4. The sufferings of Baptists in Virginia; the defence of three ministers by Patrick Henry,
Numerous instances of persecution for conscience* sake, occurred in different parts of the United States from the time of Williams' sufferings, onward to the Declaration of Independence, July 4th, 1^16. In Virginia, as late as It68-T5, Baptists suffered from Episcopal persecutions. Preaching contrary to law, was construed into a breach of the peace, and devoted ministers were incarcerated in common with the vilest men. June 4, IT68, three men were arraigned as disturbers of the peace; and the prosecuting attorney brought this charge against them: " May it please your worship, these men are great disturbers ©f the peace; they cannot meet a man on the road, but they must ram a text of Scripture down his throat."
The following instance of persecution seems to have been one of the last struggles of the demon, just before the Declaration of Independence. The facts were derived from two men in the court-room at the time of the trial, by a gentleman who communicated them to John M. Peck, who published them in the Baptist Memorial in 1845.
Go back to the period just prior to the Declaration of Independence. Imagine yourself in the old court-house at Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania Co., Yirginia. The king's judges are upon the bench, in great dignity, and the king's attorney is present to aid in dealing justice to all offenders. Numerous are the spectators on the present occasion, for three ministers are to be tried, for no other offence than, **preaching the Gospel of the Son of Ood, contrary to the statute in that case provided, and consequently disturbers of the peace." The thunders which soon reverberated in the Revolution, had begun their mutterings, and many were the brave hearts in that audi-
ence, indignant at what was transpiring, and at the impendmg fate of those inoffensive men, which apparently nothing conld avert Bat whilst these portentous preparations are goings on within the conrt-honse, a plain man dismounts his horse at the door. This was Patrick Henry, beginning to be known as a talented, patriotic lawyer. He had heard of this approaching trial, and true to his noble principles, unsolicited, he had rode fifty or sixty miles from his residence in Hanover Conntj, to volunteer his services in defence of these prisoners. No one can tell the feelings which agitated his noble heart at that time. What might seem to a common observer of little eon-sequence, the punishment of three unimportant men, to him was freighted with moment, as embracing the principles of the Revolution. As Henry entered the court room, unknown to most present, and attracting no attention, the clerk was reading the indictment, in a slow, formal ndanner, in harmony with the august court assembled. '' He pronounced the crime with em^ ph.B;&iSf for preaching the Gospel of the Son of €hd.^^ The reading of the indictment finished, the prosecuting attorney submitted a few words, all he supposed necessary to convict the prisoners; and all which would have been necessary under ordinary circumstances. The judges were about to pronounce the ordinary verdict of condemnation, when Henry, who had entered the bar among the lawyers, arose, stretched out his hand, and received the paper. The first sentence of the indictment, which was being read as he entered, which had fallen upon his ear was : "/or preaching the Gospel of the San of God,^^ This was his key note. He commenced :
" May it please your worships. I think I heard read, as I entered this house, the paper I now hold in my hand. If I have rightly understood, the king's attorney of this county has framed an indictment for the purpose of arraigning and punishing by imprisonment, three inoffensive persons, before, the bar of this court, for a crime of great magnitude, as disturbers of the peace. May it please the court, what did I
hear read ? Did I bear it distinctly, or was it a mistake of my own ? Did I hear an expression, as if a crime, that these men, whom your worships are about to try for a misdemeanor, are charged with, what ? and continuing in a low, solemn, heavy tone, ^for 'preaching the Gospel of the Son of GodP Pausing amidst the most profound silence and breathless as-'^tonishment of his hearers, he slowly waved the paper three times around his head, then lifting up his hands and eyes to heaven, with extraordinary and impressive energy, he exclaimed, 'gre(U GodP The exclamation—^the action—the burst of feeling from the audience, were all overpowering. Mr. Henry resumed ;
"May it please your worships: In a day like this, when truth is about to burst her fetters—when mankind are about to be raised to claim their natural and inalienable rights— when the yoke of oppression which has reached the wilderness of America, and the unnatural alliance of ecclesiastical and civil power, is about to be dissevered—at such a period, when liberty—^liberty of conscience—is about to awake from her slumberings, and inquire into the reason of such charges as I find exhibited here to-day in this indictment 1" * * "Another fearful pause, while the speaker alternately cast his sharp piercing eyes on the court and the prisoners, and resumed—* If I am not deceived, according to the contents of the paper which I hold in my hand, these men are accused of precuohing the Gospel of the Son of God. Great God P Another long pause, during which he again waved the indictment around his bead, while a deeper impression was made on the auditory. Resuming his speech—May it please your worships: There are periods in the history of man when corruption and depravity have so long debased the human character, that man sinks under the weight of the oppressor's hand, and becomes his servile, his abject slave; he licks the hand that smites him; be bows in passive obedience to the mandates of the despot, and in this state of servility he re-Sit
ceives his fetters of perpetual bonda^. Bat, may it please your worship, such a day has passed away f From the period when our fathers left the land of their nativity for settlement in these American wilds, for liberty—^for civil and religious liberty—^for liberty of conscience, to worship their Creator according to their conceptions of Heaven's revealed will; from the moment they placed their feet on the American continent, and in the deeply imbedded forests sought an asylum from persecution and tyranny—^from that moment despotism was crushed; her fetters of darkness were broken, and Heaven decreed that man should be free—free to worship God according to the Bible. Were it not for this, in vain have been the efforts and sacrifices of the colonists; in vain were all their sufferings and bloodshed to subjugate this new world, if we, their offspring, must still be oppressed and persecuted. But, may it please your worships, let me inquire once more, for what are these men about to be tried ? This paper says, */or preaching the Oospel of the Son of ChnL* Oreat God,* For preaching the Saviour to Adam's fallen race.'
" After another pause, in tones of thunder he inquired— ' What law have (fiey violated V Then for the third time, in a slow dignified manner, he lifted his eyes to Heaven, and waved the indictment around his head. The court and the audience were now wrought up to the most intense pitch of ex« citement. The face of the prosecuting attorney was pale and ghastly, and he appeared unconscious that his whole frame was agitated with alarm; and the judge, in a tremulous voice, put an end to the scene, now becoming extremely painful, by the authoritative command—' Sheriff, discharge those men.* "
PART V.
FACTS Ain) STATISTICS OF BAPTIST MSSIONART LNSTITUTIONS, SCHOOLS OF LEARNING, PEEIODICALS AND CHURCHES; AND CONCLUDING CHAPTERS ON THE INDEBTEDNESS OF THE WORLD TO BAPTISTS, AND THEIR DUTY TO THE WORLD.
CHAPTER L
1. Baptists eter the Mends of Missions. 2. The first monej ndsed in the United States for Foreign Missions. 3. Missioaaiy Institntions in the United States and Great Britain. 4. Statisties of Benevolence, Pastor's Salaries and Church Edifices. 6. Institntions of Learning. 6. Periodicals. 7. Baptist Associations, Churches, Ministers and Baptisms. 8. Be-flections upon the increase of Churches. 9. Ministers, Churches and Members.
1. Baptists have ever been the active frienda of missions. This is seen in their history and persecutions in the different ages of Christianity. Ample evidence of this is found in the part» of this volume on History and Persecutions.
Early in the history of modem missions, they are found in the front ranL To the Moravians belongs the honor of being pioneers in modem missions. As early as It32, at that time few and in extreme poverty, they established a mission in^ Greenland. In 1784, the Baptists of England originated the since world-wide " Monthly Concert of Prayer for the spread of the Gospel." This was ten years before the "London Missionary Society" was formed; and twenty-six years before the formation of the "American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.
(315)
2. Dr. Belcher, in bis valuable " Life of Carey," gives an interesting account of the first (as far as has been ascertained, probably ike first) money raised in the United States for foreign missions. Captain Benjamin Wickes received from the Baptist Missionary Society, in England, one thoa-sand guineas for their missionaries in Serampore. Arriving in Philadelphia, he deposited the money with Bobert Ralston, Esq., for safe keeping, until he sailed for India. He published in the newspapers the fact, under the caption of " Propagation of the Gospel;" " to all who love the prosperity of Zion, and are disposed to aid in the propagation of the gospel among the heathen," requesting additions to the sum. Five thousand dollars were immediately raised in Philadelphia, and other sums were received from Boston. This was in the winter of 1806, four years before the formation of the American Board, the oldest missionary organization in this country. It is not known who the persons were contributing this money, but it is probable they belonged to different denominations. It is an interesting fact, that in the providence of God the first money for foreign missions from this country was contributed without regard to sect.
3. Baptist Missionary Institutions in the order of theiT origin.
The first in this order, now sustained in this country, ^ the American Baptist Missionary Union. If our memory is correct, (we have not the means at hand to state all the facts,) the Salem Bible Translation and Foreign Mission Society, a Baptist society for many years in existence, now extinct, was formed prior to the Missionary Union. The immediate cause of the formation of the Missionary Union, was the fact that Mr. and Mrs. Judson, and Mr. Rice, became Baptists. Mr. Judson was one of the four young men from the Theological Seminary, at Andover, Massachusetts, who were the instruments of the organization of the " American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions," in 1810, by the presentation of
a memorial to the " General Association of Massachasetts." He is the author of the memorial. He, with Mr. Rice, were sent out, though in different ships, among the first missionaries of that board. On their passage they became Baptists, the result of an examination of ihe subject. Mr. Rice returned to this country, and laid their case before the Baptists, when, in 1814, the ''American Baptist Triennial Convention" was originated, which finally took the present name, American Baptist Missionary Union. Its career has been one of great prosperity and usefulness. Its present condition is as follows:
The annual meeting of the Board and the Union was held in the city of Chicago, 111., May 16-18, 1855. The receipts for the year, $114,90t 58; expenditures, $145,528 31; deficit in two years, $61,333 25. Of the Missionary Magazine, 5558 copies, and of the Macedonian, 33,258. copies, were circulate monthly.
Number of missions under the care of the Board, 22 ; stations, 84; out-stations, 574, including 406 in Germany. Missionaries, 57; female assistants, 63; native pastors and preachers, 2371 total, 357. Added during the year, 3 missionaries and 3 female assistants; retired, 3 missionaries and 2 female assistants; died, 5 missionaries and 2 female assistants. Under appointment, 2; applicants, 6. Mission churches abroad, 218; baptized the past year, 2910; whole number of members, 17,548. Schools, 107; pupils, 2500.
Officers. —Hon. Geo. N. Briggs, LL, D., of Mass., President ; Hon. Ira Harris, LL. D., of N. Y., Chairman of the Board; Rev. Solomon Peck, D. D., Foreign Secretary; Rev. Jonah G. Warren, Home Secretary; Nehemiah Boynton, Esq., Treasurer.
Missionary rooms, 33 Somerset Street, Boston.
American Baptist Publication Society, —This society originated in 1824. Its cause has^^en onward from the com-Jknencement, until, from a som#what limited position, it has attained its present important one. Its object is thus stated 27*
in the second article of its revised Constitution—** The object of this Society shall be to promote evangelical religion, by means of the printing press, Colportage, and the Sunday School."
The Society held its thirty-first anniversary at Chicago, DL, May 11-14, 1855. Receipts, $52,t05 74; expenditures^ $52,660 22. Net value of property, $63,666 98.
New publications in the year, 44 ; besides 20,000 copies of the Baptist Almanac, and 10,000 of the Baptist Kecord. Total number of pages issued during the year, 26,598,000, of which 9,050,000 are of new publications. Total number printed, 32,149,000.
The number of publications now on the Society^s Catalogue is 476; of which 218 are bound volumes, and 255 Tracts, m English, French, Swedish and German.
The whole number of Colporteurs employed daring the year, 111, including 34 students; now in commission, 69, of whom 35 are sustained by funds specifically designated. As the result of their labors, 6,722 volumes have been sold ; 2107 volumes, and 485,980 pages of Tracts gratuitously distributed; 3201 sermons preached; 1816 prayer meetings held: 368 hopeful converts baptized; 73,314 families visited; 15 new churches and 43 new Sunday schools organized.
Ofucebs. —Mason Brayman, Esq., of Chicago, DL, President ; Rev. Wm. Shadrach, D. D., Corresponding Secretary ; Rev. J. Newton Brown, D. D., Editor; W. W. Keen, Esq., Treasurer; Rev. B. R. Loxley, Depository Agent. Depository, 118 Arch Street, Philadelphia.
American Baptist Historical Society, (connected with the A. B. Publication Society.)—The second anniversaiy was held in Brooklyn, New York, May 7, 1855. The annaal address was delivered by Rev. W. R. Williams, D. D.,- of Ni%w York, on " Roger Williams.'^ -V .
Officers.— President, Rev. Wm. R. Williams, D. I>.|^
■^
.;■•
FACTS AND STATISTICS. 319
Corresponding Secretary, Rev. J. Newton Brown, D. D.; Recording Secretary, H. G. Jones, Esq., Philadelphia.
American Baptist Home Mission Society. —This Society was founded in 1832. Its object is thus stated in the second article of its Constitution : " The object of this Society shall be to promote the preaching of the Gospel in North Am^ rica." Its present prosperous condition is thus given:
The twenty-third annual meeting was held at Brooklyn, N. Y., May 9, 1855. Receipts, $64,346 33; expenditures, $64,205 85.
Missionaries and agents employed, 179; preaching in twelve languages, and in 16 States and Territories. Stations aad out-stations, supplied, 481; baptisms, 1026 ; churches organized, 55; ministers ordained, 36 ; church edifices completed, 12 ; in progress, 22.
Sermons preached, 1T,926; lectures and addresses, 1561; pastoral visits, 36,85*1; prayer and other meetings, 954t; temperance pledges, 346 ; Sabbath schools, 221; teachers, 1492; scholars, 10,614; volumes, 25,392; preparing for the ministry, 26 ; contributions from churches aided, $5183 49.
Officers. —Hon. Alb^ Day, Hartford, Conn., President; Corresponding Secretary, Rev. Benjamin M. Hill, D.D.; Treasurer, Charles J. Martin. Office, 115 Nassau Street, New York.
American and Foreign Bible Societyy [1838.]—Annual meeting at Brooklyn, N. Y., May 8, 1855. Receipts, $40,034 28, exclusive of $19,000 for the Bible House; expenditures, $39,989 T9.
Of the $55,000 subscription for the new house, $43,065 95 have been collected. Rooms have been rented in the building, yielding an annual income to the amount of $11,925, and others remain, valued at $850 a year.
Central Europe has received liberal appropriations. Bibles are also on their way to New Mexico, and Mexico, California, Hayti, and New Grenada; besides the usual grants to
.«•
830 THE BAPTIST DENOIONATION.
misHions in Soath-eastern Asia. Total grants, $28,500; in America, $3,090; in Europe, $14,859 ; and in Asia, $5,544. In 18 years the Society has received $700,000; and sent forth more than a million and a qnarter copies of Gk>d s word, in thirty or forty different languages.
^ A resolution was adopted to employ Colporteurs to circn-late the Scriptures more extensively in our own country.
•
Officers. —Rev. Bartholomew T. Welch, D. D., President ; Rev. Rufus Babcock, D. D., Corresponding Secretary; Rev. J. B. Stone, Financial Secretary; Nathan B. Platl^ Treasurer. Rooms, 117 Nassau Street, New York.
5. American Baptist Free Mission Society. [1848.]—^The annual meeting was held in New York, May 10-11, 1855. Receipts for the year, $7,533 08; expenditures, $4,856 97. Balance, $3,176 11. Mission in Hayti, 3 stations; 1 missionary, 3 female assistants, 2 native preachers and 3 native assistants, and 3 churches.
Offioebs. —Rev. H. Hutchins, President; Rev. S. Howe, Corresponding Secretary; Geo. Curtis, of Utica, Treasurer.
Southern Baptist Convention, [1845.]—The biennial meeting was held at Montgomery, Ala., may 11, 1855. President^ Rev. R. B. T. HoweU, D. D.; B. C. Pressly, of Charleston, Treasurer.
Foreign Mission Boaed. —President of the Board, Rev. J. B. Jeter, D. D, ; Corresponding Secretaries, Rev. J. B. Taylor, and Rev. A. M. Poindexter; Treasurer, Archibald Thomas, Esq. Office, Richmond, Ya. Receipts, $36,274 48; expenditures, $31,549 11.
Domestic Mission Board. —Receipts, $21,1531f4; increase over $2,000; expenditures, $22,132 06. Agents, 9; missionaries employed, 99; more accomplished than in any two former years, notwithstanding pestilence and famine. President; Rev. J. H. De Yotie; Corresponding Secretary, Rev. J. Walker; Treasurer, W. Hombuckle. Office, Marion, Ala.
Bible Board. —^Receipts, $10,176; increase, $2000; ex«
penditures, $8862. President, Rev. W. H. Bayless; Oorres* ponding Secretary, !Rev. A. C. Dayton; Treasurer, G. A. Fuller. Office, Nashville, Tenn.
PuBUGATiON BoAKD.—^Receipts from donations, $216W Corresponding Secretary, Rev. J. P. Tustin; Treasurer, S^ C. Smith, Esq. Office, Charleston, S. C. r
American Indian Mission Association.— This body it was agreed at the meetings of the Convention, should be merged in the Southern Board of Domestic Missions.
The next meeting is appointed to be at Louisville, Ky., the second Friday in May, 185T. Rev. Wm. Cary Crane to preach the Annual Sermon; Rev. A. M. Poindexter, of Va., alternate.
American Bible Union. [1850.]—The fifth annual meeting was held Oct. 5, 1854, at New York. Receipts, $36,050 63; pledges, $140,000, payable in annual instalments. Expenditures, $35,378 80; distributed thus, Spanish Scriptures, $931 45; French, $281 05; Italian, $665 55 ; German, $880 68; Rev. J. G. Oncken, $5000 for German Bibles and $395 designated for Mission Chapels; Home and Foreign Missions by request, $139 50; English Scriptures, $19,2t8 43; Rent of rooms, $500; Salaries and general expenses, $t,303 44. The Board publish a quarterly, entitled the Bible Union Reporter. The revised versions of 2d Peter, the three epistles of John and the epistles of Jude have been published in an elegant quarto form, with notes. The Gospels of Matthew and John are in press.
Ofpicjers. —^Rev. Spencer H. Cone, D. D., President; Wm. B. Wyckoflf, Corresponding Secretary; Wm. Colgate, Treasurer. Rooms, 354 Broome Street, New York.
Besides these national missionary institutions, numerous sectional ones exist of more or less consequence, for similar purposes. There are also 25 " State Conventions" and 519 '' Associations," all of them more or less missionary in their object and influence. Some of the money which they raise
for missionary purposes is incladed ia the reeeiptB of the national societies, but a large sum, which we hare not the means of giving, is raised besides. There are alao aeYeial ^f inisterial Education Societies; and societies for the aid of ^aperannnated minister^ and the widows and orphans of deceased ministers.
PRDrOIPAL BAPTIST SOdlTIlS IN OBBAT BBITAIN.
Baptist Bfi«k>iuurj Sodety, 1792 £l23,r06
Baptist Home Missionarj Sodaty, 1797 IS^MO
Baptist Irish Society, 1814 10,760
General Baptist Missloiiary Sodety, 1810 048O
Bible TranslatioD Society, 1840 10,785
BaptUt BaiUiing Fund, 1824 7,MS
ParUeolar Baptist Fund, for aiding Ministeit and ChiudM% 1817 12^006
Baptist Union, 1818 710
Baptist Tract Sodety, 1841 605
Sodety for aged or infirm Baptist Ministers, 1816 ^45
Yoang Men's AssodatkA in aid of Baptist Missionary Societies, 1848 060
4. Statistics of Benovolence, Pastor^ Salaries and ChunA Edifices. —^The snm total of annual Baptist expenditure for the objects given, taking the year 1854-5, is as follows ^-^ Baptist Missionarj Societies of Great Britain, reckoning $4 84 to the poand, $959,868 80. Um'ted States Baptist Missionary Societies, $444,t29 11. From Baptists in the two coantries, $1,404,59*7 91.
The amount paid by Baptists in the United States, annii-ally, to their Pastors, (supposing there are t,4t9 of them, averaging $400 per annum, and these are as near the facts as we are able to reach,) is $2,991,600. The annual interest on the value of Baptist Church edifices in the United States, ut six per cent, is $583,785 90. Add to these two items, the annual expenditure of National Missionary Institutions in the United States, and you have for the three objects, $4,020,106 01. This sum is large in the aggregate, but divided among the 1,000,000 of Baptist Church members, and the immense Baptist population, it is inconsiderable. While the masses of them are not rich, they are not poor, and many of them are worth sums varying from $5,000 to $2,000,000.
The statistics of Baptist church edifices in the United
States, as gfyen in 1850, is f,!!! houses of worship, jFnmish-ing seats for 2,590,325 hearers, valued at |9,'729,'765. It is worthy of remark, that as large as the sum is supposed to be, raised for missionary purposes, and as loud as the cry has been, we do too much for others and too little for ourselves, the mere annual interest upon the value of church edifices in the United States, is greater by $139,056 t9> than the sum raised for sill national missionary societies.
5. Baptist Inst/Uviions of Learning, —^We have said that Baptists have ever been the fast friends of missions: the same remark is true of general and ministerial education. Nothing is more unjust than the charge, still reiterated, that the regular Baptists have ever been indifferent to education for the ministry. In illustration of the injustice of our opponents, the American translators of the church history of Professor Hase, Messrs. Blumenthal and Wing, among other singular mistakes of Baptists in this country say: " Of late years som/Q portions of this denomination have done much to redeem their order from the reproach of indifference to education.'' Baptists have ever been more or less active in this work, and have had learned men in their ranks, from the time of Luke the evangelist, and Paul the apostle.
They do not, indeed, deem education essential to the ministry ; but desirable^ as is amply proved by their entire history. See in this work the parts on their history and persecution. What are the facts in this country ? Brown University, the first Baptist College, was established as early as A. D., 1*764, and has had a large share in education, general and ministerial, and stands as high at the present time as any college in the land. It is well known that Mr. Hollis, of London, who became a Baptist A. D., 1679, and died in A. D., 1*731, early in the history of Harvard University was one of its benefactors. "He founded in it two professorships, one of divinity and the other of mathematics. He presented it with a valuable apparatus for philosophical experiments, and
THE BAPTIST DENOMINATION.
with many valuable books. He made provision there for ten students in divinity." A recent controversy has shown that Baptists have still a claim on that university on account of Mr. Hollis.
In 1855, it is said of Baptist schools of learning in the United States: " more than $1,500,000 have been subscribed within the last six years for their endowment, the greater part of which has been collected and invested."
BAPTISrr COLLEGES IN THE UNITED STATES.
Name.
Brown UniTorsity, Madison Uniyersity, Waterrille College, Columbian College, Georgetown College, Richmond College, Denifton University, Meroer University, Shurtleff College, Wake Forest Colleg Rector College, Union University, Howard College, Franklin College, Baylor University, Central College, University at Lewisburg, William Jewell Cbllege, University of Rochester, Oregon College, Furman Univenity, Mississippi Coll^^, Enon Coll^^ Central University, Mt Lebanon University, Wayland University,
Locaiion.
Providence, R. I. Hamilton, N. T. Waterville, Me. Washington, D. C. Georgetown, Ky. Richmond, Va. Granville, Ohio. Penfield, Ga. Upper Alton, HL Wake Forest, N. 0. Pruntytown, Va. Murfteesboro*, Tenn. Marion, Ala. Franklin, la. Independence, Texas, McGrawville, N. T. Lewisbuzg, Pa. Liberty, Mo. Rochester, N. Y Oregon City. Greenville, S. 0. Clinton, Miss. Sumner Co., Tenn. Pella, Iowa. Mt. Lebanon, La. Beaver Dam, Wis.
PresidenU.
Founded,
Francis Wayland, D. D., L. L. D.,
Stephen W. Taylor, L. L. D.,
R. £. Pattison, D. D.,
J. G. Uinney, D. D.,
D. K. Campbell, L. L. D.,
Robert l.yland, D. D.,
Rev. .len>miah Hall, D. D.,
N.Crawford, D.D.,
N. N. V\ (od, D. D.,
W. M. ^^ yngate, A. M.,
J. n. Eaton, L. L. D., Henry Talbicd. D. D. Silas Baily, D. D., Rufus C. Burleson, A. M., I. J. Calkins, Howard Maloom, D. D., B. W. Thomas, A. M., M. B. Anderson, L. L. D., George C. Chandler, A. M., James 0. Furman, A. M., I. N. Umer, A. M., 0. J. Fisk, A. M., G. W. Gunnison, A. M., J. Q. Presoott, A. M.,
BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL INSTITUTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES.
Senior Prqfaeors,
TheoL Dep. Madison Univ., Hamilton, N. Y. George W. Easton, D. D.
New Hampton TheoL Sem., Fairfax, Vt Eli B. Smith, D. D.
Newton llieol. Inst, Newton CenteTj Mass. Henry J. Ripley, D. D.
Meroer Theol. Sem., Penfield, Oa. John L. Dagg,D. D.
Furman Theol. Sem., Greenville, S. C. J. C. Furman, A. M.
Western Bap. Theol. Inst., Georgetown, Ky. SaipuelJW. Lynd, D. D. Theol. Dep. Howard Col., Marion, Ala. Kalamazoo Theol. Sem., Kalamazoo, Mich. Rochester Theol. Sem., Rochester N. T. Fairmount Theol. Inst, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Henry Talbird, D. D. J. A. B. Stone, A. M. Thomas J. Conant, D. D £. Tumey, A. M.
1764 1819 1820 1821 1829 1832 1832 1833 1835 1838 1S39 1840 1841 1844 1845 1848 1849 1849 1850 1850 1851 1851 1851 1853 1853 1864
1820 1825 1820 1833 1885 1840 1843 1846 1850 1851
BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL COLLEGES IN GREAT BRITAIN. Name, PresidmU. Founded, Income, Students^
Bristol, Bradford, Stepney, Pontypool, Haverford West,
Rev. T. S. Crisp, 1770
Rev. James Ackworth, L. L. D^ 1804
Rev. Jos. Angus, D. D., 1810
Rev. Thomas Thomas, 1807
Rev. D. Davis, 1839
Leicester, (General Bap.) Rev. Joseph Wallis,
£10035 5180 7235 8250 1856 2200
20 24 22 14 18 11
PACTS AND STATISTICS.
325
The gentlemen to whom I have before referred, in relation to injustice to Baptists on this subject, say, " they have now under their control fourteen colleges, and eight theological seminaries." But here we have a list of twenty-six colleges and ten theological seminaries. Whilst Baptists still insist that education is not essential to a minister, and can never atone for want of piety and a divine call, they everywhere deem education desirable, and there is an imperative demand for it in favorable circumstances.
The number of Baptist academies, male and female, is too numerous to admit of even a conjecture. Particularly do they abound in this country.
6. BAPTIST PERIODICALS IN THE UNITED STATES.
THB BAPTIST DSNOBONATION.
Editor;
J. L. Batohelder, W. B. Jacobs, J. P. Tostin, J. R. Graves, M. Hillman,
Wm. Sands, S. Siegfried,
Namei,
Journal and Messenger,
Christian Chronicle,
Southern Baptist,
The Tennessee Baptist,
The Baptist Watchman,
The Texas Baptist,
Religious Herald,
Mountain Messenger,
The Christian Repository,
Bapt. Missionary Magazine, Solomon Peck,
T^he Macedonian, W. H. Shailer,
Young Reaper, Alfred Colbum,
The Free Mission Visitor, A. Eenyon,
Home Mission Record,
Mother's Journal,
Western Star, ( Welch)
Der Sendbote des Evan geliums, {German)
Parlor Visitor,
American Baptist Memorial, J. L. Burrows,
Baptist Preacher. H. Keelii|g,
Home and Foreign Journal, James B. Taylor,
Western Evangelist, Peter Long,
Christian Review,
Ittued it
ft
Where PublUhed.
it
u
it
((
Cincinnati,
Philadelphia,
Charleston,
Nashville,
Knozville,
Richmond, Morgan town, MotUhly, Louisville, Boston,
u
tt
1
James R. Stone, Mrs. M. G. Clarke, R. Edwards,
E. A. Fleisohman,
Wm. P. Jones,
u
tt
tt
tt
ft
tt
tt
ft
ft
tt
tt
tt
tt
Eirtland, New York, Philadelphia, Pottsville,
Philadelphia.
Nashville,
Richmond, tt
tt Rockwell,
{?.N."MSck. O-fy/NewTork,
Ohio. Pa. S. C. Tenn. Tenn.
Va.
Va.
Ky.
Mass.
Mass.
Mass.
Ohio.
N. Y.
Pa.
Pa.
Pa.
Tenn.
Va.
Va.
Va.
lU.
N.Y.
The Baptist Record,
f J. Newton Brown, I Wm. Shadrach,
tt
Philadelphia, Pa.
BAPTIST PERIODICALS IN THB BRITISH PROVINCES.
Namet, Christian Observer, Christian Messenger, Le Semeur Canadien, Christian Messenger, Christian Visiter,
Editor; I-ued. Where PuhliBhed.
James "Pjl^r, Weekly. Toronto, Can. W.
T. L. Davidson, '* Bradford, Can. W. N. Cyr, *' Montreal, Can. B.
J. W. Nutting, « Halifax, N. S. Rev. J. B. BiU, « St John's, N. B.
Grand Ligne Mission Reg'r, C. Normandeau, Quarterly, St. John's, Can. B.
We rejoice to be able to say of the above list of periodicals, with many of which, and their editors and publishers we are personally familiar, that they are all of an elevated, moral, and intellectual character. Some of them are unsurpassed in any denomination or country. The Christian Review, the denomination's quarterly, and the leading monthly magazines and weekly papers, have by their purity and ability obtained the
) BTATISnCB.
highest encomiums from the press general!;, both secular and
l^li^OQS.
T. ORAND TOTAL OF REQULAR BAPTISTS IK NORTH AHESICA.
THE BAPTIST DENOMINATION.
An entirely fall list would give the regular Baptists in the United States, no doubt, one million. It is known that the statistics are incomplete. We subjoin the statistics of the irregular Baptists in the United States.
Anti-Mission Baptists in U. S.,.
Free-Will Baptists,
General Baptists,
Seventh-Day Baptists,
Church of God, «
Disciples,
Tunkers,
Mennonites,
Total Irregular Baptists,.
eS
o
o «
155
I
1,720
1,173
17
71
274
150 300
Ik
.a
u
O
825
1,107
15
77
131
200 260
""lit
^
n
1,500
o
58,000
49,809 2,189 6,351
13,500
175,000
8,000
36,000
348,849
Regular Baptists in the United States, 1,000,000
Regular Baptists in British Proyinces and West India Islands^ 60,450
Irregular Baptists in the United States, 348,840
Grand total in North America^ 1,408,939
Grand total Baptist ^opWatton in United States, 5,200,000
8. We subjoin the following valuable editorial note of the Baptist Almanac for 1856, in regard to Baptist Churches in the United States: " Had all the associations sent in their minutes in due season, there would have been several thousands added to the general summary on the next page. The return of Licentiates is specially defective.
'' It appears from calculations made on the minutes, that there is an average loss of 36,000 members every year by death, exclusion, and excess of dismissal over reception by letters. The proportion is nearly thus:—annual loss by deaths 11,000; by exclusion^ 12,000; by excess of dismissal, 13,000. To meet this loss in an average gain by restoration of about 2,500, besides the number baptized: From this it follows that if the number of converts baptized in any year should fall
below 33,000, there would be a positiYe decrease of onr charches. What a startling thought is this! What a call to dependence, to labor, and to prayer! And when we find, as in the past year, that the net gain, after all these deductions, is over 30,000, what shall we render to God for such a steady stream of grace to our churches, continuing and increasing year by year ?
''What a solemn and sublime thought that our churches yield an annual revenue of 11,000 redeemed souls to Heaven 1"
9. Ministers, Churches and Members, —In IT92, there were in the United States, 1,264 Baptist ministers, ordained and licensed. In 1812, there were 1,922. In 1832, there were 3,64*7. In 1852, there were T,393.
In 1*70*7, there were but 1*7 Baptist churches in the United States. In 1*740, there were 3*7. In 1*762, there were 56. in 1*792, there were 1,000. In 1812, there were 2,433. In 1832, there were 5,322. In 1852, there were 9,552. In 1853, there were 10,131.
In 1*792, there were '70,01*7 Baptist communicants in the United States. In 1812, there were 189,345. In 1832, there were 384,859. In 1852, there were 7*70,839. In 1853, there were 808,'754.
CHAPTER II.
The Indebtedness of the World to Baptists. 1. On preserring pure the l^ws of God. 2. Baptists the only Christian people who have existed in aU ages of the Christian era. 3. Defenders of Civil and Religious Liberty. 4. They have not altered the Ordinances. 5. They are the only oonsistent opponents of Popery. 6. They have contended for the truth i^ainst the World.
•
1. It is of the first consequence to the world to keep pure like laws of the ^Messiah, —It wonld seem that any one can appreciate this proposition. He alone is competent to make 28*
infallible laws. Man knows nothing of the necessities of the church except what he deriyes from the Bible. The Messiah has delegated nothing to him but the execution of his laws. The moment man assumes to be a legislator, a maker of laws, instead of an executor, to do simply the bidding of deity, he assumes a place to which he was neyer appointed, to which he is incompetent, and which opens the door to innumerable mistakes and disasters.
The Scriptures as much forbid his assumption of executive power as does reason. The Messiah's laws are called "the glorious Gospel," and "the fullness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ" and " the eyerlasting Gospel." The most terrible anathemas are pronounced upon those who shall "preach any other Gospel," and for " adding to or taking from" the word of God, the plagues of the Bible are to be inflicted upon men, and their " part is to be taken from the book of life, and the holy city, and the things written in the Bible."
Still men haye been found who haye assumed to change both the principles and ordinances of God. They perhaps haye designed to make improvements upon them, to famish principles more suited to depraved man, in compelling his conscience to choose correctly; and ordinances more convenient, to which he would be less disinclined, and which are better suited to all climates. The result has shown the consequences. What have seemed slight and even worthy innovations, have deluged the world in blood, in religious persecutions; and opened the doors of the church to the unconverted, by means of sprinkling and infant baptism. Strange that men cannot see the danger and impropriety of any innovations on ftie 'Messiah's laws, and that there is no difference, in principle between such innovations, and any, or all others. The only safe ground is to do his bidding—^nothing more, nothing less. It is impossible to exaggerate the importance of this principle.
We have no desire to boast of the Baptjpt church, (Wr to make false issues. Well do we know that boasting is. ^rr
THE INDEBTEDNESP OF THE WOELD TO BAPTISTS. 331
bidden to Christians, and that the world needs truth and not pretension. At the same time the declaration of the truth is not boasting, and it is due to it to make it known.
2. "Baptists are the only Christian people," to use the language of Drs. Ypeig and Durmont, learned men of another church, " who have stood since the days of the apostles, and preserved pure the doctrines of the Gospel in all ages." To repeat here the evidence of this position is of course unnecessary. The reader can refer to it in Part I. of this book. This position admitted, how great is the indebtedness of the world to Baptists ? The claims of Romanism in this direction are idle in the extreme. The Greek church has its origin in the division of the Roman, and is but a little more primitive than its source. "The Church of England broke off from the Romish church, in the time of Henry the Eighth, when Luther began the reformation in Germany," and is no older than the Lutheran church. The whole family of Presbyterian churches originated in the same period. Congregationalism can claim no earlier origin, even admitting its rise in the Independents of England. Methodism has its origin in Morgan and John Wesley, in A. D., 1129.
3. The Baptists have not altered the ordinances of the Saviour, From the first it has been one of their characteristics to adhere rigidly to the Saviour's subjects of baptism, believers; to his mode of baptism, immersion; and to his supper, the simple reception of the bread and wine " in remembrance of him," after baptism. Of what other denomination can this be said ? Indeed, all of them have not only united in adopting ordinances differing from the primitive, but in contemning Baptists for their singularity, in casting contemptuously &t them the terms "dippers," "close communionists" and "bigots." But through all this they have persevered—sometimes suffering the loss of all things, as persecution has arisen to violence from contempt—^in loyalty to Christ; and in defence of a principle laying at the foundation of all truths namely, no innavch
Hons upon the laws of Jehovah; or all innovations dangerous leading to others; or no perfect safety hut in a rigid conformity to the Oospel, There is nothing nobler, in either an intellectnal or moral point of view, than an nnflinching adherence to principles. In this direction is one of the great dangers of the world. Short-sighted man, because the result is apparently separated from the principle ; or because apparently undesirable results interyene between the principle and its legitimate end; denies the principle, accepting appearances for realities, and a present apparent good with certain loss, for the real good in the future. The true ground is to stand firmly by the truth at all hazards; and in all things trusting to the omnipotence of the truth of Jehovah for the result
4. Baptists have ever defended perfect freedom of con* science^ sometimes to the loss of all things, and have never persecuted; and hence are, indirectly, pre-eminently the defenders of civil as well as religious liberty. The evidence of this position is scattered over the preceding chapters, being an ever-present idea in Baptist principles and practice.
It is well known how free the New Testiment is from all physical coercion in religion. The Saviour suffered from violence, but never resorted to it. Witness particularly his arrest, trial and crucifixion. The Apostles imitated his example. Baptists have ever followed this rule implicitly.
The Donatist Baptists rejected the interference of Constan-tine, A. D., 314, indignantly exclaiming: "WKat has the Emperor to do vrith the Church^ What have Christians to do with Kings ? What have bishops to do at court ?" The same thing is observable in Baptist history and sufferings up to the time of the American revolution, when the violence of persecution received so decided a check. Baptists, like John Bun-yan, in England, and Roger Williams, in America, are well-known champions and sufferers for religious liberty. They share almost alone, with the Quakers, the honor of never having resorted to. persecution. Suffering from Pagans, VtesMB,
THE INDEBTEDNESS OF THE WORLD TO BAPTISTS. 333
Greeks, and Protestants, they have never retaliated upon ^ either. They have freely abandoned property, companions, children, country, life itself, rather than acknowledge the rights for a moment of the demon coercion in religion.
Under these circumstances it were singular, if they had not had a remarkable influence in promoting dvil, as well as religious liberty. The two are inseparable. They have never, in the history of the world, existed in any perfection in separation. The freest countries in the world, at the present time, are Great Britain and the United States; and in these, as nowhere else, is freedom of conscience understood and enjoyed. Of the two nations I need not say which is the freer, and has the more perfect realization of religious liberty. In the contest for freedom, religious liberty has the precedence in the history of the world. To go no farther back than the history of our own country, it was for freedom to worship God after the dictates of their own conscience, which first of all interested our fathers. The next step was civil liberty. If Baptists have had a large share in procuring the former, they have of necessity in procuring the latter.
The following is an interesting item in the history of our country, and of Baptists, given upon the authority of Rev. Dr. Fisher, of Lexington, Ky., who received it directly from Rev. Andrew Tribble, who died at the age of ninety-three years. Mr. Tribble was pastor of a Baptist church in Virginia, near the residence of Thomas Je£ferson, the author of the American Declaration of Independence, some eight years before the birth of that immortal document. Jefferson attended the meetings of this church for several months in succession, and was on terms of intimacy with its pastor. He was asked how he liked Baptist church government ? It is well known how democratic it is, and has been from the earliest times. To this day it surpasses all other churches in this respect. Mr. Jefferson replied, that its propriety had struck him with great force, and had greatly interested him; adding^
that he considered it the only pure form of democracy then existing in the world, and had concluded that it would be the best plan of government for the American colonies. Who can tell the influence this little church had thus upon the destinies of our countiy and the world.
It is suppesed that Munster, a Baptist minister, drew up the memorial of the peasants in their war in Germany, in A. D.y 1524. This memorial was presented to the lords and circulated all over Germany. It consists of twelve articles of civil and religious liberty, which any freeman might now be proud to sign. Though many things transpired in that war not to be defended, (and in what war have they not,) it was, on the whole, as just as that of the American revolution. This memorial is not, in principle,*greatly unlike our Declaration of Independence, and Voltaire says, " a Lycurgus would have signed it."
6. Baptists alone can contend consistently and successfully vjHh the great enemy of the Gospel of the Son of God, and of civil and religious liberty ; namely, Popery, in that they have no relic of Popery, and never had. On this account they have suffered every thing, but defeat and extermination, from Bomanism, with which it has been obliged to contend from the earliest times. They have no point of contact or coalescence with Romanism, and have never, for an instant, been on terms of fraternity with it. As the word of God points out this enemy to the truth pre-eminently; and as above all others obnoxious to God and right> and reserved for ultimate destruction ; so Baptists have always regarded it, and it has been, between the two, war from the commencement, without intermission. The sword has been with us that of the Spirit^ with it that of the flesh, as becomes its anti-Christian character.
Rome, in her contest with other churches, has acknowledged Baptist superiority as her opponent, and has taunted others with the fact. Do other denominations accuse her of being
THE INDEBTEDNESS OF THE WORLD TO BAPTISTS. 335
onscriptural; she throws back the charge by a repetition of it against themselyes, in their sprinkling and infant baptism. Do they accuse her of her anti-Christian persecutions; she replies, who persecuted the Baptists in Germany, and the Baptists and Quakers in America ? Does the essential tyranny of her church government pass in review, she replies, yours also is unscriptural, and but an imperfect imitation of ours; a little less obnoxious on your own grounds, but still in principle like our own. Particularly is this true of Episcopacy and Methodism, and to some extent of Presbyterianism, and even of Congregationalism, in that it has its councils of ministers superior to the church.
6. Baptists have contended for the truth as it is in Christ against the worlds and at immense sacrifice. Until Luther and his coadjutors arose, numerous Baptists existed in different parts of the world poor and despised, but nevertheless firm to their principles, to contend alone against the whole world. Their sufferings for most of this time are, beyond description, severe. " Down to the time of Constantine," (A. D., 312, when Constantine declared himself a Christian, and for a time put an end to persecution,) " with the solitary exception of Cyprian, as we have shown, all the martyrs—and their number has been computed at three millions—^were Baptists." Follow the history of Christians from this point through to Luther, and who were the sufferers ? Not exclusively Baptists, but to an extent so great, as to justify giving them the highest possible elevation of the kind. Who were the "hordes" and " swarms" " thronging" different parts of Europe, and suffering every manner of indignity and cruelty for the truth in different ages of the world, until Luther's appearance, if they were not Baptists ? From Luther onward to the present time, they have had the largest share in suffering for "righteousness sake."
The following extracts of an article in a recent " Christian Examiner^" are so intelligent and directly to the point, that I
qnote them here. They arc good illustrations of the fact that Baptists have contended for the truth against the world, for they have done it no more in England and America than in other countries.
** Earliest and alone in England, the Baptists raised aloft the banner of religious liberty. Others were content with toleration;—^they demanded liberty. Their earliest distinctive literature shows them pleading for religious liberty, as the antagonists not only of churchmen, but of Presbyterians and Independents, who could not yet see that the magistrate had nothing to do with questions of conscience. John Knox thundered away at an Anabaptist "caviler," and declared if he could only catch him where a magistrate would do his duty, he would make him over, even if he were his own brother, to the pains and penalties of the law. . John Kobinson, the meek and holy pastor of the Pilgrims, himself an exile, and the leader of exiles, saw the truth but dimly, and pleaded for the authority of the magistrate, against the arguments of his Baptist brethren, Smyth and Helwisse. When the latter determined to go back to England, (A. D., 1610,) with his flock, " to challenge King and State to their faces, and not give way to them, no, not a foot"—Robinson poured upon the sublime heroism his reproaches, and clung with strange tenacity to the doctrine of the magistrate's power in matters of religion. The Baptists fulfilled their noble vow. They proclaimed their doctrines through the press, hurling them in the very face of the weak and pedantic despot who then sat upon the English throne, and accepting persecution and suffering for their constancy. The indebtedness of the world to this little band of spiritual heroes is not yet acknowledged.
" The contests of Helwisse and Robinson were renewed on this continent between Roger Williams and John Cotton. The banishment of Williams was the inauguration of American persecution. Earliest and alone in America, as in England, the Baptists contended for the highest type of religious
THE INDEBTEDNESS OF THE WORLD TO BAPTISTS. 337
liberty. Neither the doubtful toleration of Maryland, which was literally 'death on Unitarians/ nor the ampler toleration of Pennsylvania, where a Baptist magistrate interfered against Quaker intolerance, came up to the full measure of their principles on this subject. Honorable as was the tolerance of the Dutch, as compared with Episcopal intolerance in Virginia, and Congregational intolerance in Massachusetts, it fell short of the freedom for which Baptists contended. Accepting no alliance with the State, they were allured by no bribes, silenced by no frowns. Not till about the time of the revolution could they gain a fair hearing, and even then they were heard because they could be trampled upon no longer. They had been increasing with great rapidity since about IT45, in both Massachusetts and Virginia. They were familiar with fines and prisons. The best citizens of Sturbridge, Massachusetts, had been despoiled of their goods, and a Baptist minister who visited them, had been sent to the county jail at Worcester as a vagrant. At the very time when the patriots of the Bay State were combining to resist the stamp act, the Baptists were holding conventions to strengthen the common faith, and to unite in memorials to the king for protection against the insufferable tyranny of the standing order and the general court. Among the papers of the Second Baptist church in Boston, are precious memorials of those times, one of them a loose original memorandum of one of these meetings, with subscriptions made to send a messenger to England, to lay their grievances before the king, in council—on it the honored names of some of the Sturbridge sufferers. In Virginia, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison, wert their defenders, and the strenuous advocates of their views of the rights of conscience. 'James Madison,' said the venerable William Colgate, ' took up the cause of the Baptists, and made it the occasion of a plea for religious liberty, and God made him President of the United States.' The revolution made the struggle a home struggle. From the king the 29
*■*,.'
S88 THX BAPTIST DENOMINATIOir.
Baptists tamed to the Oongress. They were nnmerons, and the fast friends of the revolution. They conld not be ti^ated with indifference or contempt. When the saintly Backus knocked at the door of Congress, John Adams growled his displeasure, but the meek minister was more than a match for him, and gained a hearing. The tide was now turning. The revolution was successful, and however persecution lingered in some of the States, the new Gkneral Government was inaugurated with religious freedom at its base. Yirginia effaced at once the last traces of religious intolerance: Massachusetts and Connecticut still feared for the safety of religious institutions, under a system of voluntary support^ but relaxed their laws, and in half a century came fully over to the Baptist side. The compact which gave rise to the Northwestern States, secured liberty of conscience over those vast regions, now populous, rich and powerful—and those who in their childhood witnessed the imprisonment of Baptists for their faith, lived to see, in their maturer years, a great nation united in the undisturbed enjoyment of their principles."
Does the world owe nothing to Baptists for all this ? What> but for them, speaking humanly, would have become of the truth ? What if they had yielded to the force of circumstances, and for riches, and honors, and ease, and life, had given up the contest ? What if they had adopted the world-wise pob'cy of multitudes then and now, for themselves and families, and made no resistance to the encroachments of error; or having C09tended for a time had shrewdly decided that they had made their share of sacrifice for the world, and would henceforth look to their own interest ? What if they had abandoned the world to "Pagans" first; then to "Papists;" then to "Reformers," just emerging from total night; and then to the " Pilgrim fathers," whose eyes still were but partly opened to the sunshine of perfect liberty ? What had been the consequence ? How would the progress of the world have been retarded ? Where now had been the boasted nineteenth cen-
tury, with the bright tints of milleiinial day, marking its horizon, precursors of the glorious rising sun?
CHAPTER ni.
The duty of Baptists to the worlcL 1. They should prove worthy of the honor conferred upon them. 2. They should not yield to the demands of. the world. 8. They should contend earnestly with Komanism; its statisties. 4. The great number of Baptists should be consecrated; their statistioi contrasted with other denominations.
1. GtOD has highly honored them, let them not prove unworthy of the trust. The first great use which they shodd make of their history, is in this direction. God grant tKat they may appreciate the honor he has bestowed upon them j and may be elevated by it, to that usefulness which it demands. They may not scrutinize Jehovah's motives in this distinction. They may not make it a source of self-congratulation, as though they had merited such distinction, or derive from it personally any worldly elevation. They should be humbled by the divine condescension, and be grateful for his mercy. Especially should they pray t]^94. th^7 t^&J have grace to act worthily the part assigned theih. May they never be left to bring reproach upon a cause, with which they have been in the providence of God so identified. Depositories of the truth, sons of the martyrs are they, and a^ such, should be the last to hesitate to enter the defiles of danger and toil; and the last to retreat intimidated by obstacles, or to bring the least reproach upon the Cross of Christ Their song should ever be:
'^ In the cross of Christ I glory.
Towering o'er the wrecks of time; All the light of sacred story, Gathers round its head sublime."
Any one bearing the name of Baptist should feel, and must, as he reads their history, that there is for him no retreat from Christian ranks; and that the more severely the battle rages, the firmer he mast stand at his post, " and having done all, still stand." Especially let him confess that ''God is his helper," that "the race is not to the swift, or the battle to the strong." " The sword of the Lord and Gideon" should be his battle qry, as he rushes on, mingling in the thickest and hottest of the spiritual fight. Though he be but a child in years let him be bold, and humble, and live for God. Children have bled and died for the cause, sustained by all-sufficient grace. Though his steps are tottering to the grave, let him be young in the courage of God's people and never fear. The hoary-headed have found heaven the sooner in persecution's fire. Men with giant hearts have been children in faith and humility; and tender women have been endued with the courage and daring of heroes. Let none henceforth fear or doubt.
2. Baptists should not yield to the demands of the world with less sacrifices than their fathers made; they can hardly make greater ones. We, in some sense, have entered upon their labors, and live in the day of triumph, not of persecution. In this, it is our privilege to rejoice. Imagine not, however, that there remains nothing for us " to do iind to dare." The devil has by no means yielded the point, and the world has still allurements and temptations. The advantage gained for us by our fathers is great, but it is the result of great sacrifices, and who can tell, if the sacrifices cease, how soon the victories may disappear. Indeed, much remains to be achieved, before the victory is complete; and if now we cease our efforts, we do great injustice to the sufferings of our fathers, and great injury to the cause. If the millenial day has dawned upon us, its sun has by no means reached the meridian. It still lingers in the horizon. Shall it tarry there through our indifference, and our want of the spirit of our fathers. God forbid it I
THE DUTY OF BAPTISTS TO THE WOBIJ). S41
We may not, indeed, die for the cause. This seems not our office. But we may live for it, and this evidently is our responsibility. We may not suffer any very considerable reproach for Christ; for while the mutterings of its violence are still sometimes heard, they are far under ground, and we heed them not. Our triumphs, by God's mercy, have been too complete to leave much of all this to intimidate or even annoy us. Our . sacrifices are in another direction, but equally important, and probably more difficult.
The violent obstacles overcome, there is danger that we lay down to resty and sleep too long. The victories are to be pressed on to complete triumph before there is safety in repose. It is ours to live for the cause. This is more difficult than to die for it. There is in martyrdom an enthusiasm, which rarely attaches to ordinary holy living and enduring for God. Our brethren are now honored with distinctions and titles and wealth; and occupy places among men of the world, who care not for the honor and commands of God. "Evil communications corrupt good manners," and it were strange if they were mncontaminated. Here lies tiieir danger; lei them look to it before it is too late.
. Disciples of the meek and lowly Jesus, children of the martyrs, what have you to do with worldly distinction and riches, except so far as you can and do consecrate them to God ? "Ye cannot serve God and Mammon." You are not, indeed, to be slothful in business, but you are to be " fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." To draw the line here correctly, and keep on the right side of it, is important. Christians may, indeed, be enterprising and successful, and occupy high places in honor and riches, but never in denial of Christ. The more they acquire of influence and power, so much the more they have to consecrate to God, and the greater is their temptation to forget and forsake him. "It were better for tiiem that a millstone were hanged about their neck, and that they were, devoured in the depths of the sea^" than that they 29*
shonld arise to the power of influence and wealth, to forget God, and especially to torn against him and his cause. Here, I repeat, lies their danger; and their office is, in the spirit of the martyrs, to live for GQd; to consecrate their peace, and comparative repose and victory, to him.
There is untold power in a holy life, though unattended by circumstances adapted to attract attention to it, or of peculiar influence. There is still greater power in a holy life under circumstances of temptation, in the possession of distinction, and of wealth. He who can carry the holy war into the very highest camps of the enemy, and conquer through grace, has an awful responsibility, and a usefulness in proportion, if there he is a true follower of the Lord Jesus. To live for God, is all we can do for him in a period like this. It is therefore enough, and of the same consequence, as to die for him in different times. Disciples of Christ, children of the martyrs, here is your vocation. " Dare and do" for God here, what others have done in a different sphere, and victory shall be yours—not otherwise.
It is not surely asking much of us to Uve for God, when others, no more accountable, have died for him; and when among the family of Christ there is to be ''an equality," one IS not to be "burdened" and another "eased." If our brethren have yielded all of this world for Christ, it can be no great hardship for us to do it, under circumstances so much more favorable, and attended with so little suffering. If they " took joyftdly the spoiling of their goods" to the last dollar, it surely is no great thing for us to give a limited portion of ours. If they were not permitted to compete with other men for distinction and wealth; but, of necessity, must abandon all, on profession of their faith in Christ, it can be no hardship for us to consecrate a generous proportion of our attainments; and if in their extreme " poverty" the "riches of thefr liberality" abounded to the glory of God, shall we murmur, when of our abundance so little is required ?
There are noble examples among as of consecration to God; disciples of small attainments consecrating them to him with a sincerity and earnestness worthy of all commendation. And there are those of distinguished attainments, imitating so worthy an example. Intellect and learning, to such, are gifts of God, to be his forever and entirely. And there are men of wealth, who look upon their talents in this direction, as the minister of the gospel looks upon Ms, to be consecrated to God; and they are replenishing the treasury of the Lord, as ministers labor for the conyersion of souls. Some such, like the beloved Cobb, have passed away; and some like him, who would be surprised and pained to see their names recorded here, are still among us, daring to be singular, and consecrating their wealth to God.
There is, however, no stretch of charity which can compute such cases as numerous, in comparison with the whole number of our brethren. Why should not all be like the few 7 Disciples of Christ—children of the martyrs—^reflect upon this question. Why shxyuXd not all he like the few f This we owe to the world, to ourselves, to God. This we can render, and still come short of the sacrifices of ''the cloud of witnesses'' who surround us.
3. Baptists owe it to the world to contend earnestly with Romanism, inasmuch as they are armed above all others. They have no relic of popery, and never had. "The Bible, the Bible" is pre-eminently " the religion" of Baptists, iu that from the earliest times the church and tradition have been to them, in comparison, without au{hority. No church and state; no tyrannical church government; no persecution for conscience sake; no sprinkling for baptism; no infant baptism or communion, do, or ever have, attached to them. On this account there is, to Romanism, no breach in the walls of their citadel; no rent in their armor.
They, as no others, have a warfare with Romanism, on the ground of injuries received, inasmuch as their anti-papal
principles have made them pecnliarlj obnoxious to the Papacy. Their existence also, in all ages of the Christiaa era» for the most part contending alone witli Romanism, in her power and glorj, have exposed them to her contact, when she was able and amply willing to deal them blows of death. Historical research a£fords ample erid^ioa of this position. The rer^ge of Christianity is to retam good for cyU. For the persecntions they have receiyed at her hand, in tenfold proportion, they may, and should return her the gospel in its pnrily. To her poor priest-ridden people, they should be missionaries of the cross of Christ, until they, one and all, are as free from h^ tyrannical chains as oniBelTes. To her pope, and cardinals, and Jesuits, and priests, aye, to her yery inquisitors, all these officers of Satan'smrmy, from whom they haye suffered so much, so innocently, to them all, they should go in the name of the Prince of peace, and mercy, and loye, and beseech them in his stead to be reconciled to God. In this spirit^ they are bound to prosecute a Idoodless war of extermination, against this ancient enemy of our fathers, or th^ are unworthy of them. Their obligations here, as well as their fitcilitieB, exceed those of all otii«r& We welcome the dapes of Romanism to our country. God is in the immense immigration. We are prepared for tiiem. Hero we haye nothing to fear from persecution: nor haye they. God has been preparing the final battle, where a bloodless contest may be waged between truth and error, that the world may see which is mightier. Some haye trembled for the result, but the yictoiy is beginning to appear. Robert Mullen, a Catholic missionary to this country, addresses to the priests of Ireland, under the caption of '' A word in season," the earnest recommendation to keep the people at home, as otherwise they are, to a great extent^ lost to the church. He shows that from the immigration and natural increase there ought to be in the United States 3,910,000 Catholics, while the actual number is only 1|980,000, showing a loss of 1,990,000, a little more
than fifty per cent. Other statistics show that while in Ireland from 80 to 100,000 Catholics have been rescued from Komanism, daring the last ten years, about one-third of aK who have immigrated to this country from Ireland, and sixty per cent of the children, are lost to Rome.
The actual condition of Komanism at the present time, in this country, is any thing but discouraging. The wildest opinions and conjectures have been indulged in, in regard to them; but the facts are as readily ascertained as of any of the Protestant sects. *^ The Metropolitan Catholic Almanac, and Laity's Directory for 1855" gives us the facts. They have in the United States 41 dioceses. They give the number of communicants in but 31 of these, and they are 1,844,500. Supposing the 10 dieceses whose numbers they do not give, to have a proportionate number of communicants, which on examination appears to be about the fact, and they have 405,000, which added to the preceding, gives ns a sum total 2,249,500. The same authority gives ns the number of colleges at 21, and female schools at 11*7. While these facts show us much work to be done, and while the entire history of the wily enemy admonishes us not to exult while he still lives, they also show us to which side victory inclines. When ^ we add to the present facts in the case, that all the power of the Papacy has been brought to bear upon her mission here, with the avowed intention and determination of making ours a Catholic country, we may well thank God and take courage.
Let me not for a moment be supposed to make the mistake that Baptists have been the sole instruments of this dawning victory, in the present generation, as they were, up to the time of the Reformation, the chief enemy of the Papacy. They have had a part in it, but I fear have not had so large a part as was their duty. Let them henceforth furnish their fiill quota of men and munitions, until the war closes in complete victory to primitive Christianity. Beinerius Saccho, for many years a Waldensian Baptist, who became in A. P.
.1220-50, a Roman Catholic inquisitor, takes the gronnd of Neander, that the Waldensians originated in the ancient Donatists. He says: ''Their universal extension and high antiquity, makes them the most dangerous enemies of the Catholic Church." May this continue to be true of Baptists. 4. The immense number of Baptists should be consecrated to God for the subjugation of the world to Christianity. The whole number of regular Baptist church members in the United States, is now, 1856, just about one million, all of them adults, inasmuch as none are received into the Baptist Church, but those old enough to believe and choose for themselves. What may not one million of persons accomplish for the truth, if they are all truly consecrated to God! The regular Baptists of the United States are in numbers just about equal to six of the prominent denominations, not including the Methodists, who, perhaps, are a little more numerous than the Baptists. The American Almanac gives us the following statistics of seven denominations in the United States for 1853 : Old School Presbyterians, 210,306; New School Presbyterians, 140,060; Cumberland Presbyterians, 50,000; Orthodox CongregationaHsts, 19Y,196; Episcopalians, 110,000; Dutch Reformed, 22,515; Regular Baptists, Y 19,290. The latter denomination has but a fraction less than the six former. Supposing the increase since 1853 to have been equal, of course tiie same proportion remains. Baptists have a much smaller proportion of pecuniary ability thsai the six denominations with whom they are here compared. This, however, is not so important a consideration as their numbers; for personal influence is greater than any other. Under these circumstances the obligation of Baptists to the world is very great. God has not given them so glorious a past and present, to excuse them from future usefulness of magnitude; and a part in the contest now waging for the^ supremacy of the Cross, of an ordinary character. ^ Let it, however, be observed that numbers must retard the
march of an army, if a large portion of it wants energy and coarage. They hang upon the willing and obedient like lead. Nor is this all. They have an evil influence which enters into the entire discipline of the army. Numbers not of a desirable stamp, then, so far from being a favorable circumstance, is the reverse. One million of Baptists in the United States is one thing, and one million of consecrated Baptists is another.
There are two facts in their recent history which they should examine with great seriousness. I refer to their recent mcrease in numbers; and theu* expenditures for missionary purposes. The increase of Baptist church members, according to Baptist Almanac for 1854, in one year, was about 30,000. This is considered cause of congratulation. And so it is, when contemplated as a fact separate from the circumstances. But when it is remembered how rapidly our brethren multiplied in the most heart-rending times of persecution, and that we have now no such obstietcles to contend with; and that the present is a period of great enterprise in every secular department, results being reached in a day once requiring months, and that Christians should not be outdone by men of the world; and that the population has had an increase natural and by immigration, nnequaled, and much greater than that of the church; when these thitigs are remembered, we ask, is an increase of 30,000 in a year a fair work for one million of soldiers of the cross ? With the zeal of the martyrs, or even of worldly men; and with the facilities now enjoyed in the means of grace, which God has vouchsafed to us, what might not, and ought not, one million of Christians to accomplish in an entire year, in winning souls to Christ? If each one should win one soul in a year, instead of an increase of 30,000, we should have that of 1,000,000.
Look now at the expenditure of one year for missionary purposes, and see if we find there any more cause for congratulation. We have seen in a preceding chapter, that the sum total of money raised for, strictly speaking, missionary
purposes, oj one million of Baptists, in an entire year, is less than one half million of dollars. A half a million of money, in a year, seems a large sum in the aggregate, and so it is; but what is it divided among a million of church members ? It is the paltry sum of fifty cents each—^less money than multitudes of them spend in a day, for mere luxuries. Admit that great numbers of the one million are poor. Who so poor in the church in the United States that he could not give fifty cents in a year for the spread of the gospel if he desired to ? And what is this sum for the great majority of them ? If some are poor, many are rich; and some of them are worth, personally, the entire amount given; and some very much more.
If any one is surprised that so great an army should consummate so little in a given year, and inquires for the cause, let him visit the diiterent regiments and companies of it, at their homes, in their associations and churches, and see if in the every-day practical working of it, he has any more cause of congratuUtion ; or can he be in any doubt as to the result ? Upon the Sabbath, of a fine day, indeed, all is promise, and his heart leaps for joy at the well-dressed, and in all respects noble-looking crowds, which throng the fine churches. But,, alas! this is not the true criterion; and he can form thus but a slight estimate of the working disposition of the people. Let him go to the general prayer meeting, or the monthly concert of prayer for the spread of the gospel, and he will soon suspect the difi&culty. Alas, alas I the few most consistent are hardly up to the mark of duty; and the masses, where are they ? About all they do, is to go to church of a pleasant Sabbath, and this is doing but little for the cause—^much more for themselves than for others. The difficulty lies just here : the masses are doing nothing; and the few, for the most part, but litcie. Whilst a million of persons can accomplish wonders in personal influence and charities if each one docs his duty, they will accomplish but little if most of them do nothing, and the balance but a part of their duty.
W« regret the necessity for remarks so discouraging, but the truth should be told, that delinquents may understand their position. The point to be gained is to secure the activity of the masses. This done, and little remains to be desired. So numerous an army may accomplish thus, any thing reasonable. Look at the success which has attended our efforts, notwithstanding the immense drawback to which we allude. What would it have been, with the same divine influences, if the masses had been like the noble few, who have " stood in the front rank, and borne the heat and burden of the day ?"
Brethren, these are notihe times for indifference and timidity. Every thing is upon the move, and seems imbued with an enterprise like that required of Christians in the passage, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might." Evil influences are driven on with locomotive speed and power. Secular influences, business, and money-making, have a remarkable activity. Moral influences must have a similar impulse to keep pace, and not leave the world to destruction from its very activity and enterprise. JBrethren, we are not the people to sleep at our post, or fold our arms in indolence, in times like these, with a history like ours; and with the commands of God ringing in our ears: " Be ye, therefore, steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord." " The field is the world." The world is to be won to Christ. There is work for all, and we should be the last to "be weighed in the balances, and found wanting;" or to suffer under the stigma, and "bitter curse of Meroz, because we come not up to the help of the Lord against the mighty."
> i< • • '• »
A.
Abraham and bis seed, God's promise to them no jnstifioation of the eb&
dren of believers, 164. Abrabamic coTenant, no ground for infant baptism, 166. Academies, Baptist, in the Unite<f States, 325. «
Adrian Pan and wife, martyrs, 286.
Anabaptists, 47-69, 282-289. Tbe real lamented the peasant war, 49. Angels, the term applied to preachers of the Gospel, 233. Apostle, the term applied to preachers of the Gospel, 232. Apostles, the Acts of, on baptism, 120. Arnold of Brescia, his character and sufferings, 274, 275. Articles of faith, of Baptists, 60-74.
Baptists, their obligations to history, 19. Misrepresented by historians, 20^ 323, 325. Their bond of union, 21. Their origin, history and identity with the primitiTe church, 19-59. Their doctrines and ordinances, 60-207. Their polity and goTemment, 208-253. Their sufferings and martyrs, 254-314. Their missionary facts and statistics, 315-323. Their rise and progress in the United States, 52. The indebtedness of the world to lihem, 329-339. Their duty to the world, 339-350. Have been the greatest sufferers for trjith, 261, 294, 337. Have been persecuted by many, but hare retaliated upon none, 209, 257, 333, 337. Chain of, from the com-menoementy 40-51. Of the New Testament, 40, 263. Montanist B., 41, 264. Noyatian B., 42, 266. Donatist B., 43, 267. Paulician B., 44,269. Paterine B., 44, 272. Waldensian B., 45, 275. Ana B., 47, 282. Of Great Britain, 50, 289. Of America, 51, 29L Their statistics, 21, 52, 818, 827-328. No more close communionists than others, 193-201. The only consistent opponents of Popery, 334r-343. Grand total of, in North America, 327,328. Other sects of, 52, 328.
Baptism, 71, .94. History of, 28-32. Testimony o^ difierent denominations on, 29. Baptism of J'ohn, 97. Of the Savjour, 104. Of Pentecost^ 129. Of Philip, 124. Of the Eunuch, 125. Of Paul, 130. Of Cornelius and his friends, 131. Of Lydia and her household, 133. Of the Jailer and his household, 137. Of household at Corinth, 140. Of disciples at Bphesns, 144. In the Gospels, 94. In the Acts, 120. In the Episties,
(861)
146. In ihe Old Testament^ 152. And Commnnion, 193. Mode of John's, 101. In the name of the Father, Ac, 120. Its use, 183. And regeneration, 182,192, 227. Of infanta, 156.
Bapto, Baptize, Bapticomai, Baptisma, and the Lezioographers, 101.
Baird, Dr., on the Pope, 234.
Baxter, Richard, his treatment by Jeffireys, 290.
Benedict on the Anabaptists, 47.
Bible the only law of the Church, 208.
Bishop, the meaning of the term, 233. -
Bnnsen, Cheyalier, on baptism, 38.
Banyan, John, his perseontion, 294. Proof against the sednctions of State, 296.
Brown, Key. Dr., on the primitive character of Baptists, 24.
Brown University, established early by Baptists, 323.
Bible Societies, American and Foreign, 319,320.
Ameriean Bible Union, 321. .]
Boston, the condition of Baptists in it at different periods, 306-311. ^
Catechism, Baptist^ 78.
Children blessed, not baptised, 167. Of believers, 161.
Christian Beview, on primitive character of Baptists, 25.
Chnrch members, their increase in the Baptist church, 829. Origin and meaning of the term, 28, 211. Fonnatlon of a, 212. A spiritual and not secular institution, 209. Independent and yet one, 210. A Gospel* one, 70. Greek, 67. Protestant, 57. Covenant, 74. Polity, 208-253. The Bible its only law, 208. The power, rights, and duties of, 214. Meetings of, for worship and business, 240. ' Discipline of the, 246. Edifioes and acconunodatioB, 323. And State, the folly of their union and the commencement of it in the U. S., 296.
Christ baptizing by his disciples, 108. His commission, 117. His laws to be kept pure, 329.
Civil and religious liberty inseparable, 333. Baptists and, 333, 336, 337.
Communion, Robert Hall's position, 193. Peter and Benjamin on, 193. Close, 201. Close not confined to Baptists, 193. On earth and in heaven different, 206.
Communicants, their increase in Baptist churches, 329.
Circumcision and the Abrahamic Covenant no ground for infimt baptism, 156. .
Colleges, Baptist, in the U. S., 324. Baptist Theological, in G. Britain, 824.
Conventicle act, 293.
Conventions, 243. Southern, for missionary purposes, 320.
Constitution of the United States and Baptists, 333.
Councils, 242.
Covenant of Baptist church, 74, 75.
D.
B'Aubigne on Bomanism, 54.
Dermonty Bey. Dr., on the primitive character of BaptiBtSi 24. Deacons, their ordination and duties, 238. Denominations, which the primitiYe church, 19. Design of baptism, 97,153.
Deswarte, wife, children and neighbors, suffer martyrdom, 288. Disciples, Ohrist baptizing by them, 108.
Discipline, origin of church, 246. Nature and design o^ 247. Offencea requiring it, 248. Of ministers, 249. Donatists, their history, 43. Character and sufferings, 266. Duncan, Bey. Professor, on the primitive character of BaptiatSi 24. D. D., 234.
B. Enon, the baptism in, 110. Education, Baptists the friends of, 823. Elder, the term applied to ministers, 233. Episcopal church, 57. Evangelists, meaning of the term, 233.
Excluded church members, their treatment^ 251. Their reoeptioB by other churches, 252.
P.
Faith, articles of, 60-73.
Fall of man, 63.
Sive mile act of England, 293.
Free Mission Society, American Baptist, 820.
a.
Gavazzi on Bomanism, its unlikeness to Ohristianitj, 55.
Gospel, church, 70. Baptisms of the, 94.
Government, civil, 72. Of the church, 208.
Gundnlphas, his character and sufferings, 273.
Grace, purpose of, 67.
Great Britain, history of Baptists in, 50. Sufferings of Baptists in, 286. Baptist societies in, 322. Baptist Colleges in, 324. Baptists of, first in modem missions, next to the Moravians, 315. Baptists of, the originators of the Monthly Concert of Prayer for the spread of the Gospel, 315. Baptists of, their benevolence, 232.
Greek church, its origin and history, 57.
H. Hall, Bobert, his true position on Communion, 194. Harvard University, early aided by a Baptist, 323. Hase, Professor, and his translators misrepresent Baptists, 20,823, 825. Henry Patrick, his defenoe of Baptists in ViiginUiy 811.
80*
Howling family, their position and suffering, 297. History of Baptism, 28-39. Historical Society, American Baptisi^ 318, 319. Holmes, Obadiah, his character and persecution^ 806. Home Mission Society, American Baptist^ 319. Hippolytos, and his age, 38.
L
Infants, saved, 185. Dedicated to Ood, 185. Differenoe between their dedication and baptism, 186. Not to be baptized, 188.
Infant baptism, strange that it still ozists, 152. Not in the sacred writings, 29, 36,157. The apostolic fathers on it, 37,180. Pengilly on it, 157-185. Bey. Dr. Woods on ii^ 36. Bey. Professor Knowles on it^ 39. Chevalier Bonsen on it, 38. Pedobaptist grounds for it, 159. Circumcision and the Abrahamic Coyenant no grounds for it, 166. When and how it was introduced, 39,176. Bey. Br. Fuller on it, and infant salvation and dedication, 175. The injuries of ii^ 175,185. Doubts among Pedobaptistfl in regard to it, 156.
Inquisition, originated to suppress the Waldensian Baptists, 276w
J.
John the Baptist^ his mission, its object, his ministry, his baptism, 97-99. John the Apostle, when died, 29. Justification, the doctrine of, 65,
E. Kiffin, William, and the Hewling family, their position in England and sni~
ferings, 296. Enowles, Bey. Professor, on infant baptism, 89.
Ik
Laws against Baptists in the United States, 323.
Letters, Church, specimens of, for all purposes, 244»
Learning, Baptists the friends o^ and their views of for the ministry, 823.
Baptist institutions of, and money raised to promote it^ 324^ 325. Licensing ministers, 217. Crowell, Brown, and Wayland on, 217, 18,19.
The difference between Baptists and other denominations in regard to,
219. No change from the Baptist method of, 220. Loss and gain in Baptist churches, 328. Luther, his treatment of the Anabaptists, 283, and of Muncwv ^^
M.
Man, his fall, 63.
Matthew Henry on John's Baptism, 98. Members, their increase in the Baptist church, 329. Meetings, Church, for worship, 240, and for busineiiy 244. Methodists, their numbers in United States, 21.
Ministers, motives for becoming, 322-4. Their support, 224. Equality of,
231. The increase of Baptist ministers, 329. Missions, Moravians first in modem, and Baptists next, 815. First money
nused for, in the United States, 316. Not much done for them, 328.
American Baptist, foreign, 316,317. Mode of Baptism, 97-9. Of John's baptism, 101,155. Montanist Baptists, their history, 41. Their sufferings, 264. Moravians first in modem missions, 315. Mosheim on the German Anabaptists, 47. Muncer, a Baptist minister, 286. Lather and, 286. The declaration of the
Peasant's war and, 334. The difference between Muncer and Munster,
286. Munster, the city of, 287. The rebellion of, 49, 287. It originated with a
Lutheran minister, 49, 287. The real Anabaptists lamented it, 49.
N.
New Testament Baptists, their history, 40. Their sufferings, 263.
0. Oficers of the church, 230.
Orchard, Bev. G. H., his opinion on the primitive charaoter of Baptists, 22.
P.
Paulician Baptists, their history, 44. Their sufferings, 269.
Pastors, their rights and duties, 233,234. Their annual salaries and numbers, 822.
Paterine Baptists, their history, 44.' Their sufferings, 272.
Pengilly on Baptism, 94.
Peasant's war, the connection of the Anabaptists and Muncer with it, 287.
Periodicals, Baptist, in the U. States, 325. In British Provinces, 326.
Perseverance of the Saints, 69.
Pentecostal baptism, 121.
Persecutions, Baptists have suffered them from most denominations, but have never persecuted any, 209, 333, 337.
Persecutions and martyrdoms of Baptists, 254-314. Uses of, 254.
Peter and Benjamin on baptism and communion, 195
Polity of the Baptist church, 208.
Pope, Pr. Baird on his supremacy, 234.
Popery, persecution, part and parcel of it» 257. Has slaughtered fifty millions of the human family, 257. Baptists the only oonsifltent opponentt of, 334.
Pouring for Baptism, 99.
Prophets, 232.
Protestant churches, 57.
Publication Society, American Baptist, 317-18.
B.
Regeneration, 66.
Reverend, 234.
EighteooB tnd the wioked, 73. ^
Roman Oatholios, 54. Their condition, intention tnd statiftics in the United
States, 844, 345. Religioiu and oiyil liberty infeparable, 833. Baptistf safferen for, 294^
822,333, 336, 337. Roman Catholics, their rise, 54. Their statistioB in the United States, 344»
846. Their loss in Ireland and the United States, 844, 345.
S.
Saints, their perseyerance, 69.
Salration and baptism, 207. The way ol^ 64.
Sanotifieation, 68.
Serentj disciples, 232.
Sincerity not religion, 205.
Scriptures, 62.
Servants of the ohnrch, 239.
Subjects of Baptism, 97, 155.
Supper, the Lord's, 71.
Support of ministers, 224.
Southern Baptist Oonvention, 320, 321.
Sponsors in infant baptism, 181.
Sprinkling for baptism, 99. Not in the N. T., 29. Its origin, 35.
Statistics of Pedobaptists becoming Baptists, 10. Of Methodists and Baptists compared, 21. Of Baptists and six denominations compared, 346. Of missionary institutions, schools of learning, pastor's salaries and ohurch edifices, 317, 328. Of Roman Oatholics, 344, 345.
Summary of Baptists in North America, 827.
T.
Teacher, 232.
Theological Seminaries in the United States, 824. Colleges in Great Britain, 824.
V.
Virginia, perseeution of Baptists by the Bnglish ohurch in, 811.
W.
Waldensian Baptists, their history, 45. Their sufferings, 275.
WateV, much in baptism, 111.
Wicked and the righteous, 73.
Williams, Roger, his history, 299-305. His place in the histoiy of religious
liberty, 305. World to come, the, 73.
THB END.
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