History: The Heritage of Our Baptist Faith

became an apprentice to a brewer. At fifteen, he left his master's service when he heard a sermon on the fifth commandment. Eventually he was saved and joined the church. He did much preaching, and as a result he suffered per­ secution. He was imprisoned at least once for his faith. The church of which he was a member had a controversy over admitting unimmersed members. As a result, he left the church and established the Devonshire Square church in 1653 and be­ came its pastor. He continued for fifty years in this position. Macau!ey , the English historian said, "Great as was the authority of Bunyan with the Baptists, William Kiffin's was greater still." He knew what it meant to separate from those who held to false doctrine. John Gill (1679 - 1771) the man who became the outstanding theologian among the Baptists, was deprived of an education because his parents took him out of a school which insisted that he attend prayers of the Anglican church. This did not hinder his ability because he studied the more industriously. It does indicate though that Baptists of his day were willing to take their stand for Christ in spite of the prevailing popular religion of the time. Thomas Gould in 1655 refused to present an infant for baptism and was severely admonished by the Charlestown elders. He insisted on his position and eventually a Baptist church was organized as a result. The members of this new organization were summoned before the court and ordered to "desist from their meeting and irreligious practices as they would answer the contrary to their peril." (Vedder page 299) They would not desist. They would not turn back to that which they believed to be false doctrine. As a consequence, near­ ly all of them were at one time or another— and several more than once--imprisoned or fined or both. Thomas Gould suffered more than all of them. His health was broken and he died in October, 1675. He will be remembered as a man who would not submit to false teaching, but took his stand for the truth. Historically, Baptists have believed in the separation of church and state. For this doctrine, too, they have fought and bled and died. In considering the Baptists' position on this subject, it is well also to be clear in our thinking as to the views held by the great religious denominations. The Cathoiic view of church and state is one which gives the church universal authority over all