1723 JOHN MOORE. Sammelband of Important Early Persecuted Baptist Works - Anne Dutton & John Gill Interest

Very rare sammelband of works by a rather obscure Baptist in our day, but was quite prominent in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. 

John Moore [1662-1726] was a long-time Baptist minister at Northampton, England. He was of the strict, Calvinist school. His daughter married John Brine, whose funeral was conducted by John Gill, who lamented the loss of the pious daughter and prominent Baptist father. 

Raised a Baptist, he recalled that it was among them "that I drew my first spiritual breath, being convinced of my undone state under sin and the law, as near as I can remember, in the sixteenth year of my age, and lying many years at the foot of Mount Sinai, often under the terrors of the law and under horror of conscience. But the Lord was pleased, at length, about the 25th year of my age, to speak comfort to my bewildered, troubled soul, more immediately by suggesting some precious absolute promises into my mind and partly by and under the ministry of that laborious and faithful minister of Jesus Christ, Mr William Mitchell, whom I esteem very highly in love."

Moore was converted about the 19th year of his age. In reading, meditation, and prayer he was unwearied. He made an unusual progress in gospel knowledge, was mighty in prayer edifying in his discourses. He was twice arrested under the Conventicle Act, which prevented dissenting churches from meeting informally. The second time he was taken near Bradford, and conveyed prisoner to the Castle at York, where he lay until the declaration of liberty of conscience was proclaimed, April 4th 1687. The persecution only served to grow the work, which blossomed to over twenty meeting houses.

At 32 years of age, he became minister at Northampton, where he was formally received received into communion on Oct. 30th, and ordained pastor in the presence of many witnesses on Dec. 3rd, 1700. 

Moore presided over the Northampton church more than twenty-five years and entered into his rest Jan. 14th, 1726, aged 64. His labours were greatly blessed, as we find that 264 members joined the church during his pastorate. The godly Baptist authoress, Anne Dutton, was one of his members. She wrote concerning him: “The Lord my Shepherd led me by the ministry of his servant and under-shepherd, Mr Moore, into fat, green pastures; the doctrines of the gospel were clearly stated and much insisted on in his ministry. The sanctuary streams ran clearly, and the Sun shone gloriously. I was abundantly satisfied with the fatness of God's house, made to drink of the river of his pleasure and in his light I saw light.” John Gill said of him: “John Moore of Northampton was an eminent preacher of the gospel, a minister of the Baptist denomination, of considerable abilities and learning, whom I had the honour to have personal knowledge of and acquaintance with.”

Subsequent to our present individual work, in 1722 Moore published a small volume of choice and precious sermons now rarely to be met with. His library he seems to have left to Anne Dutton. 

The sammelband includes:

Christophilus Philalethes [Pseud. John Moore]. A Dialogue Betwixt An Awakened Sinner and a Merciful Saviour. Composed A. D. 1694. To which is added, A Divine Poem: Or, Christ the First Object of God's Love, Constituted Head of Creation, the Surety and Only Redeemer of Elect Persons Amongst Mankind. 1723. 16pp. 

[bound with]

Moore, John. God's Matchless Love to a Sinful World. Plainly Demonstrated in Several Sermons Preach'd at Bromesgrove in the County of Worcester, May 22, and 29, 1698. The Substance whereof is Now Exposed to Publick View. Northampton. 1722. 24pp.

[bound with]

Some Gospel-Truths Plainly Stated, Clearly Proved, and Calmly Vindicated, in Sundry Discourses on Several Subjects. viii. pp.

[bound with]

Moore, John. Water Out of the Rock: Or, Life and Comfort to Sinners thro' the Crucifixion of Christ. Northampton. 1721. 

[bound with]

Moore, John. The Saints Portion, and Their Satisfaction therewith, Considered in a Funeral-Discourse (on Feb. 6, 1721) in Memory of Mrs Mary Foukes, Deceased. 32pp.

The entirety in probably original 18th century calf with a likely later spine label. Worn through at extremities and lightly chipped. Solid. Interior is generally clean and solid with several leaves of Water Out of the Rock having minor losses at upper right corner, not obscuring legibility of the text. Pencil underlinings present throughout and a few marginal pen marks. One section's underlinings may be early sepia ink.