Baptist History Lesson 19

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Baptist HistoryLesson 19

• Baptist Beginnings in America, Pt. 2
• but he who endures to the end will be saved

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BAPTIST IDENTITY
I. Baptist are Orthodox
II. Baptist are Evangelical
III. Baptist are confessional and catechetical
IV. Baptist are Separate
Baptist have a theologically integrated
ecclesiology vs. our paedobaptist friends who
have an inconsistent ecclesiology Dr. Nettles
BAPTIST DISTINCTIVES

• Visible saints/Believers church

• Baptism of believers only by immersion

• Discipline in the local congregation

• Absence of interference or special favors from
  magistrates

Baptists have traditionally argued for religious
liberty for all people by advocating a free
church in a free state Nathan Finn
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ROGER WILLIAMS
Chronology
Born 1603-1606
Education Pembroke College, Cambridge
B.A. 1627
1625 period of religious turmoil
Bishop Laud pursued me out of this land and my
conscience was persuaded against the national
church and ceremonies and bishops
1631 arrived in Boston w/ wife, Mary
1631-1635 Boston/Salem/Plymouth/Salem again
1636 Providence Plantation
1639 Established Baptist Church left 3 months
later!
1645 The Bloody Tenant of Persecution for Cause
of Conscience
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Williams method of argument
Biblical Interpretation
The doctrine of persecution for cause of
conscience, is proved guilty of all the blood of
the souls crying for vengeance under the altar. .
. . All civil states, with their officers of
justice, in their respective constitutions and
administrations, are proved essentially civil,
and therefore not judges, governors, or defenders
of the spiritual, or Christian, state and
worship. . . . It is the will and command of God
that, since the coming of his Son the Lord Jesus,
a permission of the most Paganish, Jewish,
Turkish, or anti-christian consciences and
worships be granted to all men in all nations and
countries and they are only to be fought against
with that sword which is only, in soul matters,
able to conquer to wit, the sword of Gods
Spirit, the word of God.
Exposition of Scripture
Correct Hermeneutic the New Covenant would look
different from the Old Covenant, which was told
us in the scriptures, Jer. 3131-33
Historical Record
Theological Integrity
Had he not been captured by unnecessary views of
apostolic succession, his ministry would likely
have remained within the context of the Baptist
Churches Tom Nettles, Baptist and the Bible,
pg. 59
Rev. Dr. John Clark
The Father of American Baptists
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John Clark (1609-1676)
Born Suffolk educated in either Oxford or
Cambridge
Received medical training in Leyden, Holland
1637 removed to Boston with wife, sister and two
brothers
I thought it not strange to see men differ about
matter of heaven, for I expect no less upon
earth. But to see that they were not able so to
bear with each other in their different
understandings and consciences, as in those
utmost parts of the world to live peaceably
together was troubling. Had they not all fled
from the persecuting hands of the lordly bishops?
Anne Hutchinson
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1638 Clark and family go with Hutchinson group
settle in Portsmouth, RI
1639/41 Roger Williams assists Clark in
purchasing land, found Newport, RI
1641-1644 Baptist Church is established in
Newport
Fully identified with English Particular Baptists
1651 accompanies Williams to England to obtain
new charter
Publishes Ill Newes from New England
While Old England is becoming new, New England is
becoming Old
Contained the account of Clarks pastoral visit
to Lynn, MA
the most notorious case of persecution against
Baptist in New England
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William Witter John Clark John Crandall Obadiah
Holmes
Effects of the persecution Limited growth of
dissenters
Gave courage to others to examine Scripture
Dr. Henry Dunster, first President of Harvard
College
1655/1665 Congregation gathered in Boston Thomas
Gould selected pastor