Jarrel - Baptist Church Perpetuity - Landmark Baptist

stood firm, testifying to the truth as it is in Jesus, none deserve more love and
more gratitude than the Baptist churches of America. In that church the faith
of our fathers has never received a shock, nor been moved. Faithful in the
field, enterprising, and for the last quarter of a century, with growing
enterprise towards education, and now affording some of the ripest scholars in
Biblical literature, which the world knows, and thousands of ministers that are
second to none in zeal and success,”
J. L. Winthrow, D.D., of Chicago, one of the most prominent of American
Presbyterians:
“I suppose there is not a denomination — I speak in no fulsome praise but
literally — I think there is not a denomination of Evangelical christians that is
thoroughly as sound theologically as the Baptist denomination. I believe it.
After care-fully considering it I believe I speak the truth. Sound as my own
denomination is, sound as some others are, and I do not cast unfriendly
reflections upon any particular denomination, I do say, in my humble
judgment, there is not an Evangelical denomination in America to-day that is
as true to the simple, plain gospel of God, as it is recorded in the Word of
God, as the Baptist denomination.”
John Hall, D.D., who is perhaps the most prominent Presbyterian preacher in
America, not long ago, said:
“There is a tendency to heap censure on the Baptists of this country, because
of their views. generally held and acted upon regarding the Lord’s Supper.
‘Close Communion’ is being assailed by many in the interests of Catholicity.
It is a doubtful Catholicity to raise a popular cry against a most valuable body
of people, who honestly and consistently go through what they deem an
important principle. Our love for our brethren should surely include the
Baptist brethren. And it is doubtful considering the lengths to which liberal
ideas in this country have been carried, if there be not some gain to the
community as a whole from a large denomination making a stand at a
particular point, and reminding their brethren that there are church matters
which we are not bound, and not even at liberty, to settle according to popular
demand, as we would settle the route of a railroad.”
Baptists by taking their “stand” where, in crying “non-essential,” the enemy
makes his opening assaults on the faith, have thus guarded the precious gospel
and been of inestimable blessing to all churches, and to the whole world. Thus
Baptist influence on other denominations is more than ample justification for
their existence.
(3.) As to freedom, Baptist fruit has ever been only good.
Starting from their great principles, that religion is a personal matter between
the soul and God only, and that every Christian is a priest to God, Baptists
have always and inevitably, opposed parent, church or State, making the