William Haslam

You remember when William Haslam, that English clergyman, was converted. He preached with such power that he won every member of his perish to Christ. There was not a person living in the Baldhu section of Cornwall who had not confessed the Lord. Then he became greatly concerned about his neighbors, so he began preaching in adjoining parishes and winning souls there. The other ministers became upset over it, and sent in their objections to the Bishop, saying, "Mr. Haslam is interfering with our work. He is poaching in our parishes, telling our people that they have to be converted and need to be born again." The Bishop sent for William Haslam and said, "I understand you are preaching all the time. You don't seem to be doing anything else." William Haslam replied, "My lord bishop, I assure you I preach only two seasons of the year." "Oh," said the Bishop, "I am glad to know that. And what seasons are they?" "In season and out of season," replied William Haslam. That is the charge that comes to everyone of us if we really know Christ. It is not just for official proclaiming of the Word, not just for pastors and elders, but for all Christians. Let us be instant in season and out of season in winning precious souls to the Lord Jesus Christ. ~H.A. Ironside in his commentary on 1 Timothy through Philemon, page 160.