You fellows are getting out of hand! I can't keep up.

I've gone through and done a little cutting and pasting to try and hit the high points.
Clint Kritzer quote: "The Baptist movement began, most believe, by a pair of Englishmen named Thomas Helwys and John Smyth who fled their country to Holland pursuing religious liberty from James I who mandated allegiance to the Church of England..." I think that the position we take on Baptist origins will affect how we categorize what constitutes basic Baptist doctrine. For example, if one accepts the English Separatist origins theory, he will not have to factor in any groups previous to the early 1600's. If one accepts the Spiritual Kinship Anabaptist origins theory, he will have to consider certain Anabaptist 'peculiarities'. There is a definite correlation between Shurden's 'four fragile freedoms' and the radical views of religious freedom held by the Anabaptists. If one accepts some kind of 'John-Jordan-Jerusalem' theory, he will have to deal also with the dissenting sects from AD? to the 1500's. I personally accept a view that Baptists are heirs of the church that Jesus built, and that 'baptistic' principles have never been out of existence among God's people through the ages. Though sometimes the stream may have flowed underground, I believe it flowed nevertheless. I find it a little amusing that some who are willing to accept almost anyone as Baptists today will not allow that any of the dissenting sects of antiquity could possibly be 'baptistic'. Would that they would extend the same liberality toward these old dissenters who endured many hardships and privations, as they do to the modern-day plethora of Baptists!
"We seem in agreement that the sacraments have nothing to do with salvation, however, I would never dare to keep one seeking salvation from the rite of baptism, even if it is in the non-standard way..." I do not want Bro. Jeff to be indicted in the sprinkling matter. It was I who stated I would rather accept them on faith alone than to use the practice of sprinkling for baptism. I think here I would apply my thoughts on soul freedom. If a person wants to be sprinkled, there are many churches who are willing to sprinkle him/her/them. I personally think if a person is physically unable to be baptized God will accept their heart. '...a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Psalm 51:17'
"...want to hear more about this foot(feet)washing." Here is a little more - feetwashing was practiced by some churches in the American Baptist Association and also the Baptist Missionary Association. It slowly dwindled among them. The last 'confirmed case' (sounds like a disease) was in the late 1950's. One local association of the BMA carried it in their articles of faith into the mid 1960's, but none will admit of its practice at that late a date. Also add the Ellijay association to non-affiliated Georgia groups that observe the practice. Feetwashing crops up frequently among groups that try to emulate New Testament doctrine and practice, and Baptists certainly fit that criteria.
Jeff Weaver quote: "Brother Robert, leave Uncle Jimmy Madison out of it." Well! an Anglican ancestor in a Baptist house! At least have the decency not to admit it

. Actually, I think highly of James Madison, at least as a political thinker; Don't really know much about his religion. "Have you read Daniel Fristoe's History of the Ketocton Association, 1766-1808? I think there is some reference in that work to Madison and Jefferson both taking some ideas of government from local Baptist congregations." Yes, I have read it (also Burkett's History of the Kehukee), but that was at least 20 years ago [when I was a baby, I'm only 43 now]. I do remember reading somewhere about Elder John Leland promising Madison the support of the Baptists in exchange for Madison's promise to support religious liberty in the Constitution. I have also read somewhere that Jefferson saw Baptist church governance as at least some of the democratic pattern for which he was looking.
Tyndale1946 quote: "I believe that God is the one that gives us the believability, if not we can believe in anything and usually do." If I understand you correctly, Bro. Glen, I certainly agree. This explains a lot of the widely divergent belief among men. 'This is the work of God, that you believe on him whom He hath sent.' 'He will guide you into all truth.' We have to be careful, though, that we not get where we think we alone are right and God is guiding us, but not others. I love this quote from Charles Spurgeon: "It seems odd that certain men who talk so much of what the Holy Spirit reveals to themselves, should think so little of what He has revealed to others."
Finally, it would make an interesting discussion at some point, if we could read
The Baptist Identity : Four Fragile Freedoms by Walter B. Shurden, and discuss some of it online.