The Life And Ministry Of John Underhill
Gospel Standard 1854:
Death. On November 22nd, 1853, at Manchester, John Underhill, minister of the gospel, aged 84.
He was born at Gornal, near Dudley, in Staffordshire, was sent apprentice to Birmingham, where he sat under the ministry of Mr. John Ryland, and became exceedingly anxious to obtain a knowledge of the Scriptures. Here it pleased God to lay his afflicting hand on him by fever. On a particular occasion he heard Mr. Ryland address a congregation of young people. On this occasion, the Lord impressed his mind respecting the salvation of his immortal soul; he began to feel he was a sinner, a lost sinner, but how to look for salvation he could not tell. He began to pray and cry to God for mercy; and on several occasions got a few of his youthful companions into a hay loft, told them they were all sinners, and would have them all to pray. They told him they could not pray, but that he could and must; so he prayed and cried, while some smiled and others mocked. Thus he went on praying and weeping, and reading the word of God, till the Spirit was pleased to reveal Christ in his soul the hope of glory, when he had a glorious feast by means of those words, “In the Lord Jehovah have I righteousness and strength.”
In the 21st year of his age, on hearing a gospel sermon by one of Lady Huntingdon’s denomination, wherein Christ was set forth as the all and in all to a poor sinner, he felt much union to that people, and became a member of their body. He grew in the knowledge of the truth; but was taught to have a great aversion to believers’ baptism, until he verily hated the doctrine. His conscience, however, began to accuse him of hating what he saw to be plainly the word of God, and he was, at last, shamed out of his hatred by the power of God in these words: “See, here is water, what doth hinder me to be baptized?” Thus the Lord opened his eyes, and he attended to the ordinance. He joined the church of Christ at Bond Street, Birmingham, in the year 1796, under the pastoral care of Mr. Edmonds, named in Mr. Gadsby’s Memoir, where his usefulness soon became visible, and his knowledge of God’s word extensive. He was called upon by the church to exercise his gifts for the ministry, and was sent by it to preach where the Lord opened the door for him. He preached at Bedworth, and many other places round Birmingham. Being invited by the church at West Bromwich to become the pastor, he accepted the call in 1811; among other ministers, the late Mr. Gadsby, of Manchester, was present on the occasion. Of late years he has been resident at Liverpool, and occasionally labored in the cause of his great Master. He became latterly so infirm, that it was necessary he should be ministered unto, instead of ministering to others. He was removed to Manchester, to his daughter’s, (Mrs. Patterson,) a member of the church there, from whom he had every attention that a God-fearing daughter could bestow on a father and brother in the Lord Jesus. About eight days before he died, he became weaker than usual; and on Monday, the 21st, he was visited by a friend with whom he could speak freely on soul-matters. The friend perceiving a very unusual sluggishness of expression, said, “Well, friend, how are your prospects for eternity?” The question was evaded, but, being pressed, he replied, “Dark, very dark! O such darkness! I believe I am dying. O for the Lord’s presence! I do seem going through a dark valley. Dear, dear, dear!” The friend replied, “The Lord has been precious to your soul.” “Yes,” he replied, “I know, I am sure Christ has been precious to my soul. O that Rock of Ages!” After reading and prayer, he was a little more comfortable. The same friend visited him again in the evening, when he exclaimed, “I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord,” and spoke blessedly of the Lord’s goodness to his immortal soul. It was a soul-refreshing season to hear him exulting in redeeming love and blood. His dear partner in life lay by his side, having been 58 years his companion in this wilderness, travelling to a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God, she, in the 81st year of her age, leaning on the same eternal Rock, feeble and as likely to die as he, and rejoicing with weeping to see the Lord’s goodness to the immortal soul of her dear husband. Thus the expectants of eternal glory lay side ‘by side, waiting for the messenger, with a calm serenity which nothing but immortal hope could inspire. He passed a night of sore affliction, but was steadfast in faith. In the morning he said to his daughter, “Do you remember your brother who died? and do you remember the rattling of death in his throat?” She replied, “Yes, father, I do.” “Well,” said he, “I am dying now.” At 7 o’clock he said to his daughter, “O Betsey, help me up.” He was raised from his bed, and assisted by his two daughters, walked over the floor, sat down in his chair, and died,—another trophy of love and blood.
John Underhill (1769-1853) was a Strict and Particular Baptist preacher. He served as an itinerate for many years, but was also called to the pastoral office, overseeing the church meeting at West Bromwich.
