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The Life And Ministry Of John Kent
John Kent, though not a preacher of the Gospel, was one who had a rich and gracious experience of the power of the truth as it is in Jesus, and was able by his pen to write most gloriously of the grand distinguishing truths of God's electing love, Covenant favour, sovereign grace, the safety and security of God's chosen. He loved to set them forth in opposition to error, as picking up the lost, guilty, ruined sons of Adam from the lowest depths of the Fall, and placing them among the beloved sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty. The atoning blood and justifying obedience of Christ were themes on which he delighted to dwell. He is chiefly known amongst us now by his many…
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The Life And Testimony Of John Kent
John Kent was born in the town of Bideford, Devonshire, December, 1766. His parents were amongst the poor of this world, yet "rich in faith." They had a numerous family, for whose support they labored hard yet their chief concern, their earnest prayer was, that their souls might be fed with "that bread which endureth unto everlasting life," that so they might become manifestively those whom "God had chosen to salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth;” and they lived to bless God for gracious answers to these supplications, four of their children having been early called to know the Lord, amongst whom was John, the youngest, author of "Gospel Hymns." At the age of 14, he was apprenticed to his…
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The Life And Testimony Of John Bunyan
John Bunyan was born at Elstow, near Bedford, in 1628. His father was a tinker, and, concerning his humble birth, Bunyan says, "My descent was of a low and inconsiderable generation, my father's house being of that rank that is meanest and most despised of all the families of the land.'' But, poor as his parents were, they did not neglect sending their children to school, for which John felt very grateful in after years. At a very early age he acquired the sad habit of swearing, for which he became notorious, but he proved "the way of transgressors to be hard! for, after spending a day thus in sin, he was scared and terrified at night with fearful dreams, and apprehensions of devils and…
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Bi-Centenary Of The Death Of John Bunyan
Much of the liberty we now enjoy as Christians is owing to two great historical facts which transpired in the years 1588 and 1688—the defeat of the Spanish Armada, and the accession of the Protestant dynasty to the throne of England. We, however, dare not withhold at the present moment stating our firm conviction that the iron hand of ROMANISM WILL YET AGAIN PREVAIL and reign in this country, at least for a limited period. It is not difficult to imagine what the state of England would be if the sacred Scriptures were as rigidly forbidden to be possessed and read by the public as they were in the Middle Ages. God defend the right. JOHN BUNYAN'S DEATH, AUGUST 12TH, 1688. We owe a great…
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The Early History Of The Independent Church At Rothwell, A Defense Of Richard Davis
It would be well perhaps to state the reasons by which we were induced to write the following small section of church history. Having read the work of Mr. Coleman on the Independent Churches of Northamptonshire, it seemed to us that, despite its many excellencies, the accounts were too general, and the particulars too isolated to yield all the interest or instruction that might be obtained from a knowledge of the olden dissent of the county. We thought that if, leaving the work of Mr. Coleman to answer as a general record, some old and interesting section of county dissenting history were worked out with more full connection and details it might supply an apparent need, placing us in closer connection with our nonconforming ancestry,…
Further Study
The Life And Testimony Of Richard Davis
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The Life And Legacy Of Samuel Pierce
Samuel Eyles Pierce was the son of Adam and Susannah Pierce, and was born at Up-Ottery, in the county of Devon, June 11th, 1746. Up-Ottery is about five miles from Honiton, and at that time the Vicar of the parish was the Rev. Joseph Chilcott, Samuel's maternal grandfather. He was born in the Vicarage-house. His mother was a godly woman, and before his birth she made a promise that if the Lord would be pleased to grant her a son she would give him up, and devote him to His service, doing her utmost to bring him up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Though born in the Vicarage- house, his mother soon returned with him to Honiton, where he was brought up.…
