Jarrel - Baptist Church Perpetuity - Landmark Baptist

Kurtz:
“The little town of Albi in the district of Albigeois, was regarded as the great
center of the party, whence the name of Albigenses.” f258
The Encyclopedia Britannica says of the Albigenses: “The descent may be
traced with tolerable distinctness from the Paulicians.” f256 Dr. Carl Schmidt,
an eminent German authority of Strasburg, speaking of their being called
Albigenses, says:
“Before that time the sect was spoken of as Publicants or Publicani, probably
a corruption of the name Paulicians, which the Crusaders had brought back
from Western Europe.” f260
To the charge that the Albigenses held to Manichaeism, I reply:
(1.) By reminding the reader of Vedder’s words beginning this article.
(2.) That, as they are identical with the Paulicians, the refutation of this
charge, in Chapter XI., is the refutation of this charge against the Albigenses.
(3.) To this I add the following: Robinson, one of the most careful and reliable
historians, did not sufficiently credit the charge to affirm it. His cautious
words are: “The Albigenses were Manichaeans, or nearly so,” “Nearly so” is
not “so.” f261 There are certain modified forms of Manichaeism which, while
erroneous, would not unchurch any party. Mosheim says that those who held
to Manichaeism held it “differently interpreted and modified by different
doctors.” f262 Prof. Carl Schmidt says: “The representations which Roman
Catholic writers, their bitter enemies, have given them, are highly
exaggerated.” f259 Even admitting them slightly tainted with Manichaeism,
since they lived in an age of little thought and learning, it would no more
affect their claims to be churches of Christ than slight errors of the head,
especially of the unlearned, now unchurch. (See Chapter V. of this book.)
(4.) But there is no proof conclusive that the Albigenses were so much as
tainted with Manichaeaism. Wadington, speaking of the great Romish
controversialists attempt to blacken their characters, (Bishop Bossuett)
observes: “He has failed to prove their Manichean origin — still more their
Manichaean doctrine.
… He calls them indeed ‘new’ Manichaeans and admits that ‘they had
softened some of their errors.’ But they had parted with the characteristic
error, or in fact they never held it.’” f263
On p. 291 Wadington observes:
“Manichaeism was the frightful term employed to express their delinquency;
but it is more probable that their real offence was the adoption of certain
mystical notions, proceeding, indeed, from feelings of the most earnest piety,
but too spiritual to be tolerated in that age and in that church.” f264