A
Brief History Of The Baptists by Hugh L. Tully
Foreword Part One : Chapter One - Introductory Part One : Chapter Two - The Name Of Christ's Church Part One : Chapter Three - Origin And Meaning Of The Church Part One : Chapter Four - Three Distinguishing Baptist Principles Part One : Chapter Five - Baptism Part One : Chapter Six - The Lord's Supper Part Two : Chapter One - Introduction Part Two : Chapter Two - American Baptists Part Two : Chapter Three - English And Welsh Baptists Part Two : Chapter Four - The Dutch And German Baptists Part Two : Chapter Five - The Waldenses Part Two : Chapter Six - The Novatianists
For the past several
years the author has annually delivered a series of sermons on “What
Baptists Believe” to his people. This series has also been delivered
in other churches. Many have requested these sermons in book form. It
is impossible to comply with this request at the present, but four of
the sermons are given in this book in brief form. The author was desirous
of devoting a few pages to the discussion of the security of the believer
but was unable because of the lack of space. He hopes to write a much
larger book in the near future.
The unbiased reader will
discover from close reading of these notes that Baptists alone have
continued from the days of our Lord’s earthly ministry. All other
denominations have their origin this side of His earthly ministry.
All but the Roman Catholics are of comparatively recent origin.
Baptists alone fulfill the promise of Christ in Matthew 16:18;
28:19-20. This fact should silence these little men-found
denominations which are but a few years old - especially the many branches
of the Holiness movement, which are of very recent origin, and the
Campbellites - which claim that they are Christ-founded. The backboneless,
compromising, Christ-denying Baptists should blush with shame and repent
of their unfaithfulness as they read of the loyal Baptists through the
ages shedding their blood for the cause of Christ.
If some reader is led to a deeper consecration to Christ and His Word by reading this book, the writer will feel that his feeble efforts are not wholly in vain.
September, 1938. H. L. T.
CHAPTER ONE - INTRODUCTORY
When Jesus said
“Upon This Rock I will build My church and the gates of hell
(hades) shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18),
he was either sincere or insincere. Who would dare accuse Him of insincerity?
He surely meant what He said. He meant that His Church as a local,
independent body, would never cease to exist on earth until His return
at the end of the age.
This promise is further
confirmed in the Great Commission when He says: “Go ye therefore,
and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always,
(all the days) even unto the end of the world (age)”
(Matthew 28:19-20). This command was not given to the
apostles as individuals, but as a church. He promised His abiding presence
with his church “all the days.” If His church were not to abide “all
the days” how could He be with it “all the days?” This simply means that
churches like the one Christ founded have continued through the ages,
and will continue until His return. If they have not, then Jesus made
a promise He could not fulfill, or would not fulfill. Failure to make
good His promise would prove Him to be the world’s greatest impostor.
They who think that His
church as a local, independent body failed to continue through the
ages, do not understand that the churches of Christ are purest in doctrines
and practices amid persecutions. The storms of persecutions of the
past centuries did not weaken but strengthened Christ’s Churches. What
the writer in Hebrews said of the Old Testament saints may be said
of Christ’s Churches: “Had trials of mockings, scourgings, bonds,
imprisonments, slain with the sword; they went about in sheepskins,
being destitute, afflicted, wandering in deserts and mountains and
caves and holes of the earth” (Hebrews 11:36-38).
The fires of persecution of pagan and papal Rome could not overcome
Christ’s Churches - “Unto Him be glory in the church unto all generations
forever and forever” (Ephesians 3:21). His church has continued
“unto all generations.
Since Jesus instituted
His church during His earthly ministry, as we shall later prove, and,
since His church has continued on earth until the present time, He
then, did not need Luther, Calvin, Henry the Eighth, Wesley, Campbell,
and a host of other church founders, to organize or start new denominations.
Every denomination that has come into existence since the days of
Christ’s earthly ministry is man-founded, and cannot be composed of
the Churches of Christ.
An explanation may be
in order here.
Whenever the writer uses
the term “church,” he always has a local, independent body in mind
for this is the etymological and Scriptural meaning of the word; whenever
the term “denomination” is used, and it will be used frequently because
of its common usage today, the reader will understand that a body
of churches (not in the Scriptural sense except when referring to the
Baptist denomination) of same faith and practice is meant.
Only one denomination
has Scriptural authority for its existence - the one composed of churches
like the one Christ founded. The birth of Christ’s Church was during
His public ministry. The birth of denominationalism is found in the
church at Corinth. In the days of Christ all were of same “faith and
order.” Later men departed from the truth and founded denominations.
These men-founded denominations
think they have the right to exist because our government gives a
man the right to worship according to the dictates of his own conscience.
This is not Scriptural ground. As man to man one has the right to
believe and practice any doctrine or join any denomination he desires,
but between man and God, he has the right to believe and practice only
what the Scriptures teach. Men have founded churches, and many think
these men-founded churches are on an equality with Christ’s Churches.
These men who have founded organizations called churches, and persons
who join them, must answer to God some day for rejecting Christ’s Churches
and joining man’s church. Away with this Christ-dishonoring belief that
a person has the right to believe and practice any doctrine or join any
denomination he desires. Obedience to Christ and His Word is demanded.
“Why call Me Lord, Lord, and do not the things I command you?”
(Luke 6:46). Do you belong to Christ’s or man’s church? If your
denomination has an origin this side of Christ’s earthly ministry, you
belong to a man’s and not to Christ’s Church. Of the nearly 220 denominations
in the U. S. claiming to be the Scriptural one, which one can trace
its origin back to Christ’s ministry? This question will be answered
in the following chapters.
CHAPTER TWO - THE NAME OF CHRIST’S CHURCH
How is the Church of Christ to be known? It is not to be known by its name as some think. It is the part of divine Wisdom that neither Christ nor His disciples enjoined any one proper name by which His church should be known during the present dispensation. If the terms “Church of Christ,” “Christian Church,” “Church of God,” “Saints,” “Elect,” etc., had been given as the proper name, the most heretical sects set up by men without authority of God, could call themselves by one of these names, and make that an argument why they should be recognized as the true church. This is exactly what the Campbellites and the Church of God (Holiness) are doing. They think they are the true churches because they have adopted one of the many names by which the followers of Christ are called in the New Testament.
Christ’s Churches are
not to be known by their names but by their doctrines and practices.
The angel said to John: “I will show thee the bride (church)”
- not her name. But some argue that the bride should be called by the
bridegroom’s name. Not until the marriage is completed. The marriage
of Christ and His bride will not take place until Christ comes (Revelation
19 6-9; Matthew 25:1-10).
Baptists do not claim
to be the Churches of Christ because of their name - although they
do have a Bible name. The first New Testament preacher was a Baptist.
“In those days came John the Baptist” (Matthew 3:1).
Some claim that Baptist was his surname. Such ignorance! The original
text states that he was “the immerser.” He was a Missionary Baptist.
Missionary means “ONE SENT.” “There was a man SENT from God whose
name was John” (John 1:6). Then John was a Missionary
Baptist. He baptized Christ. Christ was a Missionary Baptist. Christ
instituted His Church. Christ’s Church was a Missionary Baptist Church.
Churches like it have continued from Christ until the present day. Christ’s
Churches have not always been called Baptist Churches, for various names
were given them in different countries, through the past centuries,
but churches holding the same doctrines and practices of present day
Baptists have continued through the ages, and have thus fulfilled His
promise that “the gates of Hell shall not prevail against” His
Churches. It is interesting to note that the old name “Baptist” by
which the first New Testament preacher was called, has been restored
to the true churches of Christ.
CHAPTER THREE - ORIGIN AND MEANING OF THE CHURCH
The Church of Christ
was not founded with Adam or Abraham as some claim. The word “church”
in Acts 7:38 should be translated “congregation,” referring
to Israel. The Old Testament does not give a single direct reference
to the Church. It discusses the Jew and Gentile, but not the Church.
In Ephesians 3:1-11 Paul states that the church is
a “mystery, which in other ages (Old Testament times) was
not made known unto the sons of men as it is now revealed unto His holy
apostles and prophets by the Spirit.” This passage states that the
church was unknown before Christ.
Some claim that the church
was instituted on the day of Pentecost. This view is unscriptural.
In Matthew 16:18 Christ states, “I will build My church.”
He left it not to man to build. The church was in existence when Christ
gave a rule of discipline in Matthew 18:17 when He said, “Tell
it unto the church.” The two ordinances, baptism
and the Lord’s supper, were given during His earthly ministry. Do
you think He would give the church ordinances before He instituted
the church? The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) was
given before Pentecost. Jesus sang amidst His church during the supper
on the night before the Crucifixion. Hebrews 2:11-12 says,
“For which cause He (Christ) is not ashamed to call them brethren,
saying, I will declare Thy name unto My brethren, in the midst of the
church I will sing praise unto Thee.” When did Christ sing among
His brethren (disciples)? Mark 14:26 says “And when they had
sung an hymn (after Lord’s supper) they went out into the mount
of Olives.” The church was in existence on the night of the supper
which was many days before Pentecost.
The record of the institution
of Christ’s Church is found in Luke 6:12-16. After
praying all night Jesus selected twelve apostles. Here His Church
began. The apostles were first added to the church. In a sense they
are the foundation of the church and Jesus is the chief corner stone
(I Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 2:19-20; Revelation
21:14). The church in conference selected a successor to Judas
(Acts 1:15-26) before Pentecost and was in prayer on
the day of Pentecost. The church was “energized” and not “organized”
on the day of Pentecost.
What is a New Testament
Church? What say the Scriptures? A close study of the New Testament
Church reveals it to be a body of baptized believers, of the same faith
and practice, equal in rank and privilege, voluntarily joined together
to do the will of Christ. Christ is alone the head of a New Testament
Church. There are no human bosses in it. The form of government is
democratic. Presiding elders and bossy bishops are unknown.
The word for church in
the original language is ekklesia. The ekklesia was a body of citizens
in a free Greek city possessing equal rights, summoned out by a crier
to transact business. Professor Royal of Wake Forest College when
asked to give the meaning of ekklesia, said, “I do not know of any
passage in classical Greek where ekklesia is used of unassembled or
unassembling persons.” This simply means that the word refers only
to a local body, and that a New Testament church is a local body.
Joseph Cross (Episcopalian)
in a book of sermons entitled Coals from the Alter says, “We
hear much of the invisible church as contra-distinguished from the
church visible. Of an invisible church in the world I know nothing:
the Word of God says nothing; nor can anything of the kind exist,
except in the brain of a heretic. The church is a body; but what sort
of a body is that which can neither be seen or identified? A body is
an organism, occupying space and having a definite locality. A mere
aggregation is not a body; there must be organization as well.” Quoted
from H. Boyce Taylor - Why Be A Baptist
page 51.
Fenton J. Hort in his
book, The Christian Ekklesia confesses the necessity of finding
some other than etymological, grammatical, or historical grounds by
which to prove the idea of a universal church. He admitted that the
use of the word ‘Ekklesia’ was always limited by Paul himself to a local
organization, which has a corresponding unity of its own; each is a
body of Christ and a sanctuary of its own. Quoted from H. Boyce Taylor - Why Be A Baptist
page 51. Hort, a Greek Scholar, states that ekklesia always refers
to a local, independent, body, and that there is no such thing as an
invisible or universal church.
Church historians confirm
the testimony of the Scriptures and the above scholars that a New
Testament Church is a local, independent body under no human head.
Edward Gibbons, The History of the Fall and Decline of The
Roman Empire, Volume 1 page 554, states that for more than one
hundred years after the death of the apostles, the churches were local,
independent bodies, united only by ties of faith and charity.
Mosheim, a Lutheran historian
say: “It was, therefore, the assembly of people which chose the rulers
and teachers - rejected or confirmed laws proposed to the assembly
- excommunicated unworthy members - restored the penitent - passed
judgment upon controversies - examined and decided disputes which
happened between elders and deacons; and, in a word, EXERCISED ALL
THAT AUTHORITY which belongs to such as are INVESTED WITH SOVEREIGN
POWER.” (Johann von Mosheim - Church
History of the First Two Centuries page 21) Waddington,
Episcopalian, says, “In the management of its internal affairs EVERY
CHURCH WAS INDEPENDENT OF EVERY OTHER.” (George Waddington - A History of the
Church: From the Earliest Ages to the Reformation)
From the above testimony
of historians and scholars who were not Baptists, but because of their
position as scholars, state the truth, we plainly see that New Testament
Churches were local, independent bodies, and no such thing as an invisible
or universal church is taught in the New Testament. Alexander Campbell,
the founder of the Campbellites, admitted that the Jerusalem Church
was a Baptist Church. Baptist Churches of today are New Testament Churches
in faith and practice.
Only those who have been
regenerated and baptized into a Baptist Church are members of Christ’s
churches. In order to be a member of Christ’s church a person must
be baptized into a church after the pattern of the New Testament Churches
in doctrine and practice. This does not mean that Baptists alone are
saved. The moment a person trusts in Christ for salvation, that moment
he is eternally saved. He is then in the “Kingdom of God,” but
not in the church. One enters the kingdom through the New Birth, and
the church through baptism. Therefore all of the saved do not belong
to the “Churches of Christ.” Those who have joined men-founded
denominations do not belong. They may be saved but are not members of
Christ’s Churches.
The idea of a general
or invisible church is unscriptural. Before the rise of Protestantism
under Luther, the church was always, referred to as a local, independent
body. Luther and others who seceded from the Roman Catholic Church
had to seek some grounds for establishing their churches. To justify
their actions they hatched up the general or invisible church idea
which is wholly unscriptural
CHAPTER FOUR - THREE DISTINGUISHING BAPTIST PRINCIPLES
There are at least three
distinguishing Baptist principles. They distinguish Baptists from
all other denominations
First: Baptists believe
that the New Testament is the sole and sufficient rule of faith and
practice. This means, too, that Baptists accept no headship but Christ.
Only WHAT HE commands should His followers do. Other denominations
claim that they accept the New Testament as sole rule of faith and
practice, and Jesus alone as head, but they do not. They have changed
His teachings and follow men who changed them.
The Roman Catholic Church claims that
it has the authority to change the teachings of the Scriptures. Haydock’s
Catholic Bible and Commentary in discussing the change
from immersion to sprinkling states that the Catholic Church had the
right to do so. He states that “not only the Catholic Church but also
the pretended reformed churches, have altered this primitive custom
(changed from immersion to sprinkling).” (George Haydock – Catholic Bible Commentary)
Dean Stanley, Episcopalian, says that “the practice of immersion, apostolic
and primitive as it was, was peculiarly unsuitable to the tastes and
feelings of the western world and hence the change from immersion to
sprinkling.”
Scholars of all denominations
which sprinkle or pour, acknowledge that Christ and His disciples
were immersed and immersed others, but say that sprinkling and pouring
will do. They are not accepting the New Testament as sole and sufficient
rule of faith and practice. If it makes no difference whether immersed
or sprinkled, why then did Jesus say “And why call Me Lord, Lord,
and do not the things which I say?” Again He says, “Whosoever
therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach
men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven.” Baptism
is a command. To break a command is to lose a reward and be called
the least in the kingdom of heaven.
Of those who substitute
man’s doctrine for Christ’s our Lord says, “This people draweth
nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honoreth Me with their lips;
but their heart is far from Me. But in vain do they worship Me, teaching
for doctrine the commandments of men.” Baptists believe
and practice no doctrines except New Testament doctrines. Baptists
alone practice New Testament doctrines. The Old Testament is the
Word of God, but is typical. Baptists do not go back to the Old Testament
for laws of the church.
Second: Baptists believe
in individual responsibility to God. They do not believe that one
person can be saved because of the faith of another. Children are
not saved on the merits or faith of their parents, nor are they to be
baptized (?) because their parents are Christians. To sprinkle or pour
an unconscious infant is a plain violation of the teachings of the
Holy Scriptures. Each individual is responsible to God. No person
should be compelled to confess his sins to a man called a priest. Baptists
believe in the priesthood of all believers.
Before and sometime after
the Reformation, “the Christian world was organized upon the lines
of persecution. The exception to the rule were the Baptists. They held
that every man had the God-given right to worship God according to
the dictates of his own conscience; and the larger right that other
men had the same privilege. In this contention they stood absolutely
alone; and standing alone they paid the price in human blood that every
man might worship, or not worship, God according to the dictates of
his own conscience. It was a costly sacrifice but it was none too dear
for the world’s redemption.
The entire Christian
world was engaged in persecution. The Baptists in all lands, by both
Protestants and Catholics, were cruelly persecuted by imprisonment,
exile, torture, fire, and sword. The Baptists by the thousands were
martyred. They alone pleaded for liberty.
Third: Baptists believe
that the Church of Christ is a body of Baptized believers, equal in
rank and privilege, administering its own affairs under the headship
of Christ. The true Churches of Christ are composed of believers only.
There were no infants in the New Testament Churches. The apostles
were believers. Those received on the day of Pentecost were believers
(Acts 2:41). All others received into the New Testament Churches
were received upon a profession of faith (Acts 5:14; 8:12,
37; 10:44-48; 16:32-34).
Not believers only but baptized believers alone were members of New
Testament Churches. Dollinger, a Catholic, says, “There is no proof
in the New Testament that the apostles baptized infants.”
The members of the New Testament Churches were equal in rank and privilege. This is true of Baptist Churches. There were no ruling elders, presiding elders and bishops as known today. Only two officers were known then, pastors, called bishops or elders, and deacons. A New Testament bishop was simply an overseer, pastor. He was also called elder. In Acts 20:17 Paul “called for the elders of the church” of Ephesus. In giving them a charge he calls them “overseers” in verse 28. This word “overseer” is translated “bishop” in 1 Timothy 3:1. So bishop and elder refer to the same person and not to two grades in the ministry.
CHAPTER FIVE - BAPTISM
Baptists claim that believers
alone should be baptized. Their belief is based on the Word of God.
Read Matthew 3:5-6. John baptized only those “confessing
their sins.” He did not baptize a single infant. In John 4:1
we read that “Jesus made and baptized disciples.” He did not
baptize to make them disciples as Campbellite brethren claim, but first
“made” and then “baptized” them. On the day of Pentecost
none but those who “gladly received His word were baptized.” No
infants were baptized. Philip “baptized both men and women” (Acts
8:12), and in verse 38 he baptized the Eunuch. Paul was baptized
by Ananias (Acts 9:18).
Peter baptized the household
of Cornelius as recorded in Acts 10:43-48. There must
have been babies in this household some might think. No! Every member
of his household heard, understood, believed, and received the Holy
Spirit and spake “with tongues”. Lydia and her household were
baptized in Acts 16:14-15. No babies mentioned in her household.
She and her household were many miles away from home engaged in her
chosen profession. Verses 29-34 of the same chapter record
the baptism of the Philippian jailer and his household. Was there an
infant in his household? No! Verse 34 says that he was baptized
and his household, “believing in God with all his house.” Every
member of his house believed. An infant cannot believe. Crispus and
his household believed and were baptized (Acts 18:8). In Acts
19:1-5 about twelve men who had not been scripturally baptized,
were baptized by Paul. They had received John’s baptism, but John’s
baptism pointed to Christ. Christ and the Holy Spirit had come, and
the administrator of their baptism knew it not
Not a single infant was
baptized by Christ or His apostles. The advocates of infant baptism
refer to Matthew 19:13-15 to prove their point, but they
have no ground whatever on which to base infant baptism. John 4:1
says that Jesus did not baptize. He only laid His hands upon them.
Dr. Schaff, Presbyterian, says, “There is no trace of infant baptism
in the New Testament.” Hofling, a Lutheran, says, “The sacred Scriptures
furnish no historical proof that children were baptized by the apostles.”
Dollinger, a Catholic, says, “There is no proof in the New Testament
that the apostles baptized infants or ordered them to be baptized.” None
but those who are ignorant of the Scriptures or, who wilfully misrepresent
the truth, believe, teach and practice infant baptism (?).
Scholars, historians
and leaders of denominations that practice sprinkling or pouring infants
admit that such practice is unscriptural. Why then practice it? Because
they say it is a beautiful ceremony. But the Scriptures pronounce
a curse upon those who add to or take from the Scriptures. The earliest
evidence of infant baptism is found in Tertullian who opposed it in
185 A. D. The early church councils were against it. Its growth was slow.
Its origin and growth were due to the idea that baptism was essential
to salvation. Since baptism was essential to salvation, it was necessary
then to baptize infants, for unbaptized infants who died were lost.
This unscriptural belief gave rise to infant baptism. At first only the
weak and sick infants were baptized (?). No provision was made for infants
in good health. Charlemange, A. D. 789 issued the first law in. Europe
for baptizing infants. Immersion was the form for baptism. Infant baptism
was not practiced by Christ and His disciples, but the invention of
man. Those who practice it today do so in the original belief that it
washes away the sins of the infant.
At first Martin Luther
and John Calvin opposed infant baptism and defended Baptist views
concerning it, but later both of these reformers adopted it. Luther
at first immersed.
The requirements for
Baptist baptism are Scriptural. In order to administer Baptist and Bible
baptism “much water” is required. John 3:23 says John “baptized
because there was much water there.” Sprinkling and pouring require
little water.
Another requirement for
Baptist and Bible baptism is going down into the water. Acts 8:38
says “And they went down both into (not to) the water, both
Philip end the eunuch; and he baptized him.” Sprinkling and pouring
do not require going down into the water.
Baptist and Bible baptism
require a burial in water. Sprinkling and pouring do not. Romans
6:4 by says, “Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into
death.” Baptism is a burial. You do not sprinkle or pour a little
dirt on a person’s head and call him buried. Verse 5 says that
is a “likeness of His death - resurrection.” In other words
baptism is a picture of Christ’s burial and resurrection. You cannot
make a picture of His death, burial and resurrection out of pouring or
sprinkling. The picture of a dog is not a mule’s picture, call it a
mule’s picture all you may. Sprinkling and pouring can never represent
a burial and resurrection regardless how much one may think they do.
In 1 Corinthians 10:1-2, a perfect burial is set forth.
The cloud above, ground beneath, and water on either side completely
entombed the Israelites. Colossians 2:12 says “Buried
with Him in baptism.”
The Hebrew words nahzah
and zahrak translated sprinkle in the Old Testament are never used
to sprinkle clear water on any person. Ezekiel 36:25 is often
quoted by those who sprinkle to prove that sprinkling is baptism. Read
carefully verses 21 to 38. The Lord is speaking of the
time when He will gather the Israelites out of the heathen countries
or Gentiles (Israel is scattered among heathen or Gentiles now) and
restore them to Palestine. This restoration is yet future. When restored
to their land in the future He says, “Then will I sprinkle clean water
upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness and idols,
will I cleanse you.” He refers to ceremonial cleansing of the Jews
when they are restored. The “clean water” is water mixed with
the ashes of a red heifer. It does not refer to baptism at all. He has
in mind the Jews and does not have reference to the church age.
In the New Testament
the Greek word for sprinkle is rhantizo. It occurs four times. Rhantismos,
the noun, occurs twice, but refers to blood in both instances. Proschusis
occurs once referring to blood. All references to sprinkling are found
in following scriptures: Hebrews 9:13, 19, 21;
Hebrews 10:22; Hebrews 11:28; Hebrews 12:24;
1 Peter 1:2. None of those refer to baptism. The word
“pour” occurs in New Testament 24 times, but never refers to
pouring water upon a person. In every reference to baptism, baptizo or
baptisma is used. What does baptizo mean?
Below we produce the
testimony of scholars, church founders and historians, none of whom are
Baptists. 1. Liddell and Scott, Standard Greek Lexicon says, “Baptism means to dip in or under water.” 2. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon says, “Baptism means to submerge.” 3. Smith’s Dictionary says, “Baptism means immersion.” 4. Fisher, historian, says, “The ordinary mode was by immersion.” 5. Luther, founder of Lutheran denomination, says, “Baptism is a Greek word and may be translated immerse.” 6. Calvin, founder of Presbyterian denomination, says, “The word baptize signifies to immerse.” 7. Wesley, founder of Methodist denomination, says “Buried with Him by baptism (Romans 6:4) alluding to the ancient manner of baptism by immersion. 8. Wall, Episcopalian, says, “Immersion was in all probability the way in which our blessed Saviour was baptized.” 9. Brenner, Catholic,
says, “For 1300 years was baptism an immersion of the person in water.”
Scholarship has agreed
that Scriptural baptism is immersion. For a person to believe or
teach that Scriptural baptism is sprinkling or pouring is to reveal
his ignorance of the teaching of Scriptures and scholarship, or willful
misrepresentation, of the truth
Bible and Baptist baptism
require coming “up out of the water”. Sprinkling and pouring
do not. “And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out
of the water.” See Acts 8:39.
Christian’s
A History of the Baptists Volume 1, page 196, says, “The practice of immersion
was universal (in England) in the reign of Henry VIII (1509-47).
It was the form of baptism of all parties. The Church of England practiced
immersion. The Catholics practiced immersion. The Baptists practiced
immersion.” Schaff, a Presbyterian, states that the change from immersion
to pouring, then sprinkling, was due to the Presbyterians. He says,
“This change in England and other Protestant countries from immersion
to pouring and from pouring to sprinkling was encouraged by the authority
of Calvin.” (Philip Schaff – The
Teaching of the Twelve Apostles pages 51, 52.) (Calvin was
founder of Presbyterianism.) Wall, Episcopalian, says, “Sprinkling properly
so called, it seems it was in 1645 just then beginning, and used by very
few. It must have begun in the disorderly times after 1641.” (Christian’s A History
of the Baptists Volume 1, page 294).
The Presbyterians of
England lacked one vote adopting immersion for baptism. Of this account
David Brewster says, “From Scotland this practice (sprinkling) made its
way in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, but was not authorized by the established
Church. In the Assembly of Divines, held at Westminster in 1643,
it was keenly debated whether immersion or sprinkling should be adopted;
25 voted for sprinkling and 24 voted for immersion; and even this small
majority was obtained at the earnest request of Dr. Lightfoot, who
had acquired great influence in that Assembly.” Quoted by Christian’s A History
of the Baptists Volume 1, page 94. The Presbyterians passed
a law making immersion unlawful in England.
Why was baptism changed
from immersion to sprinkling by some? Haydock’s Catholic Family
Bible and Commentary says that the Roman Catholic Church had the
right to change from immersion to sprinkling. He admits that Christ
was immersed but states that the Catholic Church has the right to change
the form.
Dean Stanley, Episcopalian,
says, “The practice of immersion, apostolic and primitive as it was,
was peculiarly unsuitable to the tastes and feelings of the western
world, and hence the change from immersion to sprinkling.” Quoted from
James Frost – The Moral Dignity
of Baptism, page 222. Such outright perversion of the Word
of God! Unsuitable to tastes! Inconvenient! No Scriptural ground for
sprinkling and pouring; simply a matter of convenience. Man has ever
sought an easy path. “Why call Me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things
which I say?” (Luke 6:46). “But in vain they do worship
Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew
15:9).
What is the purpose of
baptism? Baptists have been either ignorantly or wilfully charged
of teaching that a person must be immersed to be saved. This is a gross
misrepresentation. Baptists are almost alone in teaching that a person
does not need to be baptized in order to be saved. “For by grace
are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is
the gift of God: Not of works lest any man should boast” (Ephesians
2:8-9). Since salvation is “the gift of God” a person
does not have to do a thing to be saved except to repent and trust in
Christ for salvation. No church membership, no baptism required - faith
in Christ alone.
Baptists preach that the saved only should be baptized, whereas other denominations baptize (?) before persons are saved. Of course this is not baptism, for only the saved can be baptized, but they go through the motion. Baptism is an act of obedience symbolically setting forth great doctrines. There are a few Scriptures, which, if taken alone, seem to teach that baptism is essential to salvation. Let us glance at them.
Baptism then, is only
symbolical, setting forth Christ’s death, burial and resurrection
for our sins; our death to sin and alive unto God; and the resurrection
of the, sleeping saints when Christ comes.
Who has the authority
to administer baptism? Have all denominations equal authority to
do so? It is commonly believed that one denomination has as much scriptural
authority for its existence as another. This is untrue. Only one has
authority. The question is which one? Christ founded His Church while
upon earth and said that churches like it would continue until His
return. We saw that a New Testament Church was a local, independent
body, and not composed of all believers scattered through a certain
district or throughout the world. All denominations that have come into
existence since the days of Christ do not have Scriptural authority
to baptize. In the following chapters we shall prove that New Testament
Churches were Baptist Churches, and that Baptists alone have continued
from days of Christ, and consequently alone have authority to baptize.
If you have not been baptized into a Missionary Baptist Church, your
baptism is unscriptural.
This popular Christ dishonoring belief that it makes no difference as to what denomination you join, or whether sprinkled, poured or immersed, is playing havoc with professing Christians today. Loyalty to Christ and His Word are almost a thing of the past. “We must not hurt another’s feelings” is the attitude today, while at the same time we are running rough shod over Christ and His Word. As to the difference it makes read Matthew 5:19; 7:21-23; 15:7-9; Luke 6:46; 1 Corinthians 3:9-15. Our baptism does not affect our salvation but it does our rewards, and many of God’s children will have a hard time explaining why they rejected Christ’s baptism and accepted man’s.
CHAPTER SIX - THE LORD’S SUPPER
According to the Scriptures, scholarship and history, Baptists alone have the authority to administer the ordinances of baptism and the supper. Their views of the supper are alone Scriptural. “To the law and to the testimony.”
Bishop Helding of the
Methodist denomination, says: “No person shall be admitted to the
table of the Lord among us, who is guilty of any practice for which
we would exclude a member.” A member is subject to exclusion “who
holds and disseminates, publicly or privately, doctrines which are contrary
to our articles of religion, or inveighs against our doctrines.” Inasmuch
as Baptists hold doctrines that are much contrary to Methodist doctrines,
they cannot eat with them.
When a person possessing the above qualifications comes to the table, such one must discern the Lord’s body. To discern the body simply means that the person must realize that the bread and wine are pictures of Christ’s body and blood, broken and shed for us. One must not think of the supper as communing with others but as with Christ (1 Corinthians 10:16). The Bible does not state how often the supper should be observed, but as oft as it is observed it shows forth His death until His return.
PART TWO As we have seen, Jesus promised that His churches would continue on earth from the day He instituted His Church during His earthly ministry, until His return at the end of the age. He did not mean that an invisible church would continue, for such a belief is unscriptural, but that local churches of same doctrines and practices as the Church He founded, would continue. This promise is being fulfilled. Of the nearly 220 denominations in the United States, which one is composed of the genuine Churches of Christ, and can trace its origin to the days of Christ’s earthly ministry? Every denomination whose origin dates this side of Christ’s earthly ministry cannot Scripturally and historically claim Christ as its founder. On account of lack of space dates of origin of very few denominations will be given. Suffice it to say that all but one have human founders and are not composed of Christ’s Churches. Roman Catholics claim apostolic origin, but this big denomination did not begin as such until the beginning of the seventh century, when Boniface the Third became the first universal pope. There is not the least bit of likeness between the Roman Catholic and a New Testament Church. The Greek Catholic Church split off from the Roman Catholics in 1054. Henry VIII, king of England, wanted to divorce his wife, Catherine, and marry her maid, Anne Boleyn. The pope of Rome objected. Henry married Anne anyway. The Pope excommunicated him. Henry thereupon organized the Church of England (Episcopal) in 1530. John Calvin, a reformer, founded the Presbyterian Denomination in 1541. John Wesley is the founder of the Methodist Denomination. The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church (1904 pages 30-31) states that certain persons came to Mr. Wesley, a minister of the Church of England, for spiritual advice. They met weekly on Thursday. Soon many other such prayer meetings or societies sprang up. Finally these societies developed into the Methodist Denomination. Mr. Wesley did not want these societies to become a separate denomination from the Church of England, but they did. The Methodists began in 1739, 1700 years after Christ founded His Church. The Wesleyan Methodists represent the original body of Methodists. In 1780, Benjamin Randall, an excluded Baptist minister, founded the Freewill Baptist Church. The Freewills are over 1700 years too late to be the true Churches of Christ. The Disciples, or better known as Campbellites, came into existence not on the day of Pentecost as they earnestly contend, but in the beginning of the 19th century. Their founder is not Jesus Christ but Alexander Campbell and his father. They lack 1800 years being the Church of Christ historically, and more so Scripturally. Let us seek the testimony of history with reference to their origin. Newman’s Church History, Volume 2, page 700, and Handbook of All Denominations, page 96, state that Thomas Campbell, a seceding Presbyterian minister, came from north Ireland and settled in Pennsylvania in 1807. In 1811, his young son, Alexander, joined him in a reformation. They adopted immersion. In 1813, Alexander having become the leader, their independent church united with the Redstone Association, and, in 1823, owing to a controversy, joined the Mahoning. Be- cause of Campbell’s views on baptism – he believed baptism was essential to salvation - he and his church were excluded from the Baptists in 1827. Later a division occurred in this denomination which resulted in the formation of another denomination or body known as “The Christian Church”
There are about thirty branches of the Holiness movement. Each branch or denomination declares itself to be composed of the true Churches of Christ, yet their origin is of recent date. In the latter part of the 19th century, many became dissatisfied with the spiritual conditions of the Methodist Denomination in the west, and withdrew, forming organizations which have developed into the Holiness Denominations. Their origin is of recent date and yet they declare themselves to be the true Churches of Christ. If their claim be true, then Christ failed to found His Church as He claimed, and left it to men of the 19th and 20th centuries to institute.
The Christian and Missionary Alliance was formed in 1916. It is not a distinct denomination, but several denominations combined for missionary purpose. It cannot be a church. It cannot Scripturally administer the ordinances. Its members are not of the same faith and practice. There is no need for such organization. For those who are unfaithful to Christ and His true churches, this organization is a substitute for the Church of Christ. Russellism, Christian Science, Seventh Day Adventism and all other denominations except one, have human founders.
The Hardshells left the Missionary Baptists in 1832. This is the statement of one of their own ministers, James Watson. He says: “After our painful separation from the Missionaries in 1836, a number of churches met together and formed the Stone River Association. We had then as what was generally supposed, a strong and happy union, but alas, there was an element of heresy incorporated in that body as bad as that from which we had withdrawn.” David B. Ray - Ray’s Baptist Succession page 94. Here is an admission from one of their own members that the Hardshells left the Missionaries. The first separation took place in 1832. The date of origin and the human founder of every denomination can be named except that of the Missionary Baptists. No date or person this side of Jesus Christ can satisfactorily be proved as time or founder of the Missionary Baptists. If Missionary Baptists have a human founder like all other denominations, then Jesus failed to carry out His promise in Matthew 16:18. We shall now prove that Missionary Baptists were founded by Jesus Christ.
The Missionary Baptists did not originate with the Hardshells separation as some claim. We have just quoted a Hardshell minister who stated that the Hardshells left the Missionaries. To prove that Baptists were Missionary Baptists before the Hardshells withdrew, we shall cite the reader to history. Eighty four years before the Hardshell separation, the Philadelphia Association was a missionary body. In 1784 we find in its report that “all donations for the spread of the gospel among the Hindoos be forwarded to Brother William Rogers.” Philadelphia Baptist Association page 298, quoted by David B. Ray - Ray’s Baptist Succession. Of the Philadelphia Association, H. G. Jones, editor of the minutes, says: “The Philadelphia Association, from the first, has engaged earnestly in efforts for the proper education of its ministers and spread of the Gospel IN THE WORLD.” Hardshells oppose education and missions. American Baptists were Missionary Baptists before the Hardshells left them. Baptists were missionaries before they came to America. The English and Welsh Baptists were missionaries. In 1689, nearly 200 years before the Hardshell separation, the English Baptists raised money for ministerial education and missions. The General Assembly of English Baptists met in London in 1689. At this convention it was “resolved to raise a fund for missionary purposes, and to assist feeble churches; also, for the purpose of ministerial education.” (David Benedict – A General Description of the Baptist Denomination page 336). The Dutch Baptists established a college for ministers at Amsterdam, nearly 250 years before the Hardshell separation. The ancient Waldenses, who were Baptists, had ten schools in Valcomoncia alone in 1229. They were great missionaries. The church at Antioch was a missionary church. The Jerusalem Church was missionary. In fact the true churches of Christ have always been missionary. The Hardshells are anti-missionary and cannot be the Churches of Christ. They are, therefore, not the “Primitive” Baptists. “Primitive” means first; and the first Baptists were missionaries. Missionary Baptists are the true Primitive Baptists, and did not originate with Hardshell separation.
Other denominations know that they cannot trace their history back to Christ, and hence, have no succession back to Christ. They know that some man founded them. Many have attempted to prove that Baptists, too, have a human founder, and therefore do not have an unbroken succession back to Christ. Certain dates have been set for Baptist origin. We shall give brief attention to these dates and supposed human founders in the following chapters. All who have attempted to set the date and founder of the Baptists do not agree. This shows that they have no absolute proof as to when and who founded the Baptist Denomination. As to the origin and human founders of all other denominations there is no doubt.
CHAPTER TWO - AMERICAN BAPTISTS In the
study of Baptist History we shall go up stream - beginning with the
American Baptists and tracing the Baptists back to Christ.
Whence
came the American Baptists? Some ignorantly claim that Roger Williams
is the founder of American Baptists, and, since Williams was baptized
by an unbaptized person, Baptist succession back to Christ has been
broken. As to Williams’ baptism we find that he was immersed by Ezekiel
Holliman, and in turn immersed Holliman. Williams organized “a thing
like a church,” but after four months he renounced his baptism (?)
and his church “came to nothing.” Mr. Backus, the historian, says,
“Mr. Williams - in March, 1639, was baptized by one of his brethren,
and then he baptized about ten more. But in July following - he refrained
from such administrations (baptizing) among them.” (Isaac Backus –
A History of the Baptists page 50).
In discussing this affair Cotton Mather, Pedobaptist, says, “He (Williams) settled at a place called Providence. There they proceeded not only unto the gathering of a thing like a church, but unto renouncing their infant baptism. After this he turned Seeker and Familist, and the church to nothing.” (Thomas Crosby – Baptist History Volume 1, page 117). Mr. Lech-ford, Episcopalian, who visited in New England at the time of the Williams’ affair says of Williams: “At Providence, which is twenty miles from the said Rhode Island lives Master Williams and his company of divers opinions - They hold that there is no true, visible church in the world, nor any true ministry.”
After
a careful study of Williams and his church (?) Mr. Adlam remarks: “Among
the evils that have resulted from the wrong date of the Providence
Church, has been the prominence given Mr. Williams. It is to be regretted
that it ever entered into the mind of any one to make him, in America,
the founder of our denomination. In no sense was he so a man only
four months a Baptist (?), and then renouncing his baptism forever,
to be lauded and magnified as the founder of the Baptist denomination
in the New World!”
Shortly
after Williams’ church was disbanded. Thomas Olney, a member of the
“thing like a church,” organized another church (?). Later this church
disbanded, and the present First Baptist Church at Providence, was
organized by Wickenden, Dexter, and Brown, in 1652. These ministers
were ordained in England. No preacher ever came out of the Williams
and Olney churches;
no persons or churches owe their baptism to these churches.
Christian’s
A History of the Baptists Volume 1, page
374, says, “In any event, the Baptists of America did not derive their
origin from Roger Williams. Benedict
mentions the names of fifty-five Baptist
Churches, including 1750, in America, not one of which came out of
the Providence Church.” On the same page he quotes J. P. Tustin, who.
says, “From the earliest period of our colonial settlements, multitudes
of Baptist ministers and members came from Europe and settled in different
parts of this continent ... It is a fact generally known, that many
of the Baptist Churches in this country derived their origin from Baptist
Churches in Wales, a country which has always been a nursery for their
peculiar principles. In earlier settlements of this country, multitudes
of Welsh immigrants, who left their fatherland, brought with them the
seeds of Baptist principles, and their ministers and members laid
the foundation of many Baptist Churches in New England.”
David
B. Ray - Ray’s Baptist Succession pages
121-5, gives the names of twenty Baptist ministers ordained in England
and Wales who came to America. A whole Baptist Church from Wales came
over in the same boat. Roger Williams was never a genuine Baptist.
For only four months he posed as a Baptist, and then renounces his
church and baptism. As a valiant advocate of religious liberty we pay
him homage, but as founder of the American Baptists, NEVER! Persons
who go around bleating like a calf that Williams was the founder of
American Baptists show themselves to be ignorant of the truth
The First
Baptist Church in America was founded
by John Clarke at Newport, Rhode Island, in 1638, one year before
the Williams’ affair. Minutes of the Philadelphia Association read
as follows: “When the first church in Newport, Rhode Island, was one
hundred years old, in 1738, Mr. John Callender, their minister, delivered
and published a sermon on the occasion.” Quoted by Ray’s Baptist
Succession page 116. This date is confirmed by the inscription on
John Clarke’s tomb. It reads as follows: “To the Memory of DOCTOR JOHN
CLARKE, one of the original purchasers and proprietors of this island,
and one of the founders of the First Baptist Church in Newport, its first
pastor … He came to this island in March, 1638 … shortly afterward gathered
the church aforesaid, and became its pastor.” (Ray’s Baptist
Succession page
116).
We thus see that the church at Newport, Rhode Island, is the oldest Baptist Church in America. The First Baptist Church at Providence, R. I., was not organized by Williams or Olney, but by preachers ordained in England. Roger Williams was never a Baptist; Baptists in America do not owe their existence to him; neither is Baptist succession broken by the Williams’ affair.
CHAPTER THREE - ENGLISH AND WELSH BAPTISTS
We saw
in the foregoing chapter that the American Baptists did not originate
with Roger Williams, but that English and Welsh Baptists came to America,
thus founding the great Baptist Denomination in America. Whence came
the English and Welsh Baptists? Did they originate with some human
founder? Baptist enemies have attempted to prove that they did, and
have set certain dates for their origin and certain men as their founders.
We shall listen to the voice of history.
Some claim that Baptists did not begin to immerse until 1641, and hence, their beginning was 1641. Christian’s A History of the Baptists Volume 1, Chapter 15, goes into this question very thoroughly and proves that Baptists were very numerous in England from 1509 to 1547, the period covered in this chapter. This was from 150 to 100 years before 1641, the date set for Baptist origin. On page 191 Christian states that “there was then an organized Baptist Church in London, in the practice of believers’ immersion in the year 1525.” On page 193 he states that “there were more Baptists there (in England) at the period under survey (1509-47) than there were in America at the beginning of the Revolutionary War.”
It is claimed by some that John Smyth founded the English Baptists, and, since he is reputed to have baptized himself in 1609, and formed a Baptist Church, Baptist succession back to Christ has been broken. What if he did baptize (?) himself? We saw above that Baptists were numerous in England 100 years before Smyth. He was not the founder of Baptists in England. Thomas Crosby, a historian, says, “If he (Smyth) were guilty of what they charge him, tis no blemish on English Baptists - for they did not receive their baptism from him.” Christian’s A History of the Baptists Volume 1, page 225 says, “After prolonged investigation, we are unable to find evidence that any Baptist Church grew out of this one.”
In 597, Augustine was sent into Britain to convert the people to the doctrines of the church of Rome. He found a people (Baptists) who held to the simple teachings of the Word of God. They did not practice infant baptism. They would not acknowledge the supremacy of the church of Rome. Because they would not, Augustine made war upon these simple Baptists and nearly 1,200 of them were slain while attending a prayer meeting.
“Bloody” Mary Tudor (1553-58) was a Catholic. Baptists suffered greatly under her. She was succeeded by Queen Elizabeth. Although the Catholics were constantly plotting against her, she showed them more favor than she did to the Baptists. During her reign the word “Baptist” was first used when referring to the Anabaptists. The word “Anabaptist” however, is still used in England to designate the Baptists of today.
Of the prevalence of Baptists in England during Queen Elizabeth’s reign (born 1553, died 1605) Christian’s A History of the Baptists Volume 1, page 206 says, “There were at this time a number of Baptist Churches in England and the Baptists had a great following.” This was many years before the dates 1609 and 1641, at which time some have endeavored to prove that Baptists began. Says Christian on same page: “England under a protestant queen (Elizabeth) appealed to them (Baptists) as a land of freedom, and many Baptists hoped there to find at least partial liberty of conscience. Third, there were also in England numbers of native Baptists. At the prospects of liberty they came from their hiding places … The native Baptists were reinforced by shoals of Baptists abroad.”
CHAPTER FOUR - THE DUTCH AND GERMAN BAPTISTS
In the preceding chapter on the English Baptists we saw that Baptists had been in England and Wales since the days of the Apostles. These native Baptists were reinforced by Baptists from foreign countries, especially Germany and Holland. We give one other testimony. Fuller, the church historian, in giving the reason why so many Dutch Baptists flocked to England during the sixteenth century, says, “A match being now made up, by Cromwell’s contrivance, betwixt King Henry and Lady Anne of Cleves, Dutchmen flocked faster than formerly into England - and soon after began to broach their strange opinions, being branded the general name Anabaptists.”
We have seen that the Baptists were called Anabaptists before they received the name Baptists. Anabaptist was their general name in Germany and Holland just prior to and during the Reformation Period. They were first called Waldenses in these countries. The Baptists who followed Simon Menno, a great Baptist preacher, were called Mennonites by their enemies.
CHAPTER FIVE - THE
WALDENSES The
American
Baptists originated not with the Hardshell separation, nor with Roger
Williams, but with the English and Welsh Baptists who came to America
in large numbers. The English Baptists originated not with John Smyth
in 1609, nor in 1641, but evidence has been given showing that Baptists
have been in England and Wales since the days of the Apostles; and,
that these native Baptists were reinforced by Baptists abroad - especially
from Germany and Holland. These German and Dutch Baptists did not
originate at the Munster Riot, but were the original Waldenses. To
dispute these statements is to deny the testimony of men of authority.
The Baptists sprang from the Waldenses. Whence came the Waldenses?
Part of this territory is “strongly fortified by nature on account of the many difficult passes and bulwarks of rocks and mountains; as if the all-wise Creator had from the beginning, designed that place as a cabinet, wherein to put some inestimable jewel, or, in which to reserve many thousand souls, which should never how the knee before Baal.” The fields are fertile; in the mountains are mines of gold, silver, brass and iron; rivers abound in fish, and the forests and fields in game.
For centuries God had a company of faithful witnesses in these valleys, thousands of whom suffered martyrdom for the sake of the Truth. While the nations of the earth were engrossed in darkness and superstition of Roman Catholicism, these faithful witnesses held aloft the torch of the Word of God. There faithful witnesses were known as Waldenses. We have seen that the Baptists of Germany and Holland sprang from them. Much has been written relative to their origin, beliefs and practices.
Theodora Beza, Reformer of the 16th century, says, “As for the Waldenses, I may be permitted to call them the VERY SEED OF THE PRIMITIVE AND PURER CHRISTIAN CHURCH since they are those that have been upheld, as is abundantly manifest, by the wonderful providence of God, so that neither those endless storms and tempests by which the whole Christian world has been shaken for so many succeeding ages - nor those horrible persecutions which have been expressly raised against them, were able so far to prevail as to make them bend, or yield a voluntary subjection to the Roman tyranny and idolatry (that is Roman Catholicism).” This Reformer traced the Waldenses back to the Apostles.
Jonathan Edwards, President of Princeton University, writes of the Waldenses, “Some of the popish writers themselves own that that people (Waldenses) never submitted to the church of Rome. It is supposed that this people first betook themselves to the desert, secret place among the mountains to hide themselves from the severity of the heathen persecutions, which were before Constantine the Great.” He further says that “God was pleased to maintain an uninterrupted succession of witnesses, through the whole time, in Germany, France, Britain, as historians demonstrate.” (Christian’s A History of the Baptists Volume 1, page 74)
1.) In the absolute authority of Scriptures. “We believe only what they (Scriptures) teach, without any regard to the authority of man - nothing else ought to be received by us except what God hath commanded.” (William Jones - The History of the Christian Church page 294) Baptists, today, alone believe in the absolute authority of the Scriptures like the Ancient Waldenses. All other denominations follow some teaching of man.
2.) Like Baptists they taught that none but the regenerated should be members of a church. “We believe that there is one holy church - of elect and faithful.” (William Jones - The History of the Christian Church page 278) “He (the pope) teaches to baptize children into the faith and attributes to this the work of regeneration; thus confounding the work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration with the eternal rite of baptism.” The Noble Lessons, a Waldensean document of the 12th century says, “Baptize those who believe in the name of Jesus Christ.” Before a person was baptized by them, the preacher would show “the necessity of faith, in order to a worthy participation of Baptism.” (Robert Robinson – Ecclesiastical Researches, page 473) They demanded regeneration before baptism and admission into a church. This Baptists alone demand.
3.) They baptized believers only. Their enemies and enemies of the Baptists have labored hard to prove that they baptized infants. We saw above that they demanded regeneration before baptism, and their condemnation of the pope for baptizing infants. Enervinus of Cologne writes to St. Bernard a letter in which he says of the Waldenses: “They do not believe in infant baptism.” (Christian’s A History of the Baptists Volume 1, page 79) Petrus Ciuniacensis, A. D. 1146, wrote against them, and brought this charge: “That infants are not to be baptized or saved by faith of another.” Alanus, an enemy of Waldenses says that the Waldenses taught that “baptism avails nothing before years of discretion are reached. Infants are not profited by it, because they do not believe. Hence the candidate is usually asked whether he believes in God the Father omnipotent. Baptism profits an unbeliever as little as it does an infant. Why, should those be baptized who cannot be instructed?” (Christian’s A History of the Baptists Volume 1, page 80) These are clear statements of Baptists views on subjects of baptism.
CHAPTER SIX - THE NOVATIANISTS We saw in the chapter on the Waldenses that they have a succession back to Christ, but that before they were known as Waldenses they were called Novatianists or Novatians in some instances. This leads us to inquire, “Who were the Novatianists?”
The Novatianists received their name from Novatian, who is alleged to have received what is called “clinic baptism” - i.e., while he was upon bed supposed to be sick unto death, water was poured upon him from head to foot, imitating immersion as much as possible. But he did not die, and after he recovered, his enemies claim that he was not immersed, but was satisfied with his pouring. Remember, that this is the testimony of his enemies and not his friends. The true account of him and generally of God’s true churches through the ages, was wholly or partially destroyed by the enemies of truth. The enemies of the Novatianists and of the Baptists, contend that since Novatian was not immersed Baptist succession back to Christ, through the Novatianists, has been broken.
But if he was not immersed after his recovery, his baptism did not affect the succession of the Novatian any more than the lack of baptism on the part of a few “Baptist” ministers who have received “alien immersion,” for Novatian had no more to do with the organization of the Novatian churches throughout the empire than the force of example. He was not the founder of the Novatians.
Jones, page 154, further states, “All the ecclesiastical historians complain loudly of the schism made in the Christian Church by the Novatians, whose differences respected matters of discipline only.” Christian’s A History of the Baptists Volume 1, page 43 says, “Their (Novatians) contention was not so much one of doctrine as of discipline.” Of Novatian, Mr. Robinson says: “Holding the same doctrine as the Church.” (Church at Rome - not Roman Catholic, for it was then unknown).
This division was made because of differences of views on church discipline and not on doctrinal points. Novatian was of the same faith as the church of Rome, but protested against lax discipline. “A majority declared in favor of Cornelius. The minority would not yield. They withdrew, formed a separate church, and invited Novatian to become their pastor. Others imitated their example in various parts of the empire, and Novatian churches sprang up in great abundance.” (John Cramp - Baptist History page 56) When Novatian and his church took a stand against corrupt practices in the churches, many others throughout the Roman Empire followed their example. These churches contending for strict discipline as well as for the pure scriptural teachings, were called Novatianists, not that Novatian was their founder, but their leader.
Sir Isaac
Newton says, “The Baptists are the only body of Christians which
have not symbolized with Rome.”
Mosheim, Lutheran, “The origin of the sect … called Anabaptists … are not altogether wrong when they boast of a descent from these Waldenses - usually styled witnesses for the truth before Luther.” He says the Baptists and Waldenses were the same people. Theodore Beza, a reformer, who was not a Baptist, tells who the Waldenses were. He says, “As for the Waldenses, I may be permitted to call them the very seed of the primitive and purer Christian Church.” He says the Waldenses were the New Testament people, thus linking Baptists of today with New Testament Churches.
Barclay, Quaker, says, “The rise of the Anabaptists (Baptists) took place long prior to the foundation of the Church of England, and there are also reasons for believing that on the continent of Europe small hidden societies, who hold many of the opinions of the Anabaptists, have existed from the times of the Apostles.”
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