From Notes on the Principles and Practices of Baptist Churches

Squire Robertsson · Oct 3, 2006

The quote below is from Wayland's book published in 1857. in the early part of my ministry, at the end of the quotation refers to a period I think circa 1821 or a bit earlier.

It is, so far as I know, universally believed that this depravity came upon us through the sin of Adam. In regard to the manner of the transmission of depravity, there may have been some differences of opinion. The more common belief among us has been, that a man, in [page 18] consequence of his connection with Adam, is born with a sinful nature. There may be some who believe that from circumstances in our constitution, created by the fall of our first parents, every man becomes sinful, but the number of these is probably small. As to the fact of man's universal guilt and desert of punishment, there is no difference whatever.
The belief of the Baptists in regard to the Atonement has also been singularly uniform. They have always held, that salvation by works having by sin become utterly impossible, our only hope of eternal life rests upon the obedience and death of the Mediator, Christ Jesus. We are saved, not in virtue of what we have done, or can do, but merely and entirely in virtue of what Christ has done for us, and we become partakers of the salvation which he has wrought out for us, solely by repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus.
The extent of the atonement has been and still is a matter of honest but not unkind difference. Within the last fifty years a change has gradually taken place in the views of a large portion of our brethren. At the commencement of that period Gill's Divinity was a sort of standard, and Baptists imbibing his opinions were what may be called almost hyper-Calvinistic. A change commenced upon the publication of the writings of Andrew Fuller, especially his " Gospel Worthy of all Acceptation," which, in the northern and eastern States, has become almost universal. The old view still prevails, if I mistake not, in our southern and western States. This, however, does not interrupt the harmony which should subsist among brethren. Dr. Baldwin and Dr. Stillman differed in opinion on this subject; [page 19] the former following Fuller, the latter adhering to Gill. No two ministers, however, ever lived in more fraternal intercourse, exchanging with and aiding each other, and rejoicing in each other's prosperity, as it became the servants of one common Lord. I have known men believing the atonement to be limited, preach with great acceptance in New England, where the contrary belief prevails almost universally, and the contrary has been even more frequently the case. Men, in this respect, differ amicably; and it is found that when their hearts are warmed with the love of God and desire for the salvation of souls, they all preach very much alike.
It is difficult at the present day to conceive to what extent the doctrine of the limited atonement, and the views of election which accompanied it, were carried. I once knew a popular minister, who used to quote the passage, " God so loved the world," etc., by inserting the word elect before world: " God so loved the elect world," etc. I was, in the early part of my ministry, settled in a respectable town in Massachusetts. One of my members, a very worthy man, and the son of a Baptist minister, and reputed to be " very clear in the doctrines"-(this was the term applied to this form of belief) —had an interesting family wholly given up to worldliness. I wished to converse with them on the subject of personal religion, and mentioned to him my desire. He kindly but plainly told me that he did not wish any one to converse with his children on that subject. If they were elected, God would convert them in his own time; but if not, talking would do them no good, it would only make them hypocrites. He was, I believe, the last pillar of Gillism then remaining in the church.
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My point is what is generating a great deal of heat here is nothing new. It is simply the re-birth of an old discussion. But then, I look at the whole matter as a quest for balance. I have neither the desire to be a Gillite or a Free Will Baptist.

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From Notes on the Principles and Practices of Baptist Churches

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