AN OUTLINE OF BAPTIST PERPETUITY

Part 1: 1600-1800

 Compiled by Ron E. Pound

 

  1. John Spittlehouse, A Vindication of the Continued Succession of the Primitive Church of Jesus Christ, now Scandalously called Anabaptists; London 1652 (?).
  2. John More, Co-Worker with John Spittlehouse, aided him in his historical   works and other writings.
  3. Henry D’Anvers, A Treatise of Baptism, London 1673-75, with additional titles defending his work.  This may be considered as the first Particular work tracing Baptist Succession and Perpetuity.

Several Baptist writers defended Baptist succession and perpetuity in their works, though they did not write a Baptist History. When these earlier brethren wrote on baptism, they almost always included a section proving the perpetuity and succession of the true churches and ministers.

 

  1. John Spilsbury, God’s Ordinances, the Saints Privilege; London, 1646; A Treatise of the Lawful Subjects of Baptism, London 1643, 1652.
  2. Robert Garner, A Treatise of Baptism, London, 1646;
  3. Thomas Patience, The Doctrine of Baptism and the Distinction of the Covenants; Dublin; 1654 (?).
  4. Hansard Knollys, A Commentary on the Apocalypse, London; 1689.
  5. Edward Hutchinson,  Baptism and the Covenants (?) London, 1670s (?).
  6. H. Collins, Believers Baptism from Heaven, London; 1680s (?).
  7. Daniel King, The Way to Sion Sought Out and Found for Believers to walk in, 3 parts, London, 1652 (?) enlarged second edition Leith, 1656 (?).

Baptist writers of the 1600s often wrote on the Church, Ministry and Ordinances but not a specialist work on History. In these works they defended the continued succession of the gospel church and New Covenant system.   I shall list these.

 

1.William Kiffen, A Brief Remonstrance of the Reasons and Grounds of the Anabaptists for their Seperation; London; 1645.

2.John Mabbatt, A Brief or General Reply unto Mr. Knutton; London; 1645.

Here are Some Pedobaptist writers of the 1600s who documented identified the Baptists of the 1600s with the various Anabaptist groups of previous history:

 

  1. John Owen, the Concern Between the Anabaptists and the Baptists, 1663.
  2. Daniel Featly, The Dipper’s Dipt, London; 1645 (?).
  3. Robert Baillie, Anabaptism the True Foundation of Independency, London; 1646, (?).

 There will be much mateiral in the Marshall-Tombes book wars, but these may properly belong to the issue of Communion.