Funeral Sermon On The Occasion Of John Kershaw’s Death

Gospel Standard 1870:

The Late Mr. Kershaw

A Sermon Preached At Rochdale Road Chapel, Manchester, By Mr. A. B. Taylor

My Dear Friends,—I stand here to fulfil a promise made to our departed brother, John Kershaw. At his request, I promised that if I outlived him, I would preach a funeral sermon to his memory. This request was first made on or about the 30th of Jan., 1866, and renewed the last time we met before his last affliction. To fulfil a promise made to one already in glory has in it the appearance of carrying out part of a “will,” and shows something of that confiding friendship the battering and blasting storms of time cannot wither or decay. This friendship is found in all its freshness and beauty only amongst those who are united to Christ the living Vine. Brethren, may your hearts be refreshed by Him who is the sinner’s Friend, and who rests in his love.

That portion of God’s word I shall read as a text, you will find in the 11th chapter of the Gospel by John, 23rd verse: “Thy brother shall rise again.”

These are the words of the Redeemer, spoken to a woman, broken in spirit, in consequence of the death of her brother, whose name was Lazarus. Martha, the sister of Lazarus, had said to Jesus, “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” Thus she displayed sweet confidence in the affection and power of the Lord Jesus. The Redeemer said, “Thy brother shall rise again.” Martha replied, “I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said, I am the Resurrection and the Life.” Lazarus had another sister called Mary, who also comes upon the stage in this wonderful scene; and it appears that the Redeemer asked for an interview with her; and she came, falling down at the Redeemer’s feet, using the same words her sister had used before. When Jesus saw her sorrow, he was troubled, and groaned in himself. “Surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.” The despising Jews saw Jesus weep, and could but admire him, saying, “Behold, how he loved him.”

But I must not dwell upon this part of the scene, only to show how the Redeemer at the grave of Lazarus showed his power over the grave and over death. The grave was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. Coming to it, he ordered the stone to be removed; and then, as if willing that the Jews present might again hear that he was indeed the Messiah, lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.” O the Son of the Father in love and truth! Jesus cried with a loud voice: “Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes. And Jesus said, Loose him, and let him go;” proving to Martha, Mary, and observing Jews that he was the Christ.

The doctrine of the Resurrection is the grand key-stone doctrine, the centre doctrine of the word of God. Remove it, and the whole fabric falls to the ground, and all proves delusion. “But now is Christ risen from the dead,” even he who had power to raise the dead before he spoiled death; nor is the Christian staggered at this, since the Son of God always had the keys of death and of hell.

Now to our text: “Thy brother shall rise again.” In addressing you from these words, I would notice,

I. The relationship: “Thy brother.”

II. The resurrection of the saints.

And as we go on make remarks respecting our departed brother.

I. The relationship: “Thy brother.” It is a kindred term, requiring but little explanation, as all are acquainted with the common brotherhood of mankind; and though there are very many relationships, yet, on the face of the whole earth, we are all brethren; for God hath made of one blood all nations of men that dwell on the face of the whole earth,” as saith Paul in Acts 17:26. And though we distinguish among men as “blood royal,” “noble blood,” “Jewish blood,” and “Gentile blood,” yet, in the sight of God, the blood that flows through the veins of the beggar is as good as the blood flowing through the veins of a crowned monarch. Earthly crowns, titles, and honours are fading things. In some parts of the world men are black, and in others copper colour; but, as our national poet says:

“Fleecy locks and black complexion 

Cannot forfeit nature’s claim.

Skins may differ; but affection

Dwells in white and black the same.”

Yes, brethren, there is but one family, one kindred, one blood, and all are sunk in one awful fall; for “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” And there is also one God, who is the Father of all, “to whom every knee shall bow.”

It is painful to know that the white man’s lash has, in years that are past, lacerated the back of his black brother till the white bone has been laid bare, and death has ensued. Never was the blow struck by Cain more cruel than has been the lash of the European on the back of his Ethiopian brother.

There is also a brotherhood acknowledged amongst our mercantile men in Manchester, where they fraternize and admit a relationship, have sympathies distinct from other interests, working into one another’s hands, showing a brotherhood in their own line of things. Trades unions form a brotherhood, and stick close and fast to maintain their points. Freemasons have a brotherhood, of which many are very proud. The old family of Abraham and Sarah still maintain a brotherhood, as distinct as it was when the sons of Jacob made a breach into it by the sale of Joseph, whom the Ishmaelites carried down to Egypt. The Jewish brotherhood is a wonderful thing, and a standing mark of God’s great goodness past to that people, and, though scattered and dishonoured, still the mark of God is upon them in every country where they are found; and to this day they each claim the tribe and family. Thus our Lord was of the tribe of Judah and the house of David. The ties of earthly relationship, or family bonds, are very strong, and whatever faults may turn up, errors or mistakes be made, the links of nature still form the chain; nor can it be broken only by death; and even then, the dead relative is remembered either with pain or pleasure. There are sad and solemn testimonies of our fallen state in past family quarrels. Cain slew Abel, Joseph was sold by his brethren, Esau’s wrath was kindled against Jacob, so that Rebekah, his mother, dare not venture an interview between the two brothers. These cases, with many others that might be stated, show that something is wrong in the state of that nature that was bestowed in uprightness by God, who pronounced all his works very good. That the whole human family are fallen none will deny, save the most ignorant, or the wilfully perverse, while the greater portion of the human family, barbarous, civilized, or Christian, feel the force of that Bible truth: “How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.”

But there is another brotherhood of a much higher order, to which I must now call your attention; and though Lazarus was the brother of Martha and Mary in the common relationship, yet we presume they were also in that higher order of relationship where there is neither male nor female, as considered in Christ, the Elder Brother and Glorious Head, the Captain of our salvation, who leads the living “new creature;” for if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. (2 Cor. 5:17.) O the condescension of God the Son, that he humbled himself to become our Elder Brother, made of a woman, made under the law, that he might redeem them that were under the law, that we, the younger brethren, might receive the adoption of sons, be brought into the family, and learn that we have a brother born for adversity, upon whom we may lean, and into whose bosom we may pour all our complaints.

O the condescension of Almighty God, that he should be thus made of a woman, made under the law, that he might redeem them that are under the law, that we, the younger brethren, might receive the adoption of sons. It is good for destitute children to have an elder brother in a family, unto whom you can look with confidence, one who is faithful and kind to you, in whose bosom you can deposit your wants and necessities, whose heart is a repository for all your complaints and sorrows, unto whom you can look for succour in trial and trouble, an elder brother that will take up your cause, stand by you and defend you. Such an elder brother have we in our Lord Jesus Christ. It was our Elder Brother who, in covenant engagement, undertook the cause of his people. It was our Elder Brother that revealed the mind of God to his holy nation, it was our Elder Brother that opened up the secrets of his heavenly Father unto us, it is through our Elder Brother that every divine blessing is communicated from the Father unto the whole dear family. It is our Elder Brother that dwelt in the bosom of the Father, that hath declared the goodness and mercy of God unto us; and by the operation of the Holy Spirit we hold sweet communion with him. All we, the brethren, are brought to praise free and sovereign grace. While we are toiling in a world of cares, and struggling with trouble all through life, we are made willing to seek the aid of our Elder Brother, who has an anxious regard for his younger brethren; for he has left on record some precious promises for them, and they are heirs to all that the Father gave unto him: “Out of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.”

There is one observation we would make before we proceed. One after another, we are passing off the stage of time. One of our brethren has just dropped off the stage, and we have carried his remains to the tomb. The flesh must sink to its mother earth, and the spirit return to God who gave it; and there the flesh will remain until that day when the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised.

Now I may say of our brother Kershaw that we all had a deep and affectionate regard for him. He was our brother in the eminent relationship in which he stood in the church of God. He was a kind, affectionate, and sympathetic brother, even to a fault. You knew well the affability of his mind, you knew well the tenderness of his heart, you knew well the readiness of his hand, and you do and will lament his loss deeply. You will not soon forget the relationship in which he stood to you.

But let us notice that he was your brother in the exercise of regeneration. I will not speak of the ministry just now. In his young days he was called by the grace of God. He was very young, quite a youth; yet he was your brother in the path of regeneration, by the work of the Spirit on his soul. He was our brother in all those cares and trials which attend the Christian through life. If there are those before me wondering about the path of regeneration, remember the brother we are speaking of has gone through the same track, walked in the same path. If you are struggling, remember he did not struggle in vain; and blessed be God, you shall not struggle in vain. The blessed Spirit who has begun the good work will carry it on, as sure as he has begun it, until the day of Christ; for a bruised reed he will not break, a smoking flax he will not quench. He shall bring forth judgment and truth unto victory. He shall not fail nor be discouraged till he hath set judgment in the earth; and the isles shall wait for his law.

He was not only your brother in the exercise of regeneration, but also he was your brother in the faith of adoption. Perhaps the doctrine of adoption is not much understood by some who are present. It may seem strange, but I will tell you what it means. If there be persons who have no child, and they obtain one from another person, and give unto it all rights and privileges of a naturally-born offspring, the right to eat at the same table, attend to its wants and necessities, and give to it the right of inheritance, that is what is called adoption. Now when the Lord regenerates a sinner it is the effect of everlasting electing love, and when he speaks in love to the soul, burdened with sin and guilt, he pours the spirit of adoption into the heart, when, by the grace of God, they are delivered from under the curse of the holy and righteous law of God, where they had been imprisoned, and brought into the glorious liberty of the gospel, to enjoy the blessed fulness of the mercy of God in Jesus Christ.

Do you know anything of the spirit of adoption? “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father!” Our departed brother experienced this blessed doctrine very sweetly by the Spirit’s teaching in his soul.

He was our brother also in the path of tribulation and sorrow. He had his trials in the world, trials in his family, and church trials and cares; but, in the midst of all, he always laboured to feed the church of God, and honour his divine Master.

But there is another branch that I must speak to you upon. He was your brother in God’s electing love. I know what the world will say about me and this blessed truth, God’s election; but I do not mind the world. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish. My Father which gave them me is greater than all, and none can pluck them out of my Father’s hands. I and my Father are one.” Our dear brother loved to preach this blessed doctrine. It was the foundation of his hope of eternal life.

Our dear brother was not only our brother in the exercise of regeneration, in the faith of adoption, in the path of tribulation and sorrow, and in the blessed doctrine of God’s everlasting electing love, but he was also our brother in the ministry. It is in this relationship that I must speak of him for a moment. Our dear brother, when he began to preach, as I have before told you, was very young, quite a youth. Slaithwaite, in Yorkshire, was the first place to which he was sent to preach. He was so youthful, and so unparsonic, that when he went into the house at which he was to stay, the good lady having no idea whatever who he was, not a thought crossed her mind that it was he who was to appear in their pulpit on the morrow. Her master being in business, and not being at home, she thought the youth wanted something with him. She handed him a chair, and asked him to sit down and wait till his return. Blessed be our God, he does not despise the youth of his children. The baby being uneasy, she gave our brother the string to rock the cradle, which he did for about two hours. So bashful and unpretending was he that he did not venture to make himself known or to declare his business unto the good woman. In the morning he was in the pulpit attending to the business of his divine Master, preaching the gospel to poor lost sinners. He was not only a believer in the gospel of Jesus Christ, but also in his ordinances, and was baptized in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. This was our departed brother, who lived to love to declare the mysteries of the cross of Christ with the ability which our God gave him. He loved to preach the Saviour of sinners, made known to the conscience by the operation of the Holy Spirit, being justified by faith in Christ Jesus. He experienced the Spirit’s work in his own soul, and was delighted to discover it in others, as many can bear witness, and return thanks to God for sending you such a brother. You have lost a brother under whose ministry you have been enabled to sing to the praise and glory, not of yourselves, but of a free grace salvation.

Subsequently, our brother became minister of the church of Christ at Rochdale; and after that he went on for nearly 53 years declaring the mysteries of the cross. He preached in many cities, towns, villages, and hamlets in the kingdom. Our brother opened his mouth wide, and cried aloud that salvation was wholly by the Lord Jesus Christ. He gloried to lay the sinner in the dust, and exalt the Lamb of God.

When wading deep in gospel tides,

His hands he’d prop against his sides; 

And when his faith reach’d o’er the ford, 

How dust would fly from Bible board. 

Elated saint! The truth, he spread

Both far and near; but now he’s dead.

In his method of preaching he was somewhat peculiar; but when the God of salvation shone upon his heart, it was grand to hear him preach the glorious gospel of Christ in its fulness, and in its adaptation to meet the state and condition of lost ruined sinners, whatever distress and trouble they might fall into in their wilderness journey.

Christian, this thy brother has finished his labours in the militant church, and is gone to the church of the first-born in heaven. He has received his crown and he is now at the right hand of God in glory. He is crowned with the crown the Lord had reserved in heaven for him, and for all those that love and fear his holy name. Dear saint of God, he was thy brother in sin and guilt; he was thy brother in the Spirit’s work on the souls of his dear people; he was thy brother in the everlasting electing love of God, in the stipulations of eternity; he was thy brother in humility, in affliction, and in sorrow. When in health, he was very attentive to the afflicted. He visited the sick often. If God blessed the word spoken to the comfort and consolation of their souls, or if he was enabled to impart temporal mercies to the poor, to alleviate their sufferings on the bed of languishing and sickness, it did his soul good.

Brethren, many of God’s dear saints have been made happy by the blessing of God which attended his ministerial labours. Our departed brother and fellow-labourer, John Kershaw, was the father of children. Many souls were brought to a knowledge of the truth under his ministry, both at Rochdale and abroad over the country, and own him as their spiritual father. He had many seals to his ministry, and many souls for his hire. It was his meat and his drink to serve the church of the Most High God, May the Lord send his people a man like-minded, whose glory it shall be to preach the truth as it is in Christ Jesus; and may the blessing of God attend him.

It is 26 years, I believe, this month, since Mr. Gadsby’s funeral sermon was preached in this place. He died in January, 1844, and was buried in February, and his funeral sermon was preached on the second Lord’s day in February by our departed brother, John Kershaw, to a very large congregation. You know, at least the few of you who survive do, how kind brother Kershaw was to you on that occasion. He was willing to do anything for you, or to serve you in any way that he possibly could. You never had nor will you ever have a kinder brother. It was he who spoke at the grave side when Mr. Gadsby was laid in the tomb; and now he is gone and laid in the tomb. I spoke at the side of the cold and silent grave, over his mortal remains. It brought solemn reflection to my mind: “Perhaps I may be the next on the list of ministers upon whom Death may be commissioned to lay his cold hand; perhaps I am the oldest minister in Lancashire and Yorkshire; perhaps in all the denomination I do not know one older than myself. I feel that I stand in the front rank. But O what a mercy it is to know that our Elder Brother has gone before us, conquered death, opened heaven, and prepared a place for us before the throne of God, where he sits awaiting the arrival of all his saints in glory.”

II. The resurrection. We would notice that, according to the promise of the Lord Jesus Christ, the dead shall rise again. Yes, the brother, John Kershaw, of Rochdale, shall rise again with the same body; yes, the same John Kershaw. As sure as your Elder Brother is now in glory, so surely shall all the blood- bought church of God rise again to a happy immortality. This corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on happy immortality. It is sown in corruption; it shall be raised in incorruption. It is sown a natural body; it shall be raised a spiritual body. It is sown in weakness; it shall be raised in power. It is sown in dishonour; it shall be raised in glory. For the spirit of him that raised up the body of our Lord Jesus Christ shall also quicken the mortal bodies of his saints.

There are many glorious truths connected with the resurrection of the bodies of the saints. The resurrection is the doctrine of the prophets and apostles, and supported by the Redeemer himself in a clear statement, settling for ever and at once the doctrine of the immortality of the soul. A resurrection there will be. Then Christ and his church will for ever be united. Holy angels will descend from heaven to escort the saints to eternal bliss, where they will take possession of that rest which remaineth for the people of God. Brethren, it is by faith we can realize these blessed truths, by that faith which is of the operation of the Spirit of God; and there will be a response in every quickened soul to this declaration that the dead shall rise again.

Now, I am not going to prove that there will be a resurrection of the body. There is an inseparable and an eternal union between our Elder Brother and the church of God. He is said to be the Head of his body the church, and they are said to be his members. He is represented as the Husband, the church as the wife. There is something grand and glorious in this blessed mystery. As Christ, our Elder Brother, the Head of the church, is risen, so all the younger brethren that are in Christ shall rise likewise. As Christ has risen in triumph over death and the grave, so surely shall all his people rise in triumph over both, by virtue of the eternal union that subsists between the eternal Son of God and themselves. At the resurrection this corruptible body shall put on incorruption, this mortal body shall put on immortality. We shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, and rise to meet our Lord in the clouds. Holy angels will escort us through the air. There is a beautiful pas- sage in the Revelation: “And I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.” The wicked will not be first, but the righteous, in the resurrection. If you are the saints of God, you need not fear death; you are secure in the person of Him who died for you and is risen again for you, who now sits at the right hand of God to maintain your right to follow him through the efficacy of redeeming blood.

The dead in Christ shall rise again. O yes! O yes! Daniel declared there would be a resurrection unto eternal life: “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some unto everlasting life, and some to everlasting contempt.” Daniel prophesied that the righteous should come forth at the resurrection to a place of blessedness for ever. Hosea declares there will be a resurrection: “I will ransom them from the grave; I will redeem them from death. O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction. Repentance shall be hid from my eyes.” Hoping, struggling child of God, amidst trials and troubles, who knows not what thy end will be, look unto Him who has gone through death, who could not be holden of death. He was harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners, who magnified the law and made it honourable, who has finished transgression and made an end of sin, and brought in an everlasting righteousness. He has passed through death, and, poor sinners, so shall you; for the Breaker has gone before you and spoiled death and him that had the power of it. Many thousands, many millions, have since gone through death and will be saved by the will of God, and will rise again to enjoy a state of happiness and everlasting bliss in heaven, and be with their Lord and Saviour where he now is.

“Thy brother shall rise again.” Perhaps there may be some here who have lost a brother or sister in the Lord, who, like our departed brother, whose memory we are commemorating, has given clear testimony of his or her interest in a complete free grace salvation. It is pleasant to hear them exalt the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world.

Brethren, if you are Christian man or woman, you will be repenting every day. Our departed brother, John Kershaw, was a repenting man to the last moment. If you are a real Christian, you will repent every day; you will sigh and mourn because of your sins and iniquities. “What mistakes are made about the doctrine of repentance. It is spoken of as if it was something that man had the power to exercise at his will. Repentance is the gift of God, and must come from God. If your sins are pardoned, it is the Lord alone who pardons them. If you are really and truly a repenting soul before God, you will lie passive in his hands. If real repentance is in your hearts, it is the Lord who has put it there; for the Lord is exalted to “give repentance and the remission of sins.” Salvation is all of free and sovereign grace; it is all of covenant arrangement. O what a covenant working God is the Lord. It is the Lord who must work in you to will and to do of his good pleasure. We begin repenting by going to the Lord and acknowledging our sins before him, and we then beg for mercy and pardon.

This brotherhood runs through all the family of God, and it can never be broken; nor is it in the power of any being to break it. If you have an interest in the Redeemer’s love and blood, you know what it is to desire the mercy of God to be manifested in your souls, and you seek to compare your experience with that of God’s saints, to assure yourselves that you belong to the brotherhood. This is a glorious brotherhood; this is a glorious relationship. Nothing can dissever it; nothing can finally dishonour it; nothing can undo it. It is the faith of divine operation that produces that fruit in the soul, that humble obedience and trust in God which constitute the family likeness.

This glorious relationship must continue through all time; but it will not close with human life, it will last when time shall be no more.

“Thy dead men shall live.” O yes. The dead will rise by the omnipotent power of God. Tremble not, poor sinner, over the tomb. It is but a shadow. Death has lost its sting. Weep not over the dissolution of the body. Thy mortal body shall rise again, and put on immortality. It will come forth at the resurrection of the just unto eternal life. This is the glory and grand end of salvation, to live to enjoy the mysteries of eternal love for ever. The Redeemer has conquered death, and all that are his shall conquer also.

I have some of the flock of our departed brother before me. I would speak a few words to them. Brethren, stand fast in gospel order. I exhort you, as a dying man, stand fast in gospel order. Let no outside authority interfere with church order and government. May the dear Redeemer guide you and give you light and understanding. In all your church transactions let there be no improper meddling. May God send you a man after his own heart, unto whom you can listen as you listened unto your late pastor, one who is able to teach you in divine things, and with whom you can take sweet counsel, one who shall be taught by the Holy Ghost to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints, and whose labours God will honour. Brethren, pray for such a pastor. You know how your late pastor struggled for the truth, how he laboured to profit the church of God, not fearing what man could do unto him. He is now gone. His body is laid in the cold grave. Mr. Gadsby’s, Mr. Warburton’s, Mr. M’Kenzie’s, Mr. Philpot’s, and Mr. Kershaw’s bodies all rest in the tomb. They are all gone. My dear friends, we are all following in our turns. Dear John Kershaw’s 

Dead! Yes, but still he lives to God, 

Bought with atoning, precious blood, 

And, mingling with the ransom’d choir, 

Each vying note still rising higher. 

That state eternal pleasure gives,

There our late friend, JOHN KERSHAW, lives.

While with us a minister, he was strong in the faith, strong in the mysteries of the gospel, strong in experience. He no longer mingles his sorrows with the militant church below, is no longer sighing and groaning, burdened with life’s cares and pierced with church troubles. His ministerial labours were very acceptable both in London and throughout the country. He had many seals to his ministry, and many souls for his hire. Many drooping souls have taken encouragement from his preaching; and as sure as the Lord Jesus has gone through death to eternal glory, so surely shall every poor lost sinner, who is enabled by faith to put his trust in him, also rise to eternal happiness. The Lord blessed his labours to many people, especially to some of you. Although brother Kershaw is now dead, yet he lives in your affections, and will while time lasts with you. Our brother is now with the spirits of just men made perfect, with that innumerable company who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. He had joined the celestial choir in the everlasting anthem, and is seated at the right hand with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to enjoy for ever unsullied felicity.