An Outline of Baptist History

-16- (4) Contributions of English Baptists. a. They early developed (1650) and utilized the associations, 'In America it was for 150 years before the coming of the state convention, the chief dependence of the Baptist people for fellowship and mutual edification.'' Burroughs, p. 47. b. Singing of hymns were early developed in England. c. Development of a sane Biblical theology came from England. Andrew Fuller advocated a milder Calvinism than either Gill or the General Baptists. He declared the atonement was general and inclusive in its particular effects. Our obligation, said he, was to offer Christ's salvation to all men alike. His views, somewhat modified, have been generally adopted by the Baptists in England and America. d. The English Baptists inaugurated the modern foreign mission movement under the direction of Carey and Fuller. 2. The American Baptists. (1) Baptists in the American Colonies. a. New England. Roger Williams. Williams was born in 1607 and received a degree from Cambridge in 1627. He came to Boston in 1631 to escape persecution by Archbishop Laud. Williams was banished from the colony because of his views on the separation of the church and state. The following resolution was passed concerning him. ''Whereas Mr. Roger Williams, one of the elders of the Church of Salem, hath broached and developed new and danger- ous opinions against the authority of magistrates.'' Vedder, p.289. He saw the inconsistency of the New England theocracy, where church and state so interblended, that there was a danger of both being lost. In 1638, Williams founded the Rhode Island colony which guaranteed religious liberty. Roger Williams was baptized by Ezekial Holliman in 1639, Williams then baptized Holliman and 10 others but later withdrew because he doubted the validity of his baptism. | Providence Church, 1639. This church, founded by Roger Williams, was split into two factions. The ArminianSix Principle Baptists led by Wickendon, Brown and Dexter and the Calvinistic group led by Olney which rejected the laying on of hands before baptism. This church disbanded about 1720. Presi- dent James Manning of Rhode Island College persuaded the majority of the congregation to adopt a Calvinistic confession. The Arminians left. This is regarded as the oldest Baptist church in America. Newport Church. The Newport church in Rhode Island was organized in 1638. Thus,claim is made that it is the oldest church,but the records go back to about 1648. It was founded by Dr. John Clarke, an immigrant from England.