Order and Ardor: The Revival Spirituality of Oliver Hart and the Regular Baptists in Eighteenth-Century South Carolina

by Eric C. Smith, Thomas S. Kidd (Foreword)

The origins of the Southern Baptist Convention, the world’s largest Protestant denomination, is most often traced back to the colorful, revivalist Separate Baptist movement that rose out of the Great Awakening in the mid-1700s. During that same period the American South was likewise home to the often-overlooked Regular Baptists, who also experienced a remarkable revitalization and growth. Regular Baptists combined a concern for orderly doctrine and church life with the ardor of George Whitefield’s evangelical awakening. In Order and Ardor, Eric C. Smith examines the vital role of Regular Baptists through the life of Oliver Hart, pastor of First Baptist Church in Charleston, South Carolina, a prominent patriot during the American Revolution, and one of the most important pioneers of American Baptists and American evangelicalism.

In this first book-length study of Hart’s life and ministry, Smith reframes Regular Baptists as belonging to an influential revival movement that contributed significantly to creating the modern Southern Baptist denomination, challenging the widely held perception that they resisted the Great Awakening. During Hart’s thirty-year service as the pastor of First Baptist Church, the Regular Baptists incorporated evangelical and revivalist values into their existing doctrine. Hart encouraged cooperative missions and education across the South, founding the Charleston Baptist Association in 1751 and collaborating with leaders of other denominations to spread evangelical revivalism.

Order and Ardor analyzes the most intense, personal experience of revival in Hart’s ministry—an awakening among the youths of his own congregation in 1754 through the emergence of a vibrant thirst for religious guidance and a concern for their own souls. This experience was a testimony to Hart’s revival piety—the push for evangelical Calvinism. It reinforced his evangelical activism, hallmarks of the Great Awakening that appear prominently in Hart’s diaries, letters, sermon manuscripts, and other remaining documents.

Extensively researched and written with clarity, Order and Ardor offers an enlightened view of eighteenth-century Regular Baptists. Smith contextualizes Hart’s life and development as a man of faith, revealing the patterns and priorities of his personal spirituality and pastoral ministry that identify him as a critically important evangelical revivalist leader in the colonial lower South.

Genres: Theology

168 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 15, 2018

Reviews

[Kaitlyn Pindak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will echo what I have specified before: Eric Smith is well-researched, well-spoken, and well-rounded in this biography of Oliver Hart. This is the story of both the passionate and hard-working Regular Baptist who loved revival, wanting the Spirit to illuminate the scripture to save sinners all while being tethered to following liturgy that elevated and centered on the Word of God. Hart would be quick to say, “all glory be to Christ, my King, and let all sinners be saved and sing, ‘all glory be to Christ!’”

I hope that Smith will continue put forth biographical works that tell of the Christian heritage, bringing glory to God, showing the saints who have gone before, while not picturing them as saints who are perfect but are sinners who are saved not of works but by the grace of God alone.

2nd read: 2/22-5/9/2023


Dr. Eric Smith has poured over the journals of Oliver Hart in addition to his extensive research and preparation to compile this biography.

This honest account of Hart’s life illumines a glimpse into the revival of the South, showing a man who was rich with the doctrinal truths of scripture, the compassionate grace and love of Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit indwelling.

A must-read for those who want to know more about Baptist history and highly suggested read for all others!

1st read: 10/5-10/2021

5/5 🌟

[Will Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Other than a few hiccups of importing present morality into past generations, this was a very good book, both in its content and commentary on Oliver Hart and in the thorough and precise manner in which the author presented his material and sources. I would highly suggest this book for anyone looking to further understand historic Baptist and Southern Baptist development in America.

[JT Goodart · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a perfectly fine and at times interesting biography on Oliver Hart. I did learn a lot about early southern Baptist church history and it’s involvement the First Great Awakening in this book and I think Smith did a good job outlining a more balanced view of this history. However, I think the organization and some of the chapters were a bit redundant and this is not the kind of book I would typically jump to read. However, I can say I enjoyed it and learned more from it than I expected to.

[Nick birri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am colossaly biased but here's why: I grew up in my faith in a Southern Baptist church that was cessationist. I came a little further in my faith and was scripturally convinced of the spiritual gifts. Come to find out, through this book, the southern baptist roots are a lot more dramatic than one might assume. What you find out in this book paired with some other material is that this Oliver Hart guy accompanied by some other powerhouse preachers and pastors were actually quite spiritual afterall. Who would've thought!!!

[Alex Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A figure in Southern Baptist life that I was not familiar with but now appreciate as one who laid a solid foundation for Baptist life in the South. He was a regular baptist who is often wrongly caricatured as one not affected by the evangelical revival in his day, yet as the book relates, was not accurate. He was a man of great conviction who had much influence on prominent people in his day (Whitefield and Furman). He was, like many others in his day, a man who had major flaws in his views on the slave trade and although he made progress in this area, he did not go all the way and this is very unfortunate. He was an advocate for religious freedom and was committed to Baptist convictions but these convictions did not stop him from general ecumenical associations and partnerships. Overall, he was used by the Lord to see the Baptist way promoted and help lay a solid foundation for the many pioneers who would follow him.

[Jake Galbreath · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first saw this book as one of my required readings for school, I dreaded having to read it. However, the first few pages introduced me to a figure that history forgot, but one whom I will never forget, thanks to Dr. Eric Smith's biography. This book is not a dry history textbook, but an engaging narrative of an old saint who, for all intents and purposes, created the Southern Baptist Convention.

[Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

An important work examining the life, ministry, and legacy of an often overlooked figure in Baptist history!

[Samuel Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

An inspiring book that proves that Regular Baptists where also filled with ardor for awakening and missions.

[Aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Class reading for: Southern Baptist Heritage & Mission with Eric C. Smith (SBTS).

[David Shoemaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting read about the history of Baptists. Very technical and repetitive but so very devotional and helpful to understand the roots of Baptist life in America.

[Jake Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oliver Hart is one of the most important Baptists in the development of Southern Baptist life. His model of confessionalism and revivalism being united is one we could emulate today!