Keach's The Glory of a True Church is the first systematic ecclesiology
published by a Particular (Reformed) Baptist. In nineteen sections he covers
all the essentials as regards the doctrine of the church proper and the
practical foundations of church life. Some aspects of the work might seem
quaint to us at first glance. Their time was certainly different than our
own. However, the possibility remains that it is us, not Keach, who has
strayed off course in our views in these matters. As Keach reflects the
bright light of Scripture, let us run the race with him at our side; as
he makes us wonder, let us walk back to the Scriptures for guidance. Keach
is not infallible. He certainly is not innerrant. He words are weighty,
however, and worthy of our consideration.
The HTML version of this work is produced according to the natural divisions
of the original. Remember, the work is originally intended to be one cohesive
unit. It is broken up with Keach's own divisions for the sake of ease in
web browsing. Hypertext does not always lend itself to reading a work from
cover to cover. The structure of this work is to bring you from section
to section in a logical order. At the end of each section there will be
a link to the next. Those who read it from beginning to end will find the
table of contents helpful in the future to steer
you to a specific section of the work.
May God use these words of a man like Benjamin Keach to bring us to himself.
Mike Renihan
To the Baptized Churches, particularly to that under my care.
My Brethren, Every house or building consisteth both of matter and form:
And so doth the Church of Christ, or house of the Living God. The matter
or materials with which it is built are lively stones, i.e. converted persons;
Also the matter and form must be according to the rule and pattern shewed
in the mount, I mean Christ's institution, and the Apostolic Churches constitution,
and not after men's inventions. Now some men, because the typical Church
of the Jews was national, and took in their carnal seed (as such) therefore
the same matter and form they would have under the Gospel. But though a
church be rightly built in both these respects, i.e. of fit matter and right
form, yet without a regular and orderly discipline, it will soon lose its
beauty, and be polluted. Many reverend divines of the Congregational way,
have written most excellently (it is true) upon the subject, I mean on church-discipline;
but the books are so voluminous that the poorer sort can't purchase them,
and many others have not time or learning to improve them to their profit;
and our brethren the Baptists have not written (as I can gather) on the
subject by itself. Therefore I have earnestly desired by our members, and
also by one of our pastors, to write a small and plain tract concerning
the rules and the discipline of a gospel-Church that all men may not only
know our faith, but see our order in this case also. True, this (though
plain) is but short, but may be it may provoke some other person to do it
more fully. Certainly, ignorance of the rules of discipline causes no small
trouble and disorders in our churches; and if this may be a prevention,
or prove profitable to any, let God have the glory, and I have my end:
Who am, yours,
Benjamin Keach Aug. 18. 1697