An Outline of Baptist History

-13- a. The First Baptist Church composed of Englismen on English soil. Perse- cution became less severe in England so Thomas Helways and others returned to London in about 1611. These people were Arminian in theology. They were General Baptists because they held to general atonement for all men. By 1626 there were 11 churches in England and by 1644 the number had increased to 47. b. Particular Baptists. William Kiffin tells of the origin of the church which was constituted on the 12th of September, 1633. There was a congregation of Pro- testant dissenters of Independent Persuasion in England who believed that baptism was not to be administered to infants, They gathered together and formed a congregation on the above mentioned date. By 1644 there were 7 Particular Baptist Churches in England. Their confession of faith, according to Vedder, p.142, describes baptism as ''an ordinance of the New Testament given by Christ, to be dispensed upon persons professing faith or that are made disciples who upon profession of faith ought to be baptized and afterwards to partake of the Lord's Supper.'' Vedder points out here that, 'Indeed, in the whole history of Baptists not a confession can be produced that advocates the invitation or admission to the Lord's Table of the unbaptized. '' (2) The Struggle for Liberty. During the early years of the reign of Charles I, the Baptists fared hard. From the meeting of the Long Parliament which was the Sth Parliament summoned by Charles I when all tyrannical and illegal acts of the past 11 years were reversed. It secured itself by stating it could not be dismissed except by its own consent. They had peace and increased rapidly in number. The Parliament met November 3, 1640. A large numberof Baptists served in Parliament and were highly favored by Cromwell. Westminster prea- chers rebuked Parliament in sermons and pamphlets from suffering Baptists to increase. General toleration by the Presbyterians was not advocated. Richard Baxter said, ''I abhor unlimited liberty and toleration of all, and think myself easily able to prove the wickedness of it," (3) Leaders among English Baptists. a. William Kiffin. Kiffin was born in London in 1616. In 1625, he was deprived of both of his parents by the plague. He united with a Congregational Church but in 1638 he joined the Baptist church. From 1639-1701 he was pastor of the Devonshire Square Baptist Church in London. Kiffin was a merchant and did a great deal of trading with Holland. He was considered to be one of the wealthiest men in London. Because of his position he was hated by the Stuarts. Lord Arlington told Kiffin he was on every list of disaffected per- sons whose freedom was regarded as dangerous to the Government. He was arrested for alleged conspiracy against the King but the charges were found false and he was released. For over one-half century he was the first man in the Baptist denomination. It is interesting to note that the credit of Kiffins stood higher than the financial promises of kings. King Charles, as far as heartlessness would permit, was his friend. There were 10 Baptist men and two women arrested as dissenters. They were sentenced to three months imprisonment. At the end of that time, they were brought before a court and commanded to conform to the Episcopal church, or leave the country immediately. They refused to do either. They were sentenced to death according to law. Kiffin interceded and saved their lives.