1689 London Baptist Confession?

[DeclareHim]

My question basically is what Baptist groups were involved in the creation and signing of the 1689 Baptist confession of faith? Thanks before hand.

 

[Gold Dragon]

Reformed Reader : London Baptist Confession of 1689

Preface

We, the ministers and messengers of, and concerned for, upwards of one hundred baptized congregations in England and Wales (denying Arminianism), being met together in London, from the third of the seventh month to the eleventh of the same, 1689, to consider of some things that might be for the glory of God and the good of these congregations, have thought meet (for the satisfaction of all other Christians that differ from us in the point of baptism) to recommend to their perusal Confession of Our Faith, granted for and sold by John Marshall, at the Bible in Grace-church-street, which Confession we own as containing the doctrine of our faith and practice; and do desire that the members of our churches respectively do furnish themselves therewith.

Hanserd Knollys Pastor Broken Wharf London
William Kiffin Pastor Devonshire-square London
John Harris Pastor Joiner's Hall London
William Collins Pastor Petty France London
Hercules Collins Pastor Wapping London
Robert Steed Pastor Broken Wharf London
Leonard Harrison Pastor Limehouse London
George Barret Pastor Mile End Green London
Isaac Lamb Pastor Pennington-street London
Richard Adams Minister Shad Thames Southwark
Benjamin Keath Pastor Horse-lie-down Southwark
Andrew Gifford Pastor Bristol, Fryars Som. & Glouc.
Thomas Vaux Pastor Broadmead Som. & Glouc.
Thomas Winnel Pastor Taunton Som. & Glouc.
James Hitt Preacher Dalwood Dorset
Richard Tidmarsh Minister Oxford City Osen
William Facey Pastor Reading Berks
Samuel Buttel Minister Plymouth Devon
Christopher Price Minister Abergavenny Monmouth
Daniel Finch Minister Kingsworth Herts
John Ball Minister Tiverton Devon
Edmond White Pastor Evershall Bedford
William Pritchard Pastor Blaenau Monmouth
Paul Fruin Minister Warwick Warwick
Richard Ring Pastor Southampton Hants
John Tompkins Minister Abingdon Berks
Toby Willes Pastor Bridewater Somerset
John Carter Steventon Bedford
James Webb Devizes Wilts.
Richard Sutton Pastor Tring Herts
Robert Knight Pastor Stukeley Bucks
Edward Price Pastor Hereford-City Hereford
William Phipps Pastor Exon Devon
William Hankins Pastor Dimmock Gloucester
Samuel Ewer Pastor Hemstead Herts
Edward Man Pastor Houndsditch London
Charles Archer Pastor Hick-Norton Oxon

In the name and behalf of the whole assembly.

...

 

[Rhetorician]

DeclareHim,

The Particular (read Calvinists) Baptist of the era. If you read the Presbyterian Confessions of the time you will see the common influence of Particular Redemption on both groups.

This is plainly seen in the denial or Arminianism.

sdg!

rd

 

[TomVols]

the 1689 is about as rich of a confession as you'll find. I hold it and the "Abstract of Principles" in the highest regard.

 

[Calvibaptist]

TomVols,

Good to see someone else I agree with on this board!

 

[DeclareHim]

So were there denominations of Baptist in 1689? I know there must have been at least two because the Arminians would not have signed the above. Were the majority of Baptist involved with the 1689 Confession?

 

[Gold Dragon]

Originally posted by DeclareHim:
So were there denominations of Baptist in 1689? I know there must have been at least two because the Arminians would not have signed the above. Were the majority of Baptist involved with the 1689 Confession?

I don't believe there were formal baptist conventions or associations at that time. But the primary division of that time were between Particular (Calvinistic) and General (Arminian) baptists. The 1689 confession was signed by particular baptists in England.

 

[rsr]

Hard to tell at that point whether the General Baptists (who held to general, or unlimited, atonement) or the Particular Baptists (who held to particular, or limited, atonement) were in the majority at that time; the Generals, for example, were numerous in the Midlands, as opposed to the London area.

Both groups had grown in the early 17th century and were plagued by persecution under the later Stuarts. After the 1689 confession, the Generals declined more rapidly than the Particulars and almost disappeared in England.

The split among the Baptists long predates 1689. The Helwys confession of 1611 owes more to Arminianism than Calvinism. The 1644-46 First London Confession is Calvinistic, as is the 1689 London Confession. The Midland Generals issued The Faith and Practice of Thirty Congregations in 1651, which leans toward unlimited atonement.

 

[rsr]

Formal Baptist associations date from at least the mid-17th century, as evidenced by the Midlands Confession. The Generals had a national general assembly by 1653.

 

[Gold Dragon]

Thanks for the correction and information, rsr.

 

[OldRegular]

Originally posted by TomVols:
the 1689 is about as rich of a confession as you'll find. I hold it and the "Abstract of Principles" in the highest regard.

Me too!

 

[whatever]

Originally posted by TomVols:
the 1689 is about as rich of a confession as you'll find. I hold it and the "Abstract of Principles" in the highest regard.

Me three!! Now the Vols on the other hand ....

 

[Russ Kelly]

Great information. Thanks guys.
From my reading of the early confessions I conclude that the pastors were self-supporting. They had very limited support from the congregation. Do you agree?

 

[npetreley]

Me four.

Remember also that they used Martin Luther's confession as a starting point or reference when creating this confession. So it is misleading to imply that this was created out of the minds of Particular "Calvinist" baptists, unless you want to lump Martin Luther into that category.

 

[Gold Dragon]

Originally posted by npetreley:
Remember also that they used Martin Luther's confession as a starting point or reference when creating this confession. So it is misleading to imply that this was created out of the minds of Particular "Calvinist" baptists, unless you want to lump Martin Luther into that category.

English Particular baptist created and signed the 1689 confession. They were obviously strongly influenced by the Reformed Westminister Confession of Faith.

However, they were also influenced by many other theologies of their day of which Luther is definitely a prominent one. Do we also need to mention the influence of Wycliff and the Lollards on Luther the influence of Augustine on Calvin, etc? How far back do we need to go? I think it is assumed that the particular baptists who created the 1689 confession were influenced by many of their contemporaries as well as theologians before them.

 

[nate]