Thomas Neatby
Thomas Neatby was born at Worsborough, near Barnsley, August 1, 1835. Parents were fervent Methodist Christians. Came to Christ at the age of nine, along with his elder brother, during a revival held in a local Wesleyan chapel. About 1846, the family moved to Barnsley where his father had taken over a timber merchant's business. There, Thomas was introduced to Hudson Taylor and Benjamin Broomhall, founders of China Inland Mission.
At the age of seventeen, Thomas began to preach in the Wesleyan Reform before being introduced to the Brethren (presumably thru Taylor and Broomhall). He began to study medicine with the intent of joining them in China. He was apprenticed to doctors in Hull and Banbury, and afterwards studied at Edinburgh University and St. Bartholomew's Hospital. He graduated M.D. at St. Andrews University about 1861.
By this time he had become closely associated with "Exclusive Brethren" in London, and he gradually abandoned his plans for China. He setup his practice initially in Camden Road, moving in 1866 to Hampstead until retiring in 1894 after thirty-three years "most enthusiastic pursuit of it". Even during his work years, half his energies were given to ministry, and remained within the EB's (Darby) until 1881, then was with William Kelly until January of 1887 when he found the entire "Exclusive" discipline a burden to his conscience.
From then on, for 24 more years of his life his "services were freely at the disposal of all Christians, and he took part in many an undenominational convention; the bulk of his ministry, however, was happily exercised among the believers commonly known as "Open Brethren".
For the last 26 years of his life (including his last two among Kelly Brethren), he was "partially crippled by a paralytic seizure, and the extent and vigour of his labours in itinerant evangelisation and Bible teaching were very remarkable indeed in the circumstances. His spirit was never flagged, and his zeal for the work was keen at the last."
The end came peacefully after a few days illness on Sunday morning, November 12, 1911.
Books written
- "The Gospel of Our Salvation", 1877;
- 1876 Bible Treasury review: StemPublishing.com Bible Treasury review: "This little book of 254 pp consists of twenty brief and pithy papers, in large and clear type, on the gospel and its results to the believer. Each topic — Forgiveness, Peace, Redeemed from Judgment, Brought to God, The eternal efficacy of the blood of Christ, The fruit of the tree, The root of the tree, Dead in sins, Alive in Christ, etc. — is illustrated with apt anecdotes or comparisons in illustration of the truth sought to be conveyed. Many of our readers will be thankful to know of such a work; for the need of souls is great, and a considerable variety is here given in a small space."
- "Our Lord's Coming Again: His Appearing and Reign", 1877
- 1876 Bible Treasury Review: StemPublishing.com Bible Treasury review: "The subjects are: 1. The Morning Star. 2. A Thief in the Night. 3. The Sun of Righteousness. 4. The Stone cut without hands. 5. Give the king Thy judgments, O God. 6. The glory which Thou gavest Me, I have given them. This will very simply and in the fewest words indicate the plan and aim of the volume, which is heartily recommended to the christian reader, and even for others, who, knowing not the Lord, are often appealed to throughout."
- "From Glory To Glory" which includes, according to W.B.N., "some of his choicest addresses"
- Letter from John Nelson Darby to Dr. Neatby on October 1st, 1879 can be found at this Stem Publishing link. Interesting that this takes place two years before Dr. Neatby parted ways with Darby for the Kelly brethren.
Sources
- Bio adapted from GospelHall.org