The Life And Ministry Of Thomas Baldwin

Earthen Vessel 1892:

Recognition Of Mr. Thomas Baldwin As Pastor Of Zion, Norbiton, Surrey. 

We have attended many recognition services, but never remember to have enjoyed one more than that held on Monday, Jan. 11th, 1892, at Zion, Norbiton. The brethren present appeared to be alive to their position, yet thoughtful in their expressions, and steady in their movements; and the congregation looked cheerful and fully at home. The whole of the proceedings were carried out in the most sacred and orderly manner possible. The sanctuary is really a beautiful one; its position and surroundings are all that could be desired. At the rear of the chapel is a neat and commodious school-room, which was erected a short time since. 

Shortly after three o’clock in the afternoon, our highly esteemed brother John Waters Banks, presiding, opened the meeting by announcing—

“Great the joy when Christians meet, 

Christian fellowship how sweet,”

 from hymn-sheets for special services, published by R. Banks & Son. Brother G. Crutcher read 2 Tim. 2:1-15, giving a running comment on the same, and brother C. Z. Turner offered, in a solemn manner, the recognition prayer. 

The chairman, in a very happy way, expressed his pleasure in being present. Brother Baldwin, the pastor-elect, had been courting for some time, and the wedding between him and the Church at Zion was about to be celebrated. He thought it to be a right thing, and hoped the union would prove to be of the Lord, and that many precious souls might be gathered into the Church. There was much business to attend to, and as it was best for a stated pastor to ask the usual questions, he would call upon brother W. Winters, of Waltham Abbey, to do so. 

Brother Winters said it was customary on such occasions, for the sake of friends present not connected with the cause, that a statement should be made by the pastor-elect as to his call by grace, and how he was led to preach the gospel and to accept the pastorate, and the doctrines he intended to preach. Brother Baldwin then delivered the address given unto “Our Portrait Gallery,” also a summary of the doctrines he held and hoped to preach. These respective statements being highly approved of by brother Winters, the chairman requested the members of the Church present to show their appreciation of what they had heard by standing up. This having been done in a most satisfactory manner, brother F. J. Harsant took the hand of the pastor and that of the brother Stevens (one of the deacons), and united them together, and after a few very suitable remarks he begged the Lord in prayer to seal the happy union with His approbation. After a few verses of hymn No. 5—

“Happy the souls to Jesus joined,

And saved by grace alone,”

 the chairman called upon brother Winters to deliver an address to the pastor-elect. This having been done, and a few verses of hymn 4 sung—

“My God, the cov’nant of Thy love

Abides for ever sure,”

 the chairman desired brother S. T. Belcher to address the Church. 

Our beloved brother Belcher, in a very genial manner, delivered timely and encouraging words based upon Phil. 2:29, “Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation.” He remarked that as brother Winters had spoken of the pastor as a “man of understanding” (Ezra 8:18), he could do not other than say with the text he had chosen, “Receive him therefore in the Lord.” Our brother then enlarged upon the subject under the following heads—1. You are to receive our brother who has come amongst you. 2. Your acceptance of him, “in the Lord.” 3. The manner of your reception of him, “with gladness.” 4. What you are to do with him, “hold such in reputation.” In the course of our brother’s lively and interesting address he pointed out the necessity of a stated ministry for the feeding and building up of the Church of God, and having given sound and wholesome advice to the Church, and wishing God speed to the pastor, he concluded. 

The chairman then called on brother Brown, of Fulham, to close the meeting with prayer. Thus ended the first part of the services of the day. A goodly number of friends partook of team in the schoolroom, where we had pleasant chats with our friends, Mr. Arnold Boulden, Mr. T. Rush, Mr. Chalcraft, and others. Thanks to our good brother J. Stevens and his beloved wife for their hospitality. By the great kindness of our friend and brother Mr. G. F. Gray we are enabled to give a brief report of the evening service, at which he presided. 

The evening meeting commended by singing—

“Come, Thou found of every blessing.”

The chairman read Isaiah 61, after which brother Sandell implored the Divine blessing; and the chairman then, after expressing his pleasure in being present at the afternoon service and hearing the gracious testimony of brother Baldwin, addressed the pastor-elect and Church, founding his remarks upon the words, “The well is deep” (John 4:11). Jacob’s well, we are told, is now about 75 feet deep: centuries ago it was 105 feet, and in the time of our Lord it was still deeper. The wells of salvation are far deeper than this, or any other known well: in fact they are fathomless, and it is the privilege of God’s servants to draw water from them for watering and refreshing of the flock. Many wells and fountains are mentioned in Scripture, namely, Marah, bitterness. It will not do to give the flock bitter waters, but when they are at Marah may the tree which Moses speaks of (Ex. 15:25) sweeten those waters. Elim, another noted place for wells, means sweetness, strength, reviving. “With joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.” We will briefly notice a few of these wells. God’s everlasting love is a deep well, and can never be exhausted. May you and your flock drink of this well freely. The mercy of God is another deep well, and poor and needy sinners need a vast quantity from it. The kindness of God is another deep well, and the sheep need a lot of this water. It is everlasting kindness.

“Hark, my soul, it is the Lord:

’Tis thy Saviour, hear His word;

Jesus speaks, and speaks to thee,

‘Say, poor sinners, lov’st thou Me?’”

The promises of God are very deep wells, and cheer the hearts of God’s fearing ones. May the bucket of faith often go down into this well. God’s faithfulness is another deep well, and His people cannot have too much of this. God’s grace is another deep well, and His people cannot live without it. The gospel is another deep well. Preach it faithfully as you shall be taught by the Holy Spirit. Keep not back any part. The people love its joyful sound. The work, life, death, resurrection, mediation and intercession of Christ are vastly deep wells, and His children delight in these waters. The work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration, sanctification, revelation, guiding, leading, and comforting, are all deep wells, and must be contended for and preached. A few words to the friends: You have something to do. Do not neglect to pray for your pastor as home as well as in the house of God. Be constant in your attendance when the doors are open. Be in your places at the commencement of services. Greet him with a loving smile, speak kindly to him, and do not neglect the prayer-meetings. 

After the chairman’s address, brother Clark spoke from the word “Ebenezer,” dividing the subject thus: 1^st, It awakens reflections on looking back at past blessings, what the Lord has done in connection with the cause of Zion, and His mercies to them as a people. 2^nd, It encouraged or quickened thanksgiving: and, 3^rd, It was an encouragement for the future. They might well confident with the Lord on their side, and confident in His truth. Two verses of the hymn—

“Our God, our help in ages past,”

were then sung, and brother Kingston said that he had a message to deliver from the Captain of our salvation, and it was, “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith; quit you like men; be strong.” 1^st, we were to watch and pray. 2^nd, watch the enemy, for we were passing through an enemy’s country. 3^rd, stand fast in the faith once delivered to the saints, the faith of God. 4^th, quit ourselves like men. Be manly in the best things. Put away childish things, and the verse, “When I was a child, I spake as a child,” &c., was referred to. And lastly, we were to be strong, clothed with the whole armour of God. He exhorted the Church to prayer, for our strength lies in that.

Brother J. J. Cooler then addressed the friends. He said his text was “Brother Baldwin,” and he would divide it into three heads. 1^st, he was a member of the Strict Baptist Association. 2^nd, he was residing at Camberwell; and 3^rd, he was pastor-elect of Zion. Again, 1^st, he knew how to behave himself. 2^nd, he would be his (the speaker’s) loss, but the gain of Zion. 3^rd, he was strong and brave in the faith, a lover of truth, a believer of the Gospel, and the Word of God was big enough for him, not as some thought it, not large enough for their big minds. And lastly, he had come to work among them, and he would do it by God’s help.

After the collection was made, brother Crutcher spoke from the words, “And David encouraged himself in the Lord his God” (1 Sam. 30:6).

Brother Sandell followed with good remarks founded on the words, “Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another, according to Christ Jesus,” after which brother Baldwin expressed his affectionate thanks to all the friends that were present, and had been present, to encourage him, and prayed, in the words of 2 Kings 2:9, that a double portion of the Spirit of God might rest upon all. 

The chairman then announced the amount of the collections, £8 7s. 6d., and in a few words expressed his own heartfelt thanks to their covenant God for His abounding mercy to them all, and also to the friends for their liberality; and this truly sweet and precious season was brought to a close by the hearty singing of—

“Grace, ’tis a charming sound,”

 and prayer by brother Chalcraft, and the friends parted, feeling that it had been indeed good to be there. 

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Mr. Thomas Baldwin, Newly Chosen Pastor Of Zion, Norbiton, Surrey. 

I was born in the year 1843, at Camberwell, in Surrey, of believing parents. My ancestors on my father’s side, both male and female, living and dying in the truth; my mother being a Jewess, but before her union to my father, being brought to the knowledge of the God through going into Jewin-street Chapel, in the City of London, while the now glorified Joseph Irons was proclaiming the Word from Isa. 21:8. My father was a solicitor and coal merchant, having a wharf at Maiden-lane, King’s Cross. In 1847 reverses overtook him and he was made bankrupt. I can distinctly remember, at the age of four years, the bailiffs taking away our goods, and sleeping on the hard floor with little covering; my mother making answer to my childish complaints, through her tears, “The Lord will provide.”

The next blow that fell upon my parents was the loss of my brother by the cholera visitation of 1849. He was two years older than myself. This had a great effect on my young mind, and I used to cry over his loss, till the doctors declared I was going into rapid consumption. I used to attend the Sunday-school at the Grove, Camberwell, where my parents attended, under the ministry of the late Joseph Irons. My mother, who has lately died at the age of 83, having been a member for 61 years, and I am informed that I was duly sprinkled by that man of God and dedicated to the Lord in a Popish observance. I remember at that time I had an earnest desire to be good, and used to wish I was as good as the man in the pulpit, and hoped I might grow up and become a minister; in fact, my ordinary play was to make a pulpit of the chairs, and with a Bible, preach away for hours to an imaginary congregation.

When about five years and-a-half old, I had an amazing expression of the Saviour’s love, breaking me down in weeping and adoring love to Him, so much so that the savour of that time has never quite passed away from my mind, and formed one of the chief bitters in the cup of awful rebellion and sin, which I drank greedily in after years, and the hymn of Cennick,

“Rivers to the ocean run

Nor stay in a.ll their course,” &c.

came to my mind with vivid power. My father determining to give me a good education, I was sent to a dame-school kept by my aunt, a godly woman, a member of dear James Wells, now passed away. In a few year’s time, being very quick at learning, I was placed at a school under the care of Thomas Murby, where I was initiated into the mysteries of Greek, Latin, music, &c.; my studies being broken only by illnesses.

And now comes the time when, through the foolish fondness and silly vanity of my beloved father, my steps were turned out of the way of God’s paths. He, moving in a circle far beyond his means, used often to stay with a worldly friend at Harrow for a few weeks’ visit, and, of course, the visit must be returned. This man had a son two years older than myself—at this time about 11 years of age—he having been brought up in fast society, was skilled in every vice and iniquity, in which I soon became an apt pupil, and learned to lie, and swear, and stay away from the house of God, going from bad to worse, feeling sure I should go to hell. I have at times burnt my fingers in the fire to see if it was possible to endure everlasting burning.

Our family removed to Battle Bridge, and being now about 14 I was duly installed in the office of a builder, while my evenings were spent under an M.A., at Thornhill College; but, alas! I had tasted of the pleasures of sin, and my master, finding the clerical work was carelessly performed, sent me out to work with the men; a fact which I studiously concealed from my parents, but which was the means of my learning somewhat of the trade, and has helped me till now to support myself and bring up a large family. Being now a tall, strong lad, I soon earned man’s wages, and my parents had the sorrow of seeing me launch out into all manner of pleasure, boxing, drinking, dog-fighting, &c.; but the Lord laid me low with diptheria. I was blistered for a fortnight on the throat and chest, and was carried to a hospital. However, I recovered and made many promises of amendment; but sin was too strong for me, and I soon ran greedily in the paths of the destroyer.

About this time I was walking out with my present wife, and she reproaching me for my conduct—though at that time she knew nothing of vital godliness—I went off on the tramp into Hampshire, when, running short of money, I was glad to work on the camp at Aldershot I was there some time, when I was paid off and returned to London, and we were married without any provision; our sole possessions being at that time a French bedstead and a table. We were dreadfully poor. I remember once I had earned very little money for some weeks, and going down on my knees, I besought the Lord for Christ’s sake to appear for me and lead me to find employment, promising Him, if He heard me, I would reform and be a better man; but, alas! sin and ungodly company proved too strong for my vows, and with my first week’s money I spent two or three shillings in drink, and drowned the voice of reproving conscience. I had joined the Surrey Rifles, in which I served 12 years, and my company being much sought after, more especially being an expert swordsman and boxer, it proved a great snare to me, and at times I was in an agony of soul, believing all hope was gone: and as I was so sure of hell I would have all the pleasure I could. But now the appointed time rolls on apace, not to propose but call by grace. I had returned home from a field-day the worse for drink; my wife was in bed, and she reproached me, and in my mad folly I ran my head at the door and carried it off the hinges. I felt as in Jer. 2:25: “There is no hope,” &c.

However, in the morning, at breakfast, I took down the Bible, and to the surprise of my wife I read a chapter, and said,”Dress the child and I will take her to a place of worship;” for I felt, though I was damned myself, I would turn over a new leaf and set a better example to my children. I took the child into Arthur-street Chapel, and in course of the sermon, Doctor Cowdy quoted the following passage, “We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God.” This added to my distress; for I felt that the glory of God had never been of any concern to me. I wandered into the fields, and the trees and hedges can witness my agonies of soul-my cries and tears unto Christ for mercy. The preaching being encouraging, though much mixed with duty-faith, and much of my early teaching being revived—also studying the Book night and day; for I have sometimes sat up till morning’s light has broken upon me—I was raised to some hope, offered myself for baptism, and was immersed by Dr. Cowdy. At this time my wife also was under spiritual convictions. My zeal being awakened, I became an earnest worker, and being encouraged by my new friends, and having some natural gifts for speaking, I stood on Walworth Common night after night inviting sinners to come to Christ. But as the grand truth of eternal election was opened up to my mind, I found that the doctor’s ministry was out of harmony with the revealed will of God and the needs of my immortal soul. I went from place to place to hear, being under the delusion that my sins before calling were pardoned by Christ, but my daily sins and infirmities which I groaned under were beyond pardon.

I had a very great prejudice against my beloved pastor James Wells, through hearing my family criticise him too freely; but one never-to-be-forgotten night, I wandered into the Tabernacle filled with distress: it was about 20 minutes to 8, and he had nearly finished his sermon. He said, “God laid on Christ all our sins; my past sins on Christ; my present sins on Christ; yea, more, all my future sins are on Christ;” quoting Isa. 45: “By His knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities.” Oh, the light, the joy that was communicated! I ran home; I shouted like a madman; my burden was gone; I praised God with all my heart, and solemnly dedicated myself to His service. I at once severed myself from the Generals, and coming before the Church, was received as a member; James Wells making the remark, “You have found the true Gospel at last.” I have remained a member now for 20 years.

Call To The Ministry

I had been urged by many to speak, and was often called upon at the prayer-meeting, but was so diffident, and trembled so that I thought it would be sin to attempt; but the fire burned within me. “Covet earnestly the best gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy,” was ever on my mind, and the conflict of soul was almost equal to my convictions at first. One Lord’s-day, as I was at dinner, the deacon of a small cause at Peckham, which had been disappointed of their supply! came and pressed me to speak to them in the evening. I refused; but he importuned me so that I promised. When he was gone, the words from Titus 3:3 rolled into my mind, and I went and had the divine presence of my Master; and when I came home, Josh. 7:3 was powerfully applied to my mind; that was about 15 years ago, since which I have constantly preached the Gospel in town and country as doors opened. Two years I preached at South Green, in Essex, where the Lord gave me seals, and where to the present day I live in the hearts of some of the people. At other places, the Master has not left me without witness of His blessing, the Word has been blest both to sinner and to saint.

About two years ago, I was asked to supply one Lord’s-day at Zion, Korbiton, Surrey. I went, never expecting to be asked again; but they made other engagements with me and I have supplied two or three times a month since. The Lord has blessed the Word, and though I had two or three better offers, when they asked me to take the pastorate, felt I dare not refuse if the Church was unanimous. I regard the invitation as a call from God. And so it has come about that, with a little faith and strong desire, I cast myself on the promise and providence of God, and stand pastor of Zion, taking the oversight thereof with a ready mind and by the constraint of those I love in the bowels of Jesus Christ.

[The above interesting account was delivered by our brother Thomas Baldwin, on the occasion of his recognition as pastor of Zion, Norbiton, Jan. 11th, 1892. We trust he will be long spared to his flock in honour and usefulness.—Editor]