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Transcript of Ben Virgo's Speech
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Standing at the top of the stairs at the front of St Paul’s Cathedral
1300s - the time of John witcliffe
Minister of churches in London back then didn’t know the 12 commandments, where they were in the Bible nor who wrote the Lord’s Prayer. Different to them Whitcliffe was born again from reading the gospel and then preached it - ‘the God against whom you’ve sinned has taken the punishment for you and is coming again. He was arrested. His trial happened here in St Paul’s for heresy. They burned him alive. John of Gaunt was in charge of Whitcliffe’s trial with Lord Percy: The conversation between them is said to have gone like this:
Percy: Whitcliffe would you like to be seated?
Bishop: Are you inviting the heretic to be seated?
Percy: do you know who I am?
Bishop: do you know whose house this is?
And a riot breaks out
Whitcliffe was a criminal so his writings did not gain popularity in his time, but they reached Europe - a young scribe copied one of his books - ‘faith alone, Christ alone’. John Huss - father of the reformation - and the mureveans
It was through the mureveans that John Wesley was born again. God has his fruits growing all over the world
Men’s ideas last but a few decades, but this 2000 year old gospel is still bearing fruit and has changed the world forever.
6 August 1783 - the first petition was presented to parliament for the abolition of slave trade - William Wilberforce was requested to represent the cause that year. None of these men who changed the world, set out knowing they would accomplish it - they set their roots into Jesus Christ. Wilberforce didn’t say “i did it” - but it was out of Providence he did
It’s a dark world and light has shone in the darkness - through these people the light has illuminated a nation.
We turned to right down the staircase of St Paul’s Cathedral, through church yard - onto London’s antique high street
Turning into the Memorial of St. Paul’s Cross
His cross used to be wooden - not a literal cross, but a platform - a pulpit (before the media was around) first mentioned in history books in 1891 This was the Trafalgar square of London. The 1500s was a time where there was a 1 in 3 infant mortality rate. Life expectancy was peaked generally in the 30s. It was a hard, gritty time. The Bibles were all in Latin. Priests had no idea of the gospel. Church was members congregating to get good luck from the bread and wine. Martin Luther came on the scene and preached “God shows his love for us - whilst we were still sinners, God died for us”.
A young linguist from Gloucestershire (learnt 8 languages well from the age of 25) - he could look in the greek and see Jesus as ‘Saviour, lamb of god’ - He preached these descriptions - and that life it wasn’t a struggle game with God / but the gospel is good news. William Tindale, John Fox said it was impossible to establish people in the truth without having scripture in their own language. Don’t you find that Satan comes along to new believers when they are saved by faith - tries to add some things to Christ saying ‘then you’ll really be saved’. The one minute thrilled with grace is quickly taken down by self-righteous rules and religion. Left with a cold heart. The enemy lies that ‘you can manage without Christ - thus why are you going to come to Him? Why are you going to enjoy him?’. Without a Bible you’re not going to guess Romans - you will feel as if you have no authority to say to Satan ‘get behind me’
Tindale went to the authorities of his time to try to translate the Bible into English. But they persecuted him and he had to leave the country. Yet, he still translated it. Then him and a group of people smuggled 100,000 copies into British hands
9 years after his first translation - he was betrayed and arrested in Belgium. As he was tied to the stake - he is said to have cried out not for his own life but ‘Lord open the eyes of the king of england’. He knew his soul was securely won at the cross - He believed the same gospel we know today. 2 years after his death, the English king said there should be an English bible in every church.
Walked to Cheapside, with a gated tree on the opposite side of the road to our left
Cheapside used to mean market place. Cheap being the medieval word for market. Cheapside still stands as an ancient road in London. You can tell from the surrounding streets ‘Red street, milk street, wood street, poultry’ - these streets were the aisles of their market. The tree infront - bears a story - it’s what’s left of St Peter Cheap’s Church burnt in the Great Fire of London - not one of the 51 churches rebuilt by Cristopher Wren - this tree called ‘plane tree’ inspired and features in Wordsworth’s poem ‘The reverie of poor Susan’ - A girl carrying her belongings through the slums of cheapside - hears a bird that takes her to a cottage she loves - no one touches plane tree til this day.
John Milton, the poet, was born there in bread street. He never saw alps, canyons or oceans - where did he get his epic vision from? Mark Twain once said “it ain’t those parts of the Bible that I can’t understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand”. He had a fear of god. Paradise lost, Milton’s poem, C.S Lewis writes a preface stating ‘many of those who say they dislike Milton’s god, only mean that they dislike God: infinite sovereignty, by its very nature, includes wrath also." Just think about it - if there is a God, is it likely they’ll come and ask ‘excuse me what should I be like? - Timothy Keller. We have to accept him on his terms.
Church building on the right
St Mary Lê bow
Built since 1943 a strategic target of German Air Force. The city of London used to be the clearing house of the world
‘We’ll always be successful and rich a long as we're the clearing house’ - politicians of the time. Christopher Wren's Church used to stand here in the same proportions - where George Whitfield’s preached - stopped inviting him (clergy were jealous and crowds were too large- also he was preaching a different message to theirs). “Live up to your potential” - them. Whitfield preached “your life is a vapour that will end in judgement or eternity” - through tears “all who are heavy laden come to me”
He started preaching outside next to Moorgate tube. Near Hyde park corner. Benjamin Franklin was there and calculated 20,000 people were listening - could hear him from every corner. An unusual hush as he spoke - people felt their souls were being offered grace. We have written a Book - for the 500th reformation anniversary as an excuse to preach - read up on these guys that look so glum in paintings. No one smiled for portraits until 100 years ago - people didn’t follow these guys because they had to - but because they showed them the glory of Christ. Has a sermon effected you deeply? - that the preacher has something they want you to see.
Alleys of old London
Parish church of St Stephen Walbrook. Masterpiece of Christorpher Wren- who designed St Paul’s Cathedral. The saying goes 'A camel is a horse designed by a committee'. This was his camel - he did what he wanted with it. Thomas Watson was minister here for years - not always the most accessible - Puritan - wrote The Body of Divinity and great treaties. He was removed from his job because parliament passed a law that only anglicans can preach. He went unemployed for 4 years after such great authority . Like Abraham they both died in faith. This parish stands as one of 10 most important buildings in the country
Enter the parish building
Only other building designed by Christopher Wren with a dome. He didn’t like stained glass - liked windows to just let in the light. Decorated this dome with flowers like he wanted to in St. Paul’s- but they didn’t let him. Stone altar in the middle sculpted by Henry moor - the Camembert
Thomas Watson is said to have been the first vicar here. Founded on the 2nd November 1953 - Chad Varah started the Samaritans helpline for suicidals (preached at this parish for 50 years) - highly honored.
Had to give a funeral for 14 yr old suicided girl - who before her death had become convinced she had contracted an STD - only she hadn’t. She was so terrified and confused and ashamed that she took her own life. Chad varah only tried to imagine her desperation and when in London - put ads on newspapers for people to phone him if they needed someone to call (which later became known as the Samaritans). His phone still stands here on the white plinth (as pictured above).
It’s only when you hear a music you know it - the same as a building - you walk through to know the genius of the design. Have a walk through now by yourselves.
Mansion house
Lord Mayor of London lives here with no salary. If you wanted to heat your house at night, you needed a fireplace and chimney that got dirty and blocked. Chimney sweeps were allowed to have apprentices as young as 8. This law however almost always went unchecked - since they had 4 yr olds. Stripped them off and washed them down with salt water in front of a fire place. An older boy would push them out. A 4 year old was once reported to be stuck for 8 hours and to have died before getting out. These sweeper boys died mostly from cancer. A man fought this and ended it.
Mental asylums had several people chained to a bed per night - a bed of filthy straw - the same man fought that and ended it. If you were one of the thousands of homeless boys - who didn’t know how to read or write. Missionaries started the Ragged schools in 1830 - where 300,000 of these boys were educated - he got behind that.
This man was Anthony Ashley Cooper (Lord Shaftesbury) who was murdered in 1955 - while London mourned - boys with signs reading ‘naked and you clothed me’ stood at his funeral. “Drink from the fountain of the Lord itself” That man is too heavenly minded to be any earthly good. A meeting was held here after he died saying he must never be forgotten - and a memorial statue was made of what he stood for - the angel of Christian Charity - now nicknamed 'eros' - stands in Piccadilly circus. German student asked me once ‘does everyone know these stories?’. Why do you think we have such stability in this country? There has been leavening in this city by heavenly minded people.
Parish of St Mary Woolnoth
28 years served by John Newton. At first he was a horrible person - a slave trader. Around 11 million people from west Africa and Indian Ocean were taken to the West Indies. Including criminals to casualties of war . Equionos - a war abolitionist searched for him. Once in a ship below decks in cargo hold were hundreds of people chained in tiny departments with nothing - a woman there still had her baby. Once the captain is said to have been kept awake from that baby's cries so he threw it overboard. Newton saw evil daily and was hated by many people on board. When Newton became ill, the Captain said to put Newton on an island to be cared for. But he was taken into slavery by a woman
A man fed him food to keep him alive. He was rescued by a boat - that one day had water pouring through
Newton went down to the ship to pump water that day from 3am to noon - and finally went to bed not caring what happened to him. They soon took him and strapped him to the wheel of the ship. His mother had raised him in the hymns of Isaac watts - she died when he was 7. At that moment as he was tied to the ship, he prayed as the ravens pray ‘o lord have mercy on us’ - He survived and the next day got himself a bible the next day - reading of a Saviour who comes to die for his enemies. He then writes ‘amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me’
Came off the boat and started ordinary day work in Liverpool - then became a minister at this parish. Remember how small this church is - most of us go to little local churches - and it may be tempting to think ‘is this actually doing anything?’ This little local church changed the world. William - father of world missionary movement opened the doors to Newton. Another William Cowper, a poet, was personally encouraged and cared for by Newton to write his own hymns. Martyr was inspired. William Wilberforce met up with Newton, his first preacher, and walked down the vestry together - as Wilberforce poured out his heart - he recently became a Christian and thought that would be the end of his political career
Newton a man of grace and truth - assured Wilberforce that this message isn’t about what you do, it’s about what has been done for you - don’t leave your friends, don’t leave politics - use where you are. Wilberforce soon after gave the rest of his life to abolishing the slave trade. 1833 July - ‘just thought you should know Mr Wilberforce, they are free’
3 days later he died
(notes below yet to be edited...)
How is the wisdom of god revealed through the church?
It’s how He designed it
Newton was old and blind - he leaned over and said ‘what was I saying?’
Newton’s love for Mary/Polly
Cecil admired not emulated the way Newton loved his wife
Brian as he died wrote ‘maybe Newton loved his wife like Christ loved His bride, and gave His life for her’
Bedlam mental hospital
John Newton and Polly adopted Betsy
George and his wife died has a daughter Betsy
Had a cousin called Eliza
When Polly died and Eliza
Betsy was diagnosed insane and taken from John Newton - our in bedlam
They used to sell tickets to go watch the mad people
Three nurses were allowed to carry whips
You can’t help everyone
You can help the person nearest to you
John Newton used to do the walk you just did every evening
Look up and wave at Betsy’s window and wouldn’t leave until she waved her handkerchief
When he knew she was alright - he would carry on
If you’re faithful with the small things - you’ll be faithful with the great
Whitfield sending letters to little churches ‘my dear friend’
They all knew there really only is one hero in Church history - he loved me and that changed me
We may not
They cared for ones and two
When darkness seems your closest friend
A new day - Emma Scribner
Guildhall
1411-1440 many kings and queens hosted here
Has never been a church
Friend once had a funeral in his church building - undertakers put coffin down and turned to bow to the overhead projector because here was no altar
Henry 8th has 6 wives - when he died his son 9 was to become monarch
But he died young
The person with the best claim was Mary - daughter of Henry’s first wife
Mary hates the gospel
Henry used the gospel to get rid of her mother
Good preaching with Latimer, Bradford, Cramer, Rogers and Ridley starts
Mary has all these great preachers put in the Tower of London and tried at Guildhall
They were taken to Oxford
Martiner and Ridley were marched past the public as tied to stakes
Calling out encouraging bible verse lá and ‘today by God’s Grace we will light such a candle that will not be put out’
Thomas Cramer under pressure gave up
They got him in a public debate with a clever Roman Catholic debate
you say the head of the church is the king not the pope - so then New Testament Times it must have been the emperor Nero
Wrong answer- Nero was never the head of the church
They brought it a letter for him to sign that the head of the church was the pope - which they said well done Thomas - we will still burn you
He used to be the arch bishop of Canterbury, now a heretic and soon will be with god
“I have recanted if the gospel, but now I recant of recanting”
He got his hand that signed the letter and put it in the flames to watch it burn
All the people were concerned for the poor and poorest - slaves, sweeper boys,
Cramer lived in a palace
In his last sermon - pleaded with the rich that thy should forsake greed and remember the poor - have compassion for them
Black circle on the floor where a huge stadium was built
The stones are still standing on the basement from 80AD - where gladiators fought to the death
Blitz just crushed this area
All that remains is this tower - now a private residence - see tower photo
Lake area
What’s left of London’s wall
We’re standing just outside of it
When the romans built it London was one square mile and they built a wall around it
Psalm 23
Old English: drichten me tá te
Manitu me mates godês wan (that was English)
119AD
St Giles cripple gate - John milton was buried
Oliver Cromwell was married there
John burrows preached there
When the puritans were fired from their churches in 1660s - they were still allowed to preach at the cripple gate
1800s Charles spurgeons asked if they should preach there again
Spurgeon ‘yes’
The great heroes from church history had other heroes to look back at
No one else was doing it at that time but ‘that guy did’
Today you can know god - we are the people that still believe that - we can imitate those people’s faiths
Museum of London
Aldersgate street
John Wesley was an Oxford academic that tried to become a minister
Preached try harder in USA
The law is like an overbearing husband that does everything right but does nothing to help - Paul calls the law - the ministry of death
Wesley condemned himself and his congregation
1778 writes in his journal
I went to eden song unwillingly in the vending
Reading Lutherans preface
8:45 - describing how God works in the heart I felt my heart strangely warm - that I trust in Christ alone - Wesley has understood at last that the gospel is not instructions but a finished good news
He started to preach it
Travelled 5000 miles per year on horse - started over 300 churches - preaching to the poor and poorest with no intention of setting up churches
Churches there weren’t welcoming so he started his own
France Revolution - slaughtered the rich - here no revolution happened because John Wesley changed the nation
In France the poor were embittered
Here they were given hope
written on: 05 September 2019
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