Name

1644first use of Baptistby enemiesrelated

to practice of immersionnot used by Baptists themselves until 1650s and even then not generally accepted for another century Baptists preferred to be known as Brethren, Brethren of the Baptized Way, or the Baptized Churches

Worship
early Baptist services in England were long,

sometimes with several sermonsit was not uncommon to meet from 8-12 a.m., then again from 2-5 or 6 p.m.meetings usually in private homes, public halls, or outdoors weekly Lords Supper not unusual baptisms in rivers, lakes or baptismal cisterns foot washingpersisted longer among General Baptists than among Particulars spontaneity, audience participation valued

Worship (cont.)
music a point of controversy: General Baptists opposed hymn-singing, group singing, and instrumental music for over a century (possible influence of John Smyth) Particular Baptists more openevidence of hymnsinging by mid-17th centuryBenjamin Keach (1640-1704), who moved from Generals to Particulars after arriving in London in 1668, encouraged hymn-singing in his Horsleydown church in Southwark, Londonhe published 2 hymnals, Spiritual Melody (1691) and Spiritual Songs (1696)

Benjamin Keach

Worship (cont.)
role of women: Smyth accepted women deacons but did not permit them to preachsimilar pattern found in some General Baptist confessions McBeth, Baptist Heritage, p. 77, claims that some women preached among General Baptists, but statement is not footnoted 1679account of setting aside of deaconesses at Broadmead Church (Particular Baptist) in Bristol duties of visiting/caring for the sick and It is theire duty alsoe to speake a word to their soules, as occasion requires, for support or consolation, to build them up in a spirituall lively faith in Jesus Christ. . .

Associations
16245 General Baptist churches in London came

together to distance themselves from Mennonites (e.g., on oaths, military service)group met again in 1630result was not a formal association but an expression of cooperation and common identitythese meetings foreshadowed associations by 1650 the Baptist association was fairly well established as a regional fellowship of likeminded churches

Associations (cont.)
the term (and geographical concept) probably

came from political units that were organized during English civil war of the 1640sCromwells New Model Army organized English counties into associations for raising money & troops Baptists modified and transferred this plan to suit their own purposes

Associations (cont.)
associations provided: 1. fellowship opportunities 2. forums for discussing issues of concern 3. a means to spread Baptist ideas, teachings 4. a way to safeguard Baptist doctrines (most early confessions came out of associations) 5. a means of working for common causes like religious liberty

Associations (cont.)
differences between General and Particular

associations:
General Baptist associations were more

centralizedGeneral Baptists pushed for organizational structure beyond the association much earlier than ParticularsGeneral Baptist associations and their General Assembly (perhaps organized as early as 1653) exercised some authority over local churches, even to point of disciplining individual church membersGenerals even viewed convening of their General Assembly as a meeting of the General Baptist Church

Associations (cont.)
Particular Baptists content with a looser

organizationthey did not allow associations or general assemblies to become The Churchthey were more concerned to protect freedom & autonomy of local churchesParticulars developed a sense of denominational consciousness, but they did not want denomination to interfere in affairs of local churchesno Particular Baptist General Assembly until 1689

Baptist Confessions
General Baptist: 1609John SmythA Short Confessionlonger version included in Propositions & Conclusions (1610) 1611Thomas HelwysA Declaration of Faith of English People Remaining at Amsterdam distinguished between his small church and Smythalso noted where Smyth was yielding to Mennonites 1651The Faith and Practice of Thirty CongregationsGeneral Baptists in Midlands (Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, adjoining counties)

Confessions (cont.)
1660Standard Confessionto answer false

charges of their enemies and to convince new king (Charles II) that Baptists were law-abiding citizens 1678Orthodox Creed to unite and confirm all true Protestants against the errors and heresies of Rometoned down General Baptist Arminianismalso aimed at errors re: person & work of Christ being taught by some General Baptist preachersconfession included full texts of Apostles Creed, Nicene Creed, and Athanasian Creed

Confessions (cont.)
Particular Baptist: 16441st London Confessionto clarify doctrine, distinguish Particulars from both General Baptists and Mennonitesto identify with mainstream of English Protestantism (influence of Presbyterian Westminster Assembly of 1640s)first Baptist confession issued by a group of churches, first to stipulate immersion as proper mode of baptism considered most influential of all Baptist confessions

Confessions (cont.)
1656Somerset Confession16 Particular Baptist

congregations in Somerset Associationbasic agreement with London Particular Baptist churches 16772nd London Confessioninitially adopted by London Particular Baptistsaffirmed by newly organized Particular Baptist General Assembly in 1689 with minor changesvery similar to Westminster Confession of Presbyterians (McBeth, Sourcebook, p. 45, see 2nd London marred by hyper-Calvinism) Particulars wanted a united front with other Protestant dissenters at a difficult time

Confessions (cont.)
purposes: 1. serve as basis of fellowship for Baptist organizations beyond local church 2. maintain doctrinal purity and indicate doctrinal consensus 3. clarify Baptist positions over against others 4. settle controversies or discipline churches/members (e.g., withdrawing of fellowship from those whose doctrines, practices considered harmful)

Confessions (cont.)
a difference between confessions and creeds? confessiona formal statement of religious beliefs: creed creed1. a brief authoritative formula of religious belief. 2. a set of fundamental beliefs; a guiding principle

The English Baptist Struggle for Religious Liberty

pre-1640grim situationno toleration, let alone

liberty 1640-1660civil war, Commonwealth:

Baptists in a position to work on behalf of religious

freedommany Baptists saw hope in Oliver Cromwell as a political leader who could improve the status of those outside of the Church of Englandthus Baptists generally supported the Parliamentary side in the civil war vs. King Charles Imany Baptists served in Cromwells army and viewed the war as a battle for both religious and political freedom

Religious Liberty (cont.)

Presbyterians, who also supported Cromwell

wanted to replace Episcopalian establishment with a Presbyterian onePresbyterians would probably have repressed Baptists & other dissenters if they had not needed their help vs. the king with Cromwells victory and beheading of Charles I in 1649, some Baptists accepted govt. positions at appointment of Cromwell or Parliament in 1650s Cromwell became more authoritarian, leading to criticisms of him by some Baptists some of these Baptists were dismissed from army, govt.

Religious Liberty (cont.)

1650s also saw growth of radical sects like Levellers,

Diggers, Quakers, most of whom turned vs. Cromwellsome Baptists (e.g., Hanserd Knollys) were drawn into 5th Monarchy Men (named because of their belief that they were to establish the 5th monarchy of the Book of Danielthey came to see Cromwell as the little horn and worked to bring down his govt. in anticipation of Christs imminent return to establish the Rule of Saints)most Baptists were quick to disassociate themselves from 5th Monarchy Menmovement collapsed in 1661 with unsuccessful attempt to overthrow Charles II, the Restoration monarch

Religious Liberty (cont.)

General and Particular Baptists presented An

Humble Apology to Charles II, claiming that they had not been part of this revolt (some enemies were trying to associate Baptists with violence & anarchy) during Cromwell years some Baptist pastors accepted govt.-supported appointments in state church (e.g., Henry Jessey)this created problems during Restoration overall, period of 1640-60 represented significant growth for Baptistsby 1660 there were 115 General Baptist churches and 131 Particular churches

Religious Liberty (cont.)

Restorationrenewed persecution with royal

disfavor, public prejudiceat one point in 1661, 400 Baptists were in Newgate Prisonnew Parliament passed several laws aimed at restoring total conformity to Church of Englandlaws passed between 1661 and 1665 became known as Clarendon Code:
1661Corporation Actexcluded nonconformists

from public office 1662Act of Uniformity (a.k.a. the Great Ejection)

Religious Liberty (cont.)

Act of Uniformity affected clergy in state-paid

positions like professors, tutors, schoolmasters oath had to be taken on Book of Common Prayer, which demanded conformity to Church of Englands liturgyabout 20 Baptists lost positions 1664Conventicle Actpenalties for unauthorized worship, which made Baptist meetings dangerous (an earlier version of this bill was used to put John Bunyan in a Bedford jail for 12 years) 1665Five Mile Actejected, nonconformist clergy not allowed to teach or conduct worship within 5 miles of any town where they had previously served

Religious Liberty (cont.)

1673Test Act (not part of Clarendon Code)

required all those serving the Crown to take Lords Supper according to Anglican ritethus Catholics, Baptists, others kept from naval, military, civil, or municipal service

Religious Liberty (cont.)

James II (1685-88): Catholic brother of Charles II (Charles himself professed Catholicism on his deathbed) 1687Declaration of Indulgence for Catholics, nonconformiststhey could now worship in public and accept govt. positions 1688Glorious RevolutionJames forced out, fled to Francehis Protestant daughter Mary and her Dutch husband William of Orange, became new monarchs

Religious Liberty (cont.)

1689Act of Toleration: compromise that gave Protestant dissenters some relief but did not grant full religious freedom dissenters had to declare faith in the Trinity and inspiration of Scripture Baptist (and other) ministers had to affirm 39 Articles of Church of England, with some exemptions (e.g., infant baptism) places of worship allowed for dissenters if registered with local Anglican bishop

Religious Liberty (cont.)

church courts could still enforce tithes to state

church universities still closed to dissenters McBeth, Baptist Heritage, p. 121: Act of Toleration nonetheless allowed the most generous measure of religious freedom then known in England. still, there is a distinction between toleration and libertytoleration usually implies a state church