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Baptist History, Heritage & Distinctives \u2013 Waldenses The first step toward persecution among professed Christians, was the gradual introduction of a change from the simple brotherly compact of religious equality established by Jesus Christ, for the hierarchy in the third century. As long as the principles of religious equality are observed, there can be no persecution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Any religious system which gives one person ecclesiastical authority over another, contains the seeds of persecution. Infant baptism and membership is but the development of the principle of a hierarchal form of church government, which gives one person rule over another in matters of religion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We may, therefore, consider infant baptism as the second element of religious persecution. Where all have equal rights in church government, there can be no infant baptism; and where there is no infant baptism religious persecution, to the shedding of blood, is not likely to prevail. Every church holding an episcopal, or hierarchal form of government, has persecuted when it has had the power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Waldenses have never persecuted others. It is impossible to persecute on Baptist principles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some have concluded that every church, if it had the power, would persecute and shed the blood of others on the account of religion. This is a mistake. Baptists, though sorely persecuted from generation to generation, have never oppressed, imprisoned, or caused the blood of others to be shed, on the ground of religion. This is one of the strongest proofs that we have the Bible organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It has been supposed that the Catholic Church would not now persecute, if she had the power, as she did in former times. This is a mistake; for Rome now possesses every element of despotism and persecution that she ever had.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In fact, the element of persecution seems to be on the increase with the Catholics ; for, in this present year, A. D. 1870, the slight restraint heretofore resting on the Pope from the authority of the General Council, has been removed, and the Pope has been declared infallible by the General Council at Rome. And even to this day, the Catholic bishops are sworn, in their oath of consecration, to oppose and persecute heretics to the utmost of their power.\u201d (Jones Church History, p. 268) They have regarded the Baptists as \u201cheretics\u201d of the deepest cast; they are therefore sworn to persecute Baptists to the utmost of their power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Presented by Thomas E. Kresal from: \u201cBaptist Succession\u201d by D.B. Ray, 1871 Edition, pg. 375-376<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Impossible to Persecute with Baptist Principles
Baptist Peculiarity SEVEN (continued)
Part 23 of 24 in the Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n