The Life And Ministry Of George Tustin

Earthen Vessel 1882:

An Original And Interesting Biography Of The Late Mr. George Tustin, Of Banbury

By William Tustin, His Son

[We have known and esteemed a large number of godly ministers during the last fifty-five years; but from the first to the last of our acquaintance with the much-esteemed Mr. Geo. Tustin, of Banbury, we invariably realised a sacred pleasure in fellowship with him. We wish we could give his likeness as correctly as his photo represents him; we think all would with us exclaim, “The grace of God appears in every feature.”—Charles Waters Banks]

I have been requested to give some account of the life of my late father, George Tustin; but as he has not left a scrap of writing respecting himself behind, I shall be able to speak only from memory, and that very briefly.

George Tustin was born at Hook Norton, in Oxfordshire, in 1802. He was the son of poor, but pious, parents. Early in his boyhood his parents removed to Middleton Cheney, in Northamptonshire, where they continued to reside till they were called away, at a ripe old age, to enter upon that eternal rest which is found only beyond the grave. My father did not receive any religious impressions till after he had entered upon his married life. He told me, in later years, that his first religious impressions were received under the preaching of Mr. Stonehouse, who was at that time the pastor of the Baptist Church at Middleton Cheney. On August 10, 1836, he was baptized by that gentleman, with the hope that his name had been inscribed in the Lamb’s Book of Life, and that he had been accepted by the Father as a poor, lost sinner, through faith in Christ the Son. From this time he commenced to tell to all with whom he came in contact of that Saviour whom he had found; and never ceased till the day of his death to speak to all men of that wondrous love of God as manifested in His Son. He commenced the work as a Sunday school teacher, and soon won the love of children and teachers. I have heard him say this kind of work gave him great pleasure; but he was soon found with a few old people sitting round our fireside, on a Sunday evening, listening to him as he read and expounded the Scriptures to them. This kind of teaching grew into preaching services, which were conducted in my grand father’s cottage. This being too small, our own cottage was thrown open; and I have many times seen both cottages, and the passage leading into them, filled with attentive hearers, my father standing in a position where his voice could he heard in both places. He soon received calls to occupy village pulpits; and wherever he went he found acceptance with the people; the Lord was with him, and proppeled him in his work. Thus he continued to preach the Gospel of the grace of God as manifested in Christ.

In the year 1845, in consequence of a change taking place in his work, he was compelled to remove from Middleton to Banbury to live. He followed the trade of a plush weaver; and many of the men who had lived in the surrounding villages were compelled to go to work in the factory at Banbury. My father being one of them, this brought him in contact with a number of men of different characters, but he did not fail at once to bring the subject of religion to the front, and showed in all his actions that he was a genuine Christian; this won for him the respect of all his shopmates. I well remember how he and a few of his religions shopmates used to meet together at breakfast-time and have reading and prayer. At first this was displeasing to a few, but soon all submitted, and there is no doubt but the influence it had was a good one. Many times I have beard him speaking very plainly with the roughest of characters about their particular sins, and telling of the love of God in Christ to save fallen man.

He was soon engaged in preaching the Gospel in the villages—sometimes in our own town; at King’s Sulton he supplied frequently; there he ultimately received an invitation to become their pastor; on the second Sunday in February, 1856, he entered upon his stated labours there, and he continued for full nineteen years. From the members of his Church and congregation I know he was esteemed and loved by them all. In the latter part of his ministry they pulled down the old chapel and built a very nice new one; and the only reason of his resignation was his advanced age. Although he was pastor of King’s Sutton Church so long, he never had his name taken off the Church book at Middleton. He occasionally conducted the service at that place, and went for many years to attend what they called their annual Church meeting. At the time of his death I believe he was the oldest member on the books, having been connected with them for forty-five years.

My dear father was always poor in this world’s goods, but rich in faith; always believed God would provide for all his wants. It pleased God to afflict my mother for, I think, about twenty-seven years; and in 1863 she was called away to her eternal rest. While he was engaged in his ministry he also had to work at his trade up till about eighteen months before his death. I have heard him say that at no period of his life did his income exceed £40 per year; yet, when the end came he could say that he had obeyed the Scriptural injunction, “Owe no man anything.” I remember the hardships we have had to pass through, for there were seven children—all lived to grow up. My father was a believer not only in a general providence over all, but he believed in a special providence also.

Let me relate one incident out of many. At a certain period of our history we lived in a cottage, the rent of which was 2s. 6d., per week; it was my father’s custom to put the rent by on Saturday, to be called for on Monday. One Saturday I remember seeing him stand with the half-crown in his hand, and looking at my mother, he said, “If I put this half-crown up for the rent, I shall have no money to buy meat for dinner tomorrow.” After a consultation between the two it was resolved to put it up as usual. In a short time afterwards a young man came to the door, and said, if we would send round to his mother she had something for him. My father went, and he was supplied with sufficient meat for the Sunday’s dinner. This person had been killing a pig, but had never sent to our house before, neither had my father any dealings with her. This, with many other similar cases, he always looked upon as a divine interposition on his behalf.

When first awakened to a sense of his need of a Saviour, I have heard him say that he never rested satisfied until he had carefully studied both the Old and New Testament; and the plan of salvation was presented to him in a clear and intelligent manner. I remember, when a boy, waking up in the night many times, and seeing my father standing at an old chest of drawers, with the midnight lamp burning, and his Bible open before him. This he did frequently till after midnight; and, like the Psalmist, I have, no doubt, he found great delight in meditating on the Word of the Lord. Even to the time of his death I have heard him say that a portion of the Word had been given to him in the night season, upon which he would meditate through the night, lying awake nearly all the night through, and yet rising from his bed refreshed as much as though he had been asleep. He fully believed these portions of God’s Word had been given to him by the Holy Spirit.

About a year and a-half before his death he found housekeeping more than he could manage. It was decided that he should break up his home, and come to live with me; and in September, 1879, he came into my home to finish his earthly career. He brought an influence into our house that will not be easily forgotten. He enjoyed good health up till within a few weeks of his departure; but it became apparent that his mortal powers were decaying, and soon he would have to put off this mortal and put on immortality.

HIS LAST DAYS

He occupied a bed-room near to my own, and as both doors were left open, I could hear every movement. Frequently I got in and out to attend to his wants. Some time before his death it was very pleasing to hear him in the night season; he seemed filled to overflowing with gratitude, and in an audible voice we could hear him thanking God for the mercies of the past, and pleading for the divine presence to the end. At other times he would repeat hymns and portions of Scripture, and meditate on them in an audible voice; never seemed tired of talking of the faithfulness and goodness of God. At times he had doubts cross his mind as to whether he was an interested person in the work of Christ; and once, about two days before his death, I said, ”Father, I thought this was a settled matter with you long ago.” He replied, “Ah! William; I have preached Christ faithfully to everybody where I have had an opportunity; but to realise an interest for one’s self in Christ is another thing.” I may add that these doubts were only for a moment or two; soon they all vanished, and he told me on his death-bed that he never doubted the plan of salvation, or the power of Christ to save.

On the morning of March 18, 1881, it was quite plain to us that the end was very near. At seven o’clock in the morning I stood by his side, and looking into his face, I felt it would be the last time I should see him in the flesh. I said, “Father, I am about to leave you, and shall not return for thirteen hours, and my impression is that when I return you will be gone. If you have anything to say, let me hear it now.” He turned, and looking me steadily in the face, and pressing my hand, he said, “Whatever you do, make sure of heaven.”

When I returned at night I found the earthly tabernacle left behind, but the spirit had taken its flight to be with Christ, which is far better. The legacy—“make sure of heaven!”—which he left me I hope to enjoy by and by, when the trials of life have passed, and I shall be admitted into the presence of that Saviour who hath redeemed me with His precious blood. On the 22nd we conveyed his remains to Middleton Cheney, and interred them in the same grave as my mother, and close by where my grandfather and grandmother are buried, all waiting a glorious resurrection. The place where he is buried is the grave-yard connected with the chapel where he held his membership so long. On the day of his funeral a number of the friends turned out and testified by their presence, that although dead he yet lived in their memory. As I listened to the rattling earth as it fell on the coffin lid, I felt that it was the happiest day of my life, for I knew that his every want had been met, and I had had the satisfaction of seeing him buried in his own chosen resting-place; and, above all, he had lived to a good old age (in his 79th year), and had gone safe home to glory.