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South Molton Gospel Hall
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Introduction
Robert Chapman (1803-1902) Introduction Robert
Chapman is not well known. He did not author any monumental books.
When he began to minister friends said he would never make a good
preacher. Chapman was not a world-wide evangelist. He lead no great
mission to foreign lands; rather he labored for 70 years in a small
town in a remote corner of England. Yet he became a living legend.
As a young man, Winston Churchill was taken to visit him. Charles
Spurgeon called him: "the saintliest man I ever knew." Robert
Cleaver Chapman is important because of the life he lived. He said:
"My business is to love others and not to seek that others shall
love me." When they said he would never make a great preacher,
Chapman replied: "There are many who preach Christ, but not so many
who live Christ; my great aim will be to live Christ." John Nelson
Darby said of Robert Chapman: "He lives what I teach." On another
occasion Darby said: "We talk of the heavenliest, but Robert Chapman
lives in them." A biographer wrote: "What then made Chapman so
beloved and effective in his time? Quite simply, his utter devotion
to Christ and his determination to live Christ." (Peterson, p. 15)
Let us look at his life. Robert C. Chapman was born on January 4, 1803, the 6th of 10 children born to Thomas & Ann Chapman. He was born in Helsingor, Denmark, where his father ran a prosperous import-export business. It seems that the family practiced nothing beyond the usual religious observances. As a boy he displayed the virtues of enthusiasm and diligence in his pursuits. His mother said of him "Robert always has a passion, whether literature or the flute, and whatever he takes up, he pursues diligently." Chapman also displayed linguistic abilities in English, Danish & French, languages spoken in the home; he became proficient in German and Italian. After his conversion he studied Hebrew and Greek so he could study the Scriptures in the original languages. To pursue missionary work he studied Spanish and Portugese until he attained fluency. During Robert's childhood the Napoleonic wars between France, Denmark etc. and Britain adversely affected the Chapman business in Denmark. The Chapman family returned to Yorkshire, NE England. There Robert Chapman completed his formal education. Robert Chapman left home at age 15 to begin a 5-year legal apprenticeship in London. While in London, Robert probably stayed with relatives. He lead an active social life in the large city. Meanwhile there were signs of spiritual awakening - at age 16, he began to read the Bible. Later Chapman described his condition at that time as: "Sick was I of the world, hating it as vexation of spirit, while yet I was unable and unwilling to cast it out." (Peterson, p. 21) After his 5-year apprenticeship, Chapman became an attorney. Three years later, at the age of 23, he inherited a small fortune and set up his own law practice, which began to prosper. His future looked bright. However, a few years earlier an event happened which was to change the course of Chapman's life.
When Chapman was 20 years old he was brought to
salvation by James Harington Evans. Evans had been an ordained
minister in the Anglican Church, but resigned due to his Scriptural
views. He began to preach at the John Street Chapel, a congregation
not affiliated with any denomination.
A lawyer invited
Robert Chapman the John Street Chapel. Evans preached justification
by faith based on the redemption of Jesus Christ. Robert Chapman
accepted Christ. Once saved Chapman studied his Bible with renewed
interest. Following the pattern he read, Chapman desired to be
baptized immediately. Evans advised him to wait, saying : "You will
wait a while and consider the matter." "No" said Chapman, "I will
make haste, and delay not, to keep His commandments" (Pickering p.
69). Chapman insisted on following the Lord's charge as soon as
possible. Evans agreed; Robert Chapman was baptized a few days after
receiving Christ. |
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