Jarrel - Baptist Church Perpetuity - Landmark Baptist

there were many Baptist CHURCHES in the kingdom at the time. This is also
clear from the fact that the Duke of Northumberland advised that Mr. John
Knox should be invited to England and made a bishop, that he might aid in
putting down the Baptists in Kent.: “Marsden tells us that in the days of
Elizabeth ‘the Anabaptists were the most numerous, and, for some time, by
far the most formidable opponents of the church. They are said to have
existed in England since the days of the Lollards.’ In the year 1575 a most
severe persecution was raised against the Anabaptists of London, ten of whom
were condemned, eight ordered to be banished and two to be executed. …
Neither front Elizabeth, James or Charles the I. had our brethren any measure
of favor. No treatment was thought to be too severe for them; even good men
execrated them as heretics for whom the severest measures were too gentle.
Had it been possible to destroy this branch of the true vine, assuredly the
readiest means were used without hindrance or scruple. Yet it not only lives
on, but continues to bear fruit a hundred fold … When Charles the I. was
unable any longer to uphold episcopacy, liberty of thought and freedom of
speech were somewhat more common than before, and the Baptists increased
very rapidly. Many of them were in Cromwell’s army. … The time will
probably arrive when history will be re-written.”
Says Robinson:
“I have seen enough to convince me that the present English dissenters,
contending for the sufficiency of Scripture, and for primitive Christian liberty
to judge of its meaning, may be traced in authentic manuscripts to the
Nonconformists, to the Puritans, to the Lollards, to the Vallences, to the
Albigenses, and, I suspect, through the Paulicians and others to the Apostles.”
f767
Thus, an eminent secular historian says that he is convinced of the succession
from the apostles of those whom my previous articles have proved were
Baptist churches.
Evans:
“Dissidents from the popular church in the early ages … were found
everywhere. Men of apostolic life and doctrine contended for the simplicity of
the church and the liberty of Christ’s flock in the midst of great danger. …
The Novatians, the Donatists and others that followed them are examples. …
That these early separatists taught doctrines now held by the Baptists, might
be made to appear from their own works and the statements of their
adversaries. … A succession of able and intrepid men taught the same great
principles in opposition to a corrupt and affluent State church, and many of
these taught those peculiar views of Christian life and doctrine which are
special to us as Baptists. Beyond all doubt such views were inculcated by the
Paulicians, the primitive Waldenses and their brethren. Over Europe they
were scattered and their converts were very numerous long before the
Reformation.” f768