The Life And Testimony Of William Osmond

Earthen Vessel 1892:

Mr. William Osmond, Pastor, Holloway

My Dear Brother Winters,—At the request of several of my friends in Christ, I have endeavoured to give a short relation of the Lord’s dealings with me in Providence and grace until the present time.

I have been told that I was born in Bermondsey, about a mile from London Bridge, June 26, 1825, and before I had attained the age of three years, God’s goodness and special mercy were manifested on my behalf. The Lord removed both parents from time to eternity, and they gave no signs of grace; but my mother, a widow, a fortnight before her death, left me with my father’s sister, a godly woman, who prayed for me, watched over me, taught me to read the Bible, fed and clothed me, and took me to the house of God, and led me to the Sunday-school where early impressions were made upon my mind. But these impressions were not regeneration. However, there sprang up in my mind a desire to attend the house of God, say my prayers, to live as well as I could, that I might please God though so young in years. I must here relate God’s marvelous preserving mercy on my behalf, before the age of nine years. Once I was saved from fire. I carry the mark of preserving mercy to this day on my forehead. At another time I fell into a deep miry ditch, and here there was but a step between me and death. A few lads a little older than myself rescued me. At another time the hinder wheel of a stone dray passed over my body without breaking a bone; but my life was despaired of. The Lord saved me from dangers seen and unseen. These were so many tokens of God’s faithfulness. I was not prepared to die, and these solemn matters preyed on my mind.

One morning I was exceedingly depressed. It was dark and gloomy outside, as well as in the rain falling fast, the winds blew, and bitter cold withal. Looking out of the window, I saw a number of little children exposed to the inclemency of the weather with scarcely a rag to cover their nakedness. Sympathy arose in my breast for them, while I thought of my own helpless condition, if God should take away my aunt, what would become of my body and soul? I should be homeless and friendless. In this dejected state of mind I could not refrain from tears and telling out my sad tale of woe to her who was near, and she at once referred me to our heavenly Father and His Holy Word, which, as usual, was lying on the table. I immediately opened the Book inadvertently upon the words, “Be content with such things as ye have, for He hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee” (Heb. 13:5). These words fastened upon my mind with great power, and they have never been erased from that time to the present. Soon after this I was removed to a Church of England School, founded and endowed by a wealthy man, Josiah Bacon, Esq., for the education of eighty boys, sons of tradesmen in the parish. Here I had to attend the steeple house twice on a Lord’s-day, and sometimes in the week; yet I never lost my attachment to the little Strict Baptist Chapel, Jamaica-row, Bermondsey; Mr. Dovey, pastor; but when opportunity served, I attended both Sunday-school and chapel, and also after I left the school of education, until Mr. Dovey was removed to another sphere of labour.

After this the Lord directed my steps to Unicorn-yard Chapel, Southwark; Mr. Bonner, minister; and the first sermon I heard him preach was from Jer. 23:28. These words led me to close examination as to how matters stood between God and my soul. I thought I was but the chaff, and deserved to be swept away with the besom of destruction: but the Lord soon after this graciously revealed Himself to me as my beloved Saviour, having freely forgiven all my sins. Here I was led to follow the Lord by baptism, and continued under Mr. Bonner’s ministry until there arose a dissension in the Church between pastor and people, and then I wandered about seeking rest and finding none; for about this time I was placed in my apprenticeship under a sceptic and being but a weak one, I was disturbed and distressed in my mind with his arguments against God and the Bible. When I finished my term of seven years’ apprenticeship, I obtained a situation in the London Docks. Here again I was under a foreman, an infidel and a staunch follower of Bradlaugh, and, in my simplicity, I was anxious to obtain from all quarters arguments that I might fight this battle; but the Lord brought me to the same spot where I had started in my experience—viz., to know the meaning of His words, “Without Me ye can do nothing.”

About this time I removed to Stoke Newington, and joined the Church meeting at Mount Zion, Matthias-road; and here I continued for some time under the ministry of Mr. Pepper.

There are a number of very blessed relations of God’s goodness I must pass over.

My Call To The Ministry 

My call to the ministry was on this wise: I was occasionally called upon to pray at the prayer-meetings, and to lead the singing at the services, and sometimes I had conducted the prayer-meetings in the absence of the pastor.

It happened, one Thursday evening preaching service, Mr. Pepper had not arrived at the usual time. A message came from him (Mr. P.) requesting me to proceed with the service until he arrived. Expecting to see the minister soon, I gave out a hymn, read a chapter, and tried to pray; but no sign of Mr. P. I sang again; and, oh! the trembling of my soul: I shook from head to foot, my knees smote together, I knew not what to do. The view I took of myself I cannot describe. I had argued with the sceptic, but now I had to speak to God’s people. I read a chapter, and said all I could about it. I tried to abase the sinner and to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ; and after the service was over, some of the friends said it was a very profitable meeting to their souls. I thought very differently. If that was the work of a minister, I had no ambition for it. But, alas! something worse than this awaited me; for on the following Saturday I received a note from Mr. Pepper saying that he had heard a very good account of me on the Thursday, and I was to conduct the service on the Lord’s-day. This was a trial, and there was not sufficient time to obtain a supply. I had no rest all that night. I asked the Lord to shew me the way. I rose in the morning and walked several miles before the time of service, beseeching the Lord to lead me: and He heard my cry, by giving me this text, Isa. 12:2. The Lord opened my mouth, and enabled me to say a little about this salvation, and the unspeakable blessings of those interested in it; and after service was over, the friends said they heard with profit and pleasure. This was a great wonder to me, seeing I was such a helpless one.

Mr. Pepper was often away from his post, and I was authorized by him and the Church to conduct the services during his absence. At last he was away for three months, and when he returned, he desired me to take charge of the chapel money-books and all, for he was going away for a length of time. This I would not consent to do.

I shortly afterwards settled down at Soho, Oxford-street, and Mr. Pelis, pastor, soon put me into office; first as the leader of singing, and then, as he used to call me, his “Sunday afternoon lecturer,” and the Lord blessed my humble endeavours; I soon had more invitations than I could attend to. I was called to preach at Erith for several months, with an invite to the pastorate, and to Blackheath for nine months; but I had no desire for a pastorate, because I was engaged in business all the week.

However, to my great surprise, I received a letter from the Church meeting at Bethel, Hoxton, under the pastorate of Mr. S. Green, to which I responded; and after a few months’ trial, they unanimously chose me as their pastor. Here the Lord marvelously blessed my feeble efforts, in gathering and increasing the flock of His pasture; and though attending to my daily avocations, yet the Lord enabled me to fulfill my labours among the people to the glory of His holy name. I remained in their midst between 16 and 17 years. During that time I had the honour and privilege of immersing above 100 persons, including brethren Coreland and Vincent, now ministers of the Gospel. To God be all the glory.

In course of time I preferred to resign the pastorate, which proved a source of regret to many; and the Lord opened a door for me at Carmel, Woolwich. Here I became the successor of that beloved servant of God, Mr. Henry Hanks, who is now in glory. Here the Lord added to the Church, six by baptism, and seven from other Churches, in the short period of three years. I was with them after this. I served where the Lord opened doors for me, until I became the unworthy successor of brother W. S. Waterer, at Ebenezer, Elthorne-road, Holloway. And may I say to the honour of His precious name, He is blessing His own eternal truth to His people, and gathering them for His praise, and supplying them with daily bread and with living streams from the great Fountain of Blessedness. I trust that this epistle may be a means of encouragement to the pilgrims of Zion, and to the glory of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Yours in Jesus,

W. Osmond

53, Palatine-road, Stoke Newington