The Life And Ministry Of Thomas Carr

Earthen Vessel 1900:

Mr. Thomas Carr

Dear Brother,—In responding to your request that I should record some of God’s gracious dealings with me, I will commence by stating that it was my great privilege to be born of godly parents, and in very early life taken by them to the Old Surrey Tabernacle, Borough Road, where the late Mr. James Wells ministered for so many years. His powerful ministry deeply impressed my youthful mind and was the means, under God, of preserving me from running to the lengths in sin that many others are permitted to do. It was not, however, until the year 1854 that I was deeply concerned as to my future state; the Holy Ghost was then pleased to convince me “of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment,” and I saw myself as a condemned sinner by the righteous Law of God. Although I had to some extent a knowledge of the plan of salvation, yet I tried to establish a righteousness of my own and keep the law, but the solemn denunciations of God’s Word, and the faithful discriminating ministry of Mr. Wells, shattered and blasted all my legal strivings, and I was brought to see my awful position as a guilty, hell-deserving sinner, and to seek for mercy. How those two lines of Toplady described my experience:—

“Black, I to the fountain fly,

Wash me, Saviour, or I die.”

It was not with me whether I would accept salvation, but whether God would save one so vile as I knew myself to be. But the Lord graciously appeared. One Lord’s-day evening Mr. Wells preached from 1 Thess. 1:10, “And to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.” Oh! how the Lord enabled him to set forth Jesus as the great deliverer from wrath, the Saviour of sinners, of those who felt their need of His great salvation. The Lord was then pleased to seal pardon and peace to my soul, and gave me an assurance that I was one of the us who were delivered from the wrath to come.

I left that sacred spot that evening rejoicing in the sweet assurance that my sins were pardoned, and with a precious realization of my personal interest in God’s salvation. I was favoured to realize the Lord Jesus Christ as my Saviour, and could say, “This is my Friend and this is my Beloved.” So favoured was I that for months I was walking in the light of God’s countenance and rejoicing in the liberty of the Gospel; but days of darkness, days of mourning, succeeded the former days of exultation! Nevertheless, the dear Saviour has fulfilled His promise many times in my experience since then. “I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice.”

The subject of baptism laid much upon my mind; and in the month of June, 1856, I was received by the Church at the Surrey Tabernacle, and baptized by Mr. Wells in the following month. Well do I remember the morning of that day. I was much exercised relative to the step I was about to take, and the solemnity of making a public profession, but the Lord was pleased to silence all my fears with these words,”I will go in the strength of the Lord God, I will make mention of Thy righteosness, even of Thine only.”

In March, 1872, the beloved pastor of the Surrey Tabernacle was taken home, and in October of the same year I was chosen a deacon, which office I held till June, 1897, when I resigned; being so much engaged in the work of the ministry, I felt it was only right I should do this.

In reference to my speaking in the Lord’s name, it commenced in this way. In the year 1885, the esteemed and beloved pastor of Trinity, Balham, Mr. F. Nugent, called upon me one Saturday evening and requested me to preach for him on the following day as the minister who was to have supplied for him during his absence was unable to come. After much hesitation, consideration, and anxiety, I consented. What exercises of mind I experienced I will not attempt to describe, only those who have passed through them can realize what they are. My text was Psalm 103:3, “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases.” This was the first time I had ever entered a pulpit, although during the time the Church at the Surrey Tabernacle was in a widowed state I had, in turn with the other brethren, presided at the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper and prayer meetings; but this was the commencement of pulpit utterances. After this I went again and again to Balham, and door after door opened in various parts of London and the country. For some three or four years after I commenced speaking I was often exercised about my position. Many, very many times did I earnestly pray to the Lord to give me some token that I was in the right place, and if I was not, if I was running unsent, I earnestly besought him to make it manifest by whatever means He would that I was wrong, and I would speak no more in His name. But the Lord has been pleased to give me tokens of His approval, and the Word has been blessed. To Him be all the glory. “Having obtained help of God, I continue to this day.”

Yours fraternally in Christ,

Thomas Carr

Melbourne Lodge, Melbourne Square, Brixton, S.W.

May 12th, 1900.