Readings in Baptist History

Four Centuries of Selected Documents

Joseph Early

• Publisher: B&H Academic
• Year: 2008
• Print ISBN: 9780805446746
• eBook ISBN: 9781433669118
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christian Denominations

Readings in Baptist History compiles four centuries of notable religious documents, from John Smyth's "The Character of the Beast" in 1609 all the way to the 2000 revision of the Southern Baptist Convention's "Baptist Faith and Message." This primary source Baptist history book can be used as a companion to larger history texts or stand strongly on its own. In all, it contains key information concerning the theology, origins, conflicts, denominational organization, and historical events of early English Baptists, American Colonial Baptists, Southern Baptists, American Baptists, the Baptist Missionary Association, European Baptists, Baptist Bible Fellowship, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, and much more. The book also profiles influential pastors, theologians, missionaries, and Baptist leaders.

1

THE CHARACTER OF THE BEAST, 1609

John Smyth

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TO EVERY ONE THAT LOVETH THE Truth in sincerity Salutations.

It may be thought most strange that a man should often times change his Religion. It cannot be accounted a commendable quality in any man to make many alterations and changes in such weighty matters, as are the cases of conscience….

This must be true, (and we confess it) if one condition is admitted, that the Religion which a man changed is the truth. Otherwise to change a false Religion is commendable, and to retain a false Religion is damnable. For a man of a Turk to become a Jew, of a Jew to become a Papist, of a Papist to become a Protestant are all commendable changes though they all befall one and the same person in one year, nay, if it were in one month. So that not to change Religion is simply evil. Therefore that we should fall from the profession of Puritanism to Brownism, and from Brownism to true Christian baptism, is not simply evil or reprovable in itself, unless it is proven that we have fallen from true Religion. If we, therefore, having been formerly deceived in the way of Pedobaptistry, now do embrace the truth in the true Christian Apostolic baptism, then let no man impute this as a fault unto us. This therefore is the question, whether the baptism of infants is lawful, yes or no and whether persons baptized as infants must not renounce that false baptism, and assume the true baptism of Christ which is to be administered upon persons confessing their faith and their sins? This is the controversy now between us and the Separation commonly called Brownists…. Let the indifferent reader judge the whole and give sentence without partiality and I do not doubt but he shall be constrained to give glory to God in acknowledging the error of baptizing infants, to have been a chief point of Antichristianism, and the very essence and constitution of the false Church, as is clearly discovered in this treatise….

Herein, therefore, we do acknowledge our error, that we retaining the baptism of England which gave us our constitution, did call our mother England a harlot, and upon a false ground made our Separation from her. Although it was necessary that we Separate from England, yet no man can Separate from England as from a false Church unless he also Separate from the baptism of England, which gives England her constitution. Whosoever retains the baptism of England does retain the constitution of England, and cannot without sin call England a harlot as we have done…. For if they retain the baptism of England, viz. the baptism of infants as true baptism, they cannot Separate from England as from a false Church though they may Separate for corruptions. Whosoever does Separate from England as from a false Church must Separate from the baptism of England, as from false baptism. The baptism of England cannot be true and be retained, and the Church of England false and be rejected. Neither can the Church of England possibly be false unless its baptism is false, unless a true constitution could be in a false Church, which is as impossible as for light to have fellowship with darkness….

But the Separation, they say England has a false constitution, and is a false Church and is to be Separated from. Yet they also say England has a true baptism (that is a true constitution) which is not to be Separated from. For a true constitution and true baptism are one and the same. So is a false constitution and a false baptism. So the speeches and actions of the Separation are contradictory in this particular.

Finally, they that defend the baptism of infants cannot with any truth or good conscience Separate from England as from a false Church though they may separate for corruptions. They that do Separate from England as from a false Church must out of necessity Separate from the baptism of England, and account the baptism of England false, and so account the baptism of infants a false baptism. Therefore the Separation must either go back to England or forward to true baptism and all that shall in time come to Separate from England must Separate from the baptism of England. If they will not Separate from the baptism of England there is no reason why they should separate from England as from a false church. …Now concerning this point of baptizing infants we do profess before the Lord and before all men in sincerity and truth that it seems to us the most unreasonable heresy of all Antichristianism. For considering what baptism is, an infant is no more capable of baptism than is any unreasonable or insensible creature. For Baptism is not washing with water, but it is the baptism of the Spirit, the confession of the mouth, and the washing with water….

Now that an infant cannot be baptized with the Spirit is plain, 1. Pet. 3: 21 where the Apostle said that the baptism of the Spirit is the question of a good conscience into God, & Heb. 10. 22, where the baptism which is inward is called the sprinkling of the heart from an evil conscience. Seeing, therefore, infants neither have an evil conscience, nor the question of a good conscience, nor the purging of the heart, for all these are proper to actual sinners. Hence it follows that infant baptism is folly and nothing….

Lo, we protest against them, to be a false Church falsely constituted in the baptism of infants and their own unbaptized estate. We protest against them to have a false worship of reading books. We protest against them to have a false government of a triformed Presbytery. We protest against them to have a false Ministry of Doctors or Teachers. Finally, we protest against them that seeing their constitution is false, therefore there is no one ordinance of the Lord true among them. These things we have published, and of these things we require an answer. For we proclaim against them as they proclaim against their own mother England. The Separation, the youngest and the fairest daughter of Rome, is a harlot. For as is the mother so is the daughter….

Briefly to conclude, let the Separation be advertised that whereas they do so confidently through their self love and self-conceit fill their mouths with heresy and heretics, as if thereby they would fear babes. Herein they tread in the steps of all the Antichristians their predecessors. Do not the Papists call the Protestants heretics and call for fire and fagot? Do not the Protestants proclaim the Separation Schismatics and Heretics and judge them worthy of the gibbet? Not the affirmation of men without proof, but the evidence of willful obstinacy in error makes men heretics. Let them take heed that they notwithstanding their Siren songs prove not to be cages full of the most ugly and deformed Antichristian Heretics. Thus desiring the Separation not to be wise in their own eyes through pride, but to become fools that they may be made wise through humility, and desiring the forwardest preachers and professors of the English nation to weigh well what is the true constitution of the Church, and what is the subject of true Christian baptism, and accordingly to measure a true and a false Church. I cease, wishing the light and love of the truth to everyone that Reads.

John Smyth

John Smyth, The Character of the Beast, or the False Constitution of the Church (1609); repr. W. T. Whitley, ed., The Works of John Smyth, 2 vols. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1915), 2:564–74.

2

LETTER TO SIR WILLIAM
HAMMERTON, 1609

Hughe and Anne Bromheade

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GRACE WITH INCREASE OF GRACE, peace even from the father and god of peace, with all true comfort and consolation in Jesus Christ be with you beloved Cousin and all yours, and that forever. Beloved Cousin we received A letter from you dated the xiii of July wherein you write that you expect an answer from us of the said letter. The first part of your letter is, that leaving our Country we removed to Amsterdam, which in removing was, you hope, but to make a trial of the Country. …A second part of your letter is that you would persuade us to return home to England, which you make no Question would be much pleasing to God. But we make a great Question there of you. We hold it without all Question, the same should be much and highly displeasing unto our good God and father, that has in his merciful providence brought us out of Babylon the Mother of all abominations, the habitation of devils and the hold of all foul spirits, and A cage of every unclean and hateful bird….

Concerning the fourth part of your letter wherein you seem to desire to know wherein your church might be reformed although I know not herein, where to begin or where to end. The corruptions are so many and Infinite, yet, in some measure to satisfy your request, I will give you a view and taste of them, but before I will give you A brief Sum of the causes of our Separation and of our purpose in practice. First, we seek above all things the peace and protection of the most high and the kingdom of our lord Jesus Christ. Secondly, we seek and fully purpose to worship god Aright according as he has commanded in his most holy word. Thirdly, we seek the fellowship of his faithful and obedient servants and together with them to enter a Covenant with the lord, and by the direction of his holy Spirit to proceed to A godly free and right choice of Ministers and other officers by him ordained to the Service of his church. Fourthly, we seek to establish and obey the ordinances and laws of our Savior Christ left by his last will and testament to the governing and guiding of his church without altering, changing, innovating, wresting, or leaving out any of them that the Lord shall give us sight of. Fifthly, we purpose (by the assistance of the holy ghost) in this faith and order to lead our lives, and for this faith and order to leave our lives if such is the good will of our heavenly father. And sixthly, now that our forsaking and utter abandoning of these disordered assemblies as they generally stand in England, may not seem strange or offensive to any that will Judge or be judged by the word of god, we allege and affirm that heinous guilt in these 4 principal transgressions. 1. They worship the true god after A false Manner in their worship being made of the Invention of Man, even of that Man of Sin, erroneous and Imposed upon them. 2. for that the profane, ungodly...without exception of any one person, are with them received into, and retained in the Bosom of the church. 3. For that they have A false and Antichristian ministry imposed upon them, retained with them, and maintained by them. 4. For these churches are ruled by and remain in subjection under an Antichristian, and ungodly government, contrary to the institution of our Savior Christ. …As the prophet Isaiah spoke of the people of the Jews so may we speak of the church of England, from the Sole of the foot to the head, there is nothing whole therein but wounds, and swelling and sores, full of Corruptions, the whole head is heavy…your church of England therefore has an Antichristian constitution and is A false church. And can there be anything true in A false church but only the Scriptures and the truths therein contained. But your church has a false constitution, or false ministry, a false worship, a false government and A false Baptism, the door and entry into the church, and so all is false in your church. Wherefore beloved Cousin we wish you in the lord diligently and seriously to consider and weigh your universal state and standing, that it is most sorrowful and lamentable. And now at the last to harken to the lord's voice that sounded from heaven, sang go out of Babylon my people that you be not partakers with her in her Sins and that you do not receive her plagues.

Beloved Cousin concerning your request of A book of our present settled government, there is none extant though there are diverse books...the matters of controversy between the church of England and us, and touching the differences between us and the other churches here.

The order of worship and government of our church is. 1. We begin with A prayer, after we read some one or two chapters of the bible given the since thereof, and confer upon the same; that done we lay aside our books, and after a solemn prayer made by the first speaker, he propounds some text out of the Scripture, and prophesies out of the same, by the space of one hour, or three Quarters of an hour. After him stands up a second speaker who prophesies out of the said text in the like time and space, sometimes more sometimes less. After him the third, the fourth, the fifth &c as time gives leave. Then the first speaker concludes with prayer as he began with prayer, with an exhortation to contribute to the poor, with a collection being made and also concluded with prayer. This Morning's exercise begins at eight of the clock and continues to twelve of the clock. The like course of exercise is observed in the afternoon from 2 of the clock to 5 or 6 of the Clock. Last of all the execution of the government of the church is handled.

… I have by this Bearer sent unto you A book of...Mr. [John] Smith our pastor. I wish you diligently to peruse and with serious judgment examine the same. And if you...any more of this or any other argument written by him, either for yourself or for your friends to signify the same unto us by your letters, and we will (the lord willing) procure the same.

Yours In the lord at all times to use.

Hughe and Anne Bromheade.

Source: Champlain Burrage, The Early English Dissenters in the Light of Recent Research, 1550–1641, 2 vols. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1912), 2:172–77.

3

A DECLARATION OF FAITH OF ENGLISH
PEOPLE REMAINING IN AMSTERDAM
IN HOLLAND, 1611

Thomas Helwys

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TO ALL THE HUMBLE MINDED who love the truth in simplicity, Grace and peace.

A Declaration, Etc.

We Believe and Confess

1.

There are THREE which bear record in heaven, the FATHER, the WORD, and the SPIRIT. These THREE are one GOD in all equality, 1 John 5.7; Philippians. 2.5, 6. By whom all things are created and preserved, in Heaven an...

Table of contents

• Preface
• Chapter 1: The Character Of The Beast, 1609
• Chapter 2: Letter To Sir William Hammerton, 1609
• Chapter 3: A Declaration Of Faith Of English People Remaining In Amsterdam In Holland, 1611
• Chapter 4: A Short Declaration Of The Mystery Of Iniquity, 1612
• Chapter 5: The Beginnings Of The Particular Baptists And The Birth Of Immersion, 1633
• Chapter 6: The Bloudy Tennent Of Persecution, 1644
• Chapter 7: The Whipping Of Obadiah Holmes, 1651
• Chapter 8: The Power Of The Association, 1749
• Chapter 9: The Birth Of The Charleston Association, 1751
• Chapter 10: Birth Of The Sandy Creek Baptist Association, 1758
• Chapter 11: A Body Of Doctrinal And Practical Divinity, 1769
• Chapter 12: An Appeal To The Public For Religious Liberty, 1773
• Chapter 13: Black Baptists
• Chapter 14: The Rights Of Conscience Inalienable, 1791
• Chapter 15: An Enquiry, 1792
• Chapter 16: The Wall Of Separation”
• Chapter 17: Formation Of The English Baptist Union, 1813
• Chapter 18: Address At The Formation Of The Triennial Convention, 1814
• Chapter 19: Treatise On Slavery, 1822
• Chapter 20: Primitivism And The Antimission Movement
• Chapter 21: Report And Warning About Campbellism, 1830
• Chapter 22: The Georgia Test Case And The Alabama Resolutions
• Chapter 23: Southern And Northern Perspectives On The 1845 Schism
• Chapter 24: Address Explaining Why The Southern Baptist Convention Was Organized, 1845
• Chapter 25: Old Landmarkism: What Is It?
• Chapter 26: A Letter From China
• Chapter 27: Another Word Concerning The Down-Grade
• Chapter 28: The Baptist World Alliance
• Chapter 29: The Kingdom Of God, 1917
• Chapter 30: Baptists And Religious Liberty, 1920
• Chapter 31: The Impact Of J. Frank Norris On Baptist Life
• Chapter 32: The Cooperative Program, 1924
• Chapter 33: The Trail Of Blood, 1931
• Chapter 34: The Baptist Way, 1945
• Chapter 35: Russian Baptist History From 1929 To 1963, 1967
• Chapter 37: The Resurgence Of Calvinism
• Chapter 38: Peace Committee Report, 1987
• Chapter 39: Doctrinal Statement Of The Baptist Missionary Association Of America, 1989
• Chapter 40: The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
• Chapter 41: The Baptist Faith And Message, 1925, 1963, 2000
• Scripture Index