Baptist History, Heritage and Distinctives – William Cathcart – The Historical Definition of the Landmark Position

Thomas E Kresal December 28, 2019

Baptist History, Heritage and Distinctives – William Cathcart – The Historical Definition of the Landmark Position

The doctrine of landmarkism is that baptism and church membership precede the preaching of the gospel, even as they precede communion at the Lord’s Table.

The argument is that Scriptural authority to preach emanates, under God, from a gospel church that as “a visible church is a congregation of baptized believers,” etc.

It follows that no Pedobaptist organization is a church in the Scriptural sense of the term, and that therefore Scriptural authority to preach cannot proceed from such an organization. Hence the non-recognition of pedobaptist ministers, who are not interfered with, but simply let alone.

Thomas E. Kresal from: William Cathcart, Baptist Encyclopedia (Landmarkism), 1881