The Chief Publican's Conversion

TITLE: THE CHIEF PUBLICAN'S CONVERSION; OR, A LOST
SINNER SOUGHT AND SAVED BY CHRIST (1645)
Hanserd Knollys, Luke 19:10

Read by Jeff Massey

Hanserd Knollys was an influential leader among the 17th century
English Particular Baptists. A former priest in the Church of
England, he came to Baptist convictions in 1643/44 and was
instrumental in the formation of a Baptist church in Great Saint
Helen-street, over which he was ordained the pastor in 1645 and
served until 1691. He was a man acquainted with many
persecutions and hardships, but was graciously sustained by God.
Along with Benjamin Keach and William Kiffin, he was considered
one of the 'first three' of the Baptist ministers in his day.

Using Zacheus' conversion as an example, Knollys declares in this
sermon that the great errand that Jesus came down from heaven in obedience to the Father to accomplish was to seek and to save lost sinners. Knollys shows how, through the Spirit and the Word, Jesus draws lost sinners to Himself, and Knollys also explains what Jesus does when He actually saves a sinner. Knollys ends this sermon by stessing our need for honest self-examination in view of Jesus' great errand and for trust in Jesus who came to save His people from their sins.

This sermon by Knollys is an outstanding example of Christ-centered, Calvinistic gospel-preaching.