Baptist History, Heritage & Distinctives – The Waldenses – Baptist Peculiarity Four Continued Series – Part 9
Thomas E Kresal
February 25, 2020
Baptist History, Heritage & Distinctives – The Waldenses –
Baptist Peculiarity Four Continued
Series – Part 9
From these passages from this eminent historian, it is evident that the prevailing custom among ancient Christians was an immersion or burial in baptism; and the only exception to this was found among Roman Catholics in favor of sick people. But as the Waldenses neither originated with the Catholics nor received their traditions, therefore they did not receive sprinkling or pouring, but held the burial in baptism of those who were believers.
Keinerius Saccho, the Catholic persecutor of the Waldenses, says of them, that: “They hold that none of the ordinances of the church which have been introduced since Christ’s ascension, ought to be observed, as being of no value.” (Jones Church History, p. 239) It is well known that sprinkling and pouring for baptism have been introduced long since the ascension of Christ; and as the Waldenses rejected all such ordinances, therefore they rejected sprinkling or pouring for baptism. The fact that the Waldenses baptized all whom they received into fellowship, even when they had been previously immersed by others, is positive proof that the Waldenses practiced immersion or burial in baptism. Those parties who are so indifferent about the commands of Jesus Christ as to practice sprinkling and pouring for baptism, do not insist on the baptism of those that come from other parties; they are, therefore, not called Anabaptists. It may be laid down as an historic axiom, that where Anabaptism prevails, immersion is the action of baptism. The Waldenses were “Anabaptists” not Munsterites ; therefore, they practiced immersion, or burial, for baptism.
The following, from Joseph Belcher, shows that the Waldenses were known as Anabaptists: “Bishop Bossuet, a Catholic, complaining oi Calvin s party tor claiming apostolical succession through the Waldenses, observes: “You adopt Henry and Peter de Bruys among your predecessors, but both of these everybody knows were Anabaptists.”
“No historian has ever charged the Waldenses with the practice of sprinkling and pouring for baptism. We may consider it a point generally admitted that the ancient Waldenses possessed the Baptist peculiarity of holding the burial in baptism of those who are dead to sin.” Religious Denominations, Belcher, p. 134
Baptist Peculiarity Five on Thursday, February 27
Presented by Thomas E. Kresal from: “Baptist Succession” by D.B. Ray, 1871 Edition, pg. 360-61
Recent Comments