The Life And Ministry Of Edward Casey

Gospel Standard 1898:

A Brief Sketch Of The Late Mr. Edward Casey, Of Chestnut, For 25 Years Minister Of The Gospel, Who Entered Into Rest Nov. 11^th, 1897, Aged 57 Years.

The riches of sovereign grace were sweetly displayed in his conversion, his call to the ministry, and his subsequent labours. He had a deep and experimental acquaintance with both sides of religion; he knew much of the iniquity within, and he also knew much of the life and power of all-sufficient grace. This saving knowledge of the things of God was seen in his faithful, feeling ministry, and it was also exhibited in his daily life, walk, and conversation.

He was born January 12th, 1840, at Old Ford, Bow, his father being a godly man, and preached the gospel of the grace of God in Brentwood, but was suddenly called away at the age of forty-four. How many times he used to pray most earnestly that God would have mercy upon his son, who had no mercy on himself, as occasionally his conduct, and the company he went amongst (being fond of dancing), would come to his notice, when, most kindly and affectionately, he would reprove him, saying, ”My boy, living and dying in the state you are in, hell will be your portion.”

At length the appointed time arrived for him to be called by grace; the sudden death of his father, in 1863, being made the means, under the power of the Holy Ghost, to make him feel deeply concerned about his eternal welfare. Language fails to express what passed through his mind, until he was brought into the very belly of hell in his feelings; and while there, horrid blasphemies kept rising up in his mind against the Son of God, when Satan came in with all his fury and malice, and suggested that he had cursed him who alone could bless and give pardon, and had sinned beyond the reach of mercy. He was tempted to self-destruction; but in the interposing mercy of God he was led to turn out his pockets, when he found a book of sermons preached by a Mr. Bidder, of Hurstpierpoint, when something compelled him to read the one headed, “The desire of the righteous shall be granted” (Prov. 10:24); and whilst he was describing who and what a righteous man was, he felt an “Who can tell” rise up in his mind that he had similar feelings, and that, after all, there might be hope. But when he came to describe the desires of such men to be after pardon, forgiveness, grace, the application of precious blood, and the positiveness that such should be granted; such a flood of love and light broke forth into his soul, that he rejoiced in hope of the glory of God, and wept, sung, and danced in his soul before him; and if ever he loved the Lord, it was for putting salvation upon the free and unmerited grace of God.

He was baptized at Blackmore, by Mr. Trotman, after which he became a member and deacon at the Strict Baptist cause at Brentwood. He removed to Cheshunt, Herts., where he joined the Strict Baptist cause at Waltham Abbey, Essex, and had an invitation to take the pastorate at Walkern, Herts., where he remained seven years.

When first exercised about the ministry, what deep exercise of soul and many sleepless nights it caused him, as he felt the unlikeliest one to stand up in the Lord’s name; and told the Lord, one night especially, that he could not go, as he stuttered in his speech; when the Lord applied these words with power: “Aaron, thy brother, can speak well” (Ex. 4:14), which set him at liberty, as he felt that his Elder Brother, Jesus Christ, could speak well, and from that time all stuttering was removed, and he went forth to tell out what he had tasted, felt, and handled of the word of life.

God was indeed good in manifesting his love and mercy to him in the last month of his life; it was the crowning act of his love towards him. On the 5th of October (Tuesday evening), when sitting in his room, the Lord broke in upon his soul with these words: “For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul” (Psalm 109:31), which so fitted him, that he said he had not had such a blessing for fifteen years, and felt, on retiring to rest, that he could both lay him down and sleep, for the Lord made him to dwell in safety. On the following Wednesday he preached from the same words at Kensal Rise, and also on the Sabbath, many feeling it good to be there. On Saturday, the 31st of October, he started from his home to go to Peterboro’. When not many minutes’ walk from Cheshunt Station, he felt unwell, and had to be driven home in a cab. Writing to a friend at Peterboro’, after explaining the nature of the attack, there was this sentence: “I felt very weak all night; if I could have reached you on Sunday morning, would have ventured. I had been very much blessed in the week, and especially on Friday night, in my own soul, and told the dear Lord I did want to see him face to face; and I thought, when taken, that want was about to be realized, but felt I wanted to go and tell my friends and brethren a little of the goodness and mercy of God to me, a sinful worm, as I had anticipated having a good day with you on the Sabbath, but feel, “it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps,” as “the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delighteth in his way.”

On Wednesday evening, Nov. 3rd, he went to Kensal Rise, his eldest son accompanying him, and preached from 1 Timothy 3:16: “Received up into glory,” which was marked by all who heard him, most of them saying and feeling that he was very near his journey’s end. On the following Sabbath he preached at Road Hill, from Rev. 3:20: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock!” and expressed with great confidence, on parting with a dear friend, that if that was his last night upon earth, he should go to heaven. On Thursday, Nov. 11th, he left home for Turnford, about a mile and a half from his home, where he superintended a brickfield, as cheerful as ever, and was returning home at about half-past four in the afternoon, but had not proceeded far when, feeling unwell, he hailed a cart, which happened to be passing, and was permitted to reach his home, when he managed to sit on his armchair, greatly struggling for his breath; after which he was enabled to get on the couch, and breathed out to his dear wife, “I am dying; ‘Thy will be done;'” and passed away, which was at about 5 o’clock, having been in his home not more than five minutes. It could well be said, 

“One gentle sigh his fetters broke;

We scarce could say, He’s gone,” etc.

On Tuesday, Nov. 16th, all that was mortal was interred in Cheshunt cemetery, Mr. Painter, of Oxfordshire (a highly valued minister of the cause at Kensal Rise, where the late departed stood in membership) officiating, and gave a solemn address. His favourite hymn (one of Dr. Doddridge’s), “Jesus, I love thy charming name,” was sung to his favourite tune, “Arabia;” and around the grave, one of John Kent’s, commencing, “In hope of life eternal given,” a great number of friends from all parts being present. He is now realizing that much-loved hymn of Mrs. Sturton’s (170, Denham’s Selection), which he so often quoted:

“No more shall we mourn

That thy face thou’rt concealing; 

No Satan, no sin,

Base intruders below;

But ever behold thee,

Fresh glories revealing:

Amen, Hallelujah!

Come, Lord, even so.”

S. Mason