Three Baptist ministers go into a Methodist church - why did they go in? For the Congregational Studies Conference, of course. They went to hear the Baptist Michael Haykin speak on the Congregationalists Asahel Nettleton (American evangelist) John Owen (not Doddridge as advertised) and Isaac Watts. I've often thought of attending this annual conference but have never made it until now. Dr Haykin gave more conventional papers on Nettleton and Owen and with the Watts paper focused on his hymns (all complete in the earlier part of his life) especially When I survey, which the forty or so present all sang at the end. Nettleton is rather forgotten despite seeing 25,000 or so converted. The much better known Finney was criticised for his many failures, especially his rejection of total depravity. It is, of course, the four hundredth anniversary of Owen's birth. It was good to meet old friends. Having Wesley's chapel and Bunhill Fields on hand adds to the experience. Worth getting the papers in print. See here soon.
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