Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Purnell, Robert
PURNELL, ROBERT (d. 1666), baptist elder and author, was probably a native of Bristol, where he was residing in 1653. He was in that year one of the chief founders of the first baptist church at Bristol, which subsequently became the Broadmead church. The pastor, Thomas Ewins, and Purnell were baptised in London by Henry Jessey, and Purnell became a ruling elder of the congregation. He died apparently in November 1666. A son was a member of the same church.
He wrote: 1. ‘Good Tydings for Sinners,’ London, 1649, 4to. 2. ‘No Power but of God,’ London, 1652, 2nd edit. 3. ‘Englands Remonstrance, or a Word in the Ear to the scattered discontented Members of the late Parliament … likewise a Word to the present Assembly at Westminster and the Councell of State,’ 1653. 4. ‘The Way to Heaven discovered,’ Bristol, 1653 (in favour of the doctrine of grace and the true love of God). 5. ‘The Church of Christ in Bristol recovering her Vail out of the Hands of Them that have smitten and wounded Her, and taken it away,’ London, 1657; the first portion is signed by Purnell and five other members of the church (p. 24). 6. ‘A little Cabinet richly stored with all Sorts of Heavenly Varieties,’ London [19 Aug.], 1657. 7. ‘The Way Step by Step to sound and saving Conversion,’ London, 8 Aug. 1659.
[Broadmead Records, Hanserd Knollys Soc.; Fuller's Rise and Progress of Dissent in Bristol, p. 43; Hollester's Skirts of the Whore discovered, 1656, and The Cry of Blood, 1656; Firmin's Serious Question.]