The Life And Ministry Of John Piggott

Joseph Ivimey, “A History Of The English Baptists”, Vol 2:

The first mention we have of this judicious and useful ministers in 1692. He was at this time a preaching member of the church in Goodman’s-fields. He is spoken of as a school-master who preached occasionally. Mr. Joseph Stennett, pastor of the Sabbatarian church at Pinner’s-Hall, was his particular friend, and had introduced Mr. Piggott to his pulpit. Some persons who belonged to Mr. Belsher’s congregation who were of the same sentiments, who met at this place were greatly displeased, and exhibited several charges against Mr. Piggott, viz. that he was an Arminian, and did not observe the Sabbath-day; intending by this that he kept the first day, and not the seventh as the christian sabbath. He settled with the church in Hart-Street about 1693, and about six years afterwards we find a Mr. John Pilkington made a public recantation of the errors of the romish church, before the congregation in Hart Street, Covent Garden, on the 28th of May 1699. This was published by Mr. Piggott, as also an account of the means and manner of his conviction. The charge given to Mr. Pilkington on this occasion is highly creditable to the judgment and integrity of Mr. Piggott, who is said to have been extremely zealous in his opposition to Popery. This may have been heightened by the treatment which king William III. received from the adherents to the expelled house of Stuart. To this illustrious monarch Mr. Piggott was warmly attached. This is proved in one of his sermons preached April 16, 1696, on a day of Public Thanksgiving “for the discovery and defeat of the late detestable conspiracy against His Majesty’s person, and of a designed invasion from France.” It is dedicated to the Earl of Monmouth, and is an evidence of the high estimation in which Mr. Piggott held that inestimable sovereign. Another of his sermons was occasioned by the death of king William, whom he pathetically laments, and calls “the greatest statesman and most renowned hero of the age.”

It appears that Mr. Piggott was very eminent as a preacher in the denomination to which he belonged from the many public occasions on which he was selected to preach. When in 1704 an Association was formed of the Baptist churches in London, he strongly recommended the measure in a sermon from Romans 14:19.

“We have (says he) work of the highest importance on our hands, let us not waste the little time we have to do it in. ‘Twas a cutting reproof which the Mariners gave the Philosopher, who would have entertained them with an impertinent harangue in the midst of a storm; we perish, say they, while thou triflest. All our warm disputes about indifferent things is but laborious trifling.”

Mr. Piggott was called to his reward in March 1713, and his funeral sermon was preached by his friend Mr. Joseph Stennett from Hebrews 4:9. From this we extract the elegant description of Mr. Piggott’s character, which will give the reader an idea of the excellency of this faithful servant of Christ.

“That might justly be said of him, which the Apostle says of his son Timothy, that from a child he knew the Holy Scriptures, and that these made him wise to salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus. The great delight he then had in hearing the joyful sound of the gospel, made him frequent divers religious assemblies, and that not without some hazard, at a time when they were often disturbed and interrupted, and sometimes assaulted with violence, while they were worshipping God according to the dictates of their consciences.

“Some of the sermons, which he heard in those assemblies, made a deep and lasting impression on his mind; and his early conversion to God was attended with an earnest desire to be employed in the work of the ministry.

“The inclination grew so strong and urgent, that nothing could dissuade him from his design of serving God in this public capacity. To this purpose he applied himself to those studies which he thought most conducive to the end he had in view; and that with so much diligence and success, that in a little time his profiting appeared to all, and at length he approved himself a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

“God, who inclined his heart to this work, and called him to it, had endowed him with divers considerable talents to prepare him for it. He had a solid judgment as well as a lively fancy, and quickness of thought as well as facility of expression. His strong and musical voice, together with that agreeable mixture of gravity and sweetness, which reigned in his countenance, tended to make way for the truths and reasons he delivered, by awakening the attention, and engaging the affections of his auditors. He taught with clearness, and argued with strength; exhorted with vehemence, and reproved with a becoming authority; and found the art, which so few who speak in public attain, of blending reason and eloquence so happily together, that they mutually assisted and embellished each other, and equally adorned his courses; which were adapted at once to improve the mind, and touch the heart, and had something in them that was entertaining both to the learned and illiterate, both to the polite, and less cultivated part of mankind.

“Though what I now speak, can give but a faint idea of his excellent gifts to some of this audience; yet I doubt not that it raises in the minds of those who were wont to hear him, a lively remembrance of the manner of his preaching, and must needs make them reflect on the great loss the public has sustained by his death, at an age that seemed to give room to hope, that the world might have reaped yet much more advantage by his labours.

“His great improvement, next to the divine blessing on his assiduous studies, was owing partly to the generous ambition he had to excel, which induced him to apply himself to dose study and meditation, lest he should produce any thing crude and undigested; partly to the prudent choice he made in his younger days, to converse with men not only of sense and learning, but of a polite genius too; and partly to his great modesty, which gave him a continual jealousy of his own performances, and engaged him frequently to submit what he had composed, to the censure of those friends he thought capable of advising him; and to entreat them, with uncommon importunity, not to suffer any faults to escape their remark, but to be free in advertising him of every thing that might seem to them either defective or redundant. And indeed he would be easily convinced of any oversight or mistake, and gratefully acknowledge the kindness of any one that pointed it out to him. Which shewed this did not arise from a vain affectation of modesty, but from his humility, and the real diffidence he had of himself. And indeed he deserved the critical severity of his friends, in knowing how to value that sort of kindness, and in receiving the hints and intimations they gave him, after so obliging a manner.

“Nay, this humble and happy temper adhered to him even to the last; so that he could not be easy in publishing any thing to the world, without first consulting some of his particular friends. Which I the rather take notice of, to recommend to such young ministers, as are present in this assembly, the imitation of so profitable an example: for it is not to be doubted that they would find their account in it, nay, that it would mightily contribute to their improvement, to use the same method; if they have but the good sense to expose their compositions to persons capable of observing to them their mistakes, and have humility enough to hearken to the advice of those who are able to inform them.

“It was none of the least of this excellent man’s qualifications for the ministerial work, that he knew how to behave himself in the church of GOD, in regard of the exercise of that discipline which is so necessary to christian societies. Many here present know, with what patience and meekness, with what gravity and prudence, with what impartiality and faithfulness he demeaned himself in this congregation, and with what prudence and conduct he managed its affairs upon all occasions.

“His good will and charity to mankind in general, was conspicuous in the indefatigable labours he sustained, in endeavouring to promote the interest of their souls. He often lamented the unreasonable differences among christians, and had a hearty respect for all who held the essentials of the christian religion, though of different sentiments in matters of lesser moment: and as he had a mind too generous to be determined by the opinion of others, without making a strict inquiry into the reasons of things; so his modesty and charity were too great, not to give all due deference to those who entertained notions, which he could not see reason to embrace. And whereas he thought it his duty frequently to expose the errors of those of the Romish communion, in terms of some force and warmth, he desired it might be signified to the world, after his decease, that the zeal and fervour he shewed on those occasions, did not arise from a disaffection to any of their persons, but from the deep sense he had of the pernicious tendency of their errors, and from the ardent desire he had to reclaim them from those delusions, as well as to prevent others from falling into them.

“He was not only serviceable to this congregation, but useful to many others; and though his labours were chiefly bestowed on you, yet his Praise was in the gospel throughout many other churches, to whom he occasionally preached, and ‘whom he assisted with his advice in many exigencies.

“That piety and charity which adorned his conversation in the time of his health, seemed to increase their strength and lustre during his long sickness; a sickness which gradually weakened his constitution, and at last grew strong enough to dissolve it. I cannot forbear to think that his extraordinary labour in the ministerial work, laid the foundation of his sickness; for such was the fervency of his spirit, that it often raised the tone of his voice to such a pitch, as could not but exhaust his animal spirits to a very great degree, and must needs, at length, bring great weakness upon him. He was a burning and a shining light, in which we rejoiced for a season; but how soon is this light extinguished! He was glad to spend and be spent for you, for the service of your faith, and for the furtherance of your joy.

“I must not omit to take notice to you, how edifying his conversation was in the time of his sickness, and how difficult it was to restrain him from exhausting the little strength he had left, in giving serious exhortations to those who came to visit him. Not content with this, he desired many persons to be sent for, whom either the ties of friendship and acquaintance had endeared to him, or whom he had observed to attend his ministry, without knowing what effect it had upon their souls, or those with whom he knew God had intrusted considerable talents, that he might earnestly recommend to them the improvement of time, in order to their eternal felicity.

“He observed to them that religion was a real thing, and of the greatest importance of all others; that they might well believe him to be in earnest in what he said, since he was going to die, and to give up his accounts to God. He assured them he had not followed cunningly devised fables, nor preached for filthy lucre; but that his rejoicing was in the testimony of his conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity he had exercised his ministerial function: that he had taught the truth as it is in Jesus, according to the best of his judgment; and that he relied on the same doctrine he had published to others, for the salvation of his own soul. He pressed them with all the earnestness imaginable to consult the interest of their souls, and to improve the several advantages God had put into their hands for this purpose; and this in such pathetic language, and in so affecting a manner, that it could not but make an impression on all who were present, and drew abundance of tears from their eyes. I would fain hope a lasting impression is made on the hearts, at least of divers persons, to whom he particularly addressed his dying words. God grant that a death which has cost us so dear, and given us so acute a sorrow, may be the occasion of the spiritual life of many souls, and cause joy both in heaven and on earth.

“During the time of his tedious illness, God was pleased highly to favour him, in continuing to him the exercise of his reason, and in visiting him with the light of his countenance; so that it might be said of him as of the blessed man described by the Psalmist, The Lord strengthened him on the bed of languishing, and made all his bed in his sickness. He was generally in a humble, patient and resigned posture of mind, neither chusing life nor death; or to use his own expression, Neither ashamed to live, nor afraid to die: for he knew that whether he lived, he lived unto the LORD; and whether he died, he died unto the LORD; and that whether he lived or died, he was the LORD’s: that Christ would be magnified in him, whether by life or by death; and therefore to him to live was Christ, and to die was gain.

“So far as I, who conversed intimately with him, could perceive, or have learned from others who attended him, his faith and hope were vigorous and lively; he had great peace and tranquility in his conscience, and sometimes joy unspeakable and full of glory, especially towards the close of his days: for he seemed to improve in the heavenly frame of his mind, as he drew near the heavenly state; and a little before his exit, declared that his work in this world was finished; and that now he had nothing more to do, but to resign his soul into the arms of his Redeemer; which he was heard to do just before he expired, saying, Come Lord Jesus! Come quickly!

“So lived and so died this eminent servant of God, whose memory is blessed, and will be precious in the account of all who knew the excellent gifts and abilities God was pleased to bestow on him.”

The following letter written from Leicestershire by Mr. Piggott, during his affliction, was printed after his death with his Portrait, by Vertue. A copy of it is preserved in the Vestry of Little Wild Street Meeting.

Loseby, August 6, 1708.

“To the church of Christ meeting in Little Wild Street, London, their unworthy Pastor, John Piggott, sendeth christian salutation in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Dearly beloved Brethren,

“NO distance can erase you from my memory whose interest I have so much at heart; and I persuade myself I have such a share in your affections that it will not be disagreeable to you to bear of my health. Indeed I was indisposed at my first arrival in the country; but, through the infinite goodness of God Almighty, I am at present in a pretty good state of health. I doubt not but I shall have an interest in your prayers that my health may be improved and confirmed; but above all that my soul may prosper ( John 3:2.) — and that I may have fresh anointing from the spirit of all grace, to render me more capable of, and more successful in discharging the great work to which I am called. (1 John 2:27.)

“I am every day more and more sensible of my own inability to preach the everlasting gospel. Help me, help me, brethren, by your prayers, for who is sufficient for these things? (2 Corinthians 2:16.) But should I suffer myself to expatiate here, I should write a volume instead of a letter. My dear brethren, many of you are the seals (1 Corinthians 9:2.) of my ministry in the Lord; and though you have ten thousand instructors in Christ yet you have not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus have I begotten you through the gospel. (1 Corinthians 4:15.) Those of you that have been converted under the ministry of others, having voluntarily put yourselves under my care, are under the same obligations of duty as church-members. Now, as I desire not to have dominion over your faith, but to be a helper of your joy. (2 Corinthians 1:24.) So I hope the sense that you all have of your duty towards God, and the sincere affection you profess towards me, will induce you to fill up your places in the church during my absence, that my brethren in the ministry may not be discouraged.

“Again, Bear one another’s burdens, (Galatians 6:2.) and so fulfil the law of Christ. Be tender-hearted and affectionate one towards another, (Ephesians 4:32.) endeavouring to maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:3.) And as your bodies are the temples of the Holy Ghost; (1 Corinthians 6:19.) so I beseech you, by the mercies of God, that you walk uprightly in your houses, and make them nurseries for heaven. Let the sound of the word, and the voice of prayer, be daily heard in your families; that the lustre of your examples may win over souls to the religion of the Holy Jesus. For we learn from him, who is truth itself, that exemplary piety is much more likely to make people in love with holiness, than a florid profession of it. Therefore, saith our blessed Saviour, Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16.)

“Dear brethren, God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, (Romans 1:9.) how I have studied for about sixteen years to promote your spiritual and eternal welfare, and to approve myself to God, and to every man’s conscience, notwithstanding the many difficulties, which by the grace of God, I have struggled through. I have no complaints; my Father hath chosen my inheritance for me, and it is in my heart to live and die with you. And I hope the little time that God may yet spare me to labour among you, (which I sometimes think will be but very little) I shall so spend, as if I were assured to go, every sermon I preach, from the pulpit to the tribunal of the Son of God, to give an account to the great Shepherd, how I have behaved myself in the world, and discharged my trust among you. Indeed many among us have so walked, (of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping) that they are enemies to the cross of Christ. (Philippians 3:18.) I hope we are clear from their blood, having acted towards them agreeable to the rule of Jesus. Yet, methinks, my very bowels sound towards them. O! Let your prayers meet mine at the throne of grace, for these poor unhappy creatures, who were once of my flock. O! my very heart bleeds to think they should be doomed to everlasting destruction; that those I have with so much solemnity baptized in water in this world, should in the next be plunged in the fire of hell. O killing thought! Lord have mercy upon them. I cannot but mingle tears with my ink, and send up strong cries to heaven that God would pluck them as fire brands out of the burning, and that he would save them, though as by fire. (1 Corinthians 3:15.) Nothing is impossible with heaven.

“And now, my dear charge, my joy now, and I trust will be my crown of rejoicing in the day of the Lord Jesus, (1 Thessalonians 2:19.) call to mind the great truths that I have taught you, and often meditate on them, that you may have them in remembrance after my decease. I am now absent from you, probably but for a little time; but ere long you must see my face no more. May I preach so as I may save myself and them that hear me; (1 Timothy 4:16.) then shall not our parting be eternal, but I shall meet you, my dear flock, at the right-hand of Jesus. Pray for me, that I may obtain mercy to be faithful, and to return to you in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. (Romans 15:29.)

“And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified. (Acts 20:32.) And I subscribe myself

Your servant for Jesus’ sake,

JOHN PIGGOTT.

Pray let this be read on the day before the Lord’s-supper.”

After Mr. Piggott’s decease an invitation was given to Mr. Caleb Jope, of Bristol, which he did not accept. He was succeeded by Mr. Thomas Harrison. After him was Dr. Andrew Gifford, in whose time a division in the church took place, and another church was formed in Eagle Street, Holborn in 1634, over which the doctor presided with much usefulness about 50 years. Since then Dr. Joseph Stennett,

1. A Thanksgiving-Sermon, preached April 16, 1695, on the Discovery of the Assassination Plot against King William; from Psalm 144:10.

2. A Funeral Sermon on the death of Mordecai Abbott, Esq. preached March 17, 1699, from 1 Thessalonians 4:13, 14.

3. A Funeral Sermon on the death of Mr. William Wilks, preached Nov. 26, 1700, from Job 19:25, 26, 27.

4. A Funeral Sermon on the death of King William III. preached March 29, 1702, from Psalm 146:3, 4.

5. A Funeral Sermon on the death of the Reverend Mr. Thomas Harrison, preached August 23, 1702, from 1 Timothy 4:7, 8.

6. A Funeral Sermon on the death of the Reverend Mr. Hercules Collins, preached October 9, 1702, from Matthew 24:44.

7. A Funeral Sermon on the death of the Reverend Mr. William Collins, preached November 15, 1702, from Job 14:14.

8. A Sermon on Union and Peace, preached to several congregations, April 17, 1704, from Romans 14:19.

9. A Thanksgiving Sermon on the Battle of Hochstet, preached September 7, 1704, from Psalm 150:2.

10. A Funeral Sermon on the death of the Reverend Mr. Samuel Ewer, preached December 24, 1709, from Ecclesiastes 9:5.

11. A Funeral Sermon on the death of Mr. George Stennett, preached September 17, 1709, from Ecclesiastes 11:9.

12. An Account of Mr. John Pilkington’s Recantation of the Errors of the Romish Church, as it was pronounced the 28th of May 1699. With Mr. Piggott’s charge prefixed. Dr. Samuel Stennett, have been eminent ministers of this church. Mr. Benjamin Coxhead succeeded the last mentioned; but a few years since resigned the pastoral office. The church is at present under the care of Mr. Thomas Waters.