Baptist History, Heritage & Distinctives – The Waldenses – Closed Communion – Baptist Peculiarity SIX (continued) – Part 14 in the Series

Thomas E Kresal Admin · 4 hrs March 2, 2020

Baptist History, Heritage & Distinctives – The Waldenses – Closed Communion – Baptist Peculiarity SIX (continued) – Part 14 in the Series

Again: The Waldenses were called Anabaptist’s. They would not receive to their fellowship and communion those who had been baptized by other parties. As already remarked, all those who practiced Anabaptism were also strict in their communion.

Mr. Orchard remarks, on this point: “The Albigenses prevailed in the south of France. These people admitted those only to the Lord’s Supper who had been immersed (Mazeray) after fasting and prayer.” (S. Baptist Review, p.121.

These Albigenses were the same with the Waldenses on all points of church organization. They were really a part of the same religious community. They were strict in communion. Those called Petrobrusians were ancient Waldenses. Mr. Orchard says that, “Peter de Bruys and his followers declared all baptisms null unless given to believers, they re-baptized all proselytes, and were anti-pedobaptists. They were very strict.” (ibid)

Again: of the Waldenses, Mr. Orchard remarks: “They were Scriptural, or strict Communion Baptists, so far as communities can be discovered among them.” (S. Baptist review, p.123).

No historian, known to me, has ever dared to assert that the ancient witnessing Waldenses were open communionists. During nearly all the period of the twelve hundred and sixty years of their testimony there were no modern Protestants for them to commune with ; and when the Reformation of the sixteenth century occurred, the strict Waldenses had no more fellowship for them than they had for the Catholics.

During eleven hundred years of the sackcloth testimony of the Waldenses, there were no Lutherans, no Episcopalians, no Presbyterians, and, of course, no Methodists, to tempt them to deviate from the laws of Jesus Christ in regard to the Supper.

Will any one so far stultify himself as to affirm that these ancient sufferers held religious communion with the Romish apostasy?

Peculiarity SIX continues March 3, 2020

Presented by Thomas E. Kresal from: “Baptist Succession” by D.B. Ray, 1871 Edition, pg. 365-67