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The Life And Ministry Of Andrew Ward
I was born on July 30, 1854, in the village of Earl's Barton, Northamptonshire. My parents were poor, but hard-working. At the time of my birth they were not professors, but soon afterward they were called by God out of darkness into His marvelous light. I can just remember them being baptized, so from my early remembrance I was brought up to attend the house of God and to reverence the Sabbath-day. I was the subject of deep conviction very early, and the necessity of the new birth. A very distressing suicide took place in our village before I was six years old, which led me deeply to consider my state as a sinner. The Lord's-day evening that the young person lay by the walls,…
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The Life And Ministry Of David Smith
Dear Brother,—At your request I am penning a brief outline of my life and connection with the cause at Broad-street, Bilston, to accompany photo in the Earthen Vessel & Gospel Herald. Our family record makes known the fact that I was born in a village called "the Lye," in the county of Worcester, March 25th, 1859. When quite a child, I remember my grandmother taking me to the Primitive Methodist Chapel, where she stood a member; the excitement, varied exclamations, and attitudes of the worshippers, filled my infant mind with dread, imagining some fearful calamity was about to happen. It was with difficulty I could be persuaded to accompany her again. Some time after, however, my parents removed to Bilston, and attended the newly formed…
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The Life And Ministry Of B. T. Dale
Dear Brother,—According to your request, I send you a few particulars of my life. I was born on March 3rd, 1853, and as the Scriptures affirm, and which I fully believe, born in sin, as my after-life goes to prove, although I thank God I was never left to enter into any open sin which the world could point to with the finger of scorn. Yet I can say with the Psalmist, "My sin or mine iniquities are great," and have more than once felt the truth of John Bradford's words when he saw a man walking up to the gallows, "There goes John Bradford but for the grace of God." Twice in the course of my boyhood have I been preserved from death, which…
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The Life And Ministry Of William Tooke
My dear father was born on the 7th of March, 1823, in the parish of Hackney, being the youngest son of Samuel and Sarah Tooke, who, I believe, were members of the Church at Homerton-row for forty years, the former occupying the position of deacon of that Church for a long period. In his youth he sat under the ministry of the late Daniel Curtis, but as far as I know there did not appear to be a work of grace began until he was twenty-one years of age. To use his own words: "I was kept very strictly at home, and determined that when I was of age I would have my fill of the pleasures of this life.'' Accordingly, one Lord's-day morning he…
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The Life And Ministry Of W. E. Thomsett
Mr. W. E. Thomsett was born at Dover, Jan. 15th, 1821. Some years afterwards he was removed in Providence near West Drayton, where he resided for awhile with his parents, and attended the Baptist cause meeting in Angel-lane, Hayes. He was baptised at the age of 18. As regards his call by grace, or to the ministry, he was often wont to tell us "that had not God began with him he would never have begun with God, as He had arranged and managed all without him having any hand in the work," so that in the heaviest trials he dare not reason but rather look up, saying, "Blessed Master, Thou knowest all things, that I love Thee, and all things do work together for…
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The Life And Ministry Of Samuel Ponsford
The late Samuel Ponsford was born at Moretonhampstead, Devon, Oct. 23rd, 1801, of poor but respectable parents. He had only a faint remembrance of his father, being quite a child when he died. His mother was a godly woman, and a member of the little Baptist chapel at Moreton, where the late Mr. Garrett was pastor. The years of his youth, from 10 to 21, were spent in a farm-house, after which he went to Exeter, and was occupied as a market gardener. At the age of 23 he married. The influence of his mother's teaching made an impression upon his mind, which abode with him until he reached the age of 25, when it pleased God to reveal his sinnership to him, and by…
