William Trotter (1818-1865)

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Gathered to the Lord’s Name
Hymns #320, 321.
This energetic worker for the Lord was born in the year 1818 and was saved when he was but 12, in 1830. He learned and found peace with God by the ministry of William Dawson, a Methodist preacher. He began to preach Christ when he was 14 years old! At 19 he was ordained as a Methodist minister and was used much in a revival at Halifax, England. Later at York the Lord further blessed his ministry to the salvation of many souls. He was then sent by the “Conference” of the church to London where his work was greatly hampered. He began to see that this was man’s arrangement and not according to Scripture. He was also led to see that the Church was one, and that the names set up for churches were of man and not God. He took his place outside the religious camp in accordance with Heb. 13:10-1610We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. 11For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. 12Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. 13Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. 14For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. 15By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. 16But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. (Hebrews 13:10‑16) and was gathered by the Spirit to the Name of the Lord Jesus in keeping with Matt. 18:18-2018Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:18‑20). He left the titles, the music, the ritual, the order set up by man and was content to go on with those that “call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Tim. 2:20-2120But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. 21If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. (2 Timothy 2:20‑21)). His helpful book “Eight Lectures on Prophecy” is still extant and in use.
In 1848 when some gave up the ground of the one body and claimed that each assembly had a right to judge for itself and that fellowship with evil did not defile, he stood firm for the truth and wrote then “The Whole Case of Plymouth and Bethesda” showing the principles involved. It has been said that inhis 47 years of life he did the work of three lives! The Lord took him home in 1865. His hymn #320 directs our hearts away from the Christ-rejecting world and its attractions to a glorified Christ in heaven. Hymn 321 includes:
“Behold the Lamb whose precious blood
Drawn from His riven side1
Had power to make our peace with God,
Nor lets one spot abide.”
 
1. In the 1856 hymn book this reads, “Poured from His opened veins,” but Mr. Darby revised this in the 1881 edition to the present Scriptural words.