This book traces the story of the English Calvinistic Baptists from the death of John Gill in 1771 to that of Charles Haddon Spurgeon in 1892. It deals not only with the well-known digures in this community's history'theological giants like John Gill, Andrew Fuller, Wiliam Gadsby, and Charles Spurgeon'but also with lesser-known lights, men like the hymn writer Benjamin Beddome, the eccentric John Collett Ryland, Abraham Booth, and John Stevens. 'Wide and deep reading in the writings of these men has given Dr. Robert Oliver an excellent grasp of thier various theological perspectives...a...masterfull book." (Dr. Michael A. G. Haykin)

The Baptist Story is a narrative history of a diverse group of people spanning over four centuries, living among distinct cultures on separate continents, while finding their common identity in Christ and expressing their faith as Baptists.

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Baptists, and have been reluctantly compelled to reply there is no history of the English Baptists in print. The works of Crosby, Ivimey and Evans, good as far as they go, have long been out of print. The collecting of materials for this Story was commenced years ago at the suggestion of my friend and colleague upon the London School Board, Dr. Angus. The information grew to such proportions that I had to choose between a detailed history in three or four volumes and a popular story. I hope that this recital of the deeds of the noble dead will not only supply a demand, but create a desire for ampler information. Great care has been taken to secure accuracy in every detail, but this is intended to be a story rather than a detailed history. No one is more conscious of its omissions than I am. Some ancient legends which have done much to justify the dictum that history is fable agreed upon have been excluded. I am indebted to Dr. Dixon, of the MSS. Department of the British Museum, Mr. Atkinson, of the Public Records Office, Rev. J.B. Myers, and Mr. G.E. Evans for their ready assistance. If young Baptists, by meditating upon the portraits of their ancestors, catch something of their splendid heroism and deathless faith and are made stronger to wage the old war against unrighteousness, I shall have my reward. --

When John Smyth organized the first Baptist church, he wanted to establish the New Testament church; believer's baptism was the missing link. Baptists of subsequent eras often continued the search to embody New Testament Christianity. Alongside the quest for the New Testament church (and congregational community), Weaver especially highlights the Baptist commitment to religious liberty and the individual conscience. Both chronological and thematic, this book addresses such themes as the role of women, the social gospel, ecumenism, charismatic influences, and theological emphases in Baptist life.

Through this new edition, Bebbington orients readers and expands their knowledge of the Baptist community as it continues to flourish around the world.--John Briggs, President of the Baptist Hictorical Society "Baptist Quarterly"

Edification and Beauty describes the practical application of confessional theological principles among English Particular Baptists at the close of the seventeenth century. It examines the theological summary of their views as contained and expressed in the Second London Confession (1677/89), fleshed out in various published works, and recorded in manuscript church books. It describes in detail a wide variety of ecclesiological practices, demonstrating that these churches and their leaders sought to work out in practice the principles they publicly confessed. The book demonstrates that confessional subscription was taken seriously and practiced carefully within the Particular Baptist churches.