The Life And Ministry Of Frank Matthewman

Earthen Vessel 1896:

Mr. F. Matthewman

My Dear Brother In The Lord,—I feel somewhat diffident about complying with your request for a sketch (for publication) of my call by grace and to the ministry, inasmuch as it brings forcibly to my mind 1 Kings 20:11, “Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off,” but again, I thought it might be blessed by the Lord to some young disciples, who possibly have been discouraged by the damping process alluded to in a recent article by pastor T. Jones, which, though unpleasant in operation, doubtless has some beneficial effects.

I was born at Lockwood, in Yorkshire, on March 10th, 1870. My parents and grandparents had all been associated with Rehoboth, and my father being superintendent, I was early instructed in the Word of God. I passed through all the classes in the school, and those are seasons of sweet remembrance to me now.

Though but young in years when our beloved late pastor, William Crowther died, I have a vivid recollection of him, more especially in connection with his yearly examinations in Scripture knowledge, for I possess an honor certificate (for gaining 1st prize for scholars under 12 years of age, three years in succession), which I especially prize, as this and another were the last communication from him to dear old Rehoboth, he being ill at that time.

When 16 years of age, I was constrained to become a teacher of one of the lower classes, though at that time no change bad been wrought in my soul, nor did I feel the need of any, though “the letter killeth” and the spirit alone can give life. I continued to teach for three or four years, and then a spirit of indifference came over me, for I began to doubt what I had previously accepted, the truth of the Word of God. I was tossed for a season on the troubled waves of free thought, until “the period known to God” arrived. To what depths of impiety I had sunk you may judge. When one of my companions was taken into the Church, I and the other companions were in a side pew ridiculing and imitating the actions of those partaking of the Lord’s supper. But where sin did abound grace did superabound. One of our members told me when I was baptised, that upon the occasion referred to she noticed me and prayed that the Lord might pour out His grace upon me also. I trust that prayer was effectual. When 20 years of age, I was wandering on the streets of Huddersfield, one night, near the market-place, which is the Areopagus of the town, where all the babblers and setters forth of strange gods congregate. The Salvation Army meeting was in full progress. I listened with cynical scorn and amusement at first, while a man whose hypocrisy was transparent harangued the crowd. I was about to leave the place when I was arrested by a voice, from the centre of the crowd. It came from a poor consumptive-looking little fellow, about ten years of age, who sang, “The blessed love of Jesus who can tell?” It was the voice of Jesus Himself. I forgot the crowd, all things, save a new presence. Jesus looked down upon me. I felt as Peter must have felt when rebuked by his Master. I overheard two Magdalens near, who were evidently affected somewhat, say, “God bless him; he sings like an angel.” He did. He was without doubt the Lord’s angel to me. I stole away with a consciousness of a new presence everywhere, and with a conception of a divine and boundless love in which, alas! I felt I had no part. Oh, those awful weeks that followed. How I listened now, earnestly not critically, to what I had once scorned, for some words of hope, for I was now a lonely and despairing prisoner. The fountain seemed sealed until our dear brother and father in the faith, W. B. Suttle, of Royton (who always has something for the Lord’s little ones) came, and his preaching was the means in the Lord’s hands of leading my soul from darkness into some light, that light which reveals men as trees walking. A full realization of my peace with God came “in the night watches.” I had lain awake at nights much pleading with God for his unspeakable gift. I had spent hours in prayer, and about 3 a.m. (it was a glorious morning, the firmament was filled with stars) His peace which passeth all understanding stole into my soul. I shall never forget that joy so long as I retain reason. Ah! its memory has been such a help to me since in seasons of bitterness. By the Lord’s grace, a sermon by brother W. B. Suttle left for me an exhortation, “If ye love Me, keep My commandments,” which I struggled against, but at length was led to be baptised by him in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, on June 28, 1891, and taken into the Church the Sunday following by our dear brother W. Brundish. 

It pleased the Lord to bless me with a consuming zeal for His service. I could not remain silent. “His word was in my heart as a burning fire.” I Joyed much, for I have had much forgiven. I well remember the Lord enabling me first to speak, at a prayer-meeting, at the end of 1891 from Acts 2:4, “They spake with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.” I spoke frequently after this in the school and at prayer-meetings. At the end of 1892, pastor T. Jones, then of Slaithwaite, now of New Cross, spoke to me with reference to preaching. He said one of the first texts he spoke from was, “Go out into the highways and hedges.” I was led to follow the exhortation of the passage, and joined the Y.M.C.A. Mission Band, which is unsectarian and whose meetings are held in the Infirmery Wards, the assembly-room of the Corporation’s Model Lodging House, and the Market Cross in the centre of the town. In January, 1894, the Church at Lockwood asked me to address them with a view to being “sent out.” I did so, and not long after received an invitation from Morley, a Church which has given the first encouragement to many a “supply.” The Lord strengthened me with His, “Lo I am with you,” and through Paul’s, “The Lord stood by,” which has been a great help to me. Since then, He has used me in the broadways and streets of the city. I have met with much encouragement, especially from our dear brother Jas. Fielding, but am forced to record the existence of individuals referred to in pastor Thos. Jones’ plea for our young men, who evidently feel it their duty to discourage, check, and put back, young men. Why should this be so? Did not our Lord say that, “Wisdom is justified of all her children?” What a rebuke is here! Is not this contending for a Paul, a Cephas, or an Apollos, to the disparagement of others equally dear to the Lord and faithful in His service? Is not this limiting the Holy Spirit, for does He not divide to every man severally as He will? (1 Cor. 12:11) and are there not diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit? Let the Word of God, the sword of the Spirit, be our defence. What saith the Scriptures?

That Joseph, when 17 years old (Gen. 37:2) dreamed dreams of prophecy, and that his brethren hated him yet the more for his dreams and for his words (verse 8). What of Joshua, the young man, who gave a true account of the glorious land of promise, the land flowing with milk and honey, and who for his faithfulness was blessed and preserved to come in and possess the same? Again, we have a young priest Phineas, who when, alas! the older priests were found wanting, was zealous for his God, and was commended therefore and perpetually blessed. Samuel when a child received God’s message and delivered it to the weak and erring Eli (1 Sam. 3:18). David, the youngest son of Jesse, called from the sheepcotes to be anointed by Samuel, whose human judgment had run after giant Eliab (1 Sam. 16). Solomon, whom “the Lord loved,” was but a child when placed over the chosen people (1 Kings 3:7). Josiah called to the kingdom when eight years of age (2 Chron. 34); when 16, began to seek after the God of David his father, and when 20 years old, he made a personal progress through Judah, destroying all the altars of Baal in six years. We have the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah called in youth to service of 60 and 40 years, and Daniel and the three Hebrew children witnessed for God in a land of idolatry and bondage. John, the youngest apostle, was especially beloved and leaned on our Lord’s breast at supper. Paul, with his evangelizing zeal, was but a young man, and Timothy, who had known the Scriptures from his youth, had Paul’s exhortation (1 Tim. 4:12), “Let no man despise thy youth.” At twelve years of age, from the lips of the child Jesus, came these words, “Wist ye not that I must be about My Father’s business,” though His ministry did not commence till 30 years of age.

Outside the Word of God we can call many to mind who have served the Lord in youth. Calvin wrote his “Institutes of the Christian Religion” when but 20 years of age (and after but two years of theological study), a work which changed the whole face of society. Charles H. Spurgeon, called when but a child and made so eminently useful in the vineyard of the Lord and many others. Truly the young men chosen by the Lord have neither been few nor ineffective. Why should they be despised, on account of youth? In John 6:9, we read that “Here is a lad,” &c., and the disciples mentioned the fact with an apology. But Jesus did not despise the lad, and the provisions that he carried were made the means of filling the multitude. We bless the Lord that such miracles are still performed by God spiritually, and that He does even use the lads for His purposes. ”What shall we say to these things? It is God that justifieth” (Rom. 8:31). “Behold, God is mighty and despiseth not any” (Job. 36:2). We are not cast down by these things, because we have the assurance that these things will come, and we can say with Him whom we love and serve, “It is enough for the disciple that he be as his Master ” (Matt. 10:25). But we would draw attention to Mark 11:39, to the Master’s own testimony, even for those who are not labouring with His own recognised disciples, “Forbid him not,” and we would exclaim with Moses, “Would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them” (Num. 12:29), not men-pleasers and sayers of human Shibboleths, but such as count it worthy to suffer for Christ’s sake.

The Lord has blessed me much. I married in March, 1893, and my dear wife has proved a true helpmeet to me, and has also been enabled to confess that she is not ashamed to own her Saviour. The Lord has gathered our little lamb, but we have learnt with A. A. Watts to bow to the will of God.

“My sweet one, my sweet one, my fairest and my first,

When I think of what thou might’st have been, my heart is like to burst;

But my sighs are hushed, my tears are dried,

When I turn to what thou art (Of such is the kingdom of heaven)”

May our covenant-keeping God grant unto us all, His sustaining grace, for if it should be withdrawn we could not stand for one moment.

I am yours in the bonds of the Gospel,

Frank Matthewman

Brockholes, nr. Huddersfield, Yorkshire, Feb. 19, 1896