The Foundling; or, The Child of ProvidenceChurch, J. (John)
General
The Foundling; or, The Child of Providence
Church, J. (John)
Church, J. (John), approximately 1780-approximately 1825; Clergy -- England -- Biography
I have often admired the gracious conduct of Divine Providence in
bringing me acquainted with your family: I have found you faithful in
gospel bonds, faithful in reproving, admonishing, instructing, and
praying for me. You was well acquainted with the cause of my leaving
Chapel-court Meeting, as I could not get it as my own. I prayed to have
a place of my own, if it was an old barn; but, no doubt, this is another
proof of my pride. I have seen the sorrows of real good men, who have
been turned out of their situations, and reduced to abject poverty,
merely to please some bashaw deacon, or conceited trustee; and as I did
not like to wear a muzzle, I chose to get a humble place of my own. Your
friendship in exerting yourself for my good, and the accommodation of the
people, well succeeded, and our wishes were accomplished. A place was to
let, near the obelisk, which would contain 800 people: but, alas! we had
no seats, or pulpit. I opened it, just as it was, with a temporary
stage, on which I stood. The place was crowded; I was enabled to preach
in the afternoon on “He brought me to his banqueting house, and his
banner over me was love:” and in the evening, “I beseech thee shew me thy
glory.” I continued at Chapel-court some parts of the week, and Sundays,
till the Obelisk Chapel was quite ready; when I gave up the former
entirely, and occupied the latter. Many a blessed season we experienced
there, and the Lord confirmed the Word with signs following. With
pleasure you saw this, and fondly hoped to have seen a regular church
formed, upon the Baptist order; but, perhaps, I have been culpably
negligent upon that subject. However, your desire was in a great measure
fulfilled: the presence of the Lord filled the place, the Word ran, and
Christ and free-grace was glorified. Many remember the spot with
pleasure, and others have gone from thence to glory. I need not
apologise for reminding you of your remarkable dream on _Ezra_, vii. 27,
28, “Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing
into the king’s heart, to beautify the house of the Lord, which is at
Jerusalem.” And I was strengthened, as the hand of the Lord was upon me.
The Lord be with you, while I remain,
Yours, in Him, J. C.
He never said to Jacob’s seed,
Seek ye my face in vain;
No; he delights our souls to feed,
That we with him may reign.
LETTER XV.
“Son of Man, shew the house to the house of Israel.”
To —
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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