John Fawcett 1740-1817
This blog is about the 18th century Baptist pastor, hymn writer and theologian John Fawcett
1 October 2025
Diary Extract 49 August 10 1760
1 August 2025
Diary Extract 48 August 1 1760
29 July 2025
Diary Extract 47 July 29 1760
26 July 2025
Diary Extract 46 July 27 1760
25 July 2025
Diary Extract 45 July 25 1760
23 July 2025
Diary Extract 44 July 23 1760
22 July 2025
Diary Extract 43 July 22 1760
July 22, 1760 I had this day an interview with Mr Smith of Wainsgate. I opened to him the state of my mind. The advice he gave me was to apply with diligence to the study of the Scriptures, to attend to my secular employment as far as my health would permit and to wait till the Lord by his providence should show me more clearly what he would have me do. I told him it was my desire to take his advice in order that I might be useful in the work of the ministry but I found such a mixture of improper feelings of mind and particularly of pride in the thoughts of it that I was afraid it could not be of God; he, however, still advised me to take that course. O Lord, thou knowest my weakness, the pride of my heart and my utter inability for so awful a work.
21 July 2025
Diary Extract 42 July 21 1760
18 July 2025
Diary Extract 41 July 18 1760
Friday July 18 1769 [The diary for this day and the preceding contains two beautiful passages from Her vey's Meditations and Milton's Paradise Lost Book VIII In the evening he subjoins]
I attended the funeral of Mrs Pickard. Mr Crabtree gave an exhortation from Rev xiv 13 Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord &c. It was a very affecting season. During the solemnity I was impressed with the idea that perhaps I was the next that might be taken out of our little community. My constitution is extremely weak and as far as I can judge I am in a declining state. O that I may be every moment in actual readiness for that great change which has now passed upon our deceased sister. Four or five days ago she was in a better state of health than I am at present and now she is gone. Her body is committed to the dust and her spirit ascended to God that gave it.
16 July 2025
Diary Extract 40 July 16 1760
15 July 2025
Diary Extract 39 July 13, 14 1760
Diary Extract 38 July 11 1760
Friday July 11 I was unhappy in the morning under an idea that my present employment contributes to my indisposition and is unfavourable to my constitution. Be this as it may I ought to commit my way unto the Lord and trust in him Psalm xxxvii 5. Instead of that I have been anxiously concerned about tomorrow so that I am now filled with distress and unbecoming fears. O Lord help me to look unto thee and to trust in thy mercy. Thou didst give me my being, I hope thou hast made me a partaker of thy grace and therefore thou canst not but care for thy feeble dust the few days he has to remain in this vale of tears. O Lord. give me faith to depend on thy unchangeable promise Hebrews xiii 5 Let your conversation be without covetousness and be content with such things as you have for he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.
Diary Extract 49 August 10 1760
Lord's Day August 10 Rising early this morning I took a walk into the fields to meditate. I read a few pages in the Night Thoughts * wit...
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Tuesday May 27, 1760, I was affected in conversing with a friend about the distresses with which our church is at present oppressed. The lov...
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July 22, 1760 I had this day an interview with Mr Smith of Wainsgate. I opened to him the state of my mind. The advice he gave me was to app...