164 OUR HYMNS :
JOHN CENNICK. 17171755.
PREFIXED to a volume of Cennick s sermons, published in 1803, there is a life by the Rev. Matthew Wilks. He had received some information from Cennick s daughter, and was probably familiar with the poet s own account of his " Life and Call to the Ministry," as it is given in the preface to his hymns, published in 1741. To Mr. Wilks sketch we are indebted for some of the following facts.
John Cennick was born at Reading, where his grandparents, who were Quakers, had been persecuted and imprisoned. But his parents brought him up in connection with the Established Church. As a youth, he delighted in attending dances, playing at cards, and going to the theatre. But in 1785, while walking hastily along in Cheapside, London, he experienced deep convic tions of sin. These convictions were strengthened by his associa tion with pious companions. He was greatly depressed in mind, and so far reformed his outward life as to give up his gay practices. But he did not as yet possess the true Christian peace. On the contrary, he went, step by step, down into the dark depths of spiritual despair. Beginning with neglect, he went on to infidelity and open sin.
For three years this distressing condition of character con tinued. All kinds of errors troubled his agitated mind ; he was daily pressed down with convictions of sin and fear of God s wrath. He was weary of life, and often prayed for death. Some times he thought of fleeing from his distress by retiring into the country to some place where he was unknown, and there working as a labourer ; and he even went on journeys for this purpose. He also vainly tried austerity as a cure for his misery. He says, " I even ate acorns, leaves of trees, crabs and grass, and wished often heartily that I could bring myself to live only upon roots and herbs."
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