BAPTISTS
This well-known denomination of Christians claim their origin from the ministry of Christ and his Apostles. They also claim that all the Christian churches of the first two centuries, though they may not have been called by this name, were founded and built upon their principles. The Baptists, of all denominations, being independent, or Congregational in their form of church government, their ecclesiastical assemblies disclaim all right to interfere with the concerns of individual churches. Their public meetings, by delegation from different churches, are held for the purpose of mutual advice and improvement, but not for the general government of the whole body. They hold that" a personal profession of faith. and an immersion in water, are essential to baptism," and they reject the baptism of infants. In their doctrine, they are in a high degree evangelical. They maintain that no forms but those of Scriptural institution are valid, thus repudiating all traditions of men - and, in reference to those of divine institution, the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, that they have no inherent virtue, or saving efficacy of the Holy Spirit, independent of the receiver's faith, They hold the views commonly called Calvinistic, as set forth in the writings of Bunyan, Gill, and Fuller. The Confessions of 1643, 1689, 1742, and 1833, are all in harmony, differing only in the choice of language and fullness of exposition. These confessions are never regarded as being creeds. The Baptists exist in Scotland, Germany, and Holland, in considerable numbers. In England, they form one of the three denominations of Protestant dissenters. In America, their ministry comprehends a body of men, who, in point of talent, learning, and eloquence, as well as in devoted piety, have no superiors in the country, and the people are among the foremost in purity of life, and in diligence in good works. They are now, with a single exception, the largest denomination of Christians in the country.
This article was taken from a list denominations in the added features of an old Bible published in the early 1800's. DMC
This well-known denomination of Christians claim their origin from the ministry of Christ and his Apostles. They also claim that all the Christian churches of the first two centuries, though they may not have been called by this name, were founded and built upon their principles. The Baptists, of all denominations, being independent, or Congregational in their form of church government, their ecclesiastical assemblies disclaim all right to interfere with the concerns of individual churches. Their public meetings, by delegation from different churches, are held for the purpose of mutual advice and improvement, but not for the general government of the whole body. They hold that" a personal profession of faith. and an immersion in water, are essential to baptism," and they reject the baptism of infants. In their doctrine, they are in a high degree evangelical. They maintain that no forms but those of Scriptural institution are valid, thus repudiating all traditions of men - and, in reference to those of divine institution, the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, that they have no inherent virtue, or saving efficacy of the Holy Spirit, independent of the receiver's faith, They hold the views commonly called Calvinistic, as set forth in the writings of Bunyan, Gill, and Fuller. The Confessions of 1643, 1689, 1742, and 1833, are all in harmony, differing only in the choice of language and fullness of exposition. These confessions are never regarded as being creeds. The Baptists exist in Scotland, Germany, and Holland, in considerable numbers. In England, they form one of the three denominations of Protestant dissenters. In America, their ministry comprehends a body of men, who, in point of talent, learning, and eloquence, as well as in devoted piety, have no superiors in the country, and the people are among the foremost in purity of life, and in diligence in good works. They are now, with a single exception, the largest denomination of Christians in the country.
This article was taken from a list denominations in the added features of an old Bible published in the early 1800's. DMC