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Baptist History

From the Foundation of the
Christian Church to the Present Time

By J.M. Cramp, D.D. 1796-1881

Table of Contents

PREFACE

INTRODUCTORY NOTICE

CHAPTER I
The Primitive Period.
From A.D. 37 to A.D. 254.

• I. Introductory Remarks—Pædobaptist Concessions

• II. The Apostolic Fathers—Justin Martyr—Irenæus

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

CHAPTER II
The Transition Period.
From A.D. 254 to A.D. 604.

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

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

CHAPTER III
The Obscure Period.
From A.D. 604 to A.D. 1073.

• I. The Manichæans—Cautions to the Student—All Opponents of Infant-Baptism not Baptist—Account of the Paulicians—Their Views of Baptism

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

CHAPTER IV
The Revival Period.
From A.D. 1073 to A.D. 1517.

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

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

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

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

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

CHAPTER V
The Reformation Period.
From A.D. 1517 to A.D. 1567.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• VIII. The Enormities Perpetrated at Munster and other Places—Injustice Ascribing them to Baptist Sentiments

CHAPTER VI
The Troublous Period.
From A.D. 1567 to A.D. 1688.

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

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

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

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

• V. Character of Charles II. and James II.—Commencement of Prosecution—Venner's Rebellion—Disclaimer by Baptists—Sever Sufferings—John James—Act of Uniformity—The Aylesbury Baptists—Benjamin Keach Pilloried—Conventicle Act—Five Mile Act—Their Effects

• VI. History of the Broadmead Church, Bristol

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

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

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

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

• XI. Biographical Notices Continued—John Tombes, B.D.—Francis Blampfield, A.M.—Henry D'Anvers—Edward Terril—Dr. Du Veil—John Bunyan

• XII. Biographical Notices Concluded—Thomas Grantham—Hanserd Knollys—Benjamin Keach—William Kiffin

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

CHAPTER VII
The Quit Period.
From A.D. 1688 to A.D. 1800.

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

• II. Biographical Notices—Dr. John Gale—Dr. Gill—John Macgowan—Robert Robinson, Sen.—John Ryland—The Stennetts—Benjamin Beddome—Samuel Pearce—Dr. Andrew Gifford

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

CHAPTER VIII
The Present Century

• Effects of the Mission Enterprise—Revivals—Extension of the Denomination—Statistical Table—Societies—Diversity and Adaptation of Talent—Baptist Agency now Employed—Rev. C. H. Spurgeon—Baptist Union—Peculiarities of the Present Period—Duties of Baptists

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