Memoir of Mr. J. D. Hunt

Minister of Hope Chapel, Rochdale 1916 – 1923

Mr. Hunt was born at Haverhill, Suffolk, and up to the age of 22 years he followed the course of every fallen son of Adam, being in the world and of the world; but the appointed time had arrived when he should be led to seek the paths of righteousness, and he was persuaded to attend a religious meeting, when the word spoken was fastened as a nail in a sure place. He states, 1 tried my best to shake it off, as it spoiled my pleasure, but who can heal when He has wounded ? I became thoroughly wretched and undone, and was led to see what a sinner I was in the sight of a holy God. The more I fought against sin’s power, I sinned and stumbled yet the more. My path became darker and darker. I was young and foolish, and ignorant of Satan’s devices, and found no one who could speak a word to me in season. I even tried to go  back into the world, and in my carnal heart I endeavoured to turn my back upon that Friend who was plucking me by His gracious hand as a brand from the burning. I often marvel at the patience, forbearance, and loving kindness of the Lord to me at this time. I now began to go from place to place to try and find a healing balm for my wound. In the providence of God I was led one sabbath to enter Salem Chapel at Portsmouth ; and there for the first time the truth entered into my soul, and I saw what free grace salvation really meant. I saw it was not in man to direct his steps. My old free-will teaching was burnt out of my soul, and in its place the great truths of salvation by free and sovereign grace were given an abiding place in my heart. After a time I was led to cast in my lot with the people meeting there, for the place had become a sweet Bethel to my soul. Truly God is good to Israel, and leadeth the blind by a way they know not, and in paths that they have not known.” Our friend was now found sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. He was also feeling the  blessed experience that all his sins were put away by the one Sacrifice for sin, and rejoicing in God his Saviour. He says, ” My soul was ravished with love for Him who had done so much for me. How many times since then I have looked back when feeling the burden of indwelling sin, and be moaning my cold, hard heart! I have sighed as poor Job, and cried out, O that I were as in months that are passed !’ But these blessings are the Lord’s own gift. We only have them as He is pleased to bestow, and can hold them only as long as He sees fit.” We will come to his call to the ministry. He states, ” I was walking in the street one day, my mind being exercised about the things of God, when these words sounded in my ears : Go forth, have I not sent thee ?’ I stood still, and said, Lord, what does this mean ? ‘ The words fell upon  my soul, ‘ Preach the gospel.’ I said, Lord, I cannot, none are more unfit than I.’ For weeks I struggled against it, and tried to cast off the burden; for a great burden it was to me. Shortly after this I received an invitation from a place where a few gracious people met together, to go over and read a sermon to them. I felt I might be able to do this, and agreed to go. On the Saturday night the Lord laid upon me the command to preach His word. I was in agony of soul. I did not know what to do, and fell upon my knees, and told the Lord how ignorant I was. He graciously broke through my darkness by the words: ‘ In that hour it shall be given thee what thou shalt speak.’ My dear Saviour shone upon me, and I had such a sight of His sweet graciousness and love as I had never had before. He was unto me as the Chiefest among ten thousand and the altogether Lovely. He gave me a text to speak from, and again the gracious promise came, ‘ In that hour it shall be given thee what thou shalt speak.’ 1 went forth in the strength of these words, and was greatly helped, though with much fear and trembling, to deliver my message.”

In the providence of God our friend was led to remove to Brighton, where he often sat under Mr. Popham’s ministry, which was greatly blessed to him. After about two years, he received an offer of an appointment at Norwich, where many doors were opened for the preaching of the gospel. From that time he has laboured in the Lord’s vineyard, and preached the unsearchable riches of Christ in many parts of our beloved land. He shortly after received a call to be pastor at Pitt Street, Norwich, where he laboured for eight years. He was then led to remove to Lowestoft, and took charge of  the cause meeting there. Here he remained for nine years, with much profit to the people, and greatly loved for his Master’s sake. During the war the air raids in this part of the country became so prevalent that the people were scattered, many leaving the district. This led our brother to again return to Norwich. While there, he received a call to the pastorate of Hope Chapel, Rochdale, which he was led to accept. For seven years he laboured in this part of the vineyard, often in great weakness. He had many severe trials, which caused him to cry for help to the One that is mighty. God heard his sighs, and counted his tears, and often led him in sweet communion to cast all his cares upon that gracious Arm that upholds the weakest of the flock of Christ; but the faithful servant’s work was drawing to a close. The following letters convey somewhat of the gracious exercises of his spirit:

” 1920. … I find it is just over twelve months since I was with you at Woodhouse. None but myself and the Lord know what those happy times meant to my storm-tossed soul; indeed they were blessed earnests of the ‘ rest that remaineth.’ And so by the help of God I continue unto this day, ‘faint, yet pursuing.’ Sense and reason would tell me that such a sinner as I will never get to heaven, but faith flies to that dear Refuge of my weary soul,—the blood of Jesus ; and hiding there, lays hold of the precious truth that He came to save sinners, and thus was * delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.’ And I can at times sing with dear Miss Steele,

If my immortal Saviour lives, Then my immortal life is sure,’

and I can in sweet hope look forward to that day when, freed from a body of sin and death, my liberated soul will wing its happy flight to where Jesus is, to see Him as He is, and to be like Him. What a consummation of all our hopes and longings in this pilgrim path !

Faith believes it, hope expects it, But it overwhelms them all.”

What a poor balance-sheet mine is, deep in debt, and nothing to pay with ! and yet I still keep going to the Bank, and find there is still loving kindness and mercy kept in store for poor, needy souls like mine; and hope is not made ashamed, though unbelief and the devil often tell me it will be. But I am helped at times to take my stand on this truth:

He that has made my heaven secure, Will here all good provide.’

Here we go from strength to strength, and wax faint in the strife against principalities and powers, and only prevail because infinite power and wisdom are with us in Jesus, ‘mighty to save.’ But when the journey is over and the last victory won, it will be peace. Oh how precious to contemplate, amidst the jarring elements of this sinful earth, such a lime! All the warrior’s armour and his weapons laid down, for ever exchanged for the white robes of peace and union ! For ever with the Lord.’ May the Lord grant you the light of His countenance, and much of His presence. Yours affectionately in Christ, J. D. HUNT.”

” 1921. … I was very glad indeed to receive your letter, and should have liked to answer it before, but we live to prove that we are not our own, and cannot do as we like or have things as we would like them, either temporally or spiritually. Our gracious God still leads us in ways that we know not, and in paths that we have not known. Truly I have found it so ; even in this matter of writing to you, I have often found my way hedged up, sometimes by many pressing duties, by afflictions bodily and spiritual. I daily prove that I am but dust and ashes, and groan, being burdened ; yet I do at times realise that my times are in His hand, and that by His help I have continued unto this day, and trust that He will at last bring me through, and that I shall stand in my * lot at the end of the days.’ Blessed, glorious hope ! It brightens my dark horizon many times : at such times Earth’s joys grow dim, and sorrows flee away; ‘For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.’ Yes, my Jesus is the God of my hope, and I want to know nothing among men save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.’ For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily,’ and outside of Him all is vanity. Sometimes He gives me to feel that He is ‘ All in all;’ and this lifts me out of the mire and clay of the world and professors; and I can then count all as dung and dross that I might ‘ win Christ,’ and put Him on as the Lord my righteousness. Ah! He does bring a poor vile sinner into His house of wine, and says to this vilest, poorest wretch, ‘ Eat, friend, drink abundantly, 0 beloved.’ And then, as upon the Lamb I gaze, I find my heaven below. But my dear Lord deals faithfully with me; and the baseness and vileness of my proud heart often call forth His chastening rod. Oh, blessed be His holy Name, He does not leave me alone, nor let me alone, but lets me know that my walls are continually before Him, and that I am built upon Him. Well, all this is His work, and the world, the flesh, and the devil are all out to oppose and over throw a poor soul; but hard and bitter as the conflict is, they are not allowed to conquer, for greater is He that is for us than all they that be against us.’ And we prove that as tribulations abound, even so much more doth consolation abound also by Christ Jesus.

I completed five years of my ministry here last month, and I have had many tokens of His favour, and blessing my labours. Thus far He has enabled a poor worm to stand firm in the l truth as it is in Jesus.’ He is pleased to use me to comfort and strengthen the household of faith ; and as they are enabled to evince some love and regard to the Lord’s servant, this bond is very sweet and strengthening to one so often bowed down. J. D. HUNT.”

He was laid aside by a severe attack of influenza, from which, owing to his shattered health, he never fully recovered. Early in the present year he went to Bacup to preach. There was a heavy snowstorm, and our friend contracted a severe chill, which settled upon his lungs. He was given great patience in his painful affliction, and recovered sufficiently to be removed to Torquay in May. His doctor advised that the milder climate would be beneficial to him. The lovingkindness of the Lord appeared to him while here in a special way. He truly walked in Beulah’s land, and often ate of the fruit of that fair country. It was a time of love to his soul, and like a shock of corn fully ripe, he was called to enter the joy of his Lord at seven o’clock on the morning of August llth, 1928. ” Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the Tree of Life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”

Source: Gospel Standard Magazine