Introduction
The purpose of this book is to make available in a single volume more of the ministry of Joseph Pellatt than has previously been collected in this way. This ministry is easy to read, clear and practical in its handling of divine truth. Our brother was strongly supportive of others who were more prominent in service—in his own time and before, and this comes through in his own ministry.
The biography which follows this Introduction gives a detailed account of our brother’s life and service, and explains at the end how his ministry came to be published shortly after his death in 1913 in two books titled, Closing Ministry of Joseph Pellatt. This new volume is in three parts. The first two include all the articles from the two original books. A third part incorporates a number of other pieces of ministry published in monthly periodicals but not in the original books.
The articles are all re-produced as originally published—except where corrections to quotations and references have been required. The ministry reflects what was generally accepted and ministered at the time. Those familiar with later ministry will appreciate that the Holy Spirit has given further teaching from which a clearer understanding will be found on some matters. I do not think this alters the general value of what was given previously; indeed, our brother was ahead of his time in some respects.
Our brother used both the King James and Darby Bibles—even in the same quotation or on the same occasion. Some references have been revised to conform more exactly to one or the other; otherwise, they are left in the version originally quoted. Where other ministry is cited, references have been given where these can be found, but our brother was evidently able to use a wider range of sources than the books we have now.
Mr Pellatt has this advice on reading (page 164)—
Do not read scripture loosely; if you do, brethren, you will suffer. The hindrance with many of us when we come to scripture is that we have already got our heads full and our minds full, and oftentimes we come to scripture to help up our doctrines. Mr Darby once, in a reading, turned on a young man, who was rather forward, and said to him, ‘Do not put your thoughts into scripture; seek to get God’s thoughts out of scripture’.
A new edition of Poems by Joseph Pellatt is also available from www.lulu.com, with several additions from old periodicals to the original version of 1914. He writes as to his own service -
To love and serve thy people is a constant joy,
Yielding a pleasure pure and sweet without alloy,
To follow thus thy path of self-denying love
Which led through darkest night, to God’s right hand above.
I trust the Lord will use what He gave our brother to minister in this spirit to help those who now enquire into God’s revealed truth.
ANDREW BURR
2021