The Mercies Of A Covenent God: John Warburton

SECOND PART 91 SECOND PART WHEN I left Trowbridge and arrived at Rochdale to bring my family away, it was a cutting feeling when I came to see my old friends, with whom I had had such sweet communion and to whom I had felt such a union of soul for so many years. And now to think of separating from them! O how it cut up my feelings, so that I felt as if it would be impossible for me to stand under the feelings I had! When I came to preach my farewell sermon, I thought I never could have stood under the keen feelings I had at seeing the dear people with whom I had had so many comfortable times, as well as times of great distress. Nor ever can I forget, at times, the many cries and tears we have had together for the prosperity of the cause of God at Hope Chapel. Many times did I expect, as well as hope, that I might live and die there; but the Lord will have His own way.

And, bless His dear Name, it is the right way, and He will ever bring His children to see it, acknowledge it, love it, and admire it; yea, they shall sing to His honour and glory, “My Jesus has done all things well.” But if I had not passed through it, I never could have thought it so cutting a thing to the heart to leave a people with whom there is a real union of soul. Sometimes I felt as if it would have broken my heart; and especially when we came to part, I felt as if I could not stand it. I could enter a little into Paul’s feelings when he cried out, “What mean ye to weep, and to break my heart?” The words, if I recollect aright, that I spoke from at parting were these: {Ac 20:32} “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.” And if ever I felt my soul in the Spirit, I believe I did at that time in committing the little flock into the hands of the great Shepherd. A weeping time it was indeed, and I can say from my heart, never do I desire to pass again through the same conflicts in leaving a people that my soul is knit to.

I could not have believed that ever I had such love to the dear souls at Rochdale till the trial came at parting; and what comfort and joy it has been to my soul since, that God has proved and made it manifest that our cries and tears for the prosperity of the little flock at Hope Chapel has not fallen to the ground unaccomplished, but that in a wonderful manner the Lord heard and answered our poor petitions, and I believe the Lord has prospered them abundantly since I left. I wanted Him, however, to do it through me as the instrument; but “the counsel of the Lord shall stand, and He will do all His pleasure.” This my soul has proved hundreds of times; and, bless His dear Name, He has always brought me to see and feel, too, that it has been a right way to a city of habitation.