The Life And Ministry Of John Smart
Earthen Vessel 1899:
Mr. John Smart
The subject of this short sketch had the great privilege to be born of godly parents. His father was a member of the Church worshipping at Providence Chapel, Bath. His mother, though a godly woman, was one of those, “who through fear of death are all their lifetime subject to bondage,” and only enjoyed deliverance at the eleventh hour. Concerning her end her son writes, that, when near the close of her pilgrimage, her husband asked her how it was with her, she replied, “Dark! Dark!” Mr. Burns, who supplied the pulpit at Providence, was brought to see her by her husband, and read and prayed with her, but it was still “Dark, Dark,” she said. The adversary so sorely tried her, while her husband was gone for the minister, that she trembled from head to foot under his suggestions that she was a deceiver, and the man of God who was coming would soon unmask her hypocrisy. The darkness and trial continued until about an hour before she departed when she turned to her daughter, with a sweet smile on her face, and said joyfully, “O, it’s alright, my Lord has come, my Lord has come,” and soon her spirit passed peacefully away. Thus did Jesus show Himself faithful, merciful and mighty to deliver, even from Satan and the fear of death. Let other distressed souls draw encouragement from this instance to hope that with them also “at eventide it shall be light.”
But though favoured with godly parents, John was born in sin, lived in it, and loved to “walk according to the course of this world” until he was 22 years of age. God’s time to quicken his soul then arrived. On his way home one evening these words—‘’What will become of your soul if you should die to night?” struck him with a power he could not withstand. Now for the first time in his life a trembling of soul was experienced by him. Now his sins laid hold upon him; his experience is described in the Psalmist’s expressive words, “I found trouble and sorrow, then called I upon the name of the Lord. O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.” His anguish was great, and he found prayer no easy matter. On one occasion, in the depth of his soul-trouble, he turned aside into an out-house to pour out his sorrow alone before God; but, as he fell on his knees, and try to pray, Satan seemed to encompass him; he seemed on the right hand and on the left hand, behind and before him. We may alter the well-known lines, and say,
“Satan rages when he sees
A seeking sinner on his knees.”
Prior to this, our friend being of a very lively disposition, was the life of the shop where he was employed; so volatile was he that his father said to him on one occasion, “John, I cannot think how you can go on thus, and do your work.” But his reply was, “Let’s be happy while we can.” Now, however, “the arrows of the Almighty were within him, the poison whereof drank up his spirit, the terrors of God set themselves in array against him.” No need now to reprove him for his levity; days and nights of sorrow were his portion. Sabbath after Sabbath found him at Providence Chapel eagerly listening if there were any word from the Lord of comfort for his soul. For some time his seeking appeared to be in vain, until the Lord’s own time for deliverance came.
Hope deferred had made his heart sick, and one Lord’s-day his burden seemed heavier than ever. The preacher was the late Mr. David Smith. In the morning nothing was received, and the eveninig appeared to promise to be no better than the morning. His sorrow was great, the sermon nearly ended, and his soul mournfully saying, “Nothing for me, again.” The preacher closed the Bible, and then said, “Now I have been speaking of the comfort the Lord’s children enjoy; but what can they know of joy unless they have been in trouble? These are called in God’s Word, mourners, and God has said ‘Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.'” This came home into his heart, his bonds were broken, his soul set at liberty, and the new song put into his mouth; his very soul sang for joy.
After a time he appeared before the Church at Providence. His testimony was received by the Church as satisfactory, and he was baptized, together with one of his brothers, by Mr. Cowley, of London.
Worshipping with the flock at Bath, our brother’s mind began to be exercised respecting speaking in the name of the Lord. In God’s all- wise providence he was removed to Torquay. Here the desire to “Tell to sinners round, what a dear Saviour he had found,” became a heavy burden, which he was compelled to take to “the throne of grace.” Afraid of running without being sent, he begged long and earnestly of the Lord to direct him, and if the desire was from Himself, to go before him, and open the door for him. This exercise continued for several months. One Sabbath he was walking from Torquay to Rings-keswell, a distance of about four miles, to hear the Word. The walk was pleasant and quiet, but when about halfway he was brought to a sudden stand by what seemed an audible voice saying, “You must preach today.” He looked around, but no one was within sight. The words followed him all the rest of the journey. On reaching the village, and entering the chapel, he found the people assembled, but no minister. Being known to some of the friends they came around him and pressed him to take the service. For some time he declined to do so, but at last, at their repeated request, he consented to go up into the pulpit, and read and pray, and then come down if he felt he could not go on. During the prayer an assurance entered his soul that he was where God would have him be. He took for his first text Matt. 11:28, “Come unto Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” He was enabled to speak freely, having an experience of the meaning of the text, and from that time many doors were open for him in the neighbourhood, and at Torquay.
After a while our friend removed to Abingdon, and made up his mind just to go in and out among the people without opening his mouth. The chapel was the one where the honoured Mr. Tiptaft laboured for so many years; sermons were preached morning and afternoon, and a prayer meeting was held in the evening. The very first Sabbath evening the deacon presiding asked the friend from Bath to give out a hymn and engage in prayer. So he found that he could not be hid. He stayed about twelve months at Abingdon.
The next move was to Warminster, in Wilts. There was no Strict Baptist Cause here, but our friend was instrumental in forming one, where he preached, in conjunction with Mr. Parsons. He also supplied Causes in the neighbourhood around. But after a time he removed to Bath, his native place, where he still lives. Our brother is now 50 years of age, and is open to supply Churches of Truth. His address is, M. J. Smart, 5, Ebenezer Terrace, Widcombe, Bath.
The above is compiled from an account which Mr. Smart furnished to the late Editor. In presenting it, we feel as if another link had been broken, as it is the last piece provided by our beloved brother J. W. Banks.
John Smart (?) was a Strict and Particular Baptist preacher. He was instrumental in organizing a church in Warminster, Wilts, where he preached in conjunction with Mr. Pasons. Having removed to his native place of Bath, he became an itinerate preacher.
