Purposed Coaching Blog

John Gano
1727-1804
Baptist Preacher and Revolutionary Chaplain

John served for 26 years as the pastor of the First Baptist Church in New York City. From this historic church he influenced multitudes during the founding of our country.

John was born at Hopewell, N.J. on July 22. His grandfather had fled from France because of the threat of death for his faith. His father was a godly Presbyterian and had such an impact on his life that he strongly wanted to follow in his footsteps. His mother and his grandmother were both strong Baptists. Because of the Christian family influence, as he neared the age of 20, he came under deep conviction and was converted to Christ.

His family had implanted one truth in his character. Follow truth wherever it leads. He then began to search the Scriptures and to converse with a famous Presbyterian pastor, Mr. Tennant. They would talk often and for long periods of time about the subject of baptism. Finally Mr. Tennant stated, Dear young man, if the devil cannot destroy your soul, he will endeavor to destroy your comfort and usefulness; and therefore do not be always doubting in this matter. If you cannot think as I do, think for yourself. After considering this counsel he then went to his father and expressed his conviction for Baptist baptism. Although his father did not agree, he refused to stand in his son’s way of obeying truth as he saw it.

Shortly after John had joined the Baptist Church at Hopewell, God began to work on his heart towards the end of preaching the gospel. He was so absorbed in the thought of preaching that he was unable to concentrate on other endeavors until he had the matter settled. One morning while plowing his mind was consumed with the words, Warn the people, or their blood will I require at your hands. The thought so gripped him that he plowed until 11 o’clock and found himself wet with rain and his horses fatigued. He surrendered!

John preached at every opportunity. He was ordained in May 1754 and made several trips into Virginia preaching to people in various places. His heart was forever set on evangelism. He preached as an itinerant until 1762. At this time he was busy filling the pulpit of the First Baptist Church in Philadelphia and the pulpit of the newly planted church in New York City. John was asked by the members in New York City to become their pastor, which he accepted. He was destined to pastor them for 26 years. From this historic church he influenced multitudes during the founding of our country. They grew from 26 to 200 members before John became a chaplain in the Revolutionary War. When he returned from the war his congregation had been scattered and he regathered them and rebuilt the church. He then served until 1788 when he moved to Kentucky to spend his last days preaching in the pioneer land. No sacrifice was too great!

(These Baptist Cameos written by Douglas Hammett — Permission granted to churches to reprint as handouts or bulletin inserts.)

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Henry Dunster
1612-1659
President of Harvard

“And that is why I refuse to present my child for baptism.” With those words of explanation Henry Dunster sealed his fate as president of Harvard.

Henry Dunster was born in 1612 in England. He arrived in Boston in 1640 and was given the job of establishing Cambridge College which later became Harvard. He was one of the greatest masters of the Oriental languages in his day. When he arrived in the New World he was a Congregationalist. The arrest of Pastor Clarke, Mr. Crandall, and Mr. Holmes for Baptist beliefs in 1651 challenged him to study the truth of scriptural baptism. The fact that the State clergy refused to answer Pastor Clarke caused many in the New World to wonder why they were afraid of these men. After careful study Henry refused to have his child baptized and thereby set off a controversy. He then stood in the Congregational Church of Cambridge and explained from Scripture his convictions. Henry said that infant baptism “Is not according to the institution of Christ…That there were such corruptions stealing into the Church, which every faithful Christian ought to their witness against.” His arguments were so powerful that the pastor of the church was visibly shaken and testified that he was “strangely confused and sickly of spirit.”The whole community was in an uproar but nobody came forth with any Biblical arguments. However, that explanation was the beginning of the end of his presidency of Harvard. He was compelled to resign in 1657. After being forced out of his position he moved to Scituate in Plymouth Colony and was driven to a Baptist position by studying the scriptures. He passed away in 1659.

Little did Holmes, Crandall and Pastor Clarke realize their testimonies would bear such fruit! Henry Dunster served with great distinction at Harvard and was only removed because of the bigotry against the Bible. But he stood faithful!

(These Baptist Cameos written by Douglas Hammett — Permission granted to churches to reprint as handouts or bulletin inserts.)

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John Clarke, M.D.
1609-1676
Religious Freedom, Church Planter, Free Education

John was bitterly disappointed as he and his wife Elizabeth stepped off the ship in Boston in Nov. 1637. They had come to find freedom to follow the scriptures. They found the same intolerance they had left. He states that men ‘were not able to bear each with other in their different understandings and consciences as in these utmost parts of the world to live peaceable together.’ The authorities in Boston required that all men pay a tax for the support of the state ministers and that anyone excommunicated from the church would then come under civil prosecution.

John was a solution finder, not a complainer. He gathered those being persecuted and proposed that they move and begin a new colony with freedom of religion where men would be accepted without ‘being accounted delinquent for doctrine.’ This compact was entered into on Mar. 7, 1638. Backus writes ‘He was a principal procurer of Rhode Island for sufferers and exiles.’ Religious liberty has always been a rallying point of real Baptists. They began their colony at Narragansett Bay, which they purchased from the Indians on Mar. 24, 1638 and later moved south to the town of Newport, Rhode Island. 18 adult men signed this compact.

A new colony without a church was of little interest to John. He founded the First Baptist Church in America. It was Clarke that was called in 1638, ‘their minister, elder of the church there.’ This church was operated on Baptist principles.

John Clarke is one of the most overlooked men of American history and a scholar by any mans account. He was ‘an advanced student of Hebrew and Greek.’ ‘He was a ripe scholar, learned in the practice of two professions, besides having had large experience in diplomatic and political life…With all his public pursuits, he continued the practice of his original profession as a physician, and also retained the pastoral charge of his church.’ From his writings we find that his doctrines were ‘so clear and Scriptural that they might stand as the confession of faith of Baptists today.’

Part Two

The constables burst into the house demanding that Dr. Clarke cease the sermon! Clarke and the two men with him were placed under arrest. The charge? Being Baptists!!

Baptists had been the focus of persecution in Massachusetts for many years. On Nov. 12, 1644 a law was passed banishing those who ’refused to countenance infant baptism and the use of secular force in religious things.’

On July 19, 1651, Dr. Clarke visited William Witter who lived in Lynn (now in Massachusetts), which was under the jurisdiction of the Boston government. William was an older member of the church at Newport, and had been unable to attend due to sickness. Clarke, Mr. Crandall and Obadiah Holmes had come to visit and encourage him to continue in the Word of God. The day after arriving they were arrested by the constables while holding a private service. They were taken to a Congregational service, doubtless designed to correct the error of their ways. They refused to remove their hats as a protest of this treatment. They were tried for the ‘crimes’ of holding private services and preaching against infant baptism. On these charges they were convicted without ’either accuser, witness, jury, law of God, or man’ and were sentenced to pay a fine or ‘to be well whipped.’

The magistrate suggested a public debate on the issue with a leading minister of the state church. Dr. Clarke gladly accepted. The debate was later declined by the state minister. Doubtless he knew he would lose a debate where the Bible would be the standard of judgment. All three men refused to pay the fine and were therefore held for almost one month. In the middle of August some unknown person paid their fine and Mr. Crandall and John Clarke were released. Obadiah Holmes refused to accept the payment and was whipped for his faith. He later became pastor of the church in Newport.

Part Three

At what price liberty? Rhode Island had been granted a charter for freedom of religion. Now the enemies of Baptists were mad! They began to work at political intrigue to have the charter changed by any false means available. Someone had to defend the colony in England.

Governor Coddington secured a charter in 1649 that gave him the virtual power of a sovereign for life in Rhode Island. John Clarke and Roger Williams were sent to England in 1651 to try to overturn that charter. They were successful. Though that battle was won, the fight continued. The enemies of liberty continued to lie to England. Therefore Dr. Clarke had to stay and guard the safety of the new colony. After the death of Oliver Cromwell, 1660, Charles II came to the throne. Clarke wrote a new charter and persuaded Charles II to seal it on July 8, 1663. Finally, he was able to return to his chosen homeland. Dr. Bicknell said, ”The charter of Rhode Island has been recognized as the most liberal state paper ever issued by the English Crown.” Its provisions were so well constituted that it stood until 1843 when the present state constitution was adopted.

This statement from the charter is inscribed on the West Facade of the Capitol in Providence; “THAT IT IS MUCH ON THEIR HEARTS (IF THEY MAY BE PERMITTED) TO HOLD FORTH A LIVELY EXPERIMENT, THAT A MOST FLOURISHING CIVIL STATE MAY STAND AND BEST BE MAINTAINED, AND THAT AMONG OUR ENGLISH SUBJECTS, WITH A FULL LIBERTY IN RELIGIOUS CONCERNMENTS.”

Dr. Clarke had started the first Baptist church in America, been persecuted for his faith and practice. He invested his life in the pursuit of liberty for Rhode Island and supported himself while in England. He established a free school that provided for the free education of its students. This was the first free school on the shores of America. He died on April 20, 1676 and his body is buried in a small cemetery in Newport.

(These Baptist Cameos written by Douglas Hammett — Permission granted to churches to reprint as handouts or bulletin inserts.)

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Robert Calef
1700
Opposer of Witch Trials

In February 1692 three women were brought before the Magistrates in Salem Town, Mass. This was the height of the witch trials that ended in 24 people being put to death. Nineteen were hung on Gallows Hill and the others died in prison. A statement was issued by twelve pastors of the State churches: “We cannot but recommend unto the government the speedy and vigorous punishment of such as have rendered themselves obnoxious according to the directions given under the laws of God and the wholesome statutes of the English nation for the destruction of witchcraft…”

Baptists knew what it was to have their views misrepresented. As a member of the Baptist Church in Boston, Robert published a book entitled More Wonders from the Invisible World in 1700. He criticized the hysteria of the State clergy. He had to have it printed in England because no printer in America would print it. In the book he ridiculed Cotton Mather’s assertion that witches “turned men to cats and dogs” and “ride on a pole through the air.” He labeled the witch hunts as “bigoted zeal stirring up blind and bloody rage against virtuous and religious people.”His book was promptly denounced by the clergy of the day and the new president of Harvard College, Increase Mather, had the book publicly burned.

Calef was not the only Baptist alarmed by the wild charges. William Milburne was arrested for circulating a petition for signatures of those who opposed the persecution of suspected witches. He stated “the innocent will be condemned, a woeful chain of consequences will follow, inextricable damage will be done this province.” Robert, William and many other Baptists were not in agreement with the views of witchcraft, but they saw this as designed to incite the people to oppose people of differing beliefs. Baptists have always stood for liberty to worship God according to one’s conscience, believing truth will prevail.

(These Baptist Cameos written by Douglas Hammett — Permission granted to churches to reprint as handouts or bulletin inserts.)

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David Benedict
1779-1874
A Great Baptist Historian & Preacher

David was born in Norwalk, Connecticut on October 10, 1779. He was converted to Christ at the age of 20. His relationship with Christ spurred an interest in learning and especially Baptist History. It has been true for many a convert that when they came to Christ they had little interest in intellectual pursuits. However, once they had tasted of the wisdom of God they desired to know more of His truth. David graduated from Brown University in 1806 and shortly thereafter was ordained to the ministry. He became the pastor of the Baptist Church in Pawtucket, Rhode Island and continued there for 25 years.

During his ministry he began to compile extensive material relating to the history of Baptists through the centuries. After he retired from his pastorate he spent the rest of his life writing and publishing the material he had compiled. He published “History of the Baptists,” in en c;“Abridgement of Robinson’s History of Baptism,” in 1817; “Abridgement of History of the Baptists,” in 1820; ”History of All Religions,” in 1824;“History of the Baptists continued,” in 1848; and ”Fifty years Among the Baptists,” in 1860. He then wrote “History of the Donatists” which he completed at age 94 and was printed shortly after his death.

It is especially interesting that the 95 years of Benedict’s life has been so little spoken of, while he wrote so much about the lives of other Baptists. But is that not the mark of godliness? His was a life of humility and exalting the work of the Saviour in others’ lives.

(These Baptist Cameos written by Douglas Hammett — Permission granted to churches to reprint as handouts or bulletin inserts.)

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