The Life And Ministry Of H. D. Sandell

Earthen Vessel 1895:

The following is a brief account of the origin, &c., of Mr. H. D. Sandell, pastor of Ebenezer, Fulham, whose call by grace and to the ministry has recently been given in our pages. 

Our brother says:—

“I was born on April 22nd, 1848, in the parish of St. Saviour’s, Southwark. My parents were then rather reduced in circumstances, having failed in business only a little while before, and being the youngest of six my prospects were not very bright. However, I was put to a good school in the Borough-road, where no doubt I should have remained for several years, had it not been for an unpleasant event that suddenly terminated my attendance there. An under-master in charge of the school had a great difficulty in obtaining attention, whereupon he became most severe, and I was one of the unfortunate victims who suffered for the wrong-doing of others, and therefore determined not to go again.

”After this I was placed at another school, but did not remain there very long. Being allowed to have my own way, I preferred going to work, which I did at the age of 14. How and where the Lord called me by His sovereign grace has already appeared in the Earthen Vessel & Gosepl Herald for August, 1894 (see below). After I was married I had the privilege of attending the ministry of such faithful men as the late esteemed John Hazelton, Mr. E. Vinall, City-road. I also frequently attended Gower-street. Being called under the ministry of Mr. T. Whittle, who was an Independent, my mind became rather perplexed in reference to believers’ baptism. I now resolved to give up reading all controversial writings on the subject, trusting to the Word of God alone to be my guide in this matter.

“In the providence of God I removed to the north of London, in May, 1876, and through reading the Baptist Almanack I found there was a cause in Wedmore-street, Upper Holloway. Having a strong desire to find a settled home, I became very much attached to the people worshipping there. When the church was re-formed, under the pastorate of the late Mr. H. Boulton, I was admitted as a member, August 7th, 1879, and baptized by him at Providence Chapel, Upper-street, Islington, September 3rd, 1879; and was chosen deacon April, 1880, which office I continued to hold till 1894, when I was obliged to resign, having accepted the invitation to the pastorate of Ebenezer Chapel, Lillie-road, Fulham.”

Earthen Vessel 1894:

Recognition Of Mr. H. D. Sandell At Fulham

On Tuesday, June 19, 1894, Mr. H. D. Sandell was was publicly recognised as pastor of Ebenezer, Lillie-road, Fulham. Mr. John Box presided in the afternoon and commenced the service by announcing hymn 726 (Stevens)—

“Shepherd of Israel, Thou dost keep

With constant care, Thy humble sheep.”

The chairman then read from Eph 3, 4; and Mr. Cullingford offered prayer. The hymn commencing,

“Compared with Christ, in all beside

No comeliness I see,”

having been sung, Mr. Box said I believe, by God’s grace, we have all given expression to the conviction of our minds in the hymn we have just offered as sweet incense to God. We have recognised therein that apart from Christ’s presence we cannot be happy, and I am sure we cannot profit. After some further salutary and savoury remarks, Mr. Box called on Mr. S. T. Belcher to state the nature of a Gospel Church, of which the following is a brief outline:—

Mr. Belcher at the outset said: I am here to fill a space—I will not say a gap, perhaps such an expression would not be quite consistent with the occasion. Our brother Squirrell was appointed to fill this position, but God has called him home.

I do think (said Mr. B.) this is one of the most important subjects that any who have been called by God’s grace to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ can give their attention to. It is to know who I am, whence I came, my standing, position, and condition in the sight of the living God.

The speaker then went on to deliver a sound scriptural address, founded on the words: “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the Church of God which is at Corinth” (2 Cor. 1:1). This refers to a local church, but I would not fail to distinguish between The Church and a church. I believe the Church of God is one in the eternal purpose and covenant of God before the world began. The Church of God was chosen in Christ, given to Christ, loved by Christ, and was covenanted for by Christ, and I believe it should be holy, without blemish before Him in love, and being predestinated to the adoption of children is accepted in the Beloved. After speaking of the Church under various aspects, supported by Scripture, and drawing a clear distinction between The Church and that of Rome, and a national, natural, or notional Church, Mr. Belcher concluded by expressing his best wishes for brother Sandell and the Church at Ebenezer, Fulham. 

Mr. Box then asked brother Sandell to give his call by grace. 

Mr. Sandell said: Not having the privilege and blessing of God-fearing parents, I grew up a stranger to the God of all grace. Passing on now to the time when I had served several years of my apprenticeship (at the age of 19), I began eagerly to pursue the empty pleasures and vanities of the various so-called places of amusement. My mind was fully occupied about the gratification of my carnal appetite. Worldly company was my chief desire, and had it not been for sovereign grace and mercy I should have wandered on in the broad road  until endless ruin had been my portion. A very remarkable circumstance, just at this juncture, took place, which I am fully persuaded was of the Lord. One with whom I was serving my apprenticeship was a God-fearing young man, who took great interest in me and another apprentice, often reading interesting pieces from sound and wholesome books. After a while, finding he had gained a little influence over us, he proposed that each should go to a place of truth in our own locality. My companion was to go to a Baptist chapel in Hoxton, and myself to an Independent chapel, Earl-street, London-raod, where the late Thomas Whittle, of Croydon, was preaching. We both agreed to comply with his wish. Accordingly my companion went on the following Sunday morning, while I attended Earl-street in the evening. Nothing effectual occurred to my fellow apprentice, but the result was altogether different in my case. I have a very vivid recollection of what transpired. It was about the middle of June, 1866. Feeling somewhat strange in such a place I took my seat close by the door, so that I might easily, and without disturbing the congregation, take my departure if I felt inclined. After singing, reading, and prayer, the preacher gave out the following words for his text: “For the great day of His wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand?” (Rev. 6:17). These words fell with solemn power on my mind; immediately I was arrested and terror-stricken, just as though a thunderbolt had fallen through the roof of the chapel. I was so alarmed that I feared to move, and feeling every moment that I should sink through the chapel floor straight into hell. In this dreadful state of distress I returned home, wondering what would become of me, and my mother seemed very much concerned about me, asking what was the matter, but I could not describe my feelings to her, and, having no desire to talk, I went up to my bedroom groaning beneath a sense of my sad condition; and I well remember trying to pray, beseeching God to have mercy upon me, a guilty sinner, but the more I cried the lower I sank in my feelings, until I was quite exhausted, and fell asleep. Thus I continued for about six weeks. One day while at work I had such a remarkable revelation that I shall never forget the effects it produced on my mind. I saw as though it had been a real cross standing erect, and One nailed to it. As He looked upon me His countenance bespoke the agony He was enduring. Presently He addressed these words to me, “I am suffering this for you.” In an instant my heavy burden of sin was gone. My soul did then truly rejoice in the realization of pardon and forgiveness. I had no “the garments of praise for the spirit of heaviness.”

Call To The Ministry And The Pastorate

Coming to the subject of my call to the ministry, the first time I spoke in the Lord’s name was on December 24^th, 1882. I was then holding office as deacon at Zoar Chapel, Wedmore-street, Upper Holloway. Our pastor, Mr. H. Boulton, was taken ill, and the Church being unable to obtain a supply, one good brother spoke in the morning, and I promised to do my best in the evening; the text was Is 60:20. At the close of the service many said they realized it to be a season of refreshing. After this I supplied several times in the absence of our pastor, and frequently since His death. Some time elapsed, when brother Hewitt, of Ponder’s-end, made an appeal through the Earthen Vessel & Gospel Herald for ministerial help. Accordingly I wrote him, stating I could render him a little assistance. He willingly accepted my offer, and I visited the friends there frequently during 1892, and the Word was very profitably heard. Receiving many invitations from various causes I was fully engaged until I went to Fulham in September, 1892, promising to supply them as often as possible during 1893. This led to my being invited for three months, with a view to the pastorate, and having prayerfully considered the matter I complied with their request. At the termination of my probation I received a cordial invitation to the pastorate, and being persuaded it was the Lord’s will, I consented, and commenced my stated labour as their under shepherd on the first Lord’s-day in May, 1894.

At the request of Mr. Box, Mr. Purkiss gave the leadings of divine providence in directing the church to the choice of Mr. Sandell to the pastorate, which was of a most satisfactory nature, showing they had prayerfully sought, and patiently waited, the Lord’s time, brother Sandell being chosen unanimously save four.

The very interesting ceremony of joining hands was then attended to by Mr. R. E. Sears. Uniting the hands of Mr. Purkiss (on behalf of the Church) and that of the newly-chosen pastor, he (Mr. S.) expressed pleasure at being present, and offered the ordination prayer.

Two verses of “Grace! ’tis a charming sound,” and the benediction brought the afternoon service to a close.

Evening Meeting

Mr. John Box presided. After singing, Mr. Hewitt read Psa. 72, and Mr. Grimwood offered prayer. Mr. Sandell stated his doctrinal views, which were approved, and Mr. Box gave some savoury and spiritual remarks and called on Mr. Sears to give the charge to the pastor.

Mr. Sears said, I have a motto with which I will start, but I don’t want you to look up the connection just now, as you might think I was going to give you an unkind speech. “I have a message from God unto thee” (Judges 3:20). That message came to me at 3.30 this morning.

I have a message concerning your heart. You have one, we know; we have had abundant proof of that today. It is a new heart, a heart of flesh, one in which God has placed His rich treasure, one upon which God has begun to write. We hope He will go on writing until it shall cease to beat here. Take heed to this, my dear brother: you won’t long be interested in the religion of other people if you cease to be interested in yours. “Keep thy heart with all diligence.” We read concerning Hezekiah, in connection with the work of God and the services of God’s house, that he did it with all his heart and prospered. If we would prosper in any work we must do it with all our heart, and you will want all your heart, my dear brother, in this work. Directly you begin to feel any coldness coming over you, or any felt sense of distance from the Lord, be very anxious about it. I am not afraid you will fall out from the covenant, but you may fall out from the enjoyment of it. God help you to keep your heart with all diligence.

And then you have a head. There are some ministers of whom it is said they are all head; there is very little heart, very little soul in their sermons. Give me a man with a warm heart and a good clear head. God has given you brains; use them; I do not know that God will give you any more than you have got. If this Church is to grow you will have to study hard, and use the mind God has given unto you. Think on these things. You have thought about them, but you must think again and again. We have no right to expect that the Spirit of God will inspire us when we do not study. If we have no time, or we have to visit the sick, then we may expect that God will give us our message in the pulpit and send it right to the heart. But if we have the time we must use it, or we cannot expect God to bless us. “Study to show thyself approved unto God,” &c.

I have a message concerning your eyes. God has given you eyes and you must use them. Let thine eyes look right on: “Ponder the path of thy feet.” I think the four living creatures mentioned in the Revelation were typical of gospel ministers. We read they had eyes before and behind, and you, my dear brother, must look before you. Keep your eye upon the Master. Our brother Box has referred to that passage, “Looking unto Jesus;” that is the message concerning your eyes. Keep your eye upon the Master, and seek to follow in His steps. Seek to copy the example of your beloved Lord, and seek to preach in a Christ-like way. The eyes of the living creatures were before them. Look before you to the interest of the people over whom God has placed you, and look before you to the end. How soon it may come! We never know when we are preaching our last sermon. Let our eyes be before us to the judgment-seat, when we must all give an account of our work unto God.

The eyes of the living creatures were behind them, We must watch behind us. Look behind you, right along the pathway the Lord has led His people; look behind you to the council chamber. There will come times of temptation when you will be glad to look behind you to the grand decrees of God, and you will find the covenant and immutable grace of love a soft couch to lie upon when you are torn to pieces with anxiety.

And we read the living creatures were full of eyes within. You must look into yourself; sometimes that will humble you and lead you to sympathy, if you see a brother stumbling. It will do you good to look within; not only to watch your actions as you look before and around, but within, to the motive. We must seek to be right in our actions and motives.

I have a message for your ears. The Master says, “Hearken unto Me.” You are to receive the law from His mouth. You may read Gill and all the old divines if you please, but first of all hearken unto the Lord, receive the law from His lips. Not only to the voice of God, but you should have an ear for the bleating of the flock. You will hear of one that has gone astray, and another that is hungry. May God give you an ear to listen to the bleating of the flock, and to receive the word from His mouth.

I have a message for your mouth. The more earnestly you pray before you come into the pulpit, the more you will be helped. There are times when on Saturday I have tried hard, and I have thought, “Well, now, I will give it up and pray.” Sometimes the spirit of prayer comes and it is all praying. When once your heart has been softened at the mercy-seat you get the right feeling and touch. Do not be afraid to pray too much. The people will not. And then that mouth of yours, to deliver God’s message, ought to be clean. Preach the Word—that is, the books of the Old Testament and the New. Keep to the old Book, and preach from the Old Testament and the New, from all parts, both of figures, types, emblems, and doctrines, and God help you to preach them with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven. Let us not undo at the supper-table what we have preached in the pulpit. Some of us want to lay this more to heart.

I have a message concerning your hands. God has given you two hands, my dear brother; has given you something to hold. “Hold fast that which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” I am glad you have got a creed. I hope it will be burnt in your heart. Some people call doctrines dry: “My doctrine shall drop as the rain.” And did you ever know rain dry? May you never come into this pulpit dry, but with your heart softened with divine love, and the people will be glad of the doctrine wet with the dew of heaven. “Hold fast that which thou hast, that no man take thy crown”—not the crown of life. God could not trust Paul with it, and I know He will not trust our brother Sandell with it. He has put into your hands a sword. You are a soldier, as well as a shepherd, as well as a father and nurse. He has given you the sword of the Spirit which which is the Word of God. God help you to wield the sword of the Spirit, right manfully. You are a leader, and I hope there will be many little children here that will be glad of your hand. Look after the lambs. If not, there will be no old sheep. God grant there may be babes here, and that you may have a skillful hand. 

And then you have feet. God said to Abraham, “Walk before Me, and be thou perfect.” God help you to stand upon your feet, my dear brother. Never hang down your head because you are in the world. Do not hang your head down because you are a minister. God has made you a minister, and if you come here in His Spirit, you can look the whole congregation in the face, knowing you are sent of God with a message to them. God help you to walk with Him.

Take heed to these, then—your heart, your head, eyes, ears, mouth, the hands, and the feet, and remember they all belong to the Lord.

Now, there is another picture. Remember the Master is by your side, and He has a heart too, and He is saying, “I have loved thee,” &c., and when you feel a little cold, try and get near the warm heart of your Lord. He has eyes: “The eyes of the Lord are Upon the righteous,” to watch over you and to guard you; He knows all about the enemy. And He has ears. He will bow down His ear to your cry, ever ready to listen. And he has a mouth, to kiss you with the kisses of the mouth, and then the soul catches the divine breath. A mouth full of grace, of blessing, and he will speak to you and talk to you and will commune with you. He has a hand to hold you up. Held in the Master’s hand you will shine to His praise and glory. The Lord’s hand will be with you to lead, guide and influence your aright. And then He has feet. His feet are like brass, they are eternal, and He will keep by your side, and so you shall have an entire Christ for your food, and an entire Christ for your support. “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” May God give you that promise, my dear brother. Amen.

Mr. Mutimer, of old Brentford, address the Church from the words: “Stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel” (Phil 1:27). The discourse was full of sound doctrine, useful instruction and admonition. 

Messrs. J. Flegg, Cullingford, Boulton, and others took part. Mr. Sandell, the pastor, expressed gratitude to ministers and friends for their kindness, and the meeting closed with, “All hail the power of Jesus’ name.”