The Church of England’s teaching since the Reformation, like that of the primitive Church, is based not on baptism, but conversion.  Baptism was intended according to the Lord’s commandment (Matt 28:19), for the purpose of making disciples*—­that is, to graft members into the body of Christ’s Church outwardly.  Whatever special grace is given to infants and others at baptism, is given upon the condition of personal faith and repentance.  Until a baptized person has been enabled by the Holy Ghost to repent and believe the Gospel, he is not really a new-born child of God, or raised from death into life, though nominally, in the words of the Catechism, he has “been made a child of God.”

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* See Greek
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Since the feuds and dissensions in my parish, the church was almost deserted, and left chiefly to myself, my clerk, and a few poor people, who, for the most part, were in ill favour in the chapels.

One day I was absorbed in writing, or rather rewriting, a text over the porch door of the church.  It was, “This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”  A man who was standing at the foot of the ladder said, “Heaven is a long way from that gate, I reckon.”  I pretended not to hear him, but his speech stuck to me.  I knew only too well from this, and many other indications, that the people had no respect for the church under my ministrations.

CHAPTER 5

The New Parish, 1846.

About this time the news reached us that the Vicar was dead; and thus ended my connection with Perranzabuloe.  As the Dean and Chapter would not appoint me to succeed, I had no alternative but to make arrangements for my departure.

In one sense I was not sorry to go; but for various other reasons I much regretted having to leave a place where my health had been so wonderfully restored and sustained, and in which I had received so many tokens of God’s favour.  It is true that my labours were of an external character; but these I thought most important, and did them with all my might as unto the Lord.  I took the work as from Him, and did it all to Him, and for Him, thanking Him for any token of success or commendation which I received.

I also regretted leaving the place before I had done any good to the people; for, with all my endeavours, I had not succeeded in persuading them to receive my idea of salvation by churchmanship.

However, the door was shut behind me; and this crisis happened at the exact time of another important event in my life.  I was just engaged to be married, and therefore had an additional interest in looking for a sphere of labour which would suit me, and also the partner of my choice, who was in every respect likely to be an effectual helpmeet This was soon found and we agreed together to give ourselves to the Lord’s work (as we thought) in it.