complete record of his useful life may in due course be published.