fralo4truth
Puritan Board Freshman
Okay friends, I'm back to pick your brain....AGAIN. This time I'm looking for a little historical as well as theological help. But first a little background.
In the early part of the 1800s some of the Baptists began to oppose some of the newly created missionary methods such as tract societies and missionary boards. In 1832 a speech was given, The Black Rock Address, summarizing the objections. Of course a split ensued. The objectors came to be known as Old School, Primitive, or Hardshell Baptists. From my research, I've found that the first and most of the second generation of these Baptists believed in gospel means for salvation. Over time, especially toward the latter part of the century, the order was taken over by those totally opposed to the idea of gospel means. Right now as I wrote this, there are some of their churches and ministers who are Means Baptists. By and large, however, they are anti-means, deeply entrenched in elements of Hyper-Calvinism.
I preached in this church for approximately 8 years before my eyes were illuminated to the truth. Ever since that time it has been my contention that the anti-means position has no historical warrant prior to the early 1800s. I have found it, for instance, in no confessions of faith whatsoever, nor any written documentation I can get my hands in.
So my question to you is this. Do you know of any respectable author, theologian, etc. who advocated an anti-means form of salvation prior to the 1800s?
Thanks for your help.
In the early part of the 1800s some of the Baptists began to oppose some of the newly created missionary methods such as tract societies and missionary boards. In 1832 a speech was given, The Black Rock Address, summarizing the objections. Of course a split ensued. The objectors came to be known as Old School, Primitive, or Hardshell Baptists. From my research, I've found that the first and most of the second generation of these Baptists believed in gospel means for salvation. Over time, especially toward the latter part of the century, the order was taken over by those totally opposed to the idea of gospel means. Right now as I wrote this, there are some of their churches and ministers who are Means Baptists. By and large, however, they are anti-means, deeply entrenched in elements of Hyper-Calvinism.
I preached in this church for approximately 8 years before my eyes were illuminated to the truth. Ever since that time it has been my contention that the anti-means position has no historical warrant prior to the early 1800s. I have found it, for instance, in no confessions of faith whatsoever, nor any written documentation I can get my hands in.
So my question to you is this. Do you know of any respectable author, theologian, etc. who advocated an anti-means form of salvation prior to the 1800s?
Thanks for your help.