Robert Purnell (1606–1666) was a 17th-century English Particular Baptist pastor and author, known for his warm-hearted devotion to Christ and his pastoral concern for the spiritual growth of believers. From 1660 until his death, he was pastor of Broadmead Baptist Chapel, Bristol during a time of great theological and political upheaval. (He was succeeded in this pastorate by Thomas Hardcastle, author of the recently published Justifying Faith). His writings are marked by deep experiential piety, rich biblical insight, and a clear call to holiness and treasuring the gospel. Though less well-known than some of his Baptist contemporaries, Purnell’s works continue to edify readers hungry for Christ-centered, Scripture-saturated devotional theology. Some have referred to him as the Baptist “Thomas Watson” for his warm-hearted devotion and way with words.

The following extracts are taken from Purnell’s work A Little Cabinet Richly Stored with All Sorts of Heavenly Varieties (1657) which has recently been lightly modernized and reprinted as A Body of Doctrinal and Practical Divinity from 1657. This edition features an introduction by Baptist historian, Dr. Michael A. G. Haykin. Spanning the grand sweep of Christian truth, Purnell’s work unfolds in seven major sections: God, Creation and Man, The Covenant of Grace, Salvation, The Church, The Christian Life, Last Things.

Can the stone rest without its center, the chameleon without air, the salamander without fire, or the fish without water? Surely, they cannot. Our center is God. All things beneath him are mutable, fleeting, and failing. Our best friends may fail us, our eyes may fail us, our tongues may fail us, our strength may fail us, our flesh and hearts may fail us, and our spirits may fail us (Ps. 143:7). Still, the Lord, if we trust in him, will neither fail nor forsake us (Heb. 13:5). In a word, God is a sanctuary to the oppressed, life in death, health in sickness, joy in grief, liberty in bondage, comfort in despair, riches in poverty, honor in disgrace, and heaven in hell.

It is a spiritual virtue to speak little and well. Words are the shadow of works, and works are the substance of words. Much talking and little practicing is like an empty vessel that gives a greater sound than one that is full. Much knowledge and little practice are like a great tree that makes a large show but bears no fruit. A man without knowledge is a workman without hands, a painter without eyes, a traveler without legs, a ship without sails, a bird without wings, or a body without a soul.

The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed, but the kindness of the Lord shall not depart. Men and devils shall as soon dethrone God, pluck the sun out of the firmament, and Christ out of the bosom of the Father, as they shall someone pluck a believer out of the arms of Christ. What shall I say more? A Christian is but a weak subject to fall, but he has a strong God, a strong Savior, and firm promises.

A Body of Doctrinal and Practical Divinity from 1657, by Robert Purnell, published by Free Grace Press