Jarrel - Baptist Church Perpetuity - Landmark Baptist

enefit. Thieves and vagabonds shared the king’s favor, but Baptists were not
to be tolerated. … Among the ‘Articles of Visitation’ issued by Ridley in his
own diocese, in 1550, was the following: Whether any of the Anabaptist sect,
or other, use notoriously any unlawful or private conventicles, wherein they
use the doctrines of the administration of sacraments, f752 separating
themselves from the rest of the parish.” f753
Quoting from Cardwell’s Documentary Annals of the Church of England, vol.
1, p. 91:
“A royal commission was issued by Edward the VI, empowering thirty-one
persons therein named, Cranmer at the head and Latimer as one of its
members, to proceed against all heretics and condemners of the Book of
Common Prayer. The ‘wicked opinions’ of the Baptists are specifically
mentioned.” f754
“But they could not put down the Baptists, who grew and flourished in spite
of them. Congregations were discovered in Essex, at Feversham, in Kent, and
other places. … They met regularly for worship and instruction; the
ordinances of the gospel were attended to, f752 contributions were made for the
support of the cause, and so great was their zeal that those who lived in Kent
were known to go, occasionally, into Essex to meet the brethren there — a
journey of four score miles, which in the sixteenth century was no small
undertaking. … This, however, is clear, that they were Anabaptists.”
“There were many Baptists among the sufferers in Queen Mary’s reign. Some
endured painful imprisonments, and some passed to heaven through the fire.”
f755
Under Queen Elizabeth,
“Bishop Jewell … writing to Peter Martyr, under date of November 6, 1560,
said: ‘We found at the beginning of the reign of Elizabeth a large and
auspicious corps … of Anabaptists, … which I know not how, but as mushrooms
spring up.’ Many Baptists continued to elude the proclamation, to
depart from the country. ‘Persons holding these views were still in the realm.
And they continued to seek shelter in England from persecution, but the
Queen and her minions were indefatigable in their attempts to ferret them out
and drive them away. … Permitted or not, however, they were there and they
were neither idle nor unsuccessful.’ Collier, the ecclesiastical historian, says:
‘The Dutch Anabaptists held private conventicles in London, and perverted a
great many.’” f756
In the ancient town of Leicester, England, in the upper part of an old town hall,
is a library in which are some very ancient works. Several years ago was
discovered a MS. against the Baptists, on the title page of which is: “Imprinted
at London, by G.B. Deputie to Christopher Barker, printer to the Queen’s most
excellent majesty, 1589.” It reads: