J.M. Carroll > Quotes

“For I certify unto every man that heareth the words of this book, if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book. And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the Holy City, and from the things which are written in the book." (Rev. 22:18, 19)”
― J.M. Carroll, The Trail of Blood: Following the Christians down through the centuries -- or, The history of Baptist churches from the time of Christ, their founder, to the present day

“One departure from New Testament teachings lead inevitably to others.”
― J.M. Carroll, The Trail of Blood: Following the Christians down through the centuries -- or, The history of Baptist churches from the time of Christ, their founder, to the present day

“The name "Baptist" is a "nickname," and was given to them by their enemies (unless the name can be rightfully attributed to them as having been given to them by the Savior Himself, when He referred to John as "The Baptist"). To this day, the name has never been officially adopted by any group of Baptists. The name, however, has become fixed and is willingly accepted and proudly borne. It snugly fits. It was the distinguishing name of the forerunner of Christ, the first to teach the doctrine to which the Baptists now hold.”
― J.M. Carroll, The Trail of Blood: Following the Christians down through the centuries -- or, The history of Baptist churches from the time of Christ, their founder, to the present day

“MARKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH" Its Head and Founder--CHRIST. He is the law-giver; the Church is only the executive. (Matt. 16:18; Col. 1:18) Its only rule of faith and practice--THE BIBLE. (II Tim. 3:15-17) Its name--"CHURCH," "CHURCHES." (Matt. 16:18; Rev. 22:16) Its polity--CONGREGATIONAL--all members equal. (Matt. 20:24-28; Matt. 23:5-12) Its members--only saved people. (Eph. 2:21; I Peter 2:5)”
― J.M. Carroll, The Trail of Blood: Following the Christians down through the centuries -- or, The history of Baptist churches from the time of Christ, their founder, to the present day

“The churches in their government and discipline to be entirely separate and independent of each other, Jerusalem to have no authority over Antioch -- nor Antioch over Ephesus; nor Ephesus over Corinth, and so forth. And their government to be congregational, democratic. A government of the people, by the people, and for the people.”
― J.M. Carroll, The Trail of Blood: Following the Christians down through the centuries -- or, The history of Baptist churches from the time of Christ, their founder, to the present day

“The Catholics, strange as it may seem, accused all who refused to depart from the faith with them, believe with them--accused them of being heretics, and then condemned them as being heretics.”
― J.M. Carroll, The Trail of Blood: Following the Christians down through the centuries -- or, The history of Baptist churches from the time of Christ, their founder, to the present day

“Some of the bishops or pastors began to assume authority not given them in the New Testament. They began to claim authority over other and smaller churches. They, with their many elders, began to lord it over God's heritage (III John 9). Here was the beginning of an error which has grown and multiplied into many other seriously hurtful errors. Here was the beginning of different orders in the ministry running up finally to what is practiced now by others as well as Catholics. Here began what resulted in an entire change from the original democratic policy and government of the early churches. This irregularity began in a small way, even before the close of the second century. This was possibly the first serious departure from the New Testament church order.”
― J.M. Carroll, The Trail of Blood: Following the Christians down through the centuries -- or, The history of Baptist churches from the time of Christ, their founder, to the present day

“is well to note also that in order to prevent the spread of any view of any sort, contrary to those of the Catholics very extreme plans and measures were adopted. First, all writings of any sort, other than those of the Catholics, were gathered and burned.”
― J.M. Carroll, The Trail of Blood: Following the Christians down through the centuries -- or, The history of Baptist churches from the time of Christ, their founder, to the present day

“John Bunyan, a Baptist preacher -- John Bunyan, twelve years in Bedford jail -- John Bunyan the author while confined in jail, of the most celebrated and most widely circulated book, next to the Bible, in the whole world. "Pilgrim's Progress" -- John Bunyan, one of the most notable of all examples of the bitterness of Christian persecution.”
― J.M. Carroll, The Trail of Blood: Following the Christians down through the centuries -- or, The history of Baptist churches from the time of Christ, their founder, to the present day

“Baptismal regeneration" and "infant baptism." These two errors have, according to the testimony of well-established history, caused the shedding of more Christian blood, as the centuries have gone by, than all other errors combined, or than possibly have all wars, not connected with persecution, if you will leave out the recent "World War." Over 50,000,000 Christians died martyr deaths, mainly because of their rejection of these two errors during the period of the "dark ages" alone -- about twelve or thirteen centuries.”
― J.M. Carroll, The Trail of Blood: Following the Christians down through the centuries -- or, The history of Baptist churches from the time of Christ, their founder, to the present day

“But persecutions did not then cease. The hated Ana-Baptists (called Baptists today), in spite of all prior persecutions, and in spite of the awful fact that fifty million had already died martyr deaths, still existed in great numbers. It was during this period that along one single European highway, thirty miles distance, stakes were set up every few feet along this highway, the tops of the stakes sharpened, and on the top of each stake was placed a gory head of a martyred Ana-Baptist. Human imagination can hardly picture a scene so awful! And yet a thing perpetrated, according to reliable history, by a people calling themselves devout followers of the meek and lowly Jesus Christ.”
― J.M. Carroll, The Trail of Blood: Following the Christians down through the centuries -- or, The history of Baptist churches from the time of Christ, their founder, to the present day

“Mark well! That neither Christ nor His apostles, ever gave to His followers, what is know today as a denominational name, such as "Catholic," "Lutheran," "Presbyterian," "Episcopal," and so forth -- unless the name given by Christ to John was intended for such, "The Baptist," "John the Baptist" (Matt. 11:”
― J.M. Carroll, The Trail of Blood: Following the Christians down through the centuries -- or, The history of Baptist churches from the time of Christ, their founder, to the present day

“The persecutions by the established Roman Catholic Church are hard, cruel and perpetual. The war of intended extermination follows persistently and relentlessly into many lands, the fleeing Christians. A "Trail of Blood" is very nearly all that is left anywhere. Especially throughout England, Wales, Africa, Armenia, and Bulgaria.”
― J.M. Carroll, The Trail of Blood: Following the Christians down through the centuries -- or, The history of Baptist churches from the time of Christ, their founder, to the present day