Immediate Results—Rev. H. Gauntlett—Cottage Services—Persecution—Anecdotes.

Of the immediate results of the Shepherd’s toil (which, owing to the erratic and wandering character of human existence, “for man continueth not in any stay,” may be cast to the very ends of the earth), we gather this much: two of the sons of the owner of the mill were brought to the knowledge of the truth, and to feel the sanctifying power of religion, so that the scenes before described, and in which they had largely participated, were relinquished and abandoned, and a great interest felt in the growth and promotion of all that was “pure, lovely, and of good report.” Of them it could be justly said, “Old things have passed away, behold all things are become new.” It was mainly through their instrumentality a room in the mill was allowed for the meetings for reading and prayer on the Sabbath mornings. Another who probably from this humble teacher beneath this roof first heard the simple tale of the scenes of Calvary as revealed in the Gospel, of him it might be said, in the language of God to Cyrus, which will be manifest as we proceed, “I have called thee, though thou hast not known me.” Having engaged, by his intelligent look and manner (which for one in his situation was considerable) the attention and notice of the lady at Clyffe Hall, Mrs. Vince, she advised him to devote his entire time and attention to study for the office of the public ministry; for this purpose he placed himself under the instruction of Dr. Stonehouse, at Cheverill (before referred to), and, after continuing there a suitable time, obtained ordination (the qualifications for which were not so high as at the present time), he became curate at Imber and Tilshead. On one or two occasions he preached in the church of this place. His discourses, though not evangelical, were much superior in quality to that usually afforded, and excited considerable attention: this may in some measure be accounted for by the spirit of inquiry that had resulted from the labours of the shepherd.

He afterwards was led to clearer views of Divine truth, which vastly enlarged his sphere of usefulness, and made him a great blessing, not only in his own parish, but in the neighbourhood around, and when we find that he frequently attended the meetings afterwards held in the cottages to be named, there cannot be a doubt but he was made a chosen vessel of mercy. Having on one of those days denominated Saint’s days, probably being disengaged from personal duty, come over to Lavington to hear the vicar, it is remembered after the service visiting his father, then living, his mind was in a remarkably perturbed state, and, walking the room under great excitement, he remarked with solemn emphasis, “If you continue to hear such preaching as I have heard this morning, and are satisfied with it, you will all be lost. The Gospel must be introduced by some means or other.” Nor did it rest in mere declamation, for he with others immediately devised measures for the accomplishment of the wish; he waited upon the Rev. R. Sloper, of Devizes, and entreated him to adopt means to introduce the truth. He afterwards removed to Reading. It was his lot to experience the truth of the Divine word, “He that will live godly must suffer persecution.” When he left Tilshead the ringers, whether at the instigation of others or not is not certain, rang the bells to ring him out; and who does not know what that means? Well had it been for them to have pondered the kindred spirit manifested by the Jews when they exclaimed, “His blood be upon us and upon our children.” He published a work of considerable acumen on the Revelations of St. John.

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.

Cottage in Parsonage Lane

It was to be expected that these privileges, though so scanty, and which were highly prized, should produce in their minds an earnest and growing desire for the increase of the means of grace to themselves, and also for the benefit of those around them, especially of their own flesh and blood, as many would from family and other circumstances be prevented availing themselves of the public ordinances which they enjoyed. Now, in the apostolic writings such a feeling is given as one criterion of a renewed state, “To do good unto all men, and especially those of the household of faith;” for them as yet nothing had been prepared; they were prompted to special exertion, and their first step was to obtain a room where an evening service in the week could be held, and when they could obtain the assistance of some minister from the neighbourhood, this was done, a cottage (chiefly through the instrumentality of the Rev. Mr. Gauntlett, before alluded to) situated in Parsonage Lane (now in the occupation of Hannah Love, a member of the Church) was obtained, William Smith was then the occupant: here, it is believed, a regular service was commenced. Such proceedings excited in the public mind warm and bitter persecution. “The enemies of all righteousness, the children of Belial,” manifested open hostility, every method was devised to upset their proceedings. They injected into the room where they were assembled, through every available avenue, various substances of filth, disgusting and foetid effluvium, as rotten eggs, stale wash, asafoetida, &c. In this honourable employment the exciseman stationed here was one of the most violent and bitter. The people dwelling next door, themselves hostile to religion, were open aiders and abettors, being prevailed upon by the gift of spirits and malt liquor to increase the annoyance by pouring these filthy accumulations down the chimney. Finding that the friends amid all these assaults displayed no disposition to retreat or yield, but an heroic determination in humble reliance on the Great Head of the Church to maintain their ground, and, if possible, make inroads upon the territory of the Prince of darkness, they proceeded a step further, blocking up the ventilation, and darkening the apertures for light, assailing them with all the known but indescribable sounds of discord, both vocal and instrumental, uttering the most disgusting and opprobrious epithets, and insulting them personally as they came to and fro. Still, no cry for quarter, no compromise was even whispered by the followers of the despised Redeemer, they not only remembered it was uttered by Him when on the earth, “If they persecute me they will also persecute you,” and “these things will they do unto you because they know not the Father nor me,” but they counted it an honour to share in His sufferings.

The storm, without losing any of its general character or being drawn off or diverted from the associated body, made itself felt in its individual power. The ties of family connexions, of friendship and acquaintance, and even of business transactions, were broken up; and where before the nod of recognition, the hand of friendship, and the salute of relationship was given, now the sly averted look, the curled lip, the knitted brow, told plainly and unmistakeably the bitterness of spirit, the malevolence of soul dwelling within; but upon none did it beat with more violence and vehemence than the humble tenant of the house, who soon felt it in its own native malignity, and that, too, with the sanction and influence of parties moving in the so-called respectable walks of life, by which they sought to crush and ruin him. What pleasure does the carnal mind feel when, under the direct control of the god of this world, it vents its venom on those who, by their life, portray a virtue of which the other cannot boast? He was required either to discontinue the services in his house or to give up possession, supposing thus to cow the spirit of one whose daily maintenance depended on his honest toil. They had recourse to promises, persecutions, threats, and intimidation. He manifested the true spirit of Christian heroism, for although he never exhibited what some would term a decided proof of a renewed heart, being of a timid and retiring temperament, rather courting the secluded shade than the open blaze of publicity, which rendered the temptation more fierce and trying, yet his unimpeachable rectitude, his moral propriety, his constant and lively interest in the prosperity and progress of the cause, his steady adherence to it through the fiery ordeal, and his happy death, justify the conclusion that silently the sacred seed had vegetated; and ultimately he received the end of his faith, the salvation of the soul. Alluding to the fact here stated, when visited in his last affliction and in the near views of eternity, he expressed himself thankful that he was not allowed to yield to the temptation, but was enabled to do as he had done, for with the Apostle “he conferred not with flesh and blood.” Conscience dictated and he obeyed her voice, gave up the cottage regardless of ulterior consequences (for he had been told by his employer that he should visit with his heavy displeasure his persistance in such conduct), and having one of his own in White Street, which stood on the site of Mr. Hayward’s surgery, he removed thither, carrying the ark of God with him, thus nobly consecrating his house to the service of religion. Was not this the spirit of the ancient believer who said, “As for me and my house we will serve the Lord”? What an example is here presented, a noble sacrifice worthy of all honour, which nothing but the conviction of the goodness of the cause in which he was embarked could enable him to fulfil. Verily the blessing he sought he was permitted to realize, for “God, who is not unrighteous to forget the work of faith and labour of love,” has left it on record for all to the end of time, “Them that honour me I will honour.” He was afterwards elected to the office of clerk and sexton of the chapel, which he filled with credit for several years; dying in a good old age in the year 1847.

The vicar being determined to suppress these irregular proceedings, as he denominated them, probably imagining as all clergymen do, they are the only authorised instructors of the people, used all his influence, and having secretly encouraged those low assaults previously recorded, but which to his chagrin had been unable to shake them from their purpose, now proceeded to open remonstrance. He placed a person to watch the arrival of the expected minister, who from some cause or other had been delayed; his anxiety to do what he thought God’s service, got the better of his patience, or perhaps fearing his emissary might fall under the evil influence of bad example, repaired thither himself. The person acting as precentor had commenced the service by singing, and was preparing to read the Scriptures, when he was stopped by the rev. gentleman (who had no fear of being cited into the Ecclesiastical court for brawling) and severely reprimanded for his conduct, and admonished to go home and not disturb the quiet of the place by such disorderly proceedings. By this time the minister had arrived, and the intruder, either alarmed at his antagonist, or, it is to be hoped, ashamed of his conduct, withdrew, and left the assembly to the enjoyment of their evening’s exercise. The following day he was waited upon by two Dissenting ministers from Devizes, and in his turn received reproof and admonition. Not at all relishing the interview, he made it as brief as possible, and gladly bowed them from under his roof, remarking to some one near, “If they preach as they talk, I do not wonder the people go to hear them.” Satisfied with one visit he never coveted or sought another, and though he did not approve, he would not again by his own overt acts bring himself into collision with them. Well had it been for him to have learned wisdom of the Jewish Sanhedrim, “Let these men alone, for if the work be of God ye cannot overthrow it, lest haply ye be found to fight against God.”

A blacksmith in White Street, a worshipper of the jolly god, Bacchus, on one occasion, after the indulgence of copious potations, entered the place where they were assembled, and endeavoured to interupt the service. Having come in the extreme liberality and charity of his warm heart earnestly to expostulate with what he considered the deluded people, especially the minister, whom he evidently imagined to act under the impulse of sordid motives, begging him not to disturb the peace of the village, saying, “If it is want that leads you so to act, here,” said he, and accompanying the word with peculiar action, he drew from under his leathern apron or some capacious pocket a large piece of bacon, adding, “If you want something to eat, here is some for you.” We can only hope that he may have been brought to see and know that “Man cannot live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”