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Reminiscences: a Topographical Account of Market Lavington, Wilts, Its Past and Present Condition.: Also, the Rise and Progress of the Independent Church in That Place. And the Authentic History of David Saunders, the Pious Shepherd of Salisbury Plain. — John Shaqi

History

Reminiscences: a Topographical Account of Market Lavington, Wilts, Its Past and Present Condition.: Also, the Rise and Progress of the Independent Church in That Place. And the Authentic History of David Saunders, the Pious Shepherd of Salisbury Plain.

Name: Reminiscences: a Topographical Account of Market Lavington, Wilts, Its Past and Present Condition.: Also, the Rise and Progress of the Independent Church in That Place. And the Authentic History of David Saunders, the Pious Shepherd of Salisbury Plain.
Author: Atley, Henry

Atley, Henry

Market Lavington (England); Saunders, David, 1717-1796

As a further confirmation of the good accomplished by these combined
exertions, in which was associated a humble but pious individual of the
name of Wastfield, who resided at Imber, and frequently came over and
preached in the Market Place, on a stone that formerly stood at the
corner of the butcher’s shop, as did also some others whose hearts were
stirred within them, when, like Paul at Athens, they saw the place given
to idolatry of the most debasing character.  Among these was a Mr.
Williams, who was much persecuted, and obtained the cognomen of
“Jehovah,” from his frequent use of that term of the Almighty, and the
“Dearly Beloved,” from his affectionate entreaty when urging home upon
his hearers the momentous concerns of the soul.  From these labours of
faith and love many were aroused to concern; and such “as had tasted that
the Lord was gracious, and felt the powers of the world to come,” made it
their practice to repair regularly to Devizes on the Sabbath morning,
taking with them their provisions for the day, that so they might remain
the afternoon services, “For the Word of God was precious in those days,”
and of them it might literally as well as spiritually be said, “they went
from strength (company) to strength,” each succeeding traveller or group
overtaking the preceding one, until by their mutual blending (and like
the disciples going to Emmaus, they talked of the things concerning their
everlasting welfare by the way; and who can doubt but that their risen
and exalted Lord would commune with them), until at length they appeared
before God in Zion.  But the true effects must be left for time to
develope, and the full extent of the benefit can only be disclosed by the
light of Eternity, when at the last great gathering of the precious
fruits of the Sun it shall be found “this and that man were born here,”
and when the righteous Lord, whose decisions will be according to truth,
shall make up His jewels, and acknowledging the efforts and labours of
His humblest servant, reward every man according to his work.

                   [Picture: Cottage in Parsonage Lane]

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Reminiscences: a Topographical Account of Market Lavington, Wilts, Its Past and Present Condition.: Also, the Rise and Progress of the Independent Church in That Place. And the Authentic History of David Saunders, the Pious Shepherd of Salisbury Plain.

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