• Jared Smith on Eldership

    Preface To The Teaching Transcripts

    The following articles are transcripts (with slight revisions) of my pulpit teachings between the years 2010-2013, given to the church meeting at Kensington Place, London, over which I was then pastor. In the Autumn of 2009, the church came under internal and external pressures to replace the pastoral office with a plural eldership, as advocated by the Reformed Baptists. Since this type of polity had never been practiced by the 150 year old church, I was not quick to adopt the system. Nevertheless, I was willing to make the change so long as the Scriptures sanctioned it. The arguments set forth by the plural eldership proponents were strong and convincing—on a biblical and practical level. However, there were a number of contradictions and unsettled issues…

  • Jared Smith On Various Issues,  The Earthen Vessel,  William Styles, A Guide To Church Fellowship (Complete)

    Spurgeonism And The Strict And Particular Baptists

    Dear Sir,—For some time I have felt the need of a few straight and honest words on this subject, for the instruction both of brethren who are not sentimentally with us; and also of some of the members of our own Churches. The principles which distinguish us as a section of the Baptist denomination seem to be but little known. Our own friends manifest far less determination than they used, in contending for the faith—while hardly a month passes, but I am entreated to advance the interests of brethren holding the late Mr. Spurgeon's creed, by introducing them to some of our vacant pulpits, as if their views and ours were all but identical and our differences were most immaterial and unimportant.

  • George Moyle

    A Pastoral Charge

    The Charge Delivered By Mr. G. Moyle, Baptist Minister, Of Rye Lane, Peckham, At The Ordination Of Mr. S. K. Bland, Of Cheshunt.  In the afternoon, Mr. Joseph Hamblin, late of Foot’s Cray, read a portion of scripture, and offered up sincere and earnest prayer for the pastor and people now united.  Mr. George Moyle, of Peckham, delivered The Charge, from 2 Timothy 2:24,25: “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient. In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth." These words were written by an inspired apostle, and must not therefore be considered as the words of man, but as they…

  • John E. Hazelton's Declaration Of Faith (Complete),  Personal Confessions

    A Declaration Of Faith

    The church of God should continually "contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” (Jude 3), and in these darkening and disastrous days, our testimony should not be like muffled bells, but clear and distinct. "The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle" (Ps 78:9). Was it cowardice, or expediency, or a fatal love of ease? We cannot but remember the words, "Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men" (Ps12:1). "Faithful," that is, men of truth; "Amen men," as Luther called them. Openness, as opposed to reticency, straightforwardness, thoroughness and steadfastness are qualities absolutely needed now; courage is required to call things by their…

  • Edward Hiscox's New Directory For Baptist Churches

    17 Infant Baptism

    The baptism of unconverted children and unconscious infants has become common through the Christian world. The Romish Church, the Greek Church, and most of the Protestant churches practise it. Yet Baptists condemn it as unscriptural, unreasonable and pernicious. They believe that repentance and faith should always precede baptism. Without these baptism has no significancy, and serves no religious purpose. Whenever these gracious exercises have been experienced, whether in young or old, the subject may be admitted to the holy ordinance of baptism. But never till he has believed. Infants incapable of faith are, therefore, unfit for baptism. Manifest Propositions. Baptists make and defend the following propositions respecting this practice: Prop. 1.—That there is in the New Testament neither precept nor example found to authorize or…

  • William Styles, A Guide To Church Fellowship (Complete)

    Article 29 – Conclusion

    Articles Of The Faith And Order Of A Primitive Or Strict And Particular Baptist Church Of The Lord Jesus Christ, Based On The Declaration Of Faith And Practice Of John Gill, D. D., 1720 XXIX. Conclusion. All and each of these doctrines and ordinances we consider ourselves under the greatest obligation to embrace, maintain, and defend; believing it to be our duty and privilege to “stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel.” And whereas we are very sensible that our “conversation," both in the Church and in the World, ought to be “as becometh the gospel of Christ,” we judge it our incumbent duty to “walk in wisdom towards them that are without and to exercise…