Funeral of Herbert Dawson

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[17:59] . that your diver is not in vain in the Lord. O thou ever-gracious and ever-merciful God, who hast in thy divine appointments gathered us together at this time on this a solemn and sacred occasion.

[18:36] O Lord, though we gather with sadness of heart at the loss of the iresteemed pastor, yet, O Lord, we do desire grace that we may rejoice in that he is delivered from the body of sin and death and is now, his soul is now with redeemed in glory and that he is again united with his dear one in that region of the blessed and that union in which they dwell together here in this life is now renewed again to a fuller, much fuller extent.

[19:45] O Lord, we barely believe that thy enabled to lay their crowns at Jesus' fate.

[20:00] O Lord, help us then as we contemplate as we go forward in this service that this is an appointment that must come unto each of us.

[20:21] O fit and prepare us for it and that our minds, our hearts may be truly solemnized with a sense and realization of this solemn truth and yet a real truth.

[20:42] So, O Lord, we come at this time who would desire to come in the words of the dear apostle, be careful for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication let your requests be made known unto God.

[21:06] O Lord, we know how our dear pastor loved those precious words and O Lord, we come now we would thank thee, we would come with thanksgiving that thou, for what thou didst make him in his life here amongst us and in the churches around up and down the land.

[21:35] O Lord, truly it was thy work and he did seek to ascribe all the glory unto thy great and holy name.

[21:47] O Lord, we thank thee for this and pray that thou wilt sanctify this loss unto us.

[22:03] We pray, O Lord, for all those whom thou didst give unto him in and through his ministry, in and through his ministry, sons and daughters in the faith, though scattered far and wide in this our land.

[22:27] O Lord, we would pray for them that thou ought bless them and be with them and comfort their hearts at this time, even as they think upon the passing of the one whom they loved so dearly in the truth.

[22:47] O Lord, there may be too many more to appeal their will, many more who shall yet be called in and through those things that have been put into print, those words that were uttered by him, they shall be as he being dead yet speaketh.

[23:29] And O Lord, as these things are passed around from place to place, some we know have gone far and wide in the earth, in many other countries, Lord, that they may indeed bear fruit.

[23:53] O Lord, we would pray for all them who shall in and through those precious things be led into the truth, be quickened by thy Spirit, we pray for the family, O Lord, those who are and are his flesh and blood, his family in the flesh, his sons, his daughters, his grandsons and granddaughters, and the great-grandchildren, O Lord, O we bear them before thee, thou will at this time comfort their hearts with that comfort which only thou canst comfort.

[24:48] Lord, we may give our sympathy, and we do, we sympathize with them sincerely, but O Lord, thou canst bring that real comfort unto their soul.

[25:03] do and bless them indeed and be with them at this time. we pray for our church and our congregation.

[25:21] Truly, O Lord, we have come into that time that we read in thy word you have not passed this way here to forth.

[25:38] And O Lord, we do beg that thou wilt grant grace sufficient unto each one.

[25:51] Lord, that we may be enabled to dwell together in unity, that there may be that urgent, earnest striving to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

[26:09] we pray, Lord, for all who are gathered together at this time.

[26:21] Lord, that thou deal graciously comfort sad hearts. Lord, be unto them all that they need at this time.

[26:36] And O Lord, if there should be any, who are gathered together at this time with us, who have no thought upon these things, who are careless and indifferent regarding the things of God, O deal graciously with them, O Lord, quicken their souls.

[27:07] O Lord, that this, O it could please if this might be a time when thou shalt meet with them. O Lord, so we would pray for those who care for none of these things.

[27:24] O Lord, O Lord, we would pray to for thy church as a whole.

[27:41] O Lord, in our own denomination, death is visiting us very solemnly.

[27:51] O Lord, help us to lay these things to heart. Lord, that we may truly seek unto thee and plead with them that thou wilt quicken our souls into lively concern and exercise regarding these solemn matters.

[28:16] and now, O Lord, we do beg that thou wilt be with us and help us as we continue.

[28:29] Help thy dear servant, O Lord, to speak to us for a little while. Give them a word that will be a word to thy honor and glory.

[28:48] Deal graciously, O Lord, with him and help him and undertake for him. And now, O Lord, do look down in mercy upon us.

[29:01] Be with us and, O Lord, we would not forget that this is a time even to be remembered in our village life.

[29:16] O that it may have a right impact, as it were, upon the life of our village. Lord, that there might be some indeed who may be wrought upon by it and that there may be that felt realization that there has been a prophet among them.

[29:46] There has been a servant of God among them. And, O Lord, O that there might be that wrought, even at this time it could please, that souls shall be brought into concern even by this solemn event.

[30:14] So, Lord, we commit all and commend all into thy kind care and keep. Be with us and bless us indeed.

[30:25] Forgive our many sins. We beg in and through that name that prevails above everything.

[30:37] In the name of Jesus, amen. Amen. Amen. My friends, dear members of Mr. Dawson's family, sons and daughters and grandchildren, deacons and members of this bereaved church, beloved and honoured brethren in the ministry gathered to the burial of our honoured colleague and brother minister and friends from many congregations where

[31:46] Mr. Dawson's voice was often heard. We are gathered today to his burial. And I must say how very deeply I feel my position in speaking before you on this occasion and how much I feel to need the Lord to give me a word to speak and a gracious utterance in it.

[32:23] For this is indeed to us all a sad occasion. We cannot reflect upon it that the well known personality the much loved pastor and minister the voice that we have so often heard proclaiming the truth will be heard no more that loved personality has passed from our midst.

[32:58] The memory will remain the influence will remain but the minister the godly pastor has passed to his rest.

[33:14] But we do not mourn hopelessly of course in many ways we would all feel that it is well that he has been taken to his rest.

[33:31] His work was done. His ability to work was done. His powers were failed. His dear wife was taken too from his side.

[33:48] And in this we consider with thankfulness that they were not long separated it was not for our beloved friend to live on without the companionship and the affection of his dear wife.

[34:12] Of them it may be said that lovely in their lives in their affection one to another in their spiritual unity in divine life.

[34:27] In their solicitude for the good of this cause of truth they were lovely graciously lovely in their lives and in their death they were not long divided.

[34:45] It has pleased the Lord soon to call home to the heavenly state. our beloved friends.

[34:59] And in thinking upon the occasion and seeking a word to speak that word from the scripture that was read to us just now seems very suitable as a guide to me in my remarks concerning Mr.

[35:20] Dawson for I do not stand here to eulogize the man in this very pulpit where he loved to exalt Jesus Christ and to abase the sinner and exalt the Savior.

[35:40] He would not wish me now to eulogize and exalt him but he would wish me I know he would to ascribe all the usefulness of his life and ministry and past to the grace of God and I feel that word that was read by the grace of God I am what I am exactly directs our minds in our consideration of him this afternoon he was what he was by the grace of God it pleased God in the sovereignty of his purpose and of his love to choose Mr.

[36:31] Dawson to be a vessel of mercy and into that vessel of mercy he imparted graciously poured that abundant grace that was so evident in him as we reflect today upon his character and his memory and his usefulness we honour him we rightly honour him but we exalt the grace of God and give all the glory to God while we honour his name and memory for what the Lord made him to be by the grace of God I am what I am I'm sure he would wish me to say that now as I speak over his breathless frame and what was he by the grace of

[37:32] God well one might truly say that he was a godly gracious tender and loving father by the grace of God he might well have been a good and kind father in a natural sense without the grace of God but he could not have been a gracious father there could not have been those loving prayers of that gracious spirit and counsel and influence and guidance with which he sought to bring up his children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord as a gracious father it was by the grace of God he was what he was and I feel it can be truly said that in this he was an outstanding example of a godly parent and it has pleased

[38:41] God to honour him in this that his family have grown up to walk after his example and counsel in the ways of truth and they will always remember their father and their mother and be thankful they had such praying such gracious parents and may his memory be a guide to them all the rest of their lives and he was beyond question a real Christian a godly man his religion was not natural but spiritual he was called by the grace of God from darkness to light and from the kingdom of Satan unto God he was taught graciously and he had that experience in the things of

[39:43] God that is the effect of grace in the heart whatever doubts and temptations and conflicts he may sometimes have been the subject of there is no question that he was a truly godly man he feared god above many and with regard to his upright life and conversation both in the world and in the church of god consistent with the truth he professed and preached and honoring to the gospel we must say he was what he was as a man of god by the grace of god and he was what he was as a minister by the grace of god and he was an outstanding minister amongst us we who are ministers my fellow labourers in the gospel will agree with me he was one of the most useful amongst us all the lord gave him much gift in regard of speaking and ability but that would have amounted to very little if it had not been that it was clothed by the grace of god he was a faithful minister he knew the truth and he preached it fearlessly and yet affectionately faithfully and yet tenderly he never deviated from that line of truth and teaching into which he was led and directed by the holy spirit in his own understanding and experience his labors were very extensive and as that scripture was read

[42:05] I thought again how very applicable he might say perhaps not to the same extent as the apostle but we can say to some extent it was true I labored more abundantly than they all I wouldn't say that of course is entirely so for others are the Lord's servants have labored very abundantly too but he did labor very abundantly and it wasn't merely that he preached very often for a preacher may preach very often without laboring very abundantly but he labored abundantly he labored in heart and spirit and prayer and meditation he labored in secret abundantly and it was true of him that the Lord rewarded him openly in his useful ministry for the labor that he expended secretly therein he gave himself to the work of the ministry without reserve far and wide this good minister's voice has been heard preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and in these days especially we feel that a faithful minister is invaluable a minister who will stand by the truth maintain an unbearing testimony to it no yea and nay but yea yea is invaluable and therefore the loss is very great the Lord continue to bless as has been desired in prayer his printed words now that his audible voice is silent he honored the Lord in his ministry and the

[44:27] Lord honored him as his servant and in all that he was what he was by the grace of God and he was a faithful and gracious pastor what he was as a father to his flock he was by the grace of God he came to union chapel because he felt constrained of the Lord to yield himself to the service especially of this church and people when matters were not all that such as to attract him if it had not been for the grace of God he might have sought another sphere where there were apparently more opportunities but he gave himself graciously to this church and for the long long years that he watched over his flock with unvarying tenderness solicitude and anxiety and affection we must say of the fifty and more years of his past he was what he was as a pastor by the grace of God only

[46:05] God knows how many anxious hours he spent secretly watching over and caring for and praying for his dear flock for although his ministry was extensively useful this was the centre of it Union Chapel was not the circumference of his ministry but he was the centre of it and we know well how he bore Union Chapel on his heart how one of his very frequent prayers has been all through his past strip Lord let Union Chapel live before thee for us to think of Union Chapel was to think of Mr.

[46:59] Dawson and to think of Mr. Dawson was to think of Union Chapel and his church and people here they seemed so much one and they were and you his flock will bear me witness with what faithfulness he counseled and instructed you and with what affection he fed you with the bread of life now you will never forget your faithful your loving pastor will you as long as your life endures you will seek the same grace that the Lord gave him to enable you to walk in the same path of truth and of experience and of practice that you know he so anxiously led you in the

[48:02] Lord bless you still by the grace of God he was what he was and I may I feel change the tense of that word just for a moment and put it to you this way by the grace of God he is what he is now he is what he is now what is he now a ransomed soul in heaven gathered home with the spirits of just man made perfect he is in the glorious presence of Jesus Christ by the grace of God he's there and it's only by the grace of God any of us can ever hope to be there too and it is written the

[49:08] Lord will give grace and glory where the Lord gives grace he will give glory so we are sure that the Lord has given glory to dear Herbert Dawson because we know he gave him grace we believe that he is in heaven where Jesus Christ is but we know very little about that blessed state it is not possible for us to know much about it because we would not be capable of understanding and appreciating any poor description of the heavenly state it is very noticeable that in the book of the revelation that heavenly state and the state of the blessed in it is expressed more by negatives than positives there will be no more death no more pain no more crying no more tears no more of this than that that we know so painfully in this our present state not that heaven is a heaven of negatives oh no that would be a very poor and a very empty view of heaven to think that it's just a heaven of negatives no more of this and that heaven is a heaven of positives but the positives are of such a nature that we just couldn't understand them when the scripture speaks of pain and sorrow and crying and death we know what these things are because we experienced them but all that glory that light that light of glory where the lamb is the light thereof that those glorious praises all that heavenly love that state of perfection and likeness to

[51:35] Jesus Christ all that bliss of heaven we know we cannot understand that it is something of which we have no experience and even the apostle Paul although he was on one occasion taken up into the third heaven and saw and heard those things he couldn't tell us any more about it except that it was unspeakable things and in that blessed state we feel persuaded the ransomed cleansed and now perfectly sanctified and justified spirit of our departed brother is with Christ which is far better but I must not hold your attention any longer there's nothing left to us now but reverently and solemnly and hopefully and lovingly to lay this mortal body to its rest and we do this lovingly and hopefully there'll be a resurrection we lay a seed in the grave today but we sow it in corruption in weakness but it will be raised not as it is sown but it will be raised in incorruption in power and in glory oh blessed blessed hope that is that lights up even the darkness of the grave with some gleam of heaven's glory what a day that will be when the

[53:37] Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout and the dead in Christ shall rise oh glorious morning too bright for our natural eyes to see when the Lord shall gather together in one his whole ransomed church their bodies raised incorruptible and that their whole person's body and spirit to be forever like to Jesus Christ and from that infinite fountain to drink endless pleasures in oh brethren thought feeling and language fail to comprehend or to express it all we can say now we would bless God for Mr.

[54:37] Dawson for his memory for his useful ministry for his gracious care and oh that we may bless God with him presently when time is no more with us he is taken first I remember he said to me once in his friendly and familiar way he said Stanley one of us will stand by the other's grave it's fallen to me to stand by his he might very well have stood by mine well now the Lord prepare us all while we live to live unto the Lord and when we die to die unto the Lord that whether we live or die we may be the Lord's by that same grace of God by which he was what he was there's a short statement made of his coming to

[55:46] Bethesden and his exercise of mind which I'm not able to read and my friend will now read that short statement or short part of it and after that we'll announce the second hymn for the service when offered to the pastorate at Bethesden he held back and waited on God for a considerable time before accepting the invitation the small strict Baptist chapel here at that time was somewhat disunited some of its members not fully agreeing with the doctrinal basis of the church meanwhile a gastric ulcer further wrecked

[56:47] Mr. Dawson's health but at some time during this stressful period of his life this young man without job health money or prospect received a spiritual blessing the impact of which remained thereafter with him a verse of the Reverend Henry Francis Knight stirring him Jesus I my cross have taken was impressed upon his mind with power as if spoken directly by his Lord to him think what spirit dwells within thee what a father smiles are thine what a savior died to win thee child of heaven canst thou repine the effect of this we know he took up the cross and followed his

[57:58] Lord's direction and that him to which he referred at times with deep emotion expressed the desire of his dedication to the task entrusted to him by his Lord the tune is Bethany 629 Jesus I my cross have taken all to leave and follow thee destitute despised forsaken thou from hence my all shalt be perish every fond ambition all I've sought and hoped and known yet how rich is my condition

[59:05] God and heaven are still my own chamber I gut in love another ¿ shape or Let if you disfired forsaken, Thou from hence my hope shall be.

[59:54] Where is any condemnation, For I shot and limited book Yet thou wichtig να ηmare πληgia nap God still my own.

[60:37] There may trouble and distress me, will God guide me to thy breath.

[60:56] Life with thy own Father's rest be and will bring me sweet our end.

[61:16] And one thou shalt smile upon thee God of wisdom, love and light.

[61:35] Lord, may it and credit is only, show thy faith and all is right.

[61:57] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

[62:07] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

[62:20] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.