Sermons of the late Mr. John Vinall,

for Forty-five Years Minister of Jireh Chapel, Lewes, and of Providence Chapel, Brighton. - (March, 1862.)

Among the many striking features which distinguished the life and labours of Mr. Huntington, this was not the least conspicuous, that by the graces and gifts which the Lord bestowed so abundantly upon him he attached to himself so large a number of personal friends, some of whom became eminent ministers of the gospel. As a proof of this assertion we need only mention the names of Jenkins, Brook, Lock, Beeman, Chamberlain, Turner, Parsons, and, though last, not least, the late Mr. Vinall. The names of others may occur to our readers which have for the moment escaped our memory, or are unknown to us, but we have mentioned, we believe, the most conspicuous. Mr. Huntington, it is true, shone among them and above them all as the moon among the planets, or as David amidst his mighty men of valour. In grace, in gifts, in experience, in light, life, and power, in originality and variety, in the knowledge and ready use of Scripture, in acquaintance with the human heart, in wielding the weapons of warfare on the right hand and on the left to defend truth and beat down error, none of his friends and followers approached him, if we may use the expression, within speaking distance. There was, therefore, no rivalry between them. Before they were drawn within his circle, the Lord had set him on high as a burning and a shining light. They had, therefore, nothing to give, or teach him, though he had much to give and teach them. Thus naturally, necessarily, he took his position, and they theirs; and his friends no more thought of rivalling him than the friends of a prince strive to be greater than he. This was not on their part servility, or on his undue assumption. The bond which knit them together was a spiritual, not a natural tie. A poor despised coalheaver as he had been, though now, by the providence and grace of God, raised up to an eminent position in the church of Christ, had no places of honour or of emolument at his disposal. If he were in their eyes the King's prime minister, he had no preferment to bestow but that of hatred from the world and scorn from the professing church. When Rowland Hill, the great evangelical light of his day, bade his servant take up a work of Huntington's* with the tongs and put it on the fireback, it was but the expression of the general abhorrence of him as felt by the religious party of the day. Those, therefore, who boldly stood forth as his followers and friends had to bear their share of obloquy and shame. Competition being precluded, there was little room for envy and jealousy, for these subsist chiefly among equals. Mr. Huntington was raised above rivalry, for none so fully admitted his superiority as his immediate friends. He fully repaid their respect and kindness. He gave them wise counsel in their difficulties, sympathised with them in their troubles, and was always ready to help them with his purse in their necessities. We are not setting up Mr. Huntington, for, like other great men, he had great infirmities; but merely describing what is plain to all who have read his correspondence with his friends, or have ever heard them speak of him since his decease. To have known him, to have had the privilege of his friendship, was to the latest period of their lives regarded by them as one of their choice mercies. As flesh mixes with everything, we do not deny that on his side there might have been the gratification of pride in being so looked up to and almost revered, and on theirs the pleasure of being received by him as saints and servants of God. We think that we have seen traces of both these feelings in their intercourse; and as unchecked authority is apt to degenerate into tyranny, and unresisting obedience into submissiveness, so in some cases Mr. Huntington might have condemned too severely, and his friends acquiesced in his authority too implicitly. Let us also bear in mind that, like other great men, Mr. Huntington had his flatterers who often spread their net for his feet, and many admirers who walked in the light of his knowledge and gifts without any share of his grace. It could not be expected, therefore, that he would never be entangled by fair speeches, or always see through the mask of profession. But with all these deductions, which a sense of duty compels us to make, we must still bear in mind that, amidst the storm of obloquy and contempt which assailed him from every quarter, it must have been a solace to Mr. Huntington that he had for his personal friends some of the excellent of the earth, and for them that they had the fullest persuasion in their own consciences that he was an eminently favoured servant of God. A few still remain of his attached hearers, though every year is now thinning their ranks; but Mr. Vinall, we think, was about the last survivor of the preachers of the gospel who called him their father in Christ.* If we mistake not, it was the "Bank of Faith."Mr. Vinall was so well known, and so highly and so deservedly esteemed, not only by his own church and congregation, but by the numerous occasional hearers who, visiting Brighton for the sake of health or a necessary relaxation from business, embraced the opportunity of listening to the truth from his lips, that some memento of his ministry seems peculiarly desirable. The labours of a faithful man of God are by no means restricted to his own congregation or his own life. Mr. Huntington, as occupying a central position in the great metropolis, drew to him, either as occasional hearers or permanent members, very many who could not have heard him had his ministry been confined to some small town; but even he paid his annual visits to the Isle of Ely, Grantham, Newark, and other places where his presence was hailed with delight by numerous friends and followers who had read his writings and been blessed under his ministry. Mr. Gadsby and Mr. Warburton were probably as much if not more blessed from home than at home, the former in the north and the latter in the south of England, besides their annual visits to London. Churches and congregations who have to endure the burden of the support of the ministry have, of course, the largest claim upon his services; yet we have thought sometimes if they could a little more divest themselves of selfish feelings, and bear in mind the blessing that their minister may be made to many other members of the same mystical body of Christ besides themselves, they would be more willing to hold him with a slacker rein. In Mr. Vinall's case this relaxation of home rule was not so required, as he laboured constantly, not only at Lewes but at Brighton, and during the former part of his ministry had a very extensive sphere of labour in both the east and west of Sussex, besides visiting London every month for three or four evenings for the space of nine years.But it will be, perhaps, more satisfactory to our readers if, instead of obtruding upon them our own reflections, we give a little account of his call by grace and subsequent experience, as contained in a brief but very interesting memoir of him published by his son, Mr. Ebenezer Vinall.His call by grace is thus given:"Being of a lively disposition, and a good singer, his company was much sought after, and he became a ringleader of his companions. At seasons, much of his time was spent in bell ringing, singing, and what he then felt to be pleasure-taking. The Christmas holidays previous to his call by grace, he was for five weeks with his ungodly companions night and day; and, on his eldest sister remonstrating with him on the sinful course he was pursuing, he replied, 'I shall surely go to hell, and then I shall know the worst of it!' Thus was he hardened indeed through the love of sin, and led captive by the devil at his will; when (O the richness and freeness of God's grace!) as he was returning home about midnight, during the early part of February, 1802, being then in his twentieth year, he was stopped, as he often expressed it, at the forty-fifth milestone on the road to London, between Mockbridge and Henfield, which he described in the following manner: 'After I had been striving secretly against sin and temptation, and under some legal convictions, for many months, it pleased the Lord, of his infinite mercy, to meet with me in a sovereign way, unthought of and unsought for, and to infuse his blessed Spirit into my heart; so that I cried out from the overpowering feeling, "My dear Redeemer!"' The moment the Lord met with him, he said, he had such a sight and sense of himself as a sinner, and of the kindness and goodness of God, that his heart was melted into the deepest contrition, compunction, humility, and godly sorrow. Here he saw, indeed, that the Lord would be most just if he cut him off and sent him to everlasting destruction; but, instead of that, his goodness melted his heart, and produced that godly sorrow that worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of. From this time he was enabled to separate himself from an ungodly world; as it is written: 'Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.' The fear of God being implanted in his heart, he departed from iniquity; and from that time was led to seek the Lord by humble prayer and supplication, and began to work out his salvation with much fear and trembling, God the Holy Ghost working in him both to will and also to do of his good pleasure."Shortly after this, he was removed in the providence of God to Lewes (May 19th, 1802), where he first heard a Mr. Dale, but afterwards attended the ministry of Mr. Jenkins, Mr. Huntington's well-known friend, and called by him "the Welsh Ambassador." The little memoir thus speaks of the effect of Mr. Jenkins's ministry on his conscience, and of his happy deliverance under Mr. Huntington:"Mr. J.'s ministry was very searching and close. Frequently, after sermon, my father rambled on the Downs, or retired to his room, and begged of the Lord that he might pass through the most acute exercise and severe discipline rather than be deceived. He continued for the most part in this state of mind until the year 1805, when Mr. Huntington came to Lewes, at the opening of Jireh Chapel, which place of worship was erected for the use of Mr. Jenkins and a portion of his old congregation, on their separating from Lady Huntingdon's Connection. Mr. Huntington's first text was 1 Kings 8:11: 'So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord.' The next evening he preached from these words: 'Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.' (Matt. 5:8.) In the course of his sermon, Mr. Huntington made this remark: 'If you will hear me attentively, I will tell you in so many particulars wherein you may know whether or not you have a pure heart.' This was the point on which my father was longing for satisfaction. Under this discourse, the Lord was pleased to speak pardon and peace to his soul, and to set him at sweet and happy liberty. After this he heard Mr. Huntington preach at Bolney, under the apple tree in the garden of Mr. Blaker, from these words: 'In all places where I record my name, I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee;' which subject was much blessed to him, and he returned home filled with joy and peace in believing."For some years after this he was exercised about being called to the ministry, and an opportunity being given he expounded the word at Lewes, then destitute of a minister. He was favoured "with such liberty and boldness as carried with it a manifestation of the presence of God." This was in September, 1811.This will introduce us to our next extract:"When Mr. Huntington visited Lewes the last time, he sent for my father to meet him at Stoneham at 5 o'clock in the morning. He received him kindly and affectionately, and gave him some very wholesome counsel. In the evening of the same day Mr. H. spoke from these words: 'But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.' (Dan. 12:13.) In this discourse he showed the necessary qualifications of a faithful minister of the gospel; leaving it to my father's and the people's consciences to judge whether he answered to the description given."Mr. Brook dying, Sept. 21st, 1811, the cause at Brighton was without a minister; and in the following year my father was invited to preach there, which he did, at first once a fortnight, and after a time regularly every Sabbath evening, and also on a week evening. Soon it pleased the Lord to call him to more extended labours. He preached at Alfriston, Eastbourne, the Dicker, Five-Ash Down, Maresfield, and Ticehurst, in the east of Sussex; and in the west part of the county, at Petworth, Midburst, Chichester, and other places; and for the period of nine years, three or four evenings every month in London. His ministry was much blessed to many. Hundreds, I might say thousands, were through his instrumentality brought to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. I believe very few ministers of Christ have been more honoured of the Lord, and made more extensively useful."Our space does not admit of dwelling on several very interesting and edifying circumstances connected with the rupture of a blood-vessel, with which he was afflicted in the spring of 1829. But, on December 22, 1831, he was visited by a more enduring affliction in being seized with paralysis, from which he never recovered, losing permanently the use of his left side. During this time of affliction, when he so fully anticipated his dismissal that he chose two texts for his funeral sermons (Isa. 57:1, first clause, and 2 Tim. 1:12, last clause), he was much favoured with the presence and blessing of the Lord. The time was not however come, as he lived more than 20 years after this and was enabled to resume his ministry at Lewes and Brighton, with an occasional interval from bodily afflictions and other circumstances into which we need not enter. That he had infirmities of temper, owing no doubt much to the nature of his bodily afflictions, is well known; but these are best buried with his poor shattered tabernacle. They will no more rise with it in the day of the Lord's appearing than his paralysed side. But there was one point on which he had a peculiar and, as the event showed, an erroneous impression, on which his son has touched both very tenderly and wisely. We shall, therefore, simply give the following extract on the subject:"He had about this time adopted the impression that it was the Lord's purpose eventually to restore him from his paralytic affliction; and this idea coloured in a considerable measure the remainder of his ministrations. I do not feel it necessary to enter into this subject very fully, as the event showed that he was mistaken; suffice it to say, that I believe he grounded much of his confidence on the interpretation he put upon Ps. 92:15, 16: 'He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honour him; with long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation,' which was truly fulfilled in his experience, although not in the way which he expected. A short time prior to his death he spoke to me on this subject, and alluded to the persuasion a Mr. Baker had (before my father sank into the despairing state as before narrated), in reference to the restoration of his body, grounded upon the same passage; and I went through the text with him, pointing out to him the way in which it had been already fulfilled in his experience. First, In his being enabled to call upon God, as I had often heard him say that God was not out of his thoughts ten minutes together for years, except when sleeping. Secondly, The many answers to prayer he had received. Thirdly, The special way God had been with him in his trouble. Fourthly, How mercifully he had delivered him and honoured him in his ministry. And Fifthly, According to his frequently-expressed desires to depart, that he was perfectly satisfied with the length of his days, not wishing to live one day longer. 'Ah!' he said; 'but there is the last.' 'Yes,' I replied, 'I believe that you will shortly realise this, when the dear Lord comes to receive you to himself; then it will be fulfilled in the highest degree and fullest extent.'"It is satisfactory to find that he himself toward the last felt that he had been deceived in the impression of his bodily restoration:"After this he was much tried respecting the views he had held, and what he had advanced, respecting the restoration of his body; and said that he had been deceived in the impression, and wished that he had never spoken of it. He told those about him that they were to give up all expectation of its fulfilment. Although tried on this point, his confidence in the God of his salvation abode strong and firm. He had often said that if ever he was convinced he was wrong in the impression, he would gladly acknowledge it; observing, 'If I am deceived in this, I am deceived; but it is no part of my salvation.' He was well aware that I did not agree with him on the subject of his restoration, and therefore seldom spoke of it to me."He had his changes during his last illness, but for the most part was kept in sweet peace. We have only room for the closing scene:"On Saturday, a great change was evident to us all. The poor tabernacle was being rapidly taken down. In the early part of the morning he said, 'Quiet rest;' and a little time after, 'Whom once he loves he never leaves.' Then he said, 'Happy, happy, happy!' and waved his hand. He was next heard to say, 'Joy!' and being asked by his son Joseph if he was happy, replied, 'Yes.' Joseph rejoined, 'You are almost at home, father.' His reply was, 'I wish I was quite.' These were the last words he was heard to utter; and from that time he sank into a deep sleep, until his eyes were finally closed in death, at a quarter past 3 o'clock in the afternoon, March 3rd, 1860."The sermons at the head of this article were taken down as notes by Mr. Spence, a gentleman residing at Hertford, during occasional visits to Brighton. We hope in our next No. to give one at full length, which will speak for itself as a memento of Mr. Vinall's ministry; though nothing can convey the peculiar savour, sweetness, and power which rested upon the word from his lips when the Lord was with him. We, of course, speak more from the testimony of others on whom we can depend than our own, though on one occasion, in the year 1838, we heard him, with great sweetness and savour. On certain points of experience he was peculiarly clear and discriminating, such as the first work of grace on the soul, the fear of the Lord, faith in all its trials and exercises, the nature and power of prayer, the presence of the Lord, with its effects in the heart; and as he had a wonderful knowledge of Scripture and the greatest aptitude in its application, and did not, as many ministers do, just touch upon the point and then leave it, but went deeply into it and clearly described its workings, it gave to his ministry a peculiar power and interest. He excelled where so many ministers fail. They speak of godly fear, faith, repentance, &c., but do not describe the sensations they produce, the sinkings and risings, the ins and outs, the ups and downs, and the whole train of godly movements which follow upon the secret operations of the Holy Spirit upon the heart. But Mr. Vinall was singularly gifted to work out and describe the various and conflicting sensations of the quickened and believing soul, and thus to cast a blessed light upon the most precious and valuable parts of a believer's experience - that fear of the Lord which is "his treasure;" (Isa. 33:6;) that faith, or rather that trial of faith, which is "much more precious than of gold that perisheth;" (1 Pet. 1:7;) that good hope through grace which maketh not ashamed; that love of God which is shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost. (Rom. 5:5.) The chief work and value of an experimental ministry is not merely to say that such and such desires and workings are the feelings of a quickened soul, or the actings of living faith in a believer's heart, and to quote a string of texts to prove it; but to describe the minutiae of these spiritual sensations, and to work them out in their various and often hidden and intricate movements Godward. The kingdom of God in a believer's soul is like a deep mine of heavenly treasure. "Surely there is a vein for the silver and a place for the gold, where they fine it." "The stones of it are the place of sapphires, and it hath dust of gold." But in this mine "there is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not seen." (Job 18:1, 6, 7.) The minister, then, must be the miner to dig into this mine, to turn up this vein, to bring to light these sapphires, and gather out this dust of gold. But to do this, he must see by the purged and enlightened eye of faith a path which no unclean vulture (preacher or professor) ever saw, and turn up an intricate vein which no "fierce lion," roaring against experimental truth, ever "passed by," or his "whelps," yelping by his notes, ever trod. To dig into this mine, and tread this path was Mr. Vinall's happy privilege; and for the silver, the gold, and the sapphires which, as he thus dug, he turned up to fill their treasures, his people and his gracious occasional hearers loved the man, prized his ministry, and bore with his infirmities