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Originally Posted by Wannabee  Some pertinent quotes. Quote:
He [Spurgeon] said, "I am not an outrageous Protestant generally, and I rejoice to confess that I feel sure there are some of God's people even in the Romish Church" (see note 16). He chose a paedobaptist to be the first head of his pastor's college, and did not make that issue a barrier to who preached in his pulpit. His communion was open to all Christians, but he said he "would rather give up his pastorate than admit any man to the church who was not obedient to his Lord's command [of baptism]" (see note 17).
A Marvelous Ministry, p. 43.
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His officers and Church had made him the happiest man on earth and when he had any cares or trouble, it was very seldom they came from the Church. Another of their peculiarities was that they were Baptists holding open communion and yet having none but persons who had been baptized in the membership of the Church. He was prepared to maintain this position against the attacks both of the Strict Communionist and the Open Membership man, both of whose principles he believed to be unscriptural. He would rather give up his pastorate than admit any man to the Church who was not obedient to his Lord’s command. And such a course would certainly promote the downfall of any Church that practiced it.
Found here | An article on Spurgeon's position that I thought was good and agree with is found here
Don Witney has a good article here Quote: |
The principle of regenerate Church membership more than anything else, marks our distinctiveness in the world today. It is a matter of amazement to us to find ourselves noticed, not so much for insistence on the spirituality of the Church, as for scrupulous observance of an appointed form. The latter is but incidental to our position; the former is of its very essence. If we stand for believer’s baptism and no other, it is not simply because we think we have the better of our Paedo-baptist brethren in the matter of exegesis, but because both logic and experience teach its importance as a safeguard to the Church from intrusion of unregenerate life (The Baptist World Congress [London, 1905], pp.27ff).
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CHARLES SPURGEON on close communion:
" I have not one word of criticism to utter against my baptist brethern beyond Atlantic. On contrary, i believe that the baptist in America are the best baptist in the south. Moreover, if i were to come to America to live, i would join a close communion church and conform myself to the practices on the communion question." (Religious herald march, 3rd 1892)
" Have you made up your mind on communion question ? You are giong to a country where the majority of baptist are close communionist.
Really,
if i had my ministry again, i should certainly commence with a close communion church. Iam led to believe that the American baptist are right, but i cannot alter the ussages of my church. which have been of so long standing" (The journal and messager)