History of the English Calvinistic Baptists 1771-1892: From John Gill to C.H. Spurgeon

by Robert W Oliver

The aim of this book is to trace the story of the English Calvinistic Baptists from the death of John Gill in 1771 to that of Charles Haddon Spurgeon in 1892. It deals not only with the well-known figures in this community's history- theological giants like John Gill, Andrew Fuller, William Gadsby, and Charles Spurgeon- but also with lesser-known lights-men like the hymn writer Benjamin Beddome, the eccentric John Collett Ryland, Abraham Booth, and John Stevens. Wide and deep reading in the writings of these men has given Dr. Robert Oliver an excellent grasp of their various theological perspectives.
No Christian community is without its controversies and the Calvinistic Baptists in the period covered by this book are no exception. Even-handedly and with one eye always on the Calvinistic Baptist roots in the seventeenth century- well summed up by The Second London Confession of Faith- the author details the controversies that at times wracked this community. Who may take the Lord's Supper? What is the role of the law in the Christian life? Is there biblical warrant for making free offers of the gospel to all and sundry? None of these issues are minor matters and should not be ignored by Christians today. The thinking of these Baptist worthies is therefore still of great value.
Unlike some contemporary historians, Robert Oliver is rightly convinced that the devlopment of the Strict and Particular strand of this community in the nineteenth century is not a stagnant backwater that is best forgotten. Even though the churches of this persuasion were not as balanced as their seventeenth and eighteenth-century forebears, there was a spiritual vitality to this group that needs remembering and Oliver has given us a rich overview of the thought and activities of these English Calvinistic Baptists.

Genres: History, Church History, Theology

410 pages, Hardcover

First published April 30, 2006

Reviews

[Stephen Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

An impressive history and well worth the investment of credobaptists who wish to understand their history, at least as it's found in England in this period. The primary pastors and leaders are described in detail, and Dr. Oliver provides excellent context for the various doctrinal disputes which plagued the church. From the communion controversy to the antinomian controversy to the Hyper-Calvinism of the day, this book gives penetrating insight to the biblical arguments and their results. It's an exceptional book that does not just give history but gives something much more valuable: the wisdom of theological evaluation from a sober-minded and sympathetic onlooker.

Though there were so many sad tales of division and doctrinal deviation from the truth, undermining the united cause for the gospel, it was encouraging to see how many deeply cared about defending the truth. However, many of the issues could have been easily solved if more of these men did what Spurgeon did toward the end of the period and embraced the faith of their fathers confessed in the Second London Baptist Confession. It is always unfortunate when confessionalism loses the day, and this book is yet another testimony to that reality.

I'm really grateful for this book, and will be sure to consult it again. The discussion concerning open vs. closed communion was of particular interest to me, and I think more credobaptists, at least non-denominational ones, should think more carefully about this.

[Timothy Crockett · Rating 5 out of 5]

An honest reading of church history could clear up so much confusion. While not a comprehensive treatment of Reformed/Calvinistic Baptists, it certainly covers some ground given the earnest inquirer material for a history or theological study/project.

Well-written, informative, and brief, this book provides insight into the loudest voices among the Baptists, including John Gill, Philpot, Andrew Fuller, Spurgeon, and so on. The areas of concern in the 18th and 19th centuries centered around Calvinism, Arminianism, Antinomianism, and Open vs. Closed Communion. Baptism was another subject covered, especially concerning whether someone should take communion if they haven't been baptized.

My reason for reading this book springs from my desire to learn about my true historic Baptist roots and the more I read the more I have history behind me both from church polity and theological perspective.

I would highly recommend this book. It is just over 370 pages well footnoted and with quite an extensive bibliography.

[Mark Joubert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oliver provides an enlightening flyover of the Particular Baptists and their doctrinal formation over the course of the 18th and 19th centuries. Perhaps without explicitly setting out to make this argument, Oliver demonstrates why confessional commitment is so important to orthodoxy. Had the Baptists hearkened to the "faith of their fathers" (as expressed in the London 1689) with greater care, they may have had a better foundation for fighting off the Hyper-Calvinism, Antinomianism, and Arminianism that plagued them repeatedly, as well as the inter-deonimnational disputes that came out of a lack of theological precision.

That said, it is a story of how God preserved a remnant of theological orthodoxy and used the Baptists to spark a renewed emphasis in mission. Highly recommend!

[Matthew Prydden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book covers quite a niche, yet very important, area of Church history, that covers such issues as Baptist history, Calvinism, Hyper-Calvinism, and Communion ideas, amongst others. Well written, and very well researched, Oliver has put together a work of great importance. The closing chapter, on Spurgeon's importance in light of what had come before, left me with an even greater appreciation of someone who was already one of my favourite figures from Church history.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fills in a lot of blanks in my understanding of these spiritual ancestors of mine. I appreciate the careful distinction between Hyper-Calvinism and Calvinism, but I wish there had been an introductory doctrinal section where the author justified his nomenclature and his approach. Based on the publisher being Banner of Truth, I pretty much knew what his approach was going to be, but I think it should have been made more clear inside the book.

[Jeremy Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book will introduce you to the English Baptists and the controversies among them from John Gill to Charles Spurgeon. The main controversies were hyper-calvinism, closed v. open communion, and doctrinal antinomianism. Sadly, some also rejected the eternal generation of the Son of God. Most of these errors would have been resolved if these Baptists had committed themselves and their churches to the Second London Confession, which was mostly ignored at the time.

[Cody Cunningham · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re wanting to understand the development of English Baptist theology and practice during the 18th and 19th centuries, this is an invaluable resource. The book certainly does not exhaust the figures and controversies that it addresses, but readers can use this one as a springboard to further research.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of the slide into Hyper Calvinism amongst he English particular baptists and the emergence of Spurgeon and evangelistic Calvinism.
It was a different age where even hypers like Gadsby and Wells has huge thriving churches of over a thousand strong congregations.

[Josh Anders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good book if you’re interested in Baptist history. Really interesting to see the main controversies in the 18th and 19th centuries were focused on hyper-Calvinism and open communion, vastly different than the issues you see among Baptists today with dispensationalism and Arminianism.

[Philip Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Basically about scraps about 'duty faithism,' antinomianism, and closed communion. My appreciation for Andrew Fuller has grown. I think his take on the atonement is exactly right.

[Nicholas Abraham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really helpful review of key people and themes of the English Particular Baptists from Gill to Spurgeon.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating book. Unfortunately, it doesn't do what the title suggests. If it were then the history of the Calvinistic baptists would be one dispute after another.

There were a number of debates among the Calvinistic Baptists. These were over: the nature of communion: open or closed (chapter 4); Andrew Fuller’s The Gospel Worthy of All Acceptance (1785) and its challenge to the dominant Hyper-Calvinism. Fuller maintained that gospel preaching must include exhortations to all to repent and believe (chapter 5); and the Antinomian controversy: the relationship of the Christian to the moral law (Chapter 6). The book ably covers the key disputants in the controversies that marked out the Particular Baptists from the General Baptists.

The second part of the book looks more specifically at four key players: Andrew Fuller (Chapter 8), Abraham Booth (Chapter 8), William Gadsby (Chapter 9) and John Stevens (Chapter 10).

In part three the proliferation of Strict Baptist magazines are examined as well as the different organisations. The final chapter on Spurgeon feels more like an add on rather than an integral part of the book.

As I was reading the book I kept wondering what Oliver’s views were - they are not obvious form the text. I wish he had made his own views more explicit, that way any possible (and inevitable) bias can more easily be detected.

Oliver’s book was originally his 1985 London Bible College PhD thesis - but it took some time to be published - primarily to overcome his reluctance to publish. I am glad that it was as it provides a much needed insight into the Calvinistic Baptists.

Review first appeared here: http://stevebishop.blogspot.co.uk/201...