Baptist History, J.M. Cramp, D.D.

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BAPTIST HISTORY:

FROM THE

FOUNDATION OF THE CHRISTIAN
CHURCH TO THE CLOSE OF THE
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY

J. M. CRAMP, DD.,

AUTHOR OF

"A TEXT-BOOK OF POPERY," "THE REFORMATION IN EUROPE," ETC., ETC.

PHILADELPHIA:

AMERICAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY,

530 ARCH STREET

76 EAST NINTH ST, NEW YORK; 38 LOMBARD BLOCK, CHICAGO, ILL.;

209 NORTH SIXTH ST., ST. LOUIS, MO.

JAS. B. RODGERS CO., PRINTERS,
52 & 54 N. Sixth St.

CONTENTS.

THE PRIMITIVE PERIOD.

CHAP.
I.	Introductory Remarks—P?obaptist Concessions

II.	The Apostolic Fathers—Justin Martyr—Iren?s

III.	Tertullian—Baptism of Children in Africa—Origen—First Appearance of Infant Baptism—The Clinics—Christianity in England

THE TRANSITION PERIOD.

I.	The Catechumens—Progress of Infant Baptism—Delay of Baptism—Gregory Nazianzen—Chrysostom—Basil—Ephrem of Edessa—The Emperor Constantine—Immersion still the Mode

II.	Christian Intolerance—Justin's Law, enjoining Infant Baptism—The Novatians—The Donatists—Pelagianism

THE OBSCURE PERIOD.

I.	The Manich?ns—Cautions to the Student—All Opponents of Infant Baptism not Baptists—Account of the Paulicians—Their Views of Baptism

II.	Religious Reform in Europe—The Canons of Orleans—Arras—Berengarius—Miscellaneous Anecdotes

THE REVIVAL PERIOD.

I.	State of Affairs in Europe during this Period—The Crusades —Other Important Events—The Scholastic Divines and Philosophers—Universities—Printing

II.	Paulicians in France and Italy—General View of the Reform Movement—Various Names given to the Reformers—Sentiments held by them—False Charge of Manich?sm—Their Activity—Reinerus Saccho’s Account

III.	Success of the Reforming Parties—Consternation at Rome—Anathemas—The Dominican and Franciscan Orders—Sanguinary Persecution—Crusade against the Albigenses—The Inquisition Movement in England—John de Wycliffe—The Lollards—Bohemia

IV.	Various Opinions respecting Baptism—Berengar—Peter of Bruys—Henry of Lausanne—Arnold of Brescia—Cologne—England—Lombers—Pope Lucius III

V.	Heretics of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centuries—Wycliffe’s Sentiments on Baptism—The Bohemians—Baptism among the Waldenses—Church Government—Immersion

THE REFORMATION PERIOD.

I.	Rise of the Reformation—Opinions held by the Baptists—Misrepresented by the Reformers—Their Wonderful Increase—Support under Sufferings

II.	German Baptists—Thomas Munzer—The Peasant War—Michael Satler— Hans Schaffier —Salzburg— Wolfgang Brand-Huebert—The Burggraf of Alzey—Imperial Edicts

III.	Persecuting Tenets of the Reformers—German Diets—The Congregation at Steinborn—Leonard Bernkop—The Crown of Straw—Johannes Bair—Hans Pichner—Hans Breal—Baptists in Italy

IV.	Baptists in Switzerland—Zuingli—Concessions of Bullinger and Meshovius—Disputations—Drownings—Felix Mantz —Balthazar Hubmeyer—Louis Hetzer—Emigration to Moravia—Jacob Hutter

V.	The Netherlands—Sicke Snyder—Furious Edict—The Inquisition—Severities of Philip II.—Torture—Lysken—Gerrit Hase-poot—Joris Wippe—Private Executions—Horrid Rackings

VI.	Biography of Menno Simon—Account of his Publications—Church Government among the Baptists—Missionary Excursions

VII.	Baptists in England—Proclamation of Henry VIII.—Latimer’s Sermon before Edward VI.—Baptists excepted from “Arts of Pardon”—Royal Commissions against them—Ridley—Cranmer — Joan Boucher— Rogers — Philpot—Bishop Hooper’s Scruples—George Van Pare—Protestant Persecutions Inexcusable—Congregations in Essex and Kent—Bonner—Gardiner—Disputations in Jail—Queen Elizabeth’s Proclamation against Baptists—Bishop Jewel —Archbishop Parker—Dutch Baptists

VIII.	Enormities Perpetrated at Munster and other places—Injustice of Ascribing them to Baptist Sentiments

THE TROUBLOUS PERIOD.

I.	Baptists Persecuted by all other Sects—Liberal Policy of William, Prince of Orange—The “Union of Utrecht”—Differences of Opinion—Persecution in Moravia and in Switzerland

II.	Dutch Baptists Persecuted in England—Account of Hendrick Terwoort and Jan Pieters—Their Martyrdom—Their Religious Sentiments—Whitgift’s Invectives against the Baptists

III.	Severity of Elizabeth’s Government—Bigotry of James I.—The Hampton Court Conference — Emigration — John Smyth’s Church—Their Confessions—Bartholomew Legate—Extracts from Baptist Publications on Liberty of Conscience—The King’s distress at their Increase

IV.	Character of Charles I.—Sufferings during his Reign—First Particular Baptist Church—Samuel Howe—Dr. Featley’s Book—Baptist Confessions of Faith—Toleration hated by the Presbyterians—Their attempts to put down the Baptists—Milton’s Lines—The Assembly of Divines—Outcry against Immersion—Parliamentary Declaration in favor of the Baptists—Fearful “Ordinance” against them—Their Activity during the Commonwealth and the Protectorate—Cromwell’s Baptist Officers—The “Triers”—Baptists in Ireland

V.	Character of Charles II. and James II.—Commencement of Persecution—Venner’s Rebellion—Disclaimer by Baptists —Severe Sufferings—John James—Act of Uniformity—The Aylesbury Baptists—Benjamin Keach Pilloried—Conventicle Act—Five-Mile Act—Their Effects

VI.	History of the Broadmead Church, Bristol

VII.	Declaration of Indulgence—Confession of Faith—Fierce Persecution — Thomas Delaune —The Duke of Monmouth’s Rebellion—Account of the Hewlings — Mrs. Gaunt—The Dark Time—Another Declaration of Indulgence—William Kiffin—Thc Glorious Revolution

VIII.	Principles and Practices of the Denomination—Human Tradition Renounced—Freedom of Conscience Demanded—Personal Piety requisite to Church Fellowship—Purity of Discipline—Cases cited—Mode of Public Worship—Plurality of Elders—Communion—Singing—Laying on of hands—The Sabbath

IX.	Biographical Notices—John Smyth, Thomas Helwys, and John Spilsbury----Henry Denne—Francis Cornwell, A.M.—Christopher Blackwood—Major-General Harrison—Col. Hutchinson

X.	Biographical Notices Continued— Henry Jessey, A.M.—John Canne—Vavasor Powell—Abraham Cheare

XI.	Biographical Notices Continued—John Toombes, B.D.—Francis Bampfield, A.M.—Henry D’Anvers—Edward Terrill—Dr. Du Veil—John Bunyan

XII.	Biographical Notices Continued—Thomas Grantham—Hanserd Knollys—Benjamin Keach—William Kiffin—Anecdotes

XIII.	Baptists in North America—Church at Providence—Baptists in Massachusetts — Persecuting Enactment against them—The Whipping of Obadiah Holmes—First Church at Holmes—First Church at Boston—Newport—Swansea—Other Churches—Roger Williams—Gregory Dexter—Obadiah Holmes—John Miles—Elias Keach

THE QUIET PERIOD.

I.	General Character of the Period—Baptist General Assembly in London—Questions—Particular Baptist Fund—Baptist Board—The Deputies—The Widows’ Fund—The Book Society—Bristol College—Dr. John Ward—Toleration Act—Schism Bill—Dissenters excluded from Office—Restrictions—Relief—Decline of the General Baptists—Communion Controversy—Effects of High Calvinism on the Particular Baptists—Commencement of Revival—Fuller and Sutcliffe—State of the Denomination in England—Foreign and Home Missions

II.	Biographical Notices—Dr. John Gale—John Skepp—John Brine—Dr. Gill—John Macgowan—Robert Robinson—Robert Hall, Sen.—John Ryland—The Stennetts—Benjamin Beddome — Samuel Pearce — John Piggott — The Wallins—Dr. Andrew Gifford—Mordecai Abbott, Esq.—Thomas and John Hollis—Miss Steele—Mrs. Seward

III.	Progress of the Denomination in North America—Sufferings in New England—Mrs. Elizabeth Backus—Mrs. Kimball—Virginia—Whitefield's Preaching—The "New Lights"—First Churhes in Different States—Philadelphia Association—Other Associations—Correspondence with London Ministers—Great Revivals—Brown University—Nova Scotia—New Brunswick—Canada

STATISTICS AND REFLECTIONS.

I.	Effects of the Mission Enterprise—Revivals—Extension of the Denomination—Statistical Table—Societies—Diversity and Adaptation of Talent—Baptist Agency now employed—Peculiarities of the Present Period—Duties of Baptists.

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