Mr. Francis Cornwell This is Me

Education

 Web References

1. 1. Baptist History

   www.reformedreader.org/history - [Cached]

   Published on: 3/14/2001   Last Visited: 1/20/2002

   Biographical Notices—John Smyth, Thomas Helwys, and John Spilsbury----Henry Denne—Francis Cornwell, A.M.—Christopher Blackwood—Major-General Harrison—Col. Hutchinson
   ...
   FRANCIS CORNWELL, A.M., was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge. Neal says that "he was one of the most learned divines that espoused the cause of the Baptists." This took place under singular circumstances. Mr. Cornwell was vicar of Marden, Kent, where he had refused to conform to certain ceremonies imposed by Archbishop Laud, and for his refusal was committed to Maidstone jail. While there, a woman who visited him intimated that she had some doubts respecting the lawfulness of infant baptism. He endeavoured to remove them by the best arguments he could think of, but failed to satisfy her. This led him to further enquiry, the result of which was, that he abandoned infant baptism, and was baptized by Mr. William Jeffery, an eminent Baptist minister. After his release from prison, he was called on to preach a sermon at a meeting of ministers at Cranbrook. This was in 1644. He chose for his text Mark 7:7, and "took the liberty of declaring his sentiments freely on this point; and told them Pedobaptism was an anti-Christian innovation, a human tradition, and a practice for which there was neither precept nor true deduction from the Word of God."8 Much discussion followed, and great indignation was manifested; but Mr. C. Blackwood, one of the ministers present, who had taken down the sermon in shorthand, having promised to furnish a reply to it, the further consideration of the subject was postponed till their next meeting.
   ...
   Mr. Cornwell was very zealous for Baptist principles. His work on baptism, entitled, A Vindication of the Royal Commission of King Jesus, was distributed among the members of the House of Commons, and produced great excitement. He soon left the Establishment, and formed a Baptist Church in the neighborhood of Cranbrook, over which he presided till his death.

2. 2. Baptist History

   www.pbministries.org/History/J - [Cached]

   Published on: 3/18/2005   Last Visited: 5/11/2005

   IX. Biographical Notices -John Smyth, Thomas Helwys, and John Spilsbury -Henry Denne -Francis Cornwell, A.M. -Christopher Blackwood -Major-General Harrison -Colonel Hutchinson