Jarrel - Baptist Church Perpetuity - Landmark Baptist

we know of them, that it is unworthy of notice. Says Dr. S.H. Ford: “Henry
was a Baptist.” f308 Vedder shows they were not Campbellites. He says: “A
third capital error,” the Romanist charged on them was they: “denied
sacramental grace.” f309 Though Vedder seems as much prejudiced against
Church Perpetuity, and more ready to credit slanders against some of our
Baptist ancestors than candid Pedobaptist writers are, the Petrobrussians were
so clearly Baptists, that he says:
“In the main, the beliefs attributed to them are such as are firmly held today
by Baptists the world over. The question is already practically answered, were
the Petrobrussians Baptists? In their main principles they certainly were.
Those, therefore, who attempt to trace the descent of modern Baptists through
the Petrobrussians have at least a plausible starting point. Anybody that holds
to the supremacy of the Scriptures, a spiritual church, and believers’ baptism,
is fundamentally one with the Baptist churches of to-day, whatever else it may
add to or omit from. the statement of its belief. Contemporary records have
been sought in vain to establish any essential doctrine taught by this
condemned sect that is inconsistent either with the leaching of the Scripture
or with the belief avowed in recent times by Baptists.” f310
Vedder, farther, says:
“There were other preachers of a pure gospel, nearly contemporary with Peter
de Bruys, and more or less closely connected with him. Henry of Lausanne
(1116-1150) is described by some as a disciple of Peter, though others insist
that he did not share Peter’s heresies. Certain it is that at one time; they were
close companions and the balance of evidence indicates that Henry of
Lausanne was powerfully influenced by his predecessor and co-laborer. …
He is described as a man of great dignity of person, of fiery eye, a thundering
voice, impetuous speech, mighty in the Scriptures. His preaching was largely
scriptural, and an exhortation to shun the prevalent corruption of life and seek
righteousness. … The words quoted from Bernard seem to prove that he
taught and practiced the baptism of believers only, while it is certain that he
held to the supreme authority of the Scriptures and rejected the authoritative
clauses of the tradition and the church.” f311
Dr. Armitage who has denounced: “Succession” as intemperately as any one
can well do, says:
“The term Cathari has been applied to another thoroughly Baptist sect … the
Petrobrussians. … In the Petrobrussians we find a sect of Baptists for which
no apology is needed. Peter of Bruis seized the entire Biblical presentation of
baptism and forced its teaching home upon the conscience and the life, by
rejecting the immersion of babes and insisting on the immersion of all
believers in Christ. … He held the church to be made up of a regenerated
people only, counted the bishops and priests, as he knew them, mere frauds;
and set aside all the ceremonial mummeries of the Romish hierarchy. He