Under these impressions, Mr. Sloper turned his thoughts towards one who was ever the willing, affectionate, and judicious adviser of pious youth,—the truly Reverend Cornelius Winter, of Painswick. While he was expressing, in a letter to this excellent man, his views and inclinations, Mr. Winter went to Cheltenham on a visit to Sir Richard Hill. He favoured Mr. Sloper with several interviews; and at one of them introduced, in the course of conversation, the very subject which was uppermost in the mind of his young friend. When informed of the purport of the letter which Mr. Sloper had partly written to him, he was struck with the singularity of the circumstance, and proposed corresponding on the subject in question. Several letters were exchanged. The value of the advice which Mr. Sloper had secured, and its probable influence upon his future character, conduct, and circumstances, will be best estimated from the following extracts.
“If you had not been peculiarly near to me, I could not have spared a moment for you to-day. Your desire has more weight with me than a command would have from many of your superiors. I therefore drop you a hasty line, to exhort you to give yourself unto prayer; to watch and wait for the openings of providence; and to be fully satisfied, upon the strictest and narrowest examination, that you stand prepared for all the difficulties of the gospel ministry, as well as to be disposed to promise yourself all the comforts it affords, in conjunction with the improvement preparatory to it. I am truly glad you can lay yourself unreservedly open to Him who seeth and knoweth all things, even the secret recesses of the soul, and the spring and motive of every action.
“I see you will find some difficulty to get disengaged from Mr. P. I need not say, behave handsomely upon the occasion; and while you are firm in your resolution, be prudent. You remind me of the great difficulty I was under when a young man; how sanguine, and consequently, how restless to carry my point. Though, in fact, it was God’s point I could not move in my own time, nor in my own way. [202] Your line is drawn, and you will be that which God would have you. Maintain communion with him, and when he hides his face, beg him to show you the cause, that your humiliation may be in proportion to the sin he means to resent. Remember, my dear fellow, that there are seasons wherein faith must be called into exercise, that when you talk of faith, you may talk by experience. At all times look unto Jesus; and when you cannot look immediately to him, look after him. Resist that enemy, stedfast in the faith, who is permitted to buffet you; and every blow he gives you will recoil upon himself.
“You may be sure I will keep the object in view. I am praying for direction, and as directed, will act . . .
“I can add no more than a heart full of good wishes, and my constant prayers. You are interested in these, because I am, my ever dear Isaac,
Yours very affectionately,
in our dear Lord Jesus,
Cornelius Winter.”“Painswick,
Jan. 21, 1797.”
Again in the month of April of the same year: “What a mercy we have a God, such a God, to whom we can commit ourselves. My dearest Isaac, let him be your God for ever and ever. Serve him as a real Christian while you live, though you should never serve him as a minister in his church. Watch the footsteps of his providence, and let him have the disposal of you. He can do nothing wrong. He has all his plans before him, and he is very wise and exact in the execution of them.”
It was at length determined that Mr. Sloper should apply for admittance into the academy at Homerton; and in October, 1797, he was received into that institution. There were then fourteen students, and the tutors were Dr. Fisher and the Rev. John Berry.
Early in the summer of 1798, Mr. Sloper was admitted a member of the church at Stepney, under the pastoral care of the Rev. George Ford, whose ministry proved truly beneficial to him.
Towards the close of the year 1799, Mr. Berry resigned his office as resident tutor, and was succeeded by Mr. (now Dr.) John Pye Smith, to whose invaluable instructions and uniform friendship Mr. Sloper felt himself under the greatest obligations.
His conduct as a student was truly exemplary, and, as may generally be observed, laid a foundation for that high respectability of character which he manifested in his future life.
At the close of his preparatory studies, he was requested, through the Rev. Samuel Newton of Norwich, to spend a few probationary weeks at Beccles. Accordingly, Nov. 5th, 1802, he left London for that purpose, and delivered his first sermon at Beccles on Sunday, Nov. 7th. After preaching to the people six sabbath days, he was requested to return to them for a longer season, with a view to becoming their stated minister. In the month of February, 1803, he consequently came again to Beccles, and in the following April an invitation from the church was presented to him to become their pastor, which was accepted by Mr. Sloper, on Sunday, 8th May, and was followed on the 7th July by his public and solemn ordination.
On that occasion, Mr. Sheppard of Wrentham, commenced the service with prayer and reading of the Scriptures. Mr. Walford of Yarmouth, delivered an introductory discourse, on ordination, as practised among protestant dissenters; asked the usual questions of the minister; and received his confession of faith. Mr. Newton of Norwich, offered up the ordination prayer, which was unaccompanied by imposition of hands. Mr. Ford of Stepney, gave the charge, from Col. iv. 17. Mr. Ray of Sudbury, preached to the people, from 1 Cor. xvi. 10. Mr. Shufflebottom of Bungay, Mr. Gardiner of Southwold, and Mr. Craig of Bocking, engaged in other parts of the service; and Mr. Atkinson of Ipswich, preached in the evening. More than twenty ministers were present. [206]
The important union thus formed and recognised, was, on the 16th of August, in the same year, followed by Mr. Sloper’s marriage; and both events were productive of felicity, for which, to his very last days, he constantly blessed God.