Puritan of the Week: James Janeway (1636-1674)

I must admit that prior to reading his brief biography in Meet the Puritans, I had never heard of James Janeway.

Janeway’s last years as preacher…were his most fruitful and yet most difficult.  In 1672, his supporters built a large meetinghouse for him…Janeway’s popularity so enraged Anglicans that several times they threatened to shoot him and actually attempted to do so twice.  One time, a bullet pierced his hat.  Another time, soldiers destroyed Janeway’s church building.  His congregation repaced in with a larger building.

After struggling several years with depression, Janeway contracted tuburculosis.

The two books we have in print are The Saint’s Encouragement to Diligence in Christ’s Service and A Token for Children.  The first is a work that encourages us to not grow weary in doing what is right, because our time is short to serve our Master.  The second is a complilation of Children’s testimonies of conversion.  Beeke recommends that all parents should read this and have our children read it.

I love the line,  soldiers destroyed Janeway’s church building.  His congregation repaced in with a larger building.  Couple that with his own depression and then a book that encourages us to not grow wearing in well doing, and what a testimony.  Don’t let anything destroy the work of our Master!  Our time is short, keep pressing on.