The Life And Ministry Of Samuel Lightfoot

Gospel Standard 1867:

Death. On May 19^th, 1867, Mr. Samuel Lightfoot, senior deacon at the Particular  Baptist Chapel, North Street, Stamford, in the 72nd year of his age.

Our dear friend has left in writing some little account of the dealings of God with him, both providentially and spiritually, from which I shall make some extracts, adding some particulars of his last days, and a few out of the many precious sayings, that fell from his lips during his illness.

It appears that in 1818 he came to Stamford to conduct a hair-dressing business for a widow, who had two children. After about twelve months, he married her. She only lived four and a half years afterwards; during which time she gave birth to three children, and after the birth of the last was seized with inflammation of the bowels, and died. It appears that during these years, in which he had much trouble, it pleased the Lord to begin a work of grace upon his soul, of which he thus speaks:

“Now I began to feel, in some little measure, my state as a sinner in the sight of a pure and holy God. This was the means of separating me from my worldly companions and amusements; and some little light shone into my soul respecting what Christ is to his people. After this, troubles came upon me like mountains, both outwardly and inwardly, which continued for many years; but the Lord made them of great use to me, as they frequently brought me to cry to him for help. All this time the dear Lord was teaching me for future days. I much needed stripping of a self-righteous spirit. I was a regular attendant at the Independent Chapel, under the ministry of the late Mr. Wright. After this, I married again to my present wife, when the Lord wrought more powerfully in my conscience. The business in which I was engaged became a great trial to me, on account of having to work on a Lord’s day morning. I think for six or seven years I was crying to the Lord about this trouble. It was uppermost in my mind night and day. At length it pleased him to speak to my heart with great power: ‘Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.’ In the strength and encouragement felt from these words, I came to the resolution of giving my customers notice that I should do no more business on the Sabbath day. This my purpose gave them great offence, and they said I should bring my family to ruin. The first week after closing on the Lord’s day, I made a calculation of my loss, and found it to amount to about 16s. Now the enemy of my soul set in upon me with great power. However, it pleased the Lord to enable me to wait constantly upon him, and in a very short time my business began to increase, so that I had a good trade in hats and caps, and have never, through the goodness of God, felt the loss of what he en- abled me to give up for conscience sake, and for the honour of the Lord’s day.

“After this, I became a member with the Independents; but the Lord would not let me rest there. At times I was very uncomfortable under the preaching. My poor mind was so dark that I could not tell what I wanted; but if at any time I could hear anything of free grace, it was a help to me. In the providence of God, Mr. Philpot came to Stamford. I was induced to go to hear him, and found things advanced which I had felt. I shall never forget the third sermon I heard him preach. It was from Ps. 145:19. In that sermon my path was so traced out and the word so applied that I left the chapel that night blessing and praising the Lord for his goodness and mercy to me a poor guilty sinner. Then I could rejoice in his blessed name, that I had found him whom my soul loveth.

“After this I became much exercised about continuing my membership amongst the Independents. Many sore conflicts I had; for although I found Mr. Philpot’s ministry suited my experience, yet at this time I could not see the doctrine of election. That was stumbling to me for a long time. I continued still amongst the Independents, but could get no food for my soul. One day, being greatly troubled in my mind as to whether or not I should come out from among them, the following words dropped into my soul: ‘They that worship God must worship him in spirit and in truth.’ I felt I was not doing so, as I could not hear to profit, and, consequently, was led to send in my resignation as a member of that church, which was followed by a season of great darkness and fiery darts from Satan, who suggested that I had done wrong, that I had no true religion. I could find no access to the Lord. Such darkness came upon me as I had never before experienced. What I passed through for about eight months is beyond description. During this trial, the Lord was pleased to give me such a sight of myself as I never before had. There were hanging about me many filthy rags that needed stripping off. I was also taken ill in body, and confined to my room for five or six weeks. I shall never forget what a sight I had of my own filthy righteousness. In the eye of my mind, I compared my righteous- ness to seeing a man from head to foot in a very tattered, torn, and filthy garment; and this was just what I felt myself to be. The words, ‘I know that my Redeemer liveth’ were applied with a little sweetness; still I felt to want something more, as I had never felt to have received the pardon of all my sins.

“I went on in this way about four or five years, and joined the church at North Street, Stamford, having felt the importance of attending to the ordinance of believers’ baptism.

“In 1848 I had a very heavy trial. I was taken ill with fever, and also my daughter Sarah. We were both confined to our beds for four or five weeks. However, it was ordered by the Lord, and in it he was pleased to do wonders for my soul. During my confinement, I was reading Mr. Hart’s hymn upon ‘Pride’ and my feelings were that I was that proud creature; and when I got to the last verse:

‘The garden is the place’ &c., in one minute I had such a view of Jesus to my soul, and these words came: ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased,’ that it was just as if I saw him coming up out of the water. I felt completely delivered from all bondage, and my soul rejoiced in his blessed name. The hymn beginning: ‘When Jesus, with his mighty love,’ &c., followed, and I continued to enjoy the love of Jesus for two or three weeks.

“Some time after this, I had a dream, and it being a very remarkable one, I cannot pass it by without notice. I saw, as it were, an angel (or a minister) come to me as I was in bed, and with a smile, he kissed me. I immediately cried out, ‘I am such a guilty sinner.’ His reply was, ‘Your sins are all forgiven.’ I looked into the word of God, to see if I could find anything like it, when I was led to the prophet Isaiah’s vision; and it appeared to me that the angel I saw was one of those seraphim there spoken of.

“After this, I went on for some time, very frequently cast down, had many sinkings, lest after all I might have been deceived, and at last be a castaway. Nevertheless, I have proved that as trials come, the Lord sends strength to bear up under them. One Lord’s day, after hearing Mr. P. preach twice, and got nothing, I went also in the evening to the prayer meeting, but still got no relief. My misery was great indeed. I retired to my bedroom, and begged the Lord to give me, and it was but the text that had that day been preached from (for it had gone from my memory). I got up from my knees and took the Bible to see if I could find the text. I opened the book at Matthew 22, when my eyes fell upon the words: ‘Friend, how earnest thou in hither, not having on a wedding garment?’ This was like a dart. I sank fathoms, thinking these awful words were sent to show me that I was deceived, and my religion only an empty profession. I left my bedroom in my feelings lost. That night was a gloomy night to me. I could not sleep. I tried sometimes to beg of the Lord to appear; and then again would Satan get me almost into despair. I arose rather early in the morning, for I could not rest, came down stairs, and was then enabled to make my case known to the Lord, feeling that I could not live in this state of mind. After pleading for about a quarter of an hour, the following words dropped into my soul: ‘Why art thou cast down, O my soul, and why art thou disquieted within me.’ Hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.’ This portion of God’s word took away all my burden. I got up from my knees and went into the field to bless and praise him who had wrought for me such a deliverance.

“The following Thursday evening Mr. P. preached from the words: ‘This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and delivered him from all his fears.’ This sermon appeared to be all for me. In his description of real prayer, and how the Lord heard and answered it, I could set to my seal that it was true.”

Thus have I given a sketch of his experience up to 1854. He commences again in 1860, in which and the following year he passed through much trial. But the Lord applied the words: “Trust in the Lord and do good.”

In August, 1862, he remarks: “Two good sermons by Mr. P.; but did not get anything that day; but on the following Tuesday evening, when he was expounding Ps. 23, it was very sweet to my soul. In the sermon also, I felt my experience traced out, and I returned home very much helped, and could praise the Lord. In the night, I was so favoured that I felt willing to go and be with him for ever, and I said, ‘O! if I have this feeling on my dying day, how happy shall I be.’ This was followed with those sweet words of Dr. Watts’s: “‘My willing soul would stay, In such a frame as this,’ &c.”

He then passes on to Oct. 26th, 1865, and speaks of my preaching from Deut. 33:27, and says, “I could not feel the eternal God to be my refuge. I retired to my bedroom very low in spirit, and cried to the Lord for help. I awoke early in the morning with a heavenly feeling; and although I had no words, could say the Lord was with me, and I was willing to be anything or nothing, that I might be at the dear feet of Christ.”

On Lord’s day, Nov. 26th, 1865, he remarks: “A day to be remembered. For about a fortnight previously I had been very poorly, having taken a bad cold. I was much exercised in my mind, and poorly in body. I went to the chapel, intending (as was my usual custom on our alternate Lord’s day), to read a sermon, but found my strength was not equal to it. However, I went to my place to give out a hymn, and opened upon 957 (Gadsby’s Selection.) The first verse so broke my heart that it was with great difficulty I could proceed with it. Friend Scott read John 14, the whole of which I felt as honey to my soul; and since that time I have on several occasions been melted into tears, that I have not shed so many for years. I truly can say the Lord has endeared himself to my soul. I do desire to love him in return if I could, and also his dear people, for whom he has shed his most precious blood.”

Our dear friend was taken very seriously ill in November last year, when he was so prostrated in body as to be considered both by his medical attendant and many friends to be very near the end of his earthly pilgrimage. During this severe illness (which continued between three and four months) it pleased his dear Saviour to abundantly bless his soul. Although to all human appearance the outward man was perishing, the inward man was so blessedly renewed day by day, that it was very blessed indeed to sit by his bedside and listen to the utterance of blessing and praise to the Lord for what he had done for his soul. A dear friend, who kindly sat up with him in turn with others, thus writes:

“I was called to sit by the bedside of our dear friend, and thought he would not be long with us. It was most blessed to witness the sweet frame of mind he was in. I fear I shall not remember half of the sweet things he said. He spoke of the way to glory, and felt himself in the path, observing that he was firm on the rock. One of the friends coming in to see him, he said, ‘O dear friend, I am glad to see you;’ and he talked to her of the goodness of the Lord to his soul, saying he felt the well of living water springing np within. On her leaving, he said, ‘Good bye, dear friend. We shall meet in glory, if we meet no more on earth.’ The hymns 412 and 1,091 were much on his mind. ‘O well, O well, sweet well,’ said he; ‘I felt it springing up in my poor soul.’ I said, ‘You feel Jesus precious!’ He said, ‘O yes, very precious. He will not leave me. Bless his dear name.’ He was much in prayer and communion with the Lord during the day, and many portions of Scripture fell from his lips; among them: ‘I have a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.’ Also a part of Ps. 37, which he said had been much blessed to him in a time of great trouble. He had in the afternoon, a sweet sleep for about an hour, and awoke with these words: ‘What a glorious light! What a glory. Bless the Lord, it shines into my poor soul.’ To another friend standing by his bed, he said, ‘What a mercy that the blessed Jesus so shines. There is nothing to interveiw. It is all well; it is all peace. His dear wife, standing by, repeated, ‘Rock of Ages, shelter me.’ The third verse appeared much to suit his case. He said, ‘I’ve no good works to plead. If I had all the good works in the world, they would do me no good now.'”

Another dear friend, who was much with him in his illness, noted the following sentence which fell from his lips: “Precious Lord, thou art a very present help in trouble. Blessed Lord, thy love is from everlasting to everlasting. Thy arms are underneath me. O the love of God to poor sinners. What should I do now without thee, a precious Christ. Thou art a precious Christ to my soul. I desire to glorify God for his wonderful mercy and goodness to me, a poor sinner. Dear Lord, I love thy precious name, thy people, and thy truth. ‘When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee;'” with much that cannot be remembered.

After this, to the astonishment of all who saw him, he was raised up again, and enabled to get occasionally to chapel, and to occupy his usual position, giving out the hymns. Still, he never regained his former strength, and complained of great weakness, frequently expressing to me his conviction that his time upon earth would be but short; also observing that death was almost always before him, and adding, “And it is not an unprofitable subject.”

About the latter end of April, he took cold, and began to sink again, and dropsy was manifest in his system.

The last time that he was at the chapel was on Lord’s day, May 5th, when it was evident to all who looked at him that he was very ill.

However, he stood up and gave out hymns 949 and 950, with such emotion as will not soon be forgotten. The ordinance of believers’ baptism, and also the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper, were that day administered; when our dear friend for the last time partook of the elements, and, according to his usual practice, carried them round to the members of the church.

The following Thursday he took to his bed, and day by day gradually sank. Although in this, his last illness, he was not so greatly favoured with light, yet it pleased the Lord to maintain in his soul a stable peace. I saw him two clays before his death, and said to him, “You know in whom you have believed, and are persuaded that he is able to keep that which you have committed unto him against that day; and you can also leave your dear wife in his hands.” He answered with much energy, “O yes. I am not afraid to die.”

The next day (Saturday) he said to his dear wife, “We shall sing his name to harps of gold.” These, I believe, were the last words he was heard to utter. He lay in a calm, composed state during the Lord’s day, when several friends came to take their last farewell of him; and although unable to speak, it is believed he retained consciousness until he breathed his last, which was a little after 8 o’clock in the evening of that day.

I cannot close this paper without observing how warmly I was attached to him, and what a great loss I have sustained in his removal. I have lost a valuable friend and helper, and the church has lost a most loving, indefatigable, and useful servant. But our loss is his eternal gain.

Oakham, June, 1867

R. Knill

[I am sorry that want of space will prevent me adding more than a few words to the above account of the experience in life and death of my dear and esteemed friend the late Mr. Samuel Lightfoot. But I should much reproach myself if I did not add my testimony in favour of one with whom I was so long connected in church fellowship as well as private intercourse.

As he was a deacon of the church of which I was the unworthy pastor for many years, and as I saw very much of him during that time, both privately and publicly, and had thus every opportunity of observing his life and conversation, both before the church and the world, I can bear the fullest testimony to the worth of his character, the uprightness of his conduct, and his love for the cause of God and truth. He was, indeed, free from the woe of all men speaking well of him; but, from the amiability of his disposition, his affection to the Lord’s people, his kindness to the poor, his sympathising tenderness to the sick and afflicted, with whom he used to read and pray in a singularly pleasing yet faithful way, the fervour and earnestness of his prayers in the chapel, and the sincerity so markedly stamped upon all his words and ways, he won for himself, beyond almost any man whom I ever knew, the general esteem and affection both of the church and congregation. As regards his experience, he seemed to me to realise much the truth of the words, “The path of tin- just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day;” (Prov. 4:18;) for I have rarely known a man of whom it might be so truly said, “Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end shall greatly increase,” or in whom the words of our dear friend William Tiptaft were more fulfilled, that “his last days were his best days.” When I first knew him, many years ago, there appeared to me wanting depth in his experience. He had not been “plunged in the ditch until his own clothes abhorred him;” nor had he been so much tried and tempted, nor inwardly plagued and exercised, as many of the Lord’s people are. Having been for some time also connected with the Independents, where he was a deacon, I used to think there was a strong tang in him of the old cask a smatch of the pharisaic leaven; but as time rolled on, and the Lord deepened his work upon his soul, and he became tried and exercised, this was much cleansed and worked out of him, and the pure language of Canaan dropped more sensibly from his heart and lips. He became also more spiritually minded in his conversation, more broken and contrite in his spirit, and had a keener insight into and a greater relish for real experimental things, being very fond of Mr. Huntington’s works, and loving a sound, searching, and tried ministry. I name his former days, not to throw any reflection upon him, but as being much opposed to that indiscriminate eulogy and praise of those who are departed, as if they never had any faults, and as wishing to show more of the goodness and mercy of God in cleansing him from all his filthiness and all his idols. Though I believe we were much united in one mind and one spirit, yet we did not always agree in such points as church matters; and though, at the time, I might have wished that we could have seen eye to eye upon them, yet, as I knew he ever acted from strict principle and conscience, it never caused any shyness between us; and, indeed, I esteemed him all the more for his honesty and faithfulness, and preferred it to a servile submission, as if he would please me by surrendering his own opinion, which, after all, might have been wiser than my own.

I have added more than I intended, but not more than or, indeed, so much as I could have said, if space permitted, as a feeble testimony to the worth of a truly good man, and an ornament to his Christian profession. 

J. C. Philpot]