1. BAPTIST HISTORY Lesson 10 Decline 1689-1770

2. 1689 Glorious Revolution Act of Toleration Challenges to Religion Overall A. Deism Deism: The view that God created the universe but has not been involved with it after finishing creation Somewhat friendly as it helped men in a general, rational way Contains some good moral points Openly antagonistic because it offends reason B. Latitudinarian Theology Reason coupled with the Holy Spirit is sufficient for all religious activity C. Incomprehensible Apologetics

3. Decline of General Baptists A. Connectional Church Government B. Introverted and petty concerns C. Unpaid and untrained ministry D. Lifetime pastorates E. Geographical Distribution F. Socinianism Socinianism: The view of Faustus Socinus (1539-1604) that denied the divinity of Christ and the penal-substitution view of the atonement

4. Decline of Particular Baptists NOTE: Pastor Jeff Smith’s two sermons “Had matters gone on but for a few more years, the Baptists would have become a perfect dunghill in society” Andrew Fuller 220 churches in 1700-1710 150 churches in 1750! “The harvest is great, and faithful and painful ministers are few…and what adds to the sorrow is that there are so few rising to fill the places of those that are removed: few that come forth with the same spirit, and are zealously attached to the truths of the everlasting gospel”John Gill A. Influence of Hyper Calvinism B. Undue inward focus Churches excessively focused on the maintenance of their congregational life M A G Haykin

5. “a garden enclosed” Song of Solomon 4;12 “ A garden locked is my sister, my bride, a spring locked, a fountain sealed” C. Controversies over more or less Minor Issues 1. Singing! 2. Closed verses open membership & communion “ We…are not in full accord among ourselves.” That I deny the ordinance of baptism, or that I have placed one piece of an argument against it, though they feign it, is quite without colour of truth. All I say is, That the church of Christ hath not warrant to keep out of their communion the Christian that is discovered to be a visible saint by the word, the Christian that walketh according to his light with God. John Bunyan, Differences in Water Baptism No Bar to Communion

6. D. Negative attitudes toward the Evangelical Revival F. Opposition to ‘Enthusiasm’ E. Misplaced interpretation of ‘the latter day glory’