Jarrel - Baptist Church Perpetuity - Landmark Baptist

“Oh lady fair. I have yet a gem, which purer lustre flings
Than the diamond flash of the jewelled crown on the lofty brow of kings;
A wonderful pearl of exceeding price, whose virtue shall not decay,
Whose light shall be as a spell to thee and a blessing on thy way?
The cloud went off from the Pilgrim’s brow as a small meagre book,
Unchased with gold or gem of cost, from his flowing robe he took.
Here, lady fair, is the pearl of price, may it prove as much to thee.
Nay, keep thy gold, I ask it not, for the Word of God is free.”
The reader here turn to and read pages 189-190 of this book — the statements
of Professors Osgood and Everts as to the ancient Baptists being missionary
Baptists.
But, the split between the Regular Baptists and the Anti-missionary Baptists
having occurred in the early part of the nineteenth century I will come to a
later and more historical period.
The London Confession, “put faith by the elders and brethren of many
congregations of Christians (baptized upon a profession of their faith) in
London and the country,” A.D. 1689, which both sides recognized and both
used as their main confession before the split, reads:
“The work of pastors being constantly to attend the service of Christ, in his
churches, in the ministry of the word and prayer, with watching for their souls
as those who must give an account to him; it is incumbent on the churches to
whom they minister, not only to give them all due respect, but ‘also to
communicate to them in all good things, according to their ability, so that
they may have a comfortable supply; without being themselves entangled in
secular affairs; and may also be capable of exercising hospitality towards
others; and this is required by the law of nature, and by the express order of
our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath ordained that they that preach the gospel
should live of the gospel.” f953
The General Association of “Particular” or “Calvinistic” Baptists of England
and Wales — the one which adopted the Confession, just quoted, which was
first f954 published in 1677 — which met “to consult of proper means to
advance the glory of God and the well being of their churches,” raised a fund
of money:
(1.) “To communicate thereof to those churches that are not able to maintain
their own ministry; and that their ministers be encouraged wholly to devote
themselves to the great work of preaching the gospel.
(2.) To send ministers that are ordained, or at least, solemnly called to preach
the gospel in both country and city where. the gospel hath or hath not yet been
preached, and to visit churches.