Jarrel - Baptist Church Perpetuity - Landmark Baptist

church. … I cannot be conscientiously any longer tied to the intense
literalness of the sect. So I join the Congregationalists.” f1050
This reminds us of John Calvin’s words, when he was originating the
Presbyterian church and substituting the change of “men” for God’s plain
word:
“Whether the person who is to be baptized be wholly immersed, and whether
thrice or once, or whether water be only poured or sprinkled upon him is of no
importance; churches ought to be left at liberty in this respect, to act
according to the difference of countries. The very word baptize, however,
signifies to immerse; and it is CERTAIN that immersion was the practice of the
ancient church.” f1051
A writer well says:
“A Pedobaptist minister, the other day, asked the writer why Baptists were so
orthodox on the question of eternal punishment, and other questions now
agitating the churches, while Congregationalists and others were becoming so
loose and unsound. The question is a suggestive one. The only Baptist
minister in in this vicinity, so far as we know, who has favored Universalism
and other errors is an open communion Baptist. The answer is not a difficult
one. We believe in the Word of God as the supreme authority. We dare not
put our wish in the place of. God’s word. We dare not talk of essentials and
non-essentials. We bow before every commend of the Lord Jesus. If men
make light of one command, why not of another? If in any particular we place
our authority above Christ’s why not in every particular? If a man will say,
‘Yes, Christ commands baptism on a profession of faith, but I think
something else will do, then the foundation of all authority is taken away. Our
only hope is unquestioning loyalty to the divine word.”
At the faithfulness of Baptists to the truth, without being constrained by
ecclesiastical authority over the churches, Baptist opponents stand in
admiration and wonder — not seeing that this is the logical result of the
Baptist starting point, faithfulness to God’s word. Dr. Charles Hodge once said
to a Baptist preacher:
“It has always appeared to me a remarkable fact in providence that, although
your church organization allows such freedom to the several congregations,
your ministers and people have ever been so distinguished for adherence to
sound doctrine. The experience of Congregationalists in New England is very
different from yours.”
Before the Congregational Union, Henry Ward Beecher said:
“Among all the churches whose flag, red with the blood of Calvary, has never
lowered or trailed in the dust of defection, who while the Congregational
church suffered eclipse, while the Presbyterians in England suffered eclipse,