John Johnson (Baptist)
Encyclopedia
John Johnson was an English baptist minister, the founder of a sect that became known as Johnsonian Baptists.
, in the parish of Eccles
, near Manchester
, in March 1706. He was piously brought up, and when only twenty years old became a preacher. About 1741 he was appointed pastor of the Byrom Street Baptist Chapel, Liverpool
. He left around 1747–8, after his doctrinal views had made him unacceptable to a section of the congregation.
Johnson and his adherents then built a chapel in Stanley Street, Liverpool, opened in 1750, in charge of which he remained until his death on 20 March 1791, aged 85. His wife, whom he married about 1740, survived him. His followers were found for a long time at Wisbech
in Cambridgeshire
, and elsewhere.
Life
The son of an agricultural worker, he was born at Lostock GralamLostock Gralam
Lostock Gralam is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England, situated to the east of Northwich. The civil parish of Lostock Gralam also includes the small hamlet of Lostock Green...
, in the parish of Eccles
Eccles
-Places:*Eccles, Berwickshire, Scottish Borders*Eccles, Greater Manchester, a town in North West England* Eccles — an electoral division represented in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom*Eccles, Kent, England...
, near Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, in March 1706. He was piously brought up, and when only twenty years old became a preacher. About 1741 he was appointed pastor of the Byrom Street Baptist Chapel, Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
. He left around 1747–8, after his doctrinal views had made him unacceptable to a section of the congregation.
Johnson and his adherents then built a chapel in Stanley Street, Liverpool, opened in 1750, in charge of which he remained until his death on 20 March 1791, aged 85. His wife, whom he married about 1740, survived him. His followers were found for a long time at Wisbech
Wisbech
Wisbech is a market town, inland port and civil parish with a population of 20,200 in the Fens of Cambridgeshire. The tidal River Nene runs through the centre of the town and is spanned by two bridges...
in Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
, and elsewhere.
Works
Among his writings were:- ‘The Advantages and Disadvantages of the Married State,’ 5th edit. 1760; often reprinted.
- ‘A Mathematical Question propounded by the Vicegerent of the World,’ 1755; 5th edit. Windsor, U.S.A., 1794; another printed in London, 1859.
- ‘The Election of God Undisguised,’ 1759.
- ‘The Two Opinions Tried,’ &c., 1764.
- ‘Divine Truth, being a Vindication of the Attributes, &c., of God,’ 1769.
- ‘The Riches of Gospel Grace Opened,’ 2 vols. Warrington, 1776.
- ‘A Scriptural Illustration of the Book of Revelation,’ Warrington, 1779.
- ‘The Evangelical Believer's Confession of the Son of God,’ Liverpool, 1781.
- ‘The Divine Authority of the Holy Scriptures.’
- ‘Original Letters,’ 2 vols. Norwich 1796–1800. This contains an account of the author, perhaps by Samuel Fisher, who preached his funeral sermon.