CORRUPTING BOOKS
DIVISION 12 BOOKII
(Meridian)
CHAPTER 3
THE PREACHER AND PASTOR CONTINUED At the present time the Methodist communion has nine metropolitan Circuits; but in the year 1795, when Mr. Clarke received his appointment from the Manchester Conference, the whole of London, and much of the surrounding country, formed but one vast Circuit. It extended, in fact, from Woolwich to Twickenham, and from Edmonton to Dorking, with occasional visits to various outlying places, as Barking, St. Alban’s, &c.
There were about four thousand members in Society. The superintendent was Mr. Pawson; and Mr. Clarke’s other colleagues were Messrs.
Wrigley, West, Griffith, and Reece. His residence in John-street,
Spitalfields, adjoined the chapel. Here he resumed, with greater intenseness than ever, the labors of his devoted life for, in addition to the great
physical and intellectual efforts demanded by his pulpit and pastoral work, his mind was now beginning to put forth its strength in those literary toils which in their results have given him an abiding name. All his past studies had been but preparatory; and from the stores he had been accumulating, he felt it a law of God in his conscience to bring forth out of his treasury things new and old,” for the increase of learning, and the promotion of truth and piety among men. And more especially were his energies concentrated, in the study, on the elaboration of a Commentary on the holy Scriptures, to which he applied all the leisure time he could command; and this, from the very nature of his public engagements, could be only found in the early part of the day. One of Mendelssohn’s works has the title of Morning Hours;” *[1] and we are sure that Adam Clarke might have given a similar designation to the goodly array of volumes with which he has enriched our religious literature. We have in them the first fresh thinkings of his mind, — dew-drops glittering in the orient sun, or
manna gathered in the prime. He knew that, unless the early time of the day were redeemed, his life would yield but little fruit in the field of literature. He became, therefore, a companion of the morning star. Later in the day he had to meet the calls of one duty after another, till it was time to take his accustomed journey for the pulpit and class-work of the evening. His duties in this last respect took him to various parts of the town, and places in the suburbs lying miles away from home. He either could not or would not avail himself of any means of conveyance; But usually performed his journeys on foot, except when appointed to
Dorking. In this way, during his three years’ stay in the Circuit, he walked more than seven thousand miles. In these perambulations, he had an
almost constant companion in Mr. Buttress, one of the leading Methodists of the Spitalfields chapel; whose name, as maintained by his descendants to the present day, is honorably cherished in the communion to which they have been steadfast. Wherever Mr. Clarke was seen in the pulpit, Mr. Buttress was to be found in the pew. He, of all men, would be prepared to give an opinion as to the monotony or manifoldness of his friend’s ministrations; and his testimony goes to affirm, that Mr. Clarke’s preaching was remarkable for its endless variety. To one who asked him whether he did not become tired with hearing the same discourses so often, he gave the reply, that he had never heard the same discourse twice, except on one occasion, when it was repeated at his own request. “Well,”
returned the inquirer, “if you did not hear the same text, did he not take the same subject?” “No,” said Mr. Buttress, ‘not anything beyond the broad Gospel of Jesus Christ.” *[2]
The results of these well-sustained exertions can only be unfolded in the final day. In the case of a Methodist minister, who co-operates with so many others in the same pulpit, it becomes peculiarly difficult to pronounce upon the measure of good effected by the ministry of one alone. No doubt, each of those good men, who labored so cordially in word and doctrine, had seals to his own ministry; and all of them enjoyed the solemn gratification of witnessing the progress of the work of God in their Circuit at large. Mr. Clarke did not long prosecute his work in London before he was cheered by the tokens of the Holy Spirit’s presence and grace in the gathering in of some who were the firstfruits of a more
extensive harvest. Among these were two, whose conversion to God was productive of consequences of everlasting benefit to many more.
Mr. Joseph Butterworth, an opulent law-publisher in London, had married Miss Anne Cooke, the sister of Mrs. Adam Clarke. Mr. Butterworth, though the son of a Baptist minister, (author of a well-known
Concordance to the Holy Scriptures,) was not, at that time, a decidedly religious man, nor under any influences which would prepossess him in favor of Methodism. Still, as Mr. Clarke was his brother-in-law, though personally unknown to him, he felt a sort of curiosity to hear him. The effect the sermon had upon him led Mr. B. to hasten the fulfillment of a purpose to call on him, and to seek a personal acquaintance. He
accordingly went the next day with his lady to Spitalfields. Mrs.
Butterworth had not seen her sister for years, as, from the disinclination Mrs. Cooke had entertained for her daughter’s marriage with Mr. Clarke, but little intercourse had obtained between the families. These old things, however, were now passing away, and the two sisters were enabled to renew the friendship of their earlier day s under the sanctifying
benedictions of religion. Learning that Mr. Clarke was going to preach that evening at Leytonstone, Mr. Butterworth offered to accompany him.
On the road Mr. Clarke soon perceived that the mind of his brother-ia-law was awakened to serious inquiry about the way of salvation; and the little journey passed rapidly in animated conversation on the things of God. In fact, the “vital spark of heavenly flame” had been kindled in Mr.
Bufterworth’s heart; and on the way homeward he disclosed to Mr.
Clarke, that, while hearing him preach on the preceding Sunday, he had received impressions of the truth which had moved him to seek the grace of repentance unto life; that a sense of guilt and depravity had arisen in his conscience; and that it was his great desire and determination to find the mercy which alone could save him. Right gladly did Mr. Clarke point out to him the way to the attainment of peace with God, through Jesus Christ;
and when, after supper, the visitors having gone home, Mr. Clarke related to his wife the conversation which had taken place between himself and her brother-in-law, his gratification was greatly enhanced by learning that the sisters had spent the evening in converse on the same theme. Mrs.
Butterworth had participated with her husband in the Divine influence
which attended the discourse on Sunday, and acknowledged that she had come for the purpose of conferring with her sister about the things belonging to her eternal peace. Equally remarkable it is, that both these inquirers after the pardoning mercy of G od found the grace they were seeking while hearing another sermon from Mr. Clarke. The friendship established under these auspicious circumstances received an eternal seal.
Joined to the Lord in one spirit, and in one hope of their calling, they spent their remaining days in the service of their redeeming God; and, being gathered “into the ark of Christ’s church,” “steadfast in faith, joyful through hope, and rooted in charity,” so passed “the waves of this
troublesome world,” as to come together “to the land of everlasting life.”
The Butterworths, having given their hearts to the Lord, gave their hands at once to His cause, and as members of the Methodist communion adorned the doctrine of their Saviour in a life fragrant with devotion and beneficence. In the church, Mr. Butterworth long sustained most
influential offices; and in the world, whether as a mercantile man, as a patron and manager of various philanthropic institutions, or as a diligent and effective member of Parliament, he stood for many years conspicuous among the best men of his time.
In the London Circuit at large, Mr. Clarke, and his excellent colleagues, had the great encouragement of witnessing the tokens of Divine mercy in those signs and wonders of salvation by which much people were turned to the Lord. In writing to a friend at Liverpool, he describes this work as an outpouring of the Spirit of God such as he had never seen before. “Every part of the city seemed to partake of it. The preachings were well
attended, and a gracious influence rested on the people. After the regular service we have a prayer-meeting, in which much good is done. The first movement took place in our Sunday-schools; and in Spitalfields, New Chapel, West-street, and Snow’s-fields, simultaneously. Several sheets of paper would not suffice to give you even a general idea of what is going on. Last night we had our lovefeast. For about half an hour the people spoke: when all was ended in that way, we exhorted and prayed with many who were in great mental distress. We remained four hours in these exercises. You might have seen small parties praying in separate parts of the chapel at the same time. The mourning was like that of Hadadrimmon;
every family seemed to mourn apart. We who prayed circulated through
the whole chapel, above and below, adapting our prayers and exhortations to the circumstances of the mourners. Many were pardoned; to others strong hope was vouchsafed, and then was the advice given by each to his neighbor to believe in Jesus: ‘He has pardoned me O, do not doubt, seeing He has had mercy upon me, the vilest of sinners! One scene particularly affected me. A young man, recently married to an unconverted young woman, persuaded her to kneel down with two others who were in deep distress. Presently she was cut to the heart: I visited them backward and forward, at least a score times. After they had been about three hours in this state, the young woman found peace, and in a short time the other two entered into liberty. When the young fellow found his wife praising God for His mercy, he was almost transported with joy; he sung, prayed, and praised; and great indeed was their mutual glorying, and so was ours on their behalf. Well, thus we continued, until at a late hour I prevailed on the people, with some difficulty, to go home. We are trying to get these meetings shortened. If friends Russell, Robinson, &c., were here, they would be in their element.”
The population in that part of London where Mr. Clarke resided has always comprised large masses of the poor and destitute; and, in seasons of commercial depression, the poor of Spitalfields have been subjected to great distress. This was the case during his sojourn in that neighborhood;
and it well accorded with the disposition of his heart, aching so often at the sight of so much misery, to he associated with a number of the Society of Friends, who had formed themselves into an union for distributing bread and soup to the famishing. For that respectable body he then formed an esteem which he cherished through life, and which, on their part, was strongly reciprocated.
From the severe toil of the Circuit, and the constant tension of his mind, as well for the pulpit as the press, his health became now so disordered as to compel him to obey the requirement of his medical advisers, to retire for a short time into the country. He spent, therefore, a little while at the seaside in Kent, where he was greatly revived by the pleasant air and scenery of the coast; and then took a short tour into Warwickshire, where the ruins of Kenilworth, and the baronial halls of Warwick Castle, afforded him a delight which he has vividly described in his letters to his family at
home. At Coventry, he formed an acquaintance with the venerable Mr.
Butterworth, the father of his brother-in-law, and had the pleasure of occupying the aged minister’s pulpit. Though this effort did not contribute to augment his slowly-returning strength, it was attended by the
satisfaction of knowing that it was not made in vain. “Yesterday,” he writes, “I had indeed sore work. I preached three times, and at least an hour each time. I was much at liberty, and really believe much good was done. The old gentleman and all his flock seem highly pleased. The people are absolutely (pro tempore) turning Methodists, without knowing it.
Several of Mr. Butterworth’s disaffected members, who have not been in his chapel for many months, came twice yesterday, and are likely to continue.” And in another letter: “On Friday evening I preached at our own place, and had the house full. Most of Mr. Butterworth’s family were there, and the principal members of his church. Never did such death- like attention occupy an assembly during the hour that I insisted on Matt.
vii. 7: ‘Ask, and ye shall receive,’ &c. The good old man’ got almost into the seventh heaven: had it not been that I made the full salvation of God too easy to be attained, he might have walked that evening into paradise. I believe a general quickening took place among all, and I need not tell you how our Joseph and his wife *[3] were affected.” And again: “This morning we were to have set off for Birmingham; but I found myself so much indisposed, and I did not like the thought of setting off in such a tempest. Weary as I am, I must preach tonight at our own place, and tomorrow night at Mr. Butterworth’s; after which I am to take coach for London, and ride all night. If this be not the way to wear out, it is certainly not the way to rust out.”
With somewhat recruited health, Mr. Clarke resumed his engagements in London, and completed the third year of labor in that Circuit. He seems to have worked in perfect harmony with his colleagues, except about one difficulty which occurred in the case of Dr. Whitehead, who, having been ejected from the office of local preacher by the late superintendent, Mr.
Rogers, on account of what was deemed a dishonorable use of certain papers in preparing his biography of Mr. Wesley, was now making strenuous efforts for reinstatement on the Plan. In this he was seconded by many of the trustees, and had also the concurrence of Mr. Pawson and others of the preachers. Mr. Clarke, however, felt compelled to oppose
the wishes of his excellent superintendent nor, though Mr. Whitehead was subsequently reinstated, could he ever modify the opinion he had formed on that subject. This little ruffle, however, soon passed away, and the current of friendship rolled on, with a deeper sense of esteem from the knowledge that each minister had of the other’s integrity; and the year, which had thus commenced under somewhat unpropitious influences, passed away in peace. And this was the case with the Connection at large, which within the last three years had been severely tried by the hostile movements of Mr. Kilham and his partisans. Into the details of that wretched controversy we have no inclination to enter. Its rise and progress are matters of Methodistic history and time, the great prover of all things, has given such a verdict on the relative merits of the “Old” and the “New Connection,” as the friends of the former are most thankful to accept. One tempest has broken its force upon it after another, but Wesleyan
Methodism was never so strong as it is today.
At the end of his third year, Mr. Clarke attended the Conference of 1798 at Bristol, which was held under the presidency of Mr. Benson. While there, he wrote to Mrs. Clarke, from time to time, some of the
“Conference news.” “Notwithstanding our great losses by the Kilhamites, we have had,” says he, “a considerable increase this year. We are now, glory to the God of heaven, not less than 100,756 in Great Britain and Ireland. Strange to tell, all the Irish collections have increased. Mr. Mather, Mr. Benson, and others have been at me in private to go to Cornwall, and be general superintendent for the whole county. I am not very fond of ruling, yet I think it is possible I may be sent there The characters of the preachers examined — all gone through; and, among upwards of three hundred traveling preachers, not one charge of immorality brought against any soul: and yet everything was sifted to the heart. O, what thanks do we owe to God for thus preserving us from the corruptions of the world! A solemn exhortation was then given by Messrs. Benson, Mather, and Pawson, to all the brethren, that they should keep themselves pure.” He adds, pleasantly, “A few preachers were found guilty of long sleeves, cropped heads, *[4] and stringed shoes,” (the buckles cast away!) “and severely reprimanded. After all, never was there a body of men in the world who winked less at any appearance of evil than these; and I
solemnly believe no body of Christian ministers, since the world began, so large, was ever found more blameless.”
At this Conference, Mr. Clarke was a good deal busied in settling on a legal basis the Preachers’ Annuitant Society, to which he became for a time both treasurer and secretary. In the prosperity of this institution he ever took a lively interest, from his sympathy for the aged and disabled laborers in a field in which he himself was fast wearing out strength and health, as well as on account of the modicum of comfort its scanty resources would afford to the widow and orphan. Among some papers before me there is a memorandum by Mrs. R. Smith, relating to this point, which I shall do well to insert: — “My father was remarkable for the zealous care he manifested over any trust committed to him, though he undertook a charge of that nature very unwillingly. At one period it was his duty to receive the dividends of the Preachers’ Annuitant Society.
Having casually learned that the broker who transacted the business of the dividends had involved himself in speculations, he determined to apply for the money as so on as it could be received from the Bank, and, requesting me to accompany him, entered the counting-house of the gentleman in question, who, seated at his desk, received this unexpected visit not very graciously. ‘ I am come, sir, for the dividend on the Preachers’ Annuitant Society.’ ‘ I am very busy, sir, and cannot attend to it now,’ was the reply. ‘ I am very sorry to inconvenience you, sir; and, as I myself am in a hurry, will only trouble you to hand it to me, and not intrude any further on your time.’ ‘ I cannot give it to you now, sir, having much more important business here before me.’ ‘ Why, it will not take you long to hand it to me and then I will leave you to your business, and go away on my own. The gentleman, displeased at seeing him so determined, said, ‘ I cannot be interrupted, Mr. Clarke, nor possibly give it to you now: upon which my father said, in a voice of resolute firmness, ‘ Sir, I stand here on behalf of the widows and orphans of God’s church, and claim for them the money you hold, which that church has raised for their support. They speak by my mouth, and I will not leave till you put the money into my hand. The money, sir, and I am gone.’ The money was paid; and my father took his leave, satisfied that he had performed a just though painful duty.”
Mr. Clarke’s connection with this legalized fund extended over several years.