Henry Atley

“ The debt arising from the enlargement in the time of the first pastor, and which had been suffered to continue, presses upon them, and assumes the form of a Chancery law suit: the property is attached, and the people are quite inadequate to combat it; but as all who are acquainted with law well know that as far as the defendant is concerned, it admits of no delay, but if allowed, like a leech, will glut itself with the very vitals of life. ”

“ Finding that the friends amid all these assaults displayed no disposition to retreat or yield, but an heroic determination in humble reliance on the Great Head of the Church to maintain their ground, and, if possible, make inroads upon the territory of the Prince of darkness, they proceeded a step further, blocking up the ventilation, and darkening the apertures for light, assailing them with all the known but indescribable sounds of discord, both vocal and instrumental, uttering the most disgusting and opprobrious epithets, and insulting them personally as they came to and fro. ”

“ Never in the history of this country has literature assumed so prominent a position as it does at the present time; not in one department only, but in the ample circle she travels, each presenting its own peculiar claims to attention and regard, thus catering to the diversified necessities of the human family. ”

“ He manifested the true spirit of Christian heroism, for although he never exhibited what some would term a decided proof of a renewed heart, being of a timid and retiring temperament, rather courting the secluded shade than the open blaze of publicity, which rendered the temptation more fierce and trying, yet his unimpeachable rectitude, his moral propriety, his constant and lively interest in the prosperity and progress of the cause, his steady adherence to it through the fiery ordeal, and his happy death, justify the conclusion that silently the sacred seed had vegetated ”

“ A branch which turns off towards Devizes empties itself into the Avon and Kennet canal; in its progress it forms the moving power to several mills, and imparts fertility to the various meads in its course.
The scenery around is of the most delightful character, the sands or common have been successfully brought into cultivation, and where formerly but few buildings appeared numerous houses have been erected, which bespeak the efforts of the humble classes to attain respectability and comfort; while the tillage constantly going on gives great animation to the scene. ”

“ David Saunders, the individual of whom we now speak, or as he is more generally designated on account of his piety, the pious Shepherd of Salisbury Plain, was early brought under the itinerant labours of some of the followers of John Wesley; at what exact period is not known. On one occasion going to hear a Methodist preacher, probably at Imber or Seend, with a young man, one of their society, he complains of a painful and distressing disease, to which from early life he had been subject, which not only caused him great trouble but was regarded by him as a great affliction (the leprosy) . ”

“ East, or as it is sometimes denominated, Market Lavington, distant from London 89 miles, is situated about the middle, rather inclining to the western, part of the county of Wiltshire, on the north side of the extensive downs celebrated for the relics of a barbaric age, when human victims were supposed to appease the anger of the gods, of which a distant view is obtained on the road from Salisbury, near the Bustard Inn, so called from a bird once found on this plain. ”

“ The removal and death of some of their warmest and best friends about the same time tended very much to depress the Church and engender a state of languor. But hopes are entertained that the tide has turned, the crisis passed, and an amendment commenced. The present number of members is fifty. It had been the wish of many of the friends for a considerable time past to improve the singing, and if possible to avoid those fruitful sources of evil which many a devout mind has had to deplore and too often caused discord, by the erection of an organ. ”

“ He it is who is to commence a local reformation, both by his own example and precept, introducing the Gospel, whose divine light and effects are to spread and diffuse themselves around and onward through subsequent years—yes, even into the boundless region of that world of immensity—Eternity.
In the year 1717, in a very mean and humble cottage at Littleton Wells, a hamlet of West Lavington, dwells a man of lowly occupation, a shepherd, David Saunders. Beneath this roof an immortal being commences his career ”

“ For while one of you saith, I am of Paul, and another, I of Apollos, and I of Cephas, and I of Christ, are ye not carnal?”—it ultimated in open rupture and separation, not only of the Church and congregation, but also of the Sabbath school, under Mr. Christopher Garrett, who withdrew, he and his followers, to a cottage situated in the lane near the weighing engine. A barn which stood near was afterwards pulled down, and the cottage enlarged to the size of the present building, from that time known as the lower chapel. ”

“ As in many of the most important conveniences and improvements of civilised life, the origin or spring has been insignificant and comparatively obscure, surrounded with every disadvantage and impediment to success; so also has it been with our most valuable religious movements, “For God hath chosen the foolish things of this world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty ”

“ The stocks, once a terror and punishment to evildoers, have lost their dread, and the clanking iron has become a musical instrument in their estimation. Near this is the Engine-house, a wooden erection, with a cupulo for a bell whose tongue is happily seldom inclined to speak, the services of the engine is seldom required; fire, as an element of alarm, being of very rare occurrence. The population of the place, including the hamlet of Easterton, is 1700; and the area of the parish about 3036 acres to Lavington, and 1592 to Easterton. ”

“ Beware you do not let ye Flatterer deceive you to seek for Happiness oute of Christ, For I have a been in ye World near 68 years and I find nothing but but ye love of Christ with ye Pardon of Sin will make me Happy here in this World I would not have you put yourself to Expence of Comming Down at ye spring I should be glad to see you but I Expect shortly to be called of ye Stage of this Life & to follow my Forefathers, let us pray for Each other that we may meet in ye Upper and better World to Sing our Lord’s Praises for Ever & Ever So prays your affectionate Father. ”

“ We deeply deplore those events and circumstances which, under the mysterious arrangements of Divine Providence, have withdrawn the several members of his family from this locality, and thus denied the Church of one of his descendants upon whom the Paternal mantle might have fallen to supply his place, and hand down his name, zeal, piety, and energy to future generations. We trust that that family will continue to feel a deep and lasting interest in the prosperity of this our Zion. ”

“ Recourse was then had to ministerial friends far and near, and that for the space of about five years; during which they enjoyed comparative quietness and prosperity. In 1841, those who preferred a resident ministry to the dissipating mode of mere supplies (which, however pleasing to such as admire variety, is not the best for promoting true genuine piety and a steady progress in the path of holiness; nor is it calculated to foster some of the sweetest and tenderest of associations—those between pastor and people) , made an effort to realize their wish ”

“ Bartlett, of Cheverill, and after talking with them would engage in prayer. One now living (1855) , then young, has stated that no one knew where he put the bible after reading, as she with others often searched but could never find it. He would sharply reprove the idle and careless, and then encourage them to diligence in some way or other, saying, “we cannot expect young ones to be old ones, I was young myself once.”
Among the other efforts which he put forth for the good of those around him was the opening of an evening school, where he taught such as desired it to read and write. ”

“ Lavington was formerly distinguished for its corn market and the manufacture of malt, in which articles business to a very considerable extent was transacted; this gave it the appellative attached. Its proximity to the rising town of Devizes soon reduced it to its present condition; it is now generally known for its large supplies of vegetables to the market of Devizes, distant 6 miles,—Trowbridge, 12 miles,—Bath, 22 miles,—and Salisbury, p. 619 miles. The market-place continues to maintain its former dimensions, and constitutes the favourite resort of the juvenile portion of the population. ”

“ In the first class we may be said to have presented to us a subtle spirit so ethereal and liable to evaporation as to be difficult of retention to any important purpose, and so versatile as to be susceptible of any form at the will of the operator; in the latter we possess a definite tangible reality, in which we see reflected as in a mirror the principles, feelings, motives, and results, not only of the several actors, but of the times in which they lived, all which become fixed or Daguerreotyped for the benefit of those that come after. ”

“ Steps were immediately taken for its erection, and it was opened in December of the same year, when sermons from Psalm xlvii. 7, were preached by the pastor. The ladies of the congregation exerted themselves to provide new cushions for the pulpit and desk, and curtains for the organ gallery and windows. About the same time a pupil of the minister’s, by the productions of his pencil, not only gratified the friends with drawings of the interior and exterior of the chapel, but by the sale of these purchased a hot-air stove, which he presented to the Church. ”

“ Among the various intellectual viands, none is more generally acceptable than History; and simply for this reason, in other departments or productions of the pen we have abstract principles and theories, which require to be worked out by mental or manual processes ere they assume a form to be capable of appreciation by the general mind. ”

“ Although religion in humble garb is apt to meet with reproach and persecution, yet in the case of p. 23this lowly follower of the Saviour there appears a mysterious charm, an immortal Ægis thrown around him, by which he was shielded from the many and bitter sufferings that often surround the disciples of Christ, and which awakened towards him respect and affection, not only of his own immediate class, for some that knew him have testified he was a right-down good man and there is no David Saunders now, but also of his superiors far and wide ”

“ Arrayed against him as was the whole hierarchy of that apostate Church, he clothed himself in the panoply of the Gospel, especially “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” to do warfare in the sacred cause.
So here an obscure peasant, inhabiting a cot so lowly that those accustomed to more convenient and comfortable accommodation would be disposed to spurn the humble abode as a mere hovel unfit for human dwelling ”

“ The names of places are frequently very descriptive of their situation, as Wilton, near Salisbury, or, as it known in ancient records, Willytown—the town on the Willy, a river running through it to Salisbury, where it unites with other streams, and flows into the English Channel at Christchurch. We propose to take this as our guide on the present occasion, and establish our hypothesis by several concurrent facts.
The term Lav or Lave may either mean watered—washed, left, or hidden; and the termination ton, which is a very general one, a town, as Easterton, Littleton, Maddington, and Shrewton. ”

“ Denied the spiritual enjoyments so abundant in the present day, which it is to be feared from their very abundance are slighted, he was accustomed to repair sometimes in the daytime, when he could leave his flock in the care of another, but especially in the evening after the toils and fatigues of the day, to Seend, probably where some of his own people might be found, and unite with them in devotional exercises, returning the same night, that so he might be ready for his daily duties, so strict was he in regard to the rights of others, and lest his good might be evil spoken of. ”

“ In a few years he relinquished the stated ministry, and removed to the North of England. For the space of two years they remained without a shepherd, in a great measure arising from p. 53the diversity of temperament the human mind everywhere exhibits, and in no case more so than in matters of religion, especially in the democratic cast of the Dissenting Churches, which is an evil to be deplored, as too often affording to one individual the opportunity of governing a Church through the power of influence exerted over minds incompetent to a just discrimination of things ”

“ But the true effects must be left for time to develope, and the full extent of the benefit can only be disclosed by the light of Eternity, when at the last great gathering of the precious fruits of the Sun it shall be found “this and p. 37that man were born here,” and when the righteous Lord, whose decisions will be according to truth, shall make up His jewels, and acknowledging the efforts and labours of His humblest servant, reward every man according to his work. ”

“ It was to be expected that these privileges, though so scanty, and which were highly prized, should produce in their minds an earnest and growing desire for the increase of the means of grace to themselves, and also for the benefit of those around them, especially of their own flesh and blood, as many would from family and other circumstances be prevented availing themselves of the public ordinances which they enjoyed. ”

“ Still, no cry for quarter, no compromise was even whispered by the followers of the despised Redeemer, they not only remembered it was uttered by Him when on the earth, “If they persecute me they will also persecute you,” and “these things will they do unto you because they know not the Father nor me,” but they counted it an honour to share in His sufferings. ”