THE following interesting case of conversion is recorded in the “Life of the Rev. William Marsh, D.D.,” a worthy, evangelical minister of the Church of England, who died on 24th August, 1864, at the age of eighty-nine years. His daughter, Miss Catherine Marsh, who wrote his “Life,” and also the “Life of Captain Hedley Vicars,” passed away a few weeks ago at the advanced age of ninety-four. The narrative about to be given conveys, within brief compass, a variety of important and encouraging lessons as to God’s ways in providence in connection with the salvation of sinners. There is much encouragement for ministers of the Gospel to labour in faith and hope.
The Rev. William Marsh was ordained to the curacy of St. Lawrence, Reading, towards the close of the year 1800. His first sermon was preached on the words, “Behold, the Judge standeth before the door.” Shortly thereafter he had occasion to visit the town of Basingstoke, on the invitation of an esteemed Christian friend, who promised him “the opportunity of preaching, as the curate of the parish church had offered the pulpit.” The rector of this parish had been for some time non-resident, but returned unexpectedly that week. He was evidently a man who did not value the true Gospel, for “on hearing of the arrangement that had been made, he said to his curate, ‘That evangelical young Marsh shall not preach in my church.'” When this news was announced to Mr. Marsh on his arrival, he received it with his usual serenity of temper, merely replying, “Then I am to be a listener instead of a preacher to-morrow. But I can pray as much as I wish, no man forbidding me.” . . . The language of his heart was—
“Ill that God blesses is our good,
And unblest good is ill;
And all is right that seems most wrong,
If it be His sweet will.”
“The Master, in whom he implicitly trusted, had otherwise planned that Sabbath’s work for him. Early in the morning a messenger came from a clergyman who had a small church in the suburbs of the town, to say that he had been seized with an attack of inflammation in the chest, and that he would be most grateful if Mr. Marsh would undertake the duty. Gladly accepting this opportunity, he went forth to preach the Gospel of Christ from the words, ‘Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.’”
“At the conclusion of the sermon he offered to give the congregation an afternoon service. Between the services the news spread about the town that the young clergyman who had been refused the pulpit of the large church, was to preach again in the small one. With the generous impulse of Englishmen to take the side of any one whom they fancy to be injured, the numbers who pressed to hear him were so great that the congregation overflowed until the churchyard was crowded. Even the choir deserted from the parish church, in order to testify their sympathy with the young clergyman who had fallen under the rector’s ban.
“Amongst the crowd in the centre aisle there stood a man so noted for his ungodliness and profane language as to be known in Basingstoke by the name of ‘Swearing Tom.’ He was a leader in sin and profanity; and for seventeen years he had never entered a church. It was only curiosity which had brought him now. The text was taken from the prophecy of Ezekiel: ‘I will put a new spirit within you.’ Towards the close of the sermon the preacher quoted the words, ‘If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?’ (Luke xi. 13)—remarked that, contrary to the conclusion which might have been expected, ‘the offer there was not to children, but simply to those who asked. There was nothing, therefore, between the worst of men and this most blessed gift from heaven but to ask for it.’ He then added, ‘If the most wicked man in this church would go home and pray that God, for Christ’s sake, would give him His Holy Spirit to change his heart, God would hear and answer that man’s prayer.’”
“These words (by the blessing of God) went straight to the heart of ‘Swearing Tom.’ ‘I am the worst man here,’ he said to himself; ‘I will go home and pray.’ As he went, he had to pass by the familiar public-house, but, unmoved by the calls of his companions, he refused to turn in. On reaching his home, he threw himself upon his knees, and tried to pray in the words which he had heard from the pulpit. The prayer was answered. From that time he became a changed man, and his name of ‘Swearing Tom’ was soon altered to that of ‘Praying Tom,’ by which he was known till the day of his death. He placed his leisure time at the disposal of the clergyman for visits to the sick and afflicted, and was made a great blessing for upwards of half a century in his native town.
It was not until Mr. Marsh preached again in that church, after a lapse of thirty years, that he became aware of the blessed result of his first Sabbath’s sermon, when Tom himself asked leave to speak to him in the vestry and told him the story of his conversion. Many years later, as Dr. Marsh was going up the stairs of Exeter Hall, for the last meeting there of the British and Foreign Bible Society, at which he was able to be present, a stranger met him and asked him if he was not Dr. Marsh, and, on receiving the reply, he said, ‘Ah, dear sir, “Praying Tom,” of Basingstoke, is now “Praising Tom,” in heaven. His last hours were blessed indeed, for he died as he had lived, rejoicing in his Saviour.’”
The late Mrs. Macleod, Lairg.
As we go to press we learn, with regret, the death of Mrs. Macleod, Bridge End, Lairg, the respected widow of the late well-known Mr. George Macleod, elder. The sad event took place on Friday, 24th January. A feature of added sorrow was the decease, two days before, of a daughter, Catherine, who has been in indifferent health for a considerable time. Mrs. Macleod was known as an attached friend of the cause of truth for many years, and along with her worthy husband, who passed away in January, 1903, showed much kindness to ministers and friends of the Free Presbyterian Church. We extend our deepest sympathy to the sorrowing family and other relatives.
J. S. S.