The Life And Ministry Of Job Teall

Gospel Standard 1867:

Death. On November 28th, 1865, at Sandwich, Kent, very suddenly, Mr. Job Teall, minister of the gospel, Zion Chapel, Sandwich. Aged 67.

For some time past he had been suffering from excessive nervous debility and an affection of the heart. He felt persuaded in his own mind that his end was drawing nigh, and that it would be sudden; and so it proved. On the morning of the 28th of November, he remarked to the partner of his life, “You will not have to prepare any more breakfasts for me, my dear;” but she, having heard so many similar remarks on former occasions, paid no particular heed to it, attributing it to his nervous debility. He left his dwelling-house during the morning, intending to call upon a Mr. Ratcliffe, a baker, nearly opposite, when he was seen to fall; and upon friends going to his assistance, the pulse had ceased to beat, and the ransomed spirit had been summoned to be for ever with its Lord.

In consequence of increasing weakness of the body, although his spirit was indeed willing to spend and be spent for the cause of God, he had been obliged to discontinue the evening services at Zion Chapel, and preached his last sermon on Lord’s day morning, November 25th, 1866, from John 10:30: “I and my Father are one.” He then appeared to be very weak in body, although sound in the faith, earnestly contending for the truth as it is in Jesus. At the close, after the last prayer, he said, “My dear friends, if the Lord will, I hope soon to be enabled to resume the evening services;” but his work was done.

His mortal remains were committed to the grave on December 4th, by Mr. John Gibbons, of Dover, who on Lord’s day evening, December 16th, preached what is generally called a “funeral sermon,” at Zion Chapel, Sandwich, from Rev. 14:13. There was a large congregation, who listened with deep attention to the remarks delivered on that occasion. The preacher was enabled solemnly to set forth the blessedness of the “dead who die in the Lord,” and the opposite condition of those who are not of that number. The hymns sung on the occasion were from “Kent’s Selection,” which our dear departed brother always used in the services of the sanctuary:

“In hope of life eternal given,

Behold a pardon’d sinner dies;

A legal blood-bought heir of heaven, 

Call’d to his mansion in the skies.

“He left the world, with all its toys, 

For better, brighter worlds on high; 

His faith embraced substantial joys, 

Soaring beyond the starry sky.

“Why should our eyes with sorrow flow, 

Or bosoms heave the painful sigh? 

When Jesus calls, the saint must go; 

’Twas his eternal gain to die.

“Methinks I see him now at rest

In the bright mansion love ordained; 

His head reclines on Jesu’s breast, 

No more by sin or sorrow pain’d.”

Our little chapel, “Zion,” is for the present closed, the funds being too small to support a minister of the gospel. 1 Cor. 9:13, 14.

Sandwich, Dec. 22nd, 1866

William Bollard