The Life And Ministry Of William Collins

Gospel Standard 1861:

On  Nov. 22nd, 1860, at Maldon, Essex, fell asleep in Jesus, William Collins, 53 years a minister of the gospel, and in the 91st year of his age. The following letter, written to a friend about two years ago, will supply a few particulars of the work of grace on his heart, and the subsequent acts of sovereign mercy, love, and kindness to him.

“Respected Friend in Christ, our great Lord God and everlasting All,—The above salutation is inferred from your testimony many years ago, ‘He that hath delivered doth deliver, in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us.’

“It is now close upon 89 years since the Lord saw fit that such a worm should be born into the world, to show forth, in his own good time, the wonders of his love, in revealing unto me, by the eternal Spirit, my lost, ruined, and undone state, and in manifesting the unspeakable gift of his only-begotten Son as my Saviour, my Redeemer, my Lord, and my God; and as I deem it one of the dearest pleasures I have (next to the visits of my dear and precious Lord to my soul) to be visited by the Lord’s grace-taught family, and hear their testimony of what he has done for their souls, therefore I indulge a hope that you will not deem it superfluous in me (though you may have heard the same before) to relate, as concisely as appears to a worm right so to do, the Lord’s matchless love and mercy to one so lost, ruined, and undone as I, by union to Adam the first, and hence dead to God and spiritual things; yea, no more appetite for them than a beast; yea, worse than a beast, being at enmity against God my Maker. Well, sovereign grace makes the difference, and those whom the Lord teaches he brings to know he is their Teacher, and that he both has opened and does open up and in­ struct them in the great mysteries cf his will.

“When about 24 years of age, I received my death-blow, from the following scripture being applied with almighty power to my soul: ‘Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things written in the book of the law to do them.’ Although I knew not the place where it was so written, yet a God of mercy so engraved the solemn truth upon my immortal spirit that it is there now and will eternally remain. Blessed be his most holy name, he took the curse away from my conscience with his own dear word so blessedly that all the powers of darkness shall never prevail against it.

“But to proceed with the dealings of a God of love with a guilty wretch, who now, from ignorance and pride, sought a covering from the thought I had not murdered any person, and such-like paltry things; when, to my sad dismay, a most holy God proclaimed in my soul the following scripture: ‘For whosoever shall keep the whole law and offend in one point is guilty of all;’ and to complete the whole the following declaration was proclaimed: ‘For by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight; for by the law is the knowledge of sin.’ I so heard, saw, and felt that all hope and expectation of escaping the wrath of God fled. The enemy came in like a flood with the temptation, ‘It is of no use for you to think about religion; you will surely go to hell;’ and I really thought I should; yet the amazing goodness of the Lord created a hope in my soul from the words: ‘He was a liar from the beginning.’ In an instant a blessed hope sprang up that Satan was the liar; and that the Lord I had so sinned against, and wrought such folly against, should have relieved me with such a change of feeling, was to me surprising indeed.

“After this, I got to fearing again. Sometimes I had a little hope, at other times I greatly feared; so much so that I dare not ask for mercy, and justice shut me up in dread dismay. It now appeared to me it was impossible that so holy a God could do otherwise than put into execution what my sins exposed me to. Again a little hope sprang up that it was the Lord who said Satan was a liar. But O the amazing compassion of the Lord in commanding and enabling me to cry, seek, knock, watch, and pray, from the application to my soul of the following scripture: ‘Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you;’ and he proved his power, faithfulness, love, and mercy to the chief of sinners, by applying to my wounded conscience and sin-sick soul the middle clause of 2 Sam. 16:17: ‘Is this thy kindness to thy Friend?’ I heard his voice, and by faith saw him who was my Friend indeed, for he spoke all my guilt, sin, misery, darkness, fear, and dread away. Joy and rapture filled my soul for these acts of his grace.”

He was baptized at Coggeshall, and in 1807 was called to the work of the ministry. To use his own words, “I was in bondage of spirit, and much cast down in mind respecting the work of the ministry, when a God of infinite wisdom, power, and goodness sealed my commission upon my heart, by speaking these words: ‘Cast thy bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days.'”

His trials, work of faith, conflicts, mercies, &c., were many indeed.—scattered up and down his chequered life, as recorded in his history, [It is intended (D.V.) to publish a more extended memoir of this distinguished monument of God’s love and mercy. (See advertisement.)] and all were viewed as in accordance with the will of God in wisdom, love, and mercy to his soul. He was by trade a ship carpenter; and for about 20 years worked at his trade and preached the gospel in the villages and hamlets around. For about 30 years he gave himself to the work of the ministry, and through his instrumentality churches were formed at Burnham, Goldhanger, Ealeigh, and Galliwood, in this county. These he visited alternately, preaching and administering the ordinances. He also preached at other places during the week,—always on one week evening in his own house. He records the following: “My gracious God gave me this promise: ‘I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.’ My hired house has been open for the reception of the Lord’s poor for about 30 years, and these hands, through the goodness of my God, have laboured to supply my need, and that of others, until about these last twelve months, at which time, there being no work at my calling or trade the people to whom I preached have engaged to administer to my necessities; and they have so done to the present. The word of my God with me is, ‘Preach the word;’ and at this time, it being the month of May, 1831, in the space of a month, I have preached no less than nineteen times, travelled nearly or quite 120 miles on foot, and at no less than ten different places.”

It is about five years since he gave up his periodical visits to the churches, through age and infirmities; after which time he preached in his own house every fourth Lord’s Day, the last time being Oct. 21st, and administered the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper on those occasions.

Through grace he was enabled to live the gospel as well as preach it through a longer life than most of the Lord’s servants are permitted to share. Although he was hated and persecuted by professors for the bold manner of advocating the distinguishing doctrines of the gospel, they could not but respect him for his upright, solemn, honourable walk and conversation. His Christian friends, and especially those who had been blessed under his ministry, were strongly and affectionately attached to him. Indeed, he was called usually, “Father Collins.” He was faithful and unflinching in declaring the truths he believed, perhaps few men more so. He had bought the truth so dearly, that he did not sell it. He was blessed with a strong faith, though sharply tried, and boldly declared the truth, let men or devils say and do what they might. He was valiant for the truth. He sorely felt the fall, and the workings of corruption within, and would often say, “What a mercy grace reigns over what we feel, else what disgrace we should bring upon ourselves and the church of Christ, grieve the Holy Spirit, and dishonour God.” His theme was “Grace, free grace!” to the vilest sinner, and himself amongst the number, repeating Paul’s words, “By the grace of God I am what I am.”

On Nov. 12th, 1860, he was taken with a sensation of sickness and uneasiness in the bowels. His only surviving daughter called to see him, and found him unwell. She felt alarmed, and inquired what was the matter. He calmly and composedly replied, “Death! Death! It must come, and I have no objections.” At another time he said, “I don’t want to die because I am miserable, but to be with Jesus, who died that I might live. ‘All the days of my appointed time will I wait till my change come.'” His son-in-law calling to see him, he inquired into the state of his mind. He replied, “I am happy! The way is clear; there is nothing, through mercy, betwixt a gracious God and me.” A brother minister visited him, and said, “I don’t inquire into the state of your mind because I doubt your safety, but to hear from your own lips of the supporting grace afforded in your dying circumstances.” He solemnly replied, “My dear friend, I cannot talk much, but, through amazing mercy, I am happy; all is well!” and he repeated the following two lines of Kent’s:

“I’ve been indulged that stream to sip 

That Zion’s city cheers.”

He desired the whole hymn to be sung at his funeral. Kent and Hart were his chief poets. To his medical attendant he said, “You know it is death; but all is finished and settled.” At another time he said, “I have many exercises, but, through infinite mercy, there is nothing stands betwixt God and my soul but a precious Jesus, whose blood and righteousness is my firm hope of eternal salvation and glory.”

A few hours before his death he was asked the state of his mind, when he replied, “I am happy, happy, happy! through mercy,—but dying.” He was heard to say, as if meditating on the amazing goodness, grace, and mercy to such a poor, guilty worthless worm, “A law of love and kindness.” His last word to be understood was, “Grace!” He breathed his last like a child going to sleep. So sensible and composed was he a short time before his death, that a dear friend, a minister of the truth, holding his hand and feeling his pulse, the dying saint inquired, “Is there any pulse?” His friend replied, “It is very low.” He said, “I thought there was none.”

His close of life was truly enviable. The patience and fortitude he possessed was truly wonderful. Few, I believe, have been so highly favoured. The enemy seemed not to be permitted to harass him. He was full; his cup ran over; with Jacob he could say, “Lord, it is enough;” and with Simeon, “Now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation.” The enemy could not assault him in all his affliction, nor was his confidence at all shaken. The Lord had made a perfect, complete, and entire work for him and in him, and “the enemy could not exact upon him, nor the son of wickedness afflict him.” “The King’s daughter is all glorious within; her clothing is of wrought gold. She shall be brought unto the King in raiment of needlework. The virgins shall be brought unto thee with gladness and rejoicing; they shall enter into the King’s palace.” (Ps. 45:13-15.)

His mortal remains were interred in Maldon Cemetery, on the 28th. Many Christian friends and members of his church attended the funeral, as a mark of affection for the dear departed. It was my lot to officiate. The address in the chapel was from Ps. 37:37: “Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace.” It was a solemn and affecting time to many. The 45th Hymn of Kent’s was sung, and the body, after a short address at the grave, and prayer, was committed to the dust in sure and certain hope of a glorious resurrection unto eternal life. ” Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his.” “Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn ascendeth [margin] in his season,”

J. F.

Witham, Dec. 19th, 1860