The life of the departed

by I. E. Bill

These remarkable men of whom we speak, though slumbering in death, as we have said, are nevertheless invested with all the elements of a breathing, living, speaking power. Their souls, regenerated, justified, sanctified, glorified, live in heaven, and celebrate together the anthems of redeeming love. And they live also in the influence of their ministry, example, labours, successes, conflicts, and triumphs, in the ministers they ordained, in the churches they planted, and in the souls they were instrumental in saving from eternal burnings. In this respect they will never, never die.

But it may be expected in this connection, that I should make a special reference to the revered father that has so recently taken his departure to the spirit world.

Joseph Crandal was the son of Webber and Mary Crandal (originally Mary Vaughn) of Friertown, Rhode Island. His parents emigrated to Nova Scotia the year before the American revolution, and settled in Chester. He was then in his infancy. His mother died when he was thirteen years of age; and not many years after his father died also, leaving him a lonely orphan in a cold-hearted world. But God was merciful to him, and in his providence made all needful provision for his support. It would appear that his mother was a pious woman; for when she was about to depart this life, she summoned her son to her bedside, took him by the hand, and said, “Joseph, the Lord has a great work for you to do when I am dead and gone.” Had she spoken by the spirit of prophecy, she could not have spoken more truthfully. These words, uttered with all the pathos of a dying mother’s love, made an impression that never left him. His convictions of sin and of the need of salvation, were greatly strengthened by the ministrations of Handley Chipman, and Joseph Dimock, who visited Chester to proclaim the gospel message. Years, however, passed before he obtained peace in believing. These were long years of anxious concern about his soul. While thus troubled in spirit, business called him to Onslow, and on the Sabbath he attended a meeting conducted by Harris Harding and Joseph Dimock. In that meeting the power of God was signally manifest: and suddenly this young man had such a discovery of the glorious majesty of Jehovah as to fill him with the utmost dismay. His sins rose up before him steeped in crimson guilt, and he saw himself justly condemned to endless misery, and could behold no way of escape. Anguish and horror inexpressible filled his soul, and he expected soon to sink in eternal woe. But unexpectedly to himself, the way of salvation by the cross was opened to his view. He saw that it just suited his case as a lost condemned sinner and he embraced it with his whole heart. It was a glorious moment in his history. So overpowered was he by what he saw and felt, that he could not refrain from telling all around him of the preciousness and fullness of a Saviour’s love.

In a series of letters addressed to the Visitor by Mr. Crandal in 1853, he thus speaks of this wondrous change—“My mind was completely absorbed in the solemn and marvellous scene. It appeared to me that the whole human race were exposed to endless ruin, and were altogether at the disposal of that holy being whose glory had so overwhelmed my soul. I saw mercy so connected with the justice of God, that they were both one; that what God had done in the person of Christ was alone sufficient to save all that would come to God for mercy through Jesus Christ; and I felt as though the whole creation ought to know what I felt and saw; for indeed it appeared of more importance to me than the whole world. I continued speaking for more than an hour. I could not hold my peace, for it was like the bursting forth of an overflowing fountain. A world of sinners came up before men, like a vast field, to which I could see no end. When the scene had passed from me, I looked around me, and the two ministers, Joseph Dimock and Harris Harding, were weeping, and many more wept for joy.”

Such, my hearers, were some of the most important features in the early experience of Joseph Crandal, and is highly characteristic of the religion of the early Christians of these Provinces. The truth of God, as revealed in his Word, by a long process of conviction, followed by a distinct and in many cases marvellous conversion, became to them a matter of personal experience; and this prepared them to speak the truth in the love of it.

By this experience of the power and grace of the gospel, Father Crandal, though dead, still lives, for in his case we see the riches of Divine goodness wondrously displayed. Was he a lost sinner? So are we. Did he need a change of heart to fit him for God’s work? So do we. Were the blood and righteousness of Christ his only hope? So in respect to us. We, my hearers, must experience the same grace, or we shall perish in our sin.

2. Notice his call to the ministry of the Gospel.

This, like his conversion, occasioned a painful struggle in his mind. Shortly after he had tasted the sweetness of the Saviour’s love, he became impressed with the idea that he ought to devote his life to the Christian ministry; but how could he think of doing so—no education, no means of obtaining it; and how could he venture to embark in so great a work without it. Conscious insufficiency in himself held him back, while the holy impulses of the love of Christ in his soul impelled him forward. While labouring under severe trails in reference to his call to the ministry, he became convinced, from reading the Scriptures, that he ought to be baptized, and accordingly he was buried with Christ in baptism by Elder Joseph Dimock. Shortly after this event, he was induced to accompany Harris Harding on a preaching mission to Liverpool, not intending, as we suppose, to preach himself. It so happened that he attended several meetings before the Sabbath. Here again we will quote his own language. He says—“On the Lord’s day we met at the meeting house; Elder Payzant preached in the morning, and Harris Harding in the afternoon. At the close of Mr. Harding’s sermon, he called upon me to pray. I had not expected to be called upon, and felt much cast down in my mind. It seemed as though a dark cloud of spiritual gloom surrounded the whole meeting; but as soon as I commenced praying the scene changed—the light of heaven shone into my soul. How long I was engaged in prayer I know not; but when I opened my eyes and looked round, I saw the two ministers weeping in the pulpit, and the whole congregation seemed overpowered with an awful sense of eternity. From this time the work of the Lord commenced. The two ministers said I had a special call to preach, and the next day insisted on my ascending the pulpit. But oh, how I trembled! my great fear was that I was not called of God to the great work of the ministry; but when I began to speak my fears all left me.” This was his first attempt to preach a sermon, and the result satisfied ministers and people that he was a chosen vessel to bear to a perishing world the glad tidings of salvation. The call of this young man to so important work, distinctly proclaims the sovereignty of God in the dispensations of his grace. As in the case of the primitive preachers of christianity, the learned, the wise, and the noble were passed by, and the unlearned fishermen of Galilee, and those humble birth and attainments, were chosen to be instrumental in founding the infant Church, and extending the glory of the Redeemer’s name. So in regard to the youthful Crandal and his coadjutors in the work of the Lord. Without the aids of scholastic attainments, and without riches or rank, they were chosen by God to do a might—thus proving that “God,” as the sovereign disposer of all, “hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the things that are mighty, and base things of the world and things which are despised hath God chosen; yea and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are, that no flesh should glory in his presence.”

Let it not be supposed however that those heralds of the cross to whom we refer, were satisfied with their intellectual attainments, or despised learning. They applied themselves with much assiduity to the acquisition of sound knowledge, and sought by every means in their power to “approve themselves workmen that needeth not to be ashamed;” and as they advanced in the ministry, it became obvious to all that they were scribes well instructed in the things of the kingdom of God.

3. Notice the success which attended his self-sacrificing labours.