From Death into Life

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From Death into Life

The Project Gutenberg EBook of From Death into Life, by William Haslam This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net
Title: From Death into Life or, twenty years of my ministry
Author: William Haslam
Release Date: January 3, 2005 [EBook #14578]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FROM DEATH INTO LIFE ***

Produced by Michael Madden

FROM DEATH TO LIFE: Twenty Years of My Ministry.
BY
Rev. William Haslam,
(Late Incumbent of Curzon Chapel, Mayfair)
Reprinted by Rev. W. J. Watchorn.
This edition completes 130,000 copies.
Standard Book Room, Brockville, Ontario

CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1
The Broken Nest, 1841.
CHAPTER 2
Religious Life.
CHAPTER 3
Ordination.
CHAPTER 4
Antiquarian Researches and Ministry, 1843-46.
CHAPTER 5
The New Parish, 1846.
CHAPTER 6
The Awakening, 1848-51.
CHAPTER 7
Conversion, 1851.
CHAPTER 8
The Awakening, 1848-51.
CHAPTER 9
The Visitor, 1851.
CHAPTER 10
The First Christmas, 1851-52.
CHAPTER 11
Dreams and Visions, 1851-4.
CHAPTER 12
Billy Bray, 1852.
CHAPTER 13
Cottage Meetings, 1852.
CHAPTER 14
Open-Air Services, 1852.
CHAPTER 15
Drawing-Room Meetings, 1852-53.
CHAPTER 16
Opposition, 1853.
CHAPTER 17
Individual Cases, 1853.
CHAPTER 18
A Visit to Veryan, 1853.
CHAPTER 19
A Mission in the "Shires." 1853.
CHAPTER 20
A Stranger from London, 1853.
CHAPTER 21
Golant Mission, 1854.
CHAPTER 22
The High Church Rector, 1854.
CHAPTER 23
A Mission in Staffordshire, 1854.
CHAPTER 24
Sanctification.
CHAPTER 25
The Removal, 1855
CHAPTER 26
Plymouth, 1855
CHAPTER 27
Devonport, 1855
CHAPTER 28
A Mission to the North, 1855
CHAPTER 29
Tregoney, 1855
CHAPTER 30
Secessions, 1856
CHAPTER 31
Hayle, 1857-58
CHAPTER 32
Bible Readings, 1858-59
CHAPTER 33
The Work Continued, 1859
CHAPTER 34
The Dismissal, 1860-61
INTRODUCTION
This volume is not so much a history of my own life, as of the Lord's dealings with me; setting forth how He wrought in and by me during the space of twenty years. It will be observed that this is not, as biographies generally are, an account of life on to death; but rather the other way--a narrative of transition from death into life, and that in more senses than one.
I had been given over by three physicians to die, but it pleased the Lord, in answer to prayer, to raise me up again. My restored health and strength I thankfully devoted to a religious and earnest life. In the height and seeming prosperity of this, the Lord awakened me to see that I was dead in trespasses and sins; still far from Him; resting on my own works; and going about to establish my own righteousness, instead of submitting to the righteousness of God. Then He quickened me by the Holy Ghost, and raised me up into a new and spiritual life.
In this volume the reader will meet with the respective results of (what I have called) the Religious, as distinguished from the Spiritual, life. The former produced only outward and ecclesiastical effects, while the latter brought forth fruit in the salvation of souls, to the praise and glory of God.
One object in writing this book is to warn and instruct earnest-minded souls, who are, as I was once, strangers to the experience of salvation, seeking rest where I am sure they can never find it, and labouring to do good to others when they have not yet received that good themselves. They are vainly "building from the top;" trying to live before they are born; to become holy before they have become justified; and to lead others to conversion before they have been converted themselves.
A second object is--to draw the attention of every earnest, seeking, or anxious soul, to consider the Lord's marvellous goodness in first bearing with me in my religious wanderings, and then using me for His glory in the salvation of hundreds.
Another desire I have is--to cheer the hearts of believers who are working for God, by relating to them what He has done through me, and can do again, by the simple preaching of the Gospel. Here the reader will meet with narratives of the Lord's work in individual cases, in congregations, and in parishes--wonderful things which are worthy of record.
I have not shunned to tell of the mistakes I fell into after my conversion, hoping that others may take heed and profit by them; and then I shall not have written in vain.
CHAPTER 1
The Broken Nest, 1841.
At the time in which this history begins, I had, in the providence of God, a very happy nest; and as far as temporal prospects were concerned, I was provided for to my liking, and, though not rich, was content. I had taken my degree; was about to be ordained; and, what is more, was engaged to be married; in order, as I thought, to settle down as an efficient country parson.
With this bright future before me, I went on very happily; when, one evening, after a hard and tiring day, just as I was sitting down to rest, a letter was put into my hand which had been following me for