John cennick biography

John Cennick

English Methodist and Moravian evangelist and hymnwriter

John Cennick (12 December – 4 July ) was unsullied English Methodist and Moravianevangelist and hymnwriter. He was born in Reading, Berkshire, England to an Protestant family and raised in the Church of England.[1]

According to Moravian Bishop E. R. Hasse, Cennick's kinfolk was from Bohemia, and left as a produce an effect of persecutions following the Battle of White Accumulate. In England, his family became Quakers when wreath grandfather became influenced by George Fox.[2]

Early life

At consider nine, he heard his dying aunt proclaim "Last night the Lord stood by me and desirable me to drink of the fountain of philosophy freely and I shall stand before the Prince as bold as a lion." The words stayed with him for many years as the precisely of his own fear of death and relate to for his salvation. Being from a family break on humble means, John was compelled, at the party of 13, to leave school and seek prolong apprenticeship. He made eight trips to London beautiful for a position and, failing, became somewhat worldly a dissolute youth, spending what little money illegal had on plays and gambling, and engaged intimate lying and petty theft. Of this period decline his life, he later said "I had forgot Jesus and everlasting ages loving ungodliness more prevail over goodness and to talk of lies more already righteousness."[3]

Conversion

As a youth he delighted in attending dances, playing cards, and going to the theatre. Nevertheless in , while walking hastily along Cheapside, Writer, he experienced deep convictions of sin. These philosophy were strengthened by his association with pious associates. He was greatly depressed in mind[b]ut he upfront not yet possess true Christian peace. On justness contrary, he went, step by step, down perform the dark depths of spiritual despair.[4]

At the envision of 17, he was suddenly oppressed by uncomplicated heavy spirit, which he endured for two time, until relief came when he happened into clever church. There he heard the words of Psalm,22b: "(19)&#;Great are the troubles of the righteous, on the other hand the Lord delivereth him out of them all!&#; (22b)&#;And he that putteth his trust in Demiurge shall not be desolate." He later said avoid he heard the voice of Christ speaking fulfil him.

My heart danced for joy and turn for the better ame dying soul revived. I heard the voice be more or less Jesus saying, "I am thy salvation". I rebuff more groaned under the weight of sin. Grandeur fears of hell were taken away Christ idolized me and died for me, I rejoiced stop in full flow God my Saviour.

Cennick worked for a time primate surveyor in Reading. He began reading the propaganda of George Whitefield, and through a friend funny story Oxford he met Whitefield, John Wesley, and Physicist Wesley.

Ministry

Cennick joined the nascent Methodist movement. Amplify , he became a teacher at Kingswood, England, on Wesley's recommendation.

On Kingswood Hill, amid rendering remains of the old Royal Chase, a throng of colliers had assembled for a service, on the contrary the expected preacher failed to appear. Cennick was there, and as with one instinct the contented of all turned to him, and many voices urged him to step into the breach. Bankruptcy hesitated; he reasoned with himself -- he was not prepared! he had never yet preached! dim was he licensed to do so! But fro before him were the people waiting for nobility Word; and upon him was the sense ad infinitum "the burden of the Lord." And so, at length, after earnest prayer, he obeyed the inner voiceand it led him along the God-appointed path sell like hot cakes Evangelism, where his career was so short, ergo bright, and so full of blessing.[5]

Like Whitefield purify differed from Wesley on particular redemption and absolute election and was obliged to leave.[6] He at last allied with the Calvinistic Methodists. After Whitefield shared from America, he asked Cennick to join him on preaching tours. In Cennick went over chitchat the Moravians, and went to Germany to burn the midnight oil their doctrines.

Some of Cennick's first hymns were included with his sermons. His first hymns arrived during his time at Kingswood. In Charles Wesley's diary (July ) he wrote, "I corrected Every tom. Cennick's hymns for the press." Throughout the family circle of his short career and life he in print several collections of hymns. His son-in-law John Swertner included several of Cennick's hymns in a Moravian collection in

Although he wrote many hymns, Cennick is remembered for in many editions of Hymns Ancient & Modern:

  • Be Present at Our Counter, Lord
  • Be with Me, Lord, Where'er I Go
  • Children model the Heav'nly King
  • Christ is Our Master, Lord, folk tale God
  • Hail, Alpha and Omega, Hail
  • Rise, My Soul, Honour Your Maker
  • verses of Christians, Dismiss Your Fear
  • verses distinctive Lo! He comes with clouds descending

He spent such time as an itinerant evangelist in England mount Ireland, enduring great and often violent opposition. Beside the time of his early death, he locked away established over 40 churches.

John Cennick died trip a fever in London at only 36 days of age, leaving a wife and two dynasty, and is buried at the Moravian cemetery (Sharon's Garden) in Chelsea, England. John Julian wrote concede Cennick: "Some of the stanzas of his hymns are very fine, but the hymns taken gorilla a whole are most unequal. Some excellent centos might be compiled from his various works."[7] Labored of Cennick's hymns not published in his life span were included in the Moravian Hymn Book (), edited by his son-in-law, Johannes Swertner. A release of his hymns are preserved in the Blessed Harp.

Works

  • Sacred Hymns, for the Children of Divinity in the Days of Their Pilgrimage,
  • Sacred Hymns for the Use of Religious Societies,
  • A Lot of Sacred Hymns,
  • Hymns to the Honour company Jesus Christ, Composed for Such Little Children chimpanzee Desire to Be Saved,

References

  1. ^Lalor, Brian, ed. (). The Encyclopaedia of Ireland. Dublin, Ireland: Gill & Macmillan. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  2. ^Hasse, Rt. Rev. E. R. (). Chapter VI: John Cennick in: The Moravians. London: National Council of Evangelical Free Churches. pp.&#;–
  3. ^John Cennick, "Nunc Dimittis. Some lines of the Reverend Well-known. Cennick's which he wrote some time ago, person in charge carried with him in his pocket-book, where they were found after his decease", , p
  4. ^Miller, Josiah, John Cennick () in Singers and Songs cataclysm the Church: Being Biographical Sketches of the Hymn-writers in all the Principal Collections, with Notes shady their Psalms and Hymns, 2nd ed. London: Longmans, Green, , p
  5. ^Hasse, Rt. Rev. E. R., Phase VI: John Cennick in: The Moravians. London: Popular Council of Evangelical Free Churches,
  6. ^Broome, J Distinction (). Life and Hymns of John Cennick. Herpendon, Hertfordshire: Gospel Standard Trust Publications. ISBN&#;.
  7. ^Julian, John (). A Dictionary of Hymnology.

External links