Forgotten Honour - William Kiffin

Have you ever heard of William Kiffin?

Maybe not, but he was more influential that you might realise.

Credo magazine lists him as one of the 10 Baptists everyone should know.

I have just finished reading his biography 'Stranger than Fiction' by B.A. Ramsbottom, which has been one of those books on my shelves that had somehow missed being read. I highly recommend the book.

He was a 17th century wealthy merchant but also very significant in the history of Baptists. He was described on the back cover of the book as 'one of the most remarkable men of a remarkable age.'

His early life didn't give any indication of where he would be in his later years….he was orphaned at the young age of 9 years and a glover apprentice at age 13. He was converted to Christ at age 17 through the preaching of some Puritan pastors. He had the ear of kings and interacted with men such as John Bunyan, the author of the famous book 'Pilgrim's Progress'. 

Yet, although this is all very interesting, what I want to highlight is a sermon he preached in his mid 20's. Sadly it is the only sermon that he ever published in any way, and the textual notes for it were put at the end of the book. 

The reason I want to highlight it, is, you guessed it…because he talks about honour and shame so naturally in the course of his sermon, that I was again alerted to how much these concepts filled the minds of Christians of the past without any effort. They were dynamics talked about in the course of normal life and in the normal course of preaching. They were issues automatically on the mind of a person, and in particular on the mind of a preacher. We have to now work so hard to learn a new track of thinking that for Christians of a past era, was just part of daily reality. So we can learn a great deal from them as we endeavour to no longer be conformed to the pattern of our current world's way of thinking and be renewed in our minds so we can properly discover God's will and purpose for us (Romans 12:2).

The sermon text was Hosea 2:7-8 and he had four main points:

1. Why this comes to pass

2.The means which the Lord here useth to reclaim her

3. The effect this means wrought

4. The main motive or consideration that wrought upon her spirit

And it is a few excerpts from his last point I want to highlight:

Reason 1. Because kept by God from disaster and sorrow and shame and confusion that seize those that forsake Him.

See Psalm 119:4; Psalm 99:4; Jeremiah 3:2

"It hath been well with the saints when they have closely walked in the ways of God"

What makes men ashamed and confounded? When frustrated in their hope and expectation. But God's people shall not be frustrated of the promise. Though they know reproaches, scoffs, imprisonment, yet these should be their honour and joy.

Reason 2. Because those who keep closest to God are most honoured of God.

"It's sin that brings shame and confusion of face, but when the soul walks closely with its God, it shall be sure to be kept from shame"

Those churches since Christ's coming which have been most holy have been most persecuted. See Revelation 2:9-10; the church at Smyrna.

At the end of the publication, Kiffin gives reasons for publishing his sermon and he gives two bible verses. It is interesting that both deal with the issue and challenge to not feel shamed. His primary context for gospel motivation in the midst of difficulty was that which was also spoken by the Apostle Paul centuries before, when the risk and threat of shame was high.

In our day and age—especially in the Western World, but also here in different ways—where to truly live and speak as a Christian is likely to be ridiculed or shamed, the testimony of William Kiffin is pertinent. His little sermon is a good reminder: "Though they know reproaches, scoffs, imprisonment, yet these should be their honour and joy."

His chosen two verses given for his reasons for publishing his sermon were:

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth" (Romans 1:16)

"Be not therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel (2 Timothy 1:8)

May we also echo his declaration.