The Life And Ministry Of Samuel Slade
Gospel Standard 1867:
Death. On October 18th, 1866, Samuel Slade, in his 91st year. He was a deacon of the Old Baptist Chapel, Devizes, having been a member of the church between 60 and 70 years.
On October 9th, he met with a few of his fellow-members at a friend’s house, and engaged with fervency in prayer for the prosperity of the church of God, more especially for that part with which he was connected. It was thought by those present that it was the last time he would meet with them, for he appeared like a shock of corn ready to be gathered into his garner. I saw him a few days afterwards on his bed, drawing near his end. I said to him, “You can say, ‘I know in whom I have believed.'” He was very deaf, and I do not know that he heard what I said; but he took my hand and said, “The Lord has been very good to me from my youth up to this time.” With a glow on his countenance he continued, “About 70 or 80 years ago, I heard a sermon from a man who came from one of the villages to supply at the chapel. He spoke a great deal upon prayer. His text was, ‘Show me thy glory.’ In conclusion he said, ‘I hope none of you will go to bed tonight without prayer. Some of you may say, I have no gift: Well, this is but a short prayer, ‘Show me thy glory.’ “I went to bed that night. I lay down, but was obliged to get up again and fall on my knees. Soon after this, Mr. Dyer accepted the pastoral charge of the church, and I, with a few more young men, used to go together to hear him, in hope of getting a blessing; but it was delayed. At length we said we would go once more. Mr. Dyer took his text from these words: ‘One shall say, I am the Lord’s; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord, and surname himself by the name of Israel.’ He spoke of three degrees of faith. I WAS full of joy. When the service was over, I went out quite elated, and looked for my companions. I said to them, ‘This will do, won’t it?’ One and another answered coolly, ‘I don’t know; I didn’t hear particularly.’ I said, ‘Well, I am surprised, I have not a doubt of my interest in Christ.’ I continued in that state of mind for three years. O what I enjoyed of the love of God to my soul at that time! And the doctrines of grace were opened up to me so clearly! Paul to the Philippians was very blessed: ‘Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord,” &c. Then he spoke of a time when he went to preach at Marlborough and was taken very ill there, the friends expecting he would die, and he expecting to be in glory, and longing for his dismissal from the body. He spoke much of the love of God manifested to him at that time, and how precious he felt that hymn: “There is a fountain fill’d with blood,” and two lines of Toplady’s: “My Saviour’s obedience and blood, Hide all my transgressions from view.” He also spoke of a sermon he heard by Mr. Aikman, when he spoke of the Saviour’s voluntarily coming forth for the salvation of his people. “He said to those who came to take him, ‘Whom seek ye?’ They said, ‘Jesus of Nazareth.’ ‘I am he.’ They went backward, and fell to the ground.” How the Divinity shone through the humanity of the dear Redeemer!” He said, “I could scarcely forbear shouting in the chapel,’Precious Jesus! Precious Jesus! Precious Jesus!'”
One of the friends who went to see him a few nights before his departure, seeing he was fast sinking, asked him how he felt in his mind? He said, “Friend R., I can now say, I know in whom I have believed.’ I have not the great joy which some are blessed with, but I have a sweet peace, and a holy confidence, resting my eternal all upon the blood of Christ. I can say, the truths I have preached to others I can live upon, I can die upon. A poor, guilty sinner, saved wholly by the free grace of God.” To another friend, who asked him, two days before he died, how he felt, he said, “I throw myself into the hands of a covenant God. He is just the Saviour I now stand in need of.” During his long pilgrimage, he often spoke of the Christian warfare. I remember his referring to the long time of his uninterrupted peace and joy, for the space of three years or more. He said, “O what a discovery I had of the obedience and blood of Jesus! After that, I went to bed one night with nothing particular on my mind. I awoke about 12 o’clock in such dreadful darkness, and temptations harassing and distressing my soul;” it was as though a voice spoke to him, driving him to desperation. It continued till four o’clock. He was harassed another night in the same manner. “How wonderfully,” he said, “the Lord appeared to me. How often have I thought of his great mercy at that time! I went to the prayer meeting, but nobody seemed to be in my case. I asked the Lord how it was that I should be so exercised above others? ‘That thou mayest have a word to speak in season to those that are exercised.’ I never knew so much before of my carnal nature as during the time these temptations lasted. It was 10 years after that I was asked to speak in the villages.” When first asked, he said he could give no answer then; but the words forcibly struck him, “Necessity is laid upon me.” He commenced preaching, and continued to exercise that calling till about six years ago.
The last time I saw him, he said, “He is my rock and my refuge.” Whilst sitting up on the bed, for he could not lie down, he fell aside; his attendant was going to put him a pillow, but he had ceased to breathe. He passed away without a sigh or struggle.
“They sleep in Jesus and are bless’d;
How soft their slumbers are!
From Satan and from sin released,
And freed from every snare.”
Samuel Slade (1775-1866) was a Strict and Particular Baptist preacher and deacon. He remained a member of the church meeting at the Old Baptist Chapel, Devizes, Wiltshire for more than 60 years, during which time he served as a deacon and preacher of the gospel.
