The following extract from the late John Warburton’s Autobiography concerns his wanderings from home during his unconverted days. He later became minister of the gospel at Southill, England, and died in 1892. His father was also well known as a minister of the gospel and is mentioned particularly in this extract.—Editor.
ON Saturday morning I left for Portsmouth and arrived at Gosport in the evening. Now a difficulty presented itself. I was penniless. Ferry boats plied between Gosport and Portsmouth conveying passengers for one penny each. I inquired the distance round the road and was informed it was ten miles. I was then pinched with hunger, tired and faint. I
* This refers to the death of the Rev. Dr. Balfour of the Outer High Parish Church, Glasgow.
thought within myself, “What is to be done? Walk the ten miles I cannot; but if I could get across to Portsmouth I could go to Mr. Doudney’s, a friend of my father’s.” So without further ceremony I got into a boat just starting for Portsmouth. On arriving at the opposite side I told the ferryman to look out for me on my return in a few minutes, as I had no change. “All right,” he said. Many times have I wished to see that man, that I might both thank and remunerate him. I found out where Mr. Doudney lived (the father of the present Dr. Doudney, of Bristol, who is a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and a minister in the Church of England). I made myself known to the family and soon obtained refreshment. The old gentleman, Mr. Doudney, was inquisitive, more so than was agreeable to me; but a coach stopping at the door put an end to all further inquiry for the present. Some of the family said: “There is a coach stopped.” “Oh,” said the old gentleman, “it is some of our friends from London.” Then one of the family exclaimed: “Here is Mr. Warburton!” I must now leave off writing, for a flood of tears and my feelings prevent me from proceeding.
On the Friday my father heard of me, and in what direction I had steered, and set off to follow me. The hand of Providence so directed him that he traced me the whole of the way, and as near as I remember arrived at Mr. Doudney’s about two hours after me. What followed can be well imagined; tears of joy flowed in abundance. One thing I have cause to regret, and that is the worthlessness of him who was the cause of so much grief, pain, trouble and expense to such a kind, tender, and godly father.
But in all this stupid, foolish, wicked act in my thus leaving home, cannot the hand of God be traced therein? Yes. Not by way of influence, the instigation was from the devil, and the carnal heart, “For God tempteth no man to evil” (James i, 13-14). The overruling wisdom to ordain good out of evil is from God. Thus in the great wickedness of the Jews in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. “The counsel of God determined before to be done” (Acts iv, 27-28). The providence of God is a beautiful chain of events, so wisely linked together that in the end all will “Work together for good to them that love God” (Rom. viii, 28).
On the Sabbath evening my father preached in Portsmouth. That night a woman was set at liberty under that discourse, who had been for months in deep soul trouble, that she went home rejoicing and singing the praises of God.
Some years after the occurrence, after I began to speak in the name of the Lord, she told me of the circumstance. “Oh,” said she, “What distress, deep sorrow, and despair I had been in for months. I was almost distracted, just at my wits’ end. Well,” she continued, “One night I had a dream, a most remarkable one; in my dream it appeared that I was standing near the sea, when suddenly a storm arose, and the sea raged most fearfully, the waves rose to such a height as if they would exceed all bounds. I saw a man rise up out of the sea, walking upon the waves towards me. He came close to me and said, ‘The Lord will soon appear for you.’ Comfort then sprang up in my soul; with that I awoke.
“In the morning I told the dream to my husband, and said to him, ‘Now if ever I see that man I shall know him, I have him in my mind’s eye now.’”
Not long after this, she said to me, “Your father preached on a Sabbath evening; my husband and I were in our seats when he came out of the vestry to ascend the pulpit. I looked at him, and then turned to my husband and said, ‘That is the man I saw in my dream.’ Ah!” she said, “Bless the Lord! God spoke by him to my heart, and the sweet peace that entered into my heart I can never describe.” Her name was Tylford.
I heard her relate the above circumstances with profound gratitude and emotion of heart. Our God is Almighty, He alone can work marvels. Then let His people trust in Him. God’s providence and grace are both full of displays of His power and wisdom. The Lord grant that such considerations may banish distrust in His fearing, weak, trembling ones. On the Tuesday morning following, my father and I took coach for home, arriving safely in the evening.