Many have asked for pointers to works that display two things: (1) the Reformed
and Puritan roots of the 17th Century English Particular Baptists and (2)
the theology and practice of the same. Here is a list of works with annotations
to that end.
James M. Renihan
HTML adaptation by Mike Renihan
Belcher, Richard and Anthony Mattia, A Discussion of the Seventeenth Century Particular Baptist Confessions of Faith. Southbridge, Mass.:Crown Publications, 1990.
This book was written to demonstrate that there
is no evidence to support the theory that the two 17th century London Confessions
have differing positions on the Law of God. It is very well done, and is
highly accurate. More could be said on this issue to support the conclusion,
but this is the best available material on this subject.
Brown, Raymond. The English Baptists of the 18th Century. London: The Baptist Historical Society, 1986.
This is the best introduction to this subject that I have found.
Copson, Stephen, ed. Association Life of the Particular Baptists of Northern England 1699-1732. English Baptist Records, Vol. 3, London: The Baptist Historical Society, 1991.
This transcript of the records of the Northern
Association is carefully presented. It illustrates many of the ecclesiological
perspectives of the Northern Particular Baptists. There is an excellent
and lengthy introduction which describes many facets of their belief and
practice. Highly Recommended.
Estep, William R. The Anabaptist Story. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., 1975 revised edition.
For those seeking a readable introduction
to the Continental Anabaptists, this is the place to start. I disagree with
Dr. Estep's perspectives on the relations between the Continental Anabaptists
and the English Baptists, as well as his assertions about the theological
dependence of the Particular Baptists on the General Baptists. Nevertheless,
this is a fine treatment of the subject.
Hayden, Roger, ed. The Records of a Church of Christ in Bristol, 1640-1687. Bristol: The Bristol Record Society, 1974.
This work was also reprinted
twice in the 19th Century. If you can find it, buy it. It is living church
history. One of the elders of the Broadmead, Bristol, Church, Edward Terrill,
set down a first hand account of the life of his church during this era.
Especially interesting is his 12 step description of the process by which
reformation came to Bristol. Starting with the events related to Luther
and Calvin, he proceeds through a series of stages until he arrives at his
own church. He believed that his own assembly was the logical and theological
fruit of the reformation. Are Baptists Reformed? This 17th century Baptist
knew that he was. The Broadmead church was represented at the 1689 General
Assembly by its pastor Thomas Vaux.
Keach, Benjamin. Exposition of the Parables. Series One and Series
Two. Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 1991 reprint.
________. Preaching from the Types and Metaphors of the Bible. Grand
Rapids: Kregel Publications, 1992 reprint.
Few works of the 17th Century
Particular Baptists have been reprinted, and this makes these three volumes
all the more important. Keach (died 1704) was one of the most important,
and controversial, pastors among the London churches. These works give us
much insight into the theological mindset of our predecessors. These books
should be on the shelf, and in the hands, of every Reformed Baptist pastor.
You might not always agree with everything Keach says, (there are over 1900
pages here), but you will learn a great deal about the truly Puritan perspectives
of the Particular Baptists.
Lumpkin, W.L. Baptist Confessions of Faith. Valley Forge, Penn.: Judson Press, 1969 revised edition.
I have a touch of hesitation in recommending
this book. The documents contained in it are excellent, and are worth the
price of the volume. Lumpkin's comments, however, are not always accurate,
and mar the usefulness of the book. I have found that he just does not understand
the 17th century, and as a result makes some serious errors in his statements.
His section introducing the Second London Confession (1689) contains many
mistakes, and has been used by some as scholarly support for the notion
that the 1689 Confession's theology was more a matter of political expediency
than theological conviction. I cannot say strongly enough that this is not
in any way true. There is substantial agreement between the two London Confessions.
Two pastors, William Kiffin and Hanserd Knollys, signed both. So far as
I can tell, they were, in 1689, the only surviving subscribers to the First
London Confession. More interestingly, of the seven churches that originally
subscribed in 1644, five had representatives sign the 1689. What about the
other two? In the decades between, these churches had either died out or
been assimilated into other churches. Every surviving individual and church
subscribed the 1689 at the General Assembly. In order to support the antinomian
theory, one must demonstrate that all of these significantly changed their
views over those decades. There is no evidence to sustain such a notion.
So, buy the book for the value of its documents, but take Lumpkin's comments
with a grain of salt.
McGoldrick, James Edward. Baptist Successionism: A Crucial Question in Baptist History. Metuchen, N.J.: The American Theological Library Association, 1994.
This is another must buy book. There is a popular notion that true
Baptist churches have existed in succession from the New Testament era until
today. This view is often associated with Landmark Baptists, but it also
occurs in others as well. Dr. McGoldrick, a Baptist professor at Cedarville
College, and one who once held this view, demonstrates that it is utterly
untenable. Most of the groups commonly called into the Baptist family bear
little or no resemblance to what we believe Baptists to be. Some were outright
heretics, while others were Godly persecuted Christians, but hardly Baptists.
Dr. McGoldrick does not argue against the perpetuity of the church, he simply
shows that the notion of Baptist Successionism has no historical support.
I wish that every Reformed Baptist pastor would get this book and read it
carefully. I have met several people in different churches who have been
exposed to the successionist doctrine in one of its forms, and have wondered
about its validity. This book will help to prepare you to give a wise and
reasoned pastoral answer to a subject that is very delicate with some.
Nuttall, Geoffrey F. Visible Saints: The Congregational Way 1640-1660. Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1957.
Dr. Nuttall's book is an excellent treatment
of the principles of Congregationalism, or Independency, during this era.
It is well worth careful study.
Tibbutt, H.G. ed. Some Early Nonconformist Church Books. Bedford: The Bedfordshire Historical Record Society, 1972.
H.G. Tibbutt has transcribed
sections of eight 17th Century church books, including two important Particular
Baptist churches, Kensworth and Stevington. This is fascinating reading.
Tolmie, Murray. The Triumph of the Saints: The Separate Churches of London 1616-1649. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1977.
Tolmie provides
an excellent background study of the circle of churches out of which the
Particular Baptists developed.
Waldron, Samuel E. Baptist Roots in America. Boonton, N.J.: Simpson Pub. Co., 1991.
A good introduction to the subject.
Watts, Michael. The Dissenters From the Reformation to the French Revolution. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1978.
This is the best, and most comprehensive,
treatment of this era. It is not faultless, so be careful, but it is very
good, especially in its portrayal of historical circumstances.
White, B.R. ed. Association Records of the Particular Baptists of England, Wales and Ireland to 1660. 3 Vols. London: The Baptist Historical Society, 1971,73,74.
Very valuable. These records describe the process by which theological
and practical issues were hammered out among the Particular Baptists. Dr.
White's skilled editorial notes make the volumes even more valuable. There
is also a separate index to these volumes, compiled by K.W.H. Howard, published
by the B.H.S. in 1977. It is of real help in using the material.
________. The English Baptists of the 17th Century. London: The Baptist
Historical Society, 1983.
Though brief, this is very helpful. Dr. White
is probably the world's foremost authority on the English Baptists of the
17th century. Sadly, he has suffered a stroke-like injury, and can no longer
put out the material he once did. His articles on related topics, published
in many journals and periodicals, are excellent.
Wilcox, Thomas. Honey Out of the Rock. Pensacola, Fla.: Chapel Library, n.d.
This sermon by Wilcox, who died in 1687, is one of the few Particular
Baptist works that are easily obtainable.