Bouys from History: Charles Simeon - A Lesson in Patience

     I only recently discovered Rev. Charles Simeon. The information I read on him barely covered a full page, but I found myself inspired by his patience and grace under fire.  In subsequent weeks, I've researched him at length and found his fervor for God and his undying consideration for the hearts of men to be of great encouragement. So I share his story with you...... to give you a bouy (a lift) of inspiration today.

Charles Simeon is best known for

• serving Holy Trinity Church, Cambridge, and Cambridge University for 54 years
• practicing and popularizing biblical, expository preaching
• pioneering on-campus discipleship among university students
• developing new, church-based ministries for youth and adults
• starting or helping to start at least four missions organizations
• introducing the evangelical revival in Britain to the Church of England
• enduring intense opposition during his early years of ministry
• dying as a beloved community member and revered church leader

     Receiving appointment in 1782 to his church by the bishop, he was opposed by the members of Trinity Church in Cambridge because of his evangelical outlook and his call to holiness for the people of God. They disapproved so much that they did not attend morning services and locked their pews so that no one else could use them! And this state of things did not last for a few weeks..... or even a few months. It continued for 12 long years. During this time Rev. Simeon preached to his congregation as they stood in the aisles. He later commented on how he endured such a long trial of faith:

"In this state of things I saw no remedy but faith and patience. The passage of Scripture which subdued and controlled my mind was this, "the servant of the Lord must not strive." It was painful indeed to see the church, with the exception of the aisles, almost forsaken; but I thought that if God would only give a double blessing to the congregation that did attend, there would on the whole be as much good done as if the congregation were doubled and the blessing limited to only half the amount. This comforted me many, many times,when without such a reflection, I should have sunk under my burden." 

     While Rev. Simeon endured 12 years of opposition from his parishioners, he served that same church for 54 years in all - dying a beloved member of his community. During his lifetime he called for true conversion and an intimate walk with Christ - emphasized by his own zeal for the Lord in both his public and personal life. Rising at 4:00 a.m. every morning, he spent hours in prayer and study of the word. Living in a time where society was self-indulgent and easy-going, he showed a different way of life by embracing self-discipline and holiness.

     Because his beliefs on outreach, evangelism and personal holiness put him at odds with those who would live an 'easy life', within the Church of England he endured harsh criticism, ridicule, social slights, bricks thrown through windows as he preached, and being locked out of his church. His response was to pray "May God bless them with enlightening, sanctifying, and saving grace." Never once did he waver in His convictions on outreach and holiness, and yet at the same time he resolved to work within the church to bring revival from within, instead of breaking unity and bringing disharmony within the church. Archbishop Donald Coggan, in his lecture on Charles Simeon in 1974, stated: "He loved the Church of England. He loved its liturgy and he was content to live and die a son of the Church of England, even though within that Church he suffered so much and saw so much

that was weak and unworthy in its priests and people."

Reverend Charles Simeon (1759-1836)

     May we gain insight and encouragement from the lives of those who have gone before. Not one was perfect. Every one made mistakes. And yet they made Christ their all and lived for Him. May we feel bouyed by their sacrifice and gain insight for our own lives as we seek to follow the Master.

Notes:

Battling Unbelief by John Piper

http://www.charlessimeon.com/

http://archive.churchsociety.org/churchman/documents/Cman_114_2_Carr.pdf

F D Coggan These Were His Gifts (Exeter: University of Exeter Press 1974) p 16