SUPPORT GSPS |
The Gold, Silver, Precious Stones team appreciates your contributions in support of this work. Please send your correspondence to:
Gold, Silver, Precious Stones
P.O. Box 240
Harvest, AL 35749
|
|
|
|
A Concise History of the Ketocton Baptist Association (1808)
A narrative of the life and death of Peter Cornwell.
ALTHOUGH Peter Cornwell was a private character, his history may be entertaining to the reader. The many occurrences accompanying this good man during his life, the statement here will be according to the relation given by himself. While young he became dissipated and shamefully wicked; and continued so a great part of the prime of life. But at a certain time, from what cause he was not able to say, conviction smote his breast; his actual transgressions were brought to his remembrance, and dreadful apprehensions of eternal damnation presented to his mind, as the just desert of his sin; when this presented to his mind, a resolution was taken up by him to reform his life, and act so wickedly no more; accordingly a reform took place; his outbreaking sins were quitted, wicked company forsaken, with a determination to be good, and if possible take the kingdom of Heaven; he engaged in fervent prayer; he reformed and prayed, until a persuasion prevailed with him that he was good, with which his mind was so transported, that when walking on foot he has run and leaped for joy, and concluded that others ought to layout concern about their souls; as for himself he was certain of a safe arrival in the kingdom of Heaven when he died; but here he met with a cross - his wife despised him and would ridicule and mock him, and shame him about his knees being dirty by kneeling down to pray; he aimed to disappoint his wife in that by taking down his stockings when he prayed and let his bare knees go to the ground: all this while he had no saving knowledge of Christ, nor salvation by Him, but entirely depending on his own performances for justification; neither had he as yet ever heard the gospel in its purity.
At length, providentially a sermon of Mr. George Whitfield's came to hand, wherein that author gave a relation of his own exercise, and how long he remained wedded to the law -he prayed several times a day, fasted twice in the week, partook of the Lord's Supper frequently, and performed a great many external duties, and yet a stranger to a work of grace, and knew nothing of Christ.
Upon reading of this, he discovered himself in the like situation, a stranger to grace -and that all his prayers, reformations and performances of every kind, were only as filthy rags, imperfection and sin accompanied the best of them, and therefore could not justify the soul -at which sight he was stripped of all his law righteousness, and appeared a naked sinner without anything to shelter him from the devouring wrath of God; and should he die in that state must perish everlastingly. He used to say he never had quiet in his conscience from that time until he enjoyed an application of the blood of Christ to his soul, purging his conscience from dead works, removing the burthen of guilt, and giving him to view that new and living way through the dear Son of God -wonderfully brought through the pangs of the new birth, and translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son before he had ever heard a gospel sermon. About this time he heard that there were a people called new-Lights living at the distance of about sixty miles from him -but although distance was far, and a rough tract of country between, his desire was so great to hear the gospel, that he repaired to the place of preaching, and for the first heard the gospel, and counted himself amply rewarded for his journey. It seems the word of the Lord was precious in those days.
Upon his second going to the same place he related his experience and was baptized; at which time he met with Elder David Thomas, and prevailed on him to come into the neighborhood where he Jived; and from that time to the present it has been a place of much preaching. When a meeting-house was erected it was near his dwelling; his manner of life, and spiritual conversation procured to him the name of St. Peter -and as he was a poor man and lived on rented land, which since has become a rich man's quarter, it is called after this good man, "Saint Hill Quarter", When he grew old it pleased God to afflict him with entire
blindness, by covering his eyes with thick film; but although he had to labor under that heavy affliction of body, he appeared to enjoy much communication with God, and the lively exercise of grace in his soul. His conversation was much about the heavenly inheritance, and the blessed employment of the redeemed, he used to say in melting language it was so ordered that he could not see, but it was all right and beyond all question intended by infinite wisdom for his good. But a change would by and by take place and mortality put on immortality, and this corruptible body put on incorruption -then will these eyes behold my Redeemer for myself and not another; it was a common word with him, and spoken in full assurance, I shall have eyes at the resurrection of the just; then my sight will be clear eternally to behold the glory of God, and the Lamb, and my immortal powers be employed in the praise of Jehovah for ever and ever .
When he came to the close of life, as he had lived, in like manner he died -having an heart given him to love God, and to love the children of God. In his last words he desired his wife to remember his love to his brethren, and enjoined it on her to tell them he loved them -and then passed off the stage as though he was going a pleasant journey.
Love being the peculiar mark of the children of God, even when in health -how much more so when acting in full vigor, in the cold embraces of death. This beloved disciple departed this life, being old and full of days, leaving an ancient widow behind to make her way through this wilderness.
|
|
