The Life And Death Of Richard Pratt
Gospel Standard 1898:
Death. On Sept. 7th, 1895, at Bentley Farm, Richard Pratt, Baptist Minister, late of Crowborough and Ringmer, and last at Bentley Farm, where he died.
The last sermon he preached was at East Hoathley, on Nov. 18th, 1894, from John 16:8: “When he is come, he will reprove the world of sin,” etc., the same text that he spoke from when he commenced to preach at Gethsemane Chapel, Crow-borough. He said he felt impressed that it would be his last sermon, and some of his hearers felt so too. He gradually became weaker in body, but the Lord in much mercy often blessed him in reading his Word at his own home when he could not get out, opening it up to him. Also when his daughter Eliza read to him, he told her what beauties he saw in the Scriptures, and said he sometimes felt like a bottle ready to burst, wanting to give vent to his feelings in exalting Jesus Christ. He told me just before his illness how he had been led to admire the Father’s love, the Saviour’s obedience, and the Holy Spirit’s work of revealing the things of Christ to poor sinners; and how impossible it is that one such should ever be lost. He was also led to look back and see the way the Lord had led him. He said he could confidently say with the apostle (Rom. 8:38, 39), “I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate me from the love of God.”
“O how I shall miss his conversation,” said his daughter. In his last illness he was not able to say much. On one occasion he said, “I am on the Rock; it is a sure foundation.” At another time, “Tell my friends, I feel that the things I have preached of will do to die by. Jesus is my all in all.” At another time, when reading of Jesus’ sufferings, he said, “Oh how I long to see him and be with him.” At another time, after a fit of coughing, he said, “I long to see the blessed Saviour. Oh how I will ‘crown him Lord of all!’ ” But his complaint was such he could not speak much, being paralysis in the throat. In the morning of Sept. 3rd he seemed distressed, and prayed very earnestly that the Lord would come again. He then said, “He never forsakes; no, never. The Lord will appear for Zion.” He kept praying earnestly for the Lord to bless his church on earth, but much that he said could not be understood. In the afternoon he was very happy, and spoke quite plain for a little while. Praising the Lord, he said he was a good God to him and would never leave him, but would soon call him home; yes, soon. O how he longed to go! Seeing his daughter weep, he said, “The Lord will never forsake you; no, if he take me, you have the same blessed Lord and hope, and he will not forfeit his word; he will never leave you nor forsake you; I know he will not.” He talked so much that his daughter said, “Dear father, you will make yourself worse; the talking will be too much for your body.” He said, “Never mind, never mind; I must speak well of him while I can; he has been so good to me. I want to glorify him and his great Name.” He had a very restless night, and repeated many portions of hymns; 1085 (Gadsby’s) in particular: “Hence, vain intruding world, depart,” &c., &c. The day before he died, in reply to being asked if Christ was still precious; he said, “Yes;” and taking his daughter by the hand, pointed upwards. I believe he thought he was going then, but sank into unconsciousness and slept. He passed away at a little after one o’clock on September 7th, 1895, without a sigh or groan. We are left to mourn the loss of a very godly father.
S. P.
Richard Pratt (?-1895) was a Strict and Particular Baptist preacher. He served as pastor for the churches meeting at Crowborough, Ringmer and Bentley Farm.
