The Life And Testimony Of Susannah Peters
Gospel Standard 1897:
Death. On April 20th, 1895, aged 78, Susannah, widow of James Peters, of Brighton, with whom she was a member of the late Mr. John Vinall, Senior’s, Church. She, like all the rest of Adam’s posterity, went on frowardly in the way of her heart until she was over 20 years of age, when the Lord was pleased to show her her state and condition before him as a sinner. She was then in service, and expected by her mistress to attend the Church of England. By God’s inscrutable providence she was induced to hear the late Mr. John Grace, and the word from his lips was so fastened upon her conscience, that this difficulty presented itself, as to how she could give a report of what she heard at the church to her mistress, and still attend his ministry. I have heard her say that she has left the chapel, and hurried to the church to ask the text from which the clergyman had preached. This soon became unbearable, and she was resolved to make a stand for the truth’s sake, risking her mistress’ displeasure and the loss of her situation. After seeking the Lord in the matter, her mistress yielded to her solicitations, and she was permitted to sit under Mr. Grace’s ministry, where she was much instructed and blessed, the Lord in his own time assuring her of her interest in him.
After a time she married, and solemnly realized, in her new sphere of life, as a wife and mother, a coldness and felt distance from the Lord, who was pleased to remove her husband by death, leaving her with two children; and although not left absolutely penniless, yet she was put to great straits, but the Lord appeared for her providentially in a marked way, and made the occasion the season for the revival of his work in her soul. She was led very much to watch the Lord’s hand in her temporal matters; indeed, she was a woman of prayer, and was blessed with many special answers. I may here mention that when, upon one occasion, she was much exercised as to whether she should accompany her mistress abroad, the Lord settled the matter by powerfully applying Psalm 37:3: “Trust in the Lord and do good, so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed,” which decided her as to the course to take.
After Mr. Grace’s death, the late Mr. Henry White was settled in Brighton (at Galeed), under whose ministry she was much profited and established; her company and conversation were then very edifying and pleasurable. She was a good mother and a faithful friend, ever contending for the truth in the love, the power, the spirit, and the practice of it; she might indeed be called a mother in Israel, many being yet alive who can testify to her having been a spiritual nurse to them.
For several years previous to her death she was confined to the house, and for the last two or three years to her bed, where the Lord taught her much of her helplessness, and favoured her with many tokens of his love. Those who, with myself, visited her, felt it a privilege to have communion with this departed saint. Her end was peaceful, and her mortal remains were laid to rest beside those of her husband, by our dear friend, Mr. G. Mockford, of Heathfield.
H. B. L.
Susannah Peters (1817-1895) was a Strict and Particular Baptist believer. She was converted to Christ in her early twenties under the gospel ministry of John Grace. She became a widow, assuming the responsibility of training up her children. She remained a member of the church at Galeed, Brighton, until her death.
