Baptist History, Heritage & Distinctives – German Baptists did not originate with the Munster Riot – Part SIX of SEVEN.

Thomas E Kresal min · 21 hrs April 30, 2020

Baptist History, Heritage & Distinctives – German Baptists did not originate with the Munster Riot – Part SIX of SEVEN.

Again: we have the testimony of the Royal Encyclopedia, as quoted by Mr. Graves in the Tri-Lemma. Mr. Graves says; “This great work, by William H. Hall, Esq., with other learned, ingenuous gentlemen, was begun in London, in 1788, and completed in three large folio volumes. In the article ‘Anabaptists after recounting the excesses of Muntzer, Matthias, Borkholdt, and others, during the sixteenth century, in Germany, the Encyclopedia proceeds: “It is to be remarked that the Baptists, or Mennonites, in England and Holland are to be considered in a very different light from the enthusiasts we have been describing; and it appears equally uncandid and invidious to trace up their distinguished sentiments, as some of their adversaries have done, to those obnoxious characters, and then to stop, in order, as it were, to associate with it the ideas of turbulence and fanaticism, with which it certainly has no natural connection. Their coincidence with some of those oppressed and infatuated people, in denying baptism to infants, is acknowledged by the Baptists, but they disavow the practice which the appellation of Anabaptist implies; and their doctrines seem referable to a more ancient and respectable origin. They appear supported by history in considering themselves the descendants of the Waldenses, who were so grievously oppressed and persecuted by the despotic heads of the Romish hierarchy.”

Reader, take notice: the authors of the Royal Encyclopedia are positive in their statement that the Baptists have no connection with the Munster mob; but, on the contrary, they affirm that their doctrines seem referable to a more ancient and respectable origin. No one now, except an extremely wicked or ignorant man, will, in the face of these historic facts, presume to affirm that the Baptists originated’ with the Munster affair.

Point 6 Continues tomorrrow

Presented by Thomas E. Kresal: Excerpt from 1870 Edition of “Baptist Succession” By D.B. Ray pg. 95-96