Edification and Beauty

by James M Renihan, Robert W Oliver (Foreword by)

Overview

Edification and Beauty describes the practical application of confessional theological principles among English Particular Baptists at the close of the seventeenth century. It examines the theological summary of their views as contained and expressed in the Second London Confession (1677/89), fleshed out in various published works, and recorded in manuscript church books. It describes in detail a wide variety of ecclesiological practices, demonstrating that these churches and their leaders sought to work out in practice the principles they publicly confessed. The book demonstrates that confessional subscription was taken seriously and practiced carefully within the Particular Baptist churches.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781606084816
Publisher:	Wipf & Stock Publishers
Publication date:	02/18/2009
Series:	Studies in Baptist History and Thought , #17
Pages:	250
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

James M. Renihan is Dean and Professor of Historical Theology at the Institute of Reformed Baptist Studies, Escondido, California. He is an ordained Baptist minister, having served churches in Massachusetts and New York prior to his current academic post. He has been married for thirty years, and has five children and a growing number of grandchildren.

Table of Contents

Foreword Robert W. Oliver xiii

Acknowledgements xv

Abbreviations xvii

Introduction xix

Chapter 1 'Christ...ever shall have a kingdome in this world': The Emergence and Development of the Particular Baptist Churches 1

The Emergence of the Particular Baptist Churches 1

The Genesis of the English Particular Baptists 1

Separatism and Semi-Separatism: The Jacob/Lathrop/Jessey Church 1

The Continuing Reformation: The Adoption of Believer's Baptism and the Recovery of Immersion 3

The Disavowal of the Continental Anabaptists 6

The Separatist/Independent Milieu 8

The Wedding of Calvinistic Theology with Baptist Polity: Self-Consciously Reformed Churches 15

The Second London Baptist Confession of Faith in its Historical and Theological Context 17

The Origins of the Baptist Confession of Faith 22

The Acceptance of the Confession 26

The Demographics of the Particular Baptists 29

Conclusion 36

Chapter 2 'Those thus called, he commandeth to walk together in particular societies, or churches': The Nature of the Church 37

The Church Universal 38

The Church Local 42

The Identity of the Church 43

Membership in the Local Church 48

The Constituing of a Local Church 48

Membership 53

Responsibilities of Members and Church Discipline 54

The Spread of the Churches 58

Conclusion 61

Chapter 3 'To each of these churches...he has given...power and authority': Church Government 63

Church Government in the Confession of Faith 64

Church Government in Ecclesiological Writings 68

Hanserd Knollys: Modified Independency 68

Nehemiah Coxe: Congregational Consent/Rule by Elder 71

Benjamin Keach: Congregationalism/Rule by aSingle Elder 73

Church Government in Church Minute Books 78

Conclusion 86

Chapter 4 'The officers appointed by Christ...are bishops or elders, and deacons': Church Officers 88

The Teaching/Ruling Office 90

Elders 90

Elders and the Local Church 90

Teaching Elders and Ruling Elders 98

Ordination into Office 102

The Functions of Elders 103

Ministerial Support 104

Conclusion 106

Gifted Brethren 107

The Serving Office 114

Deacons 114

Deaconesses 116

Conclusion 117

Chapter 5 'The due performance of that publick workship, which he requireth of them in the world': The Church at Worship 118

The Proper Form of Workship: The Regulative Principle of Scripture 118

The Practice of Worship in the Churches 121

The Day of Worship 121

The Elements of Worship 125

Preaching: The Word of God is Central 128

Women in Public Worship 130

The Ordinances: Baptism and the Lord's Supper 131

Baptism 132

The Lord's Supper 142

Laying on Hands 145

Conclusion 146

The Great Controversy: Singing Hymns 146

Conclusion 152

Chapter 6 'So the churches,...ought to hold communion amongst themselves': Associations of Churches 154

The Meaning of 'Communion' in Chapter 26: 14&15 156

'Communion' in the Confession of Faith 156

'Communion' in Ecclesiological Writings 158

'Communion' as 'Organic Union' in Associational Records 161

'Communion' in the Documents of the General Assemblies 167

Formal Associational Membership in the Manuscript Church Books 170

Conclusion 172

The Functioning of the Particular Baptist Associations 173

Conclusion 182

Bibliography 185

General Index 201

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

'This careful and systematic study breaks significant new ground in the history of the English Particular Baptist churches—and, by extension, in our understanding of religious experience of early modern Protestantism.'
— Crawford Gribben, Long Room Hub Senior Lecturer in Early Modern Print Culture, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland

'James Renihan has done excellent work in comparing church records of subscribing churches to the ecclesiological issues of the Second London Confession. The book represents the finest of careful, primary source scholarship. Any who see the importance of the period of English Dissent, Baptist history, or confessional dynamics, will benefit from careful attention to Renihan's work.'
—Tom J. Nettles, Professor of Historical Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

'This is an important work on the history of Baptist ecclesiology, and I am delighted to see it published. It is well argued, insightful and timely given the increasing interest in Baptist ecclesiology. I expect this book to play a significant role in the ongoing discussions of Baptist history and polity. Renihan's work has benefited not only my academic considerations but also my direct pastoral work.'
— Ray Van Neste, Associate Professor of Christian Studies, Director, R.C. Ryan Center for Biblical Studies, Union University.

Editorial Reviews

'This careful and systematic study breaks significant new ground in the history of the English Particular Baptist churches—and, by extension, in our understanding of religious experience of early modern Protestantism.'
— Crawford Gribben, Long Room Hub Senior Lecturer in Early Modern Print Culture, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland

'James Renihan has done excellent work in comparing church records of subscribing churches to the ecclesiological issues of the Second London Confession. The book represents the finest of careful, primary source scholarship. Any who see the importance of the period of English Dissent, Baptist history, or confessional dynamics, will benefit from careful attention to Renihan's work.'
—Tom J. Nettles, Professor of Historical Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

'This is an important work on the history of Baptist ecclesiology, and I am delighted to see it published. It is well argued, insightful and timely given the increasing interest in Baptist ecclesiology. I expect this book to play a significant role in the ongoing discussions of Baptist history and polity. Renihan's work has benefited not only my academic considerations but also my direct pastoral work.'
— Ray Van Neste, Associate Professor of Christian Studies, Director, R.C. Ryan Center for Biblical Studies, Union University.

From the Publisher