The Life And Death Of James Upton

J. A. Jones, “Bunhill Memorials: Sacred Reminiscences Of Three Hundred Ministers And Other Persons Of Note, Who Are Buried In Bunhill Fields, Of Every Denomination” (1849):^[1]

James Upton. Baptist. Sacred to the memory of the Rev. James Upton, sen., upwards of 48 years the beloved and honoured pastor of the Baptist Church, in Church Street, Blackfriars Road, Surrey; who entered into his rest, September the 22nd, 1834, in the 75th year of his age.

Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.”

Tomb, E. and W. 18,—N. and S. 64.

This worthy man of God, whose name will long be had in remembrance, was born at Tunbridge Wells, September 15th, 1760. His parents attended the Countess of Huntingdon’s chapel in that place. James was their youngest son. He left his father’s house when about thirteen years of age, “ to reside in the family of a magistrate, who was a very profane, dissolute man; and in this family he gave early proofs of the deep depravity of the human heart.” In April, 1776, he removed to Waltham Abbey, to live with an elder brother in that place, who attended the ministry of Mr. John Davis, a noted man in his day, of the Baptist denomination.

[There were two brothers, John and Thomas. John was many years pastor of the Waltham Abbey Church. The charge delivered to him, by Dr. Gill, at his ordination in 1764, is, perhaps one of the most important of its kind ever published. Gladly would the Editor give some invaluable extracts from it, did the limits of this work permit. Thomas Davis was pastor of the Baptist Church at Reading, in Berkshire. His ministry was greatly blessed in that place. He was so beloved by his people, that, “they would not have changed their pastor, for an man under heaven.” The mother of these two men of God, was a member of the Baptist Church at Rye, in Sussex, sixty-seven years. She died April 15, 1792, in the 85^th year of her age.—Ed.]

Mr. Davis preaching several sermons from Micah 7:18, “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, &c.” those discourses were greatly blessed to young Upton. He was baptized, and became a member of the church, May 31, 1778, in the 18th year of his age. About three years after, he was called by the church to the exercise of his gifts, with a view to the ministry; and on Feb. 20th, 1786, he preached his first sermon (from a pulpit,) at Waltham Abbey, from 1 Cor. 15:10, “By the grace of God I am what I am.” Mr. Davis being from home shortly after, Mr. Upton again occupied his pulpit; and this was the day, which in the order of divine providence, gave a direction to the whole of his future course. About twelve persons who had been in fellowship with the Baptist Church, in Mitchell Street, St. Luke’s had recently taken a small chapel in Green Walk (now Church Street), Blackfriars Road. Having heard a pleasing account of young Mr. Upton, two of their number were present on that day at Waltham Abbey, and heard him preach. They returned to London, without having revealed to any one the object of their visit; and, before a week had elapsed, an invitation was sent him from the little church at Green Walk, to pay them a visit. Those few friends had recently purchased the small chapel for £350; three hundred of which they borrowed of one person, who shortly called it in. Eventually, they were obliged to enlarge the chapel at a cost of £2,090; and the church, which at his coming amongst them was twelve personal, and at his ordination over them only sixteen; at the period of his death numbered above 400.

After supplying as a probationer about eight months, he accepted an invitation to the pastoral office, and his ordination took place June 27th, 1786. His late pastor, Mr. John Davis gave him a solemn charge, from 2 Tim. 2:1, “Thou therefore my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” And Mr. Thomas Davis, of Reading, preached to the church from Phil. 2:29, “Receive him in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such in reputation.”

From this period, Mr. Upton proceeded on in his course; doing the work of an evangelist, and, making full proof of his ministry. In a letter written by him to his father-in-law, the Rev. Michael Bligh, of Sevenoaks, Kent; he says, “With respect to leaving Waltham Abbey, it was reluctantly on my part. I was led to look back and survey the way the Lord had led me; the nodular manner in which I was brought there, and the condition I was then in, without Christ, without hope, and without God in the world. There I hope I was born from above, led to see myself a poof, lost, perishing sinner; and, I trust, to behold and believe in, the Lamb of God, that died to save the chief of sinners. There I was led to see the dignity and glory of the Redeemer’s person as the Son of God, the infinite efficacy of his atoning blood and his glorions righteousness. These, and other precious truths of the gospel, I have with great satisfaction, heard from the lips of my dear and honoured pastor, Mr. Daris: Upon these I trust my soul has lived; and, these things I hope in the strength of Christ, to be enabled to make known to others. But, ‘who is sufficient for these things?’ It is with fear and trembling I go on in the sacred work, and especially now I consider myself as more immediately called to devote all my time, and use my talents to the honour of Christ, and the good of precious souls.”

Mr. Upton’s diary is most interesting, as the following sample will shew. “January 1, 1790. Thus far the Lord has led me on. I have been reading the Bible through the ninth time since I came to London. O that I may be enabled to understand what I read! I desire afresh to devote myself to the work of the ministry; it is a great and arduous and honourable work. O that the Lord may visit his church in Green “Walk this year!”—“September 16th. This day I entered on the 31st year of my age, having been pastor of the church in Green Walk more than four years; which church now consists of about forty members. I hope I can look back this morning with gratitude. O Lord, I desire to bless thee that I have been kept in thy ways, and I hope steadily adhering to thy truth. If my public ministry has been in any measure useful, to thy name, O Lord, be all the glory.”—September 1st, 1796. Many sweet and Solemn seasons lately. I hope there has been also a revival in the church which it is my happiness to serve. I have this day baptised seventeen persons. O Lord, I desire all the glory may be given to thee. I would rejoice with trembling.” On another occasion, Mr. Upton writes, “Many things yet remain to be accomplishes. Men are fickle, and liable to change; the human heart is very depraved; in many cases things have proceeded happily for a season, but they have terminated in discord, confusion, and every evil work. O how pleasing to reflect upon the kindness of that God, who has said, ‘I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.’”

Thus did Mr. Upton proceed from year to year “preaching Christ and him crucified,” and finding that the “labours were not in vain in the Lord.” But for some time previous to his removal, there had been a manifest decline of physical strength and, vigour; which was peculiarly evident in seasons of depression, of which at times he was the subjeet. He was once asked, “Whether, at those seasons of depression he was generally labouring under any degree of spiritual darkness in reference to his own prospects for eternity?”’ He said, “No I bless God that for many years I have not had an hour’s uneasiness in reference to my state in the sight of God; but the heart knoweth its own bitterness. I have found by experience, that God has many ways of humbling us, and of hiding pride from man.” He had his troubles as a minister; these he always deeply felt; but, besides these, he had heavy and complicated domestic afflictions which at time greatly oppressed his mind. No man felt more keenly; unkindness or ingratitude from a fellow creature; indeed, he felt acutely on every subject whether pleasing or painful: but these trials were for good; and thus it was that his heavenly Father answered mysteriously, the numerous prayers which were presented for him, that “his last days might be his best.”

On the very evening when his last illness commenced, he had been preaching, at his own place, from Rev. 22:14, and alluded to the circumstance of having preached from the text thirty years before. He dwelt with much pleasure on the words, “entering in through the gates of the city,” and that in a manner the most animated. O how little did his hearers imagine, they were then listening to the last sermon there beloved minister would deliver! There were those present, who since remarked, that the thought occurred to them, “You will soon enter in through those gates;” but this arose from what they dissevered of the happy frame of his mind, than from any peculiar appearance of bodily

decay. But, his work was done; he said he had finished the service allotted to him; he had preached as many times as his Lord designed, and now he meant to give him rest. To say to him, “Come up hither!” “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord!”

It would seem that Mr. Upton’s last illness was not of long continuance; not three weeks. His son writes, “Sept. 5th. I expected to have met my dear father at a friend’s house to tea; but, calling at Brunswick Street, I heard for the first time of his illness. A kind of stupor prevailed, and had scarcely any conversation.” On the 13th Sept, he said to his son, “Do the dear people think I am dying? I have no pain; yet, I seem sinking.” Reference being made to the Saviour’s language, “The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?” he repeated with deep solemnity, a verse from Harrison’s “Songs in the Night.”

“Vengeance is not prepared for me,

My cup of wrath was drank by thee!

“Then, O my soul! forbear to frown,

And drink this milder-mixture down!”

One of his grandchildren, inquiring of him, “Do you not long to be with Jesus?” he answered, “Indeed, my dear, I do. Blessed Redeemer I condescend to say, ‘Come up hither! He hath blessed me abundantly; and I will bless him through eternity.” I have been a preacher nearly fifty years, with, O how many imperfections; but, as to the Saviour, this is my testimony, “He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.” A little before he died, when every eye was fixed, with almost agonising anxiety, on his countenance, a solemn change was visible; and at length, about twenty-five minutes past six o’clock, on the morning of Monday, Sept. 22nd, 1834, he sweetly fell asleep in Jesus, having just entered into the 75^th year of his age; he was pastor of the church in Blackfriars upwards of forty-eight years.

His remains were interred in Bunhill Fields, Sept. 29th, (close to the tomb of Dr. Gill). Dr. Collyer gave the address at the grave; and Mr. Davis, who was co-pastor with him, concluded in prayer. His funeral sermon was preached by Dr. Newman, from Cor. 15:10, “By the grace of God I am what I am.” This text was chosen by the deceased; and was the same with which he commenced his public ministry. “He came to his grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in, in his season,” Job. 5:26—Memoir, &c.

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[1] The reader is encouraged to visit Bunhill Fields, a nonconformist cemetery located at 38 City Road, London, England.