The Life And Ministry Of Ebenezer Vinall

Earthen Vessel 1880:

The Late Mr. Vinall

The Open-Place Said:

EBENEZER A. VINALL,

Died May 6, 1880.

Aged 63.

Septimus Sears departed! Francis Covell silent! Ebenezer Vinall in the grave! How quickly one after another is called from the Churches where Christ has been preached with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven.

“Dust to dust! it mingleth well among the sacred soil.'”

After some of the roughest storms that nature can endure, in a succession of horrible fits, the soul of Ebenezer Vinall was called home to his happy rest. The Church in Regent-street, City-road, is again bereft of its pastor.

The following Memoir has been kindly sent us by Mr. Vaughan, of Trinity Chapel, Hackney:—

THE LATE MR. EBENEZER A. VINALL.

“And so He giveth His beloved sleep.”

“Our friend Lazarus sleepeth,” were the startling yet soothing utterances of our blessed Lord concerning one of His loved ones. There appears a peculiar fitness in the expression relative to our dear brother Vinall, just called from our midst; faithful in the ministry to which the Lord called him; of firm principle, yet quiet, unobtrusive manners. Our departed brother has been removed at a time when, according to our limited views, the Church of Christ could ill spare him, and when, according to years, we might have anticipated a long continuance of useful service; but he is where the Lord hath taken him. The month of April, 1817, was the period of time when our dear friend first entered upon this mortal scene. From a very early period—according to his own statement, at 6 years of age—the Lord began a work of grace in his soul, inducing solemn thoughts relative to eternity and his own condition therein, through hearing Hart’s hymns and Janeway’s token for children. So far as can be gathered, the work was gradual but permanent. Intended for the business of this life, he industriously pursued his calling, till the Lord made it manifest He had other work for him to do. At a similar age to his Lord and Master he entered on the work of the ministry, from the age of 30 till a few months since, when the Lord laid His afflicting hand upon him in the midst of his days and usefulness. Chichester, Lewes, Regent-street chapel, City-road (where he settled November 7th, 1869), and elsewhere, bear testimony that be faithfully fulfilled his course; and now he has entered into rest. His affliction came upon him quite unexpectedly, no premonitory symptoms discovering themselves. In fact, he appeared more than usually strong and happy in his work. A very few days prior to the attack of paralysis of the brain, he had preached at the Surrey Tabernacle. Little did those who drank in the precious truth from his lips imagine it was the last time that he would be permitted to testify of that Christ who was so precious to his own soul. Only a short time elapsed between his preaching at Trinity, Hackney, when his testimony was unusually well received, for the word was with power. He subsequently remarked, “Brother Vaughan, whenever you want me, I shall always be ready to serve you; I always feel such liberty in your pulpit.” Emphasising his remark, “Brother, you have living, praying souls there, and that is a wonderful support to a minister.” He was actually engaged in preaching in his own pulpit when his testimony was so mysteriously closed. What can we say? Do we not hear the Divine injunction, “Be still and know that I am God”? Yes, Himself hath done it. A remark made by one who visited him some time since was to the effect, “He is like a happy, contented child.” To a dear friend visiting him a few days before his peaceful departure, who had been recently bereaved of his dear partner in life, he observed, after family inquiries, “And you have lost your dear wife. Ah! she is in heaven.” Our friend replied, “I trust so.” “Trust so!” was our dear brother’s rejoinder, “Why I know she is here; I have seen her, for I live in heaven; I only come down occasionally.” It has been remarked, “What a happy delusion.” Question—Was it a delusion? We think not, it was descriptive of his state. If the apostle of the Gentiles felt uncertain whether he was in or out of the body, one thing he was certain of—he was caught up to the third heavens. Few Christians enter experimentally into the profound and blessed meaning of Eph. 2:6. It is a great mystery, we readily concede, but no less is it a blessed truth and fact to be experimentally realised by the power of the Holy Ghost, who in sealing us for God, gave us the earnest of our inheritance; thus establishing our claim upon God. Honour to whom honours.

The Society for the Relief of Necessitous Protestant Ministers, their Widows and Orphans, was originated by our departed brother. It first took the form of a harvest thanksgiving collection at Lewes, in the year 1867, the results being distributed among the poorer brethren in the ministry; and though subsequently it assumed its present form, through the Divine blessing it has become a power for good. When an alteration was proposed by our dear departed brother, and unanimously agreed to, that orphans should be recipients of its bounty, our dear brother remarked, “I am thankful for that; now I think my work is done.” How little did we think his words were so soon to be verified. There was a singular aptness in the circumstance that our last anniversary was being celebrated in Regent-street chapel, and the only regret felt was the absence of him who had taken such deep interest in its affairs, and when touching and sympathetic reference was made to the departed, little did we think he had entered that sacred presence,—

“Where the wicked cease from troubling.

And the weary are at rest.”‘

Yes, when we were deploring his absence from our meeting, and sympathising with him in his affliction, little did we think that “He was absent from the body, and present with the Lord.” “And he was not, for God took him.” Yes, he rests from his labours, and his works follow him. The servant may depart, but his work remains. So this Christ-like instruction abides. Its instrumental originator is removed, but the work continues to administer temporal aid and spiritual sympathy to many a cast down brother in straits and adversity, causing the widow’s heart to sing for joy, “which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.” The Church of Cbrist at large has sustained a loss—a faithful preacher of the everlasting Gospel bas been taken away. The Church at Regent-street, formerly under the pastoral care of George Abrahams, of blessed memory, is again in a widowed state. Their pastor is taken from them, and they have a special claim upon the sympathy and prayers of the faithful in Christ Jesus, that He would, as Lord and Head of the Church, send them a pastor “after His own heart, to feed them with knowledge and understanding.” A fond husband and affectionate parent has been taken, leaving a widow to mourn her loss, and she is bereaved, but not forsaken of her God. Sons and daughters feel, in parting with such a father, their loss is his gain.

Thus our dear brother entered into rest Wednesday, May 5, 1880, aged 63 years. On Tuesday, May 11, all that was mortal was consigned to the silent grave at Abney-park Cemetery, the service being shared by brethren Bradbury, of The Grove, Camberwell; Harbour, of Brighton; Woods, of Chicester; Ashdown and myself delivering an address from Rev. 14:13. Many brethren in the ministry, as well as hundreds of believers from various causes of truth, testified, by their attendance and bearing, that a brother highly-esteemed had been taken from our midst.

Our brother’s not dead, his life’s just begun,

The conflict is o’er, the rest is now won;

His glorified spirit hath enter’d on rest.

And now with His Saviour for aye he is blest.

He is safe in the home of the mansions above,

Enjoying his full of ineffable love;

He has pass’d through death’s portal, and enter’d on life,

To dwell with his Savior, removed from all strife.

Then dried be all tears, let with pierce the gloom,

Our brother’s now happy, his dust sleeps in the tomb;

Released from all conflict, from sorrow and pain,

While great is our loss, how great is his gain!

The Lord He hath done it, be silent and still,

Till by grace we’re enabled to say, ’Tis God’s will;

’Tis nature to grieve, and on Him cast the blame,

While faiths says, He’s taken, and bless’d be His name.

J. Vaughan

Trinity, Hackney