Jarrel - Baptist Church Perpetuity - Landmark Baptist

Armitage says:
“In view of the fact that Williams remained with the Baptists but three or four
months, some have seriously doubted whether he formed a church there after
that order at all.” f880
Prof. J.C. C. Clarke says:
“If Mr. Williams formed a Baptist church, no clear evidence of such act
remains.” f881
Dr. Dexter, a historical critic, who was a Congregationalist, says:
“But the denomination of Christians, known as Baptists, having canonized
him, although never such a Baptist as they are, and for but a very short period
of time a Baptist at all, have manifested great reluctance to give due
consideration to a large portion of the evidence bearing upon the case, etc.”
f882
Notice that only such a Baptist as is essentially the Baptist denomination is a
Baptist, and, that Dr. Dexter says that Williams was not that kind. No wonder
that Benedict says: “Many of the accounts of him would make him more of a
Quaker than anything else” — even though he wrote against the Quakers and
was never recognized as one of them. f883
S. Adlam, than whom no man has given this subject more investigation, says:
“I can see no evidence that Roger Williams, in the ordinary acceptation of the
term, established a Baptist church in Providence.” f884
Prof. J.C. C. Clarke says:
“Early in 1639 occurred Roger Williams brief and irregular assumption of
the Baptist name.” f885
Mr. Williams’ organization, soon after its origin, came to nothing.’ Cotton
Mather, who was Williams’ contemporary, says:
“He turned Seeker and Familist, and the church came to nothing.” f886
Armitage concedes:
“What became of Williams’ ‘society’ after he left is not very clear.”
Cotton Mather says:
“Whereupon his church dissolved themselves;” and Neal that “His church
hereupon crumbled to pieces.” f887