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Admin<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00b7\u00a06 hrs<\/abbr><\/a>April 24. 2020<\/p>\n\n\n\n Baptist History, Heritage & Distinctives The Amazing Rhode Island Charter – 1663<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the Rhode Island State House in Providence, framed in an impressive fire-proof, climate controlled safe in its own individual museum, is housed one of the most uniquely important documents ever produced in the history of the world. This document granted \u201ca full liberty in religious concernments\u201d to the people of Rhode Island. The Rhode island Charter<\/em>, sometimes referred to as the Colonial Charter of 1663<\/em>, was authored and won virtually single-handedly by none other than Dr. John Clarke. This ancient document, beautifully penned on fine parchment, should be studied, modeled, and appreciated by individuals and governments throughout the world. Carved into the marble above the south entrance of the Providence State House are the following words taken from the charter itself:\u201cTo \u2013 Hold \u2013 Forth \u2013 A \u2013 Lively \u2013 Experiment \u2013 That \u2013 A \u2013 Most \u2013 Flourishing \u2013 Civil \u2013 State \u2013 May \u2013 Stand \u2013 And \u2013 Best \u2013 Be \u2013 Maintained \u2013 With \u2013 Full \u2013 Liberty \u2013 In \u2013 Religious \u2013 Concernments.\u201dThe previous principals are what Clarke called, \u201ca lively experiment.\u201dBy the time 1663 rolled around, Clarke had spent a total of thirteen years as an ambassador sent from Rhode Island. His sole purpose was to persuade the Crown, through much diplomacy and scholarly evidence, that there was a great need for liberty of conscience in the New World.As had been mentioned, in 1652, Clarke wrote his famous book entitled Ill News from New England<\/em>. In this book he proclaimed the mistreatment of the Baptist brethren in the New World. One popular statement in this book reads as such: \u201cWhile Old England is becoming new, New England is becoming old.\u201d This burden he carried and this burden he pled until Charles II granted him the charter in 1663.Thomas E. Kresal: Excerpt from \u201cAmerican Foundations LAID BY THE BAPTISTS\u201d by Ted Alexander p. 48-49From Tom: This is a very concise book regarding the tremendous influence Baptist polity and practice had in the colonial era of America.http:\/\/evangelisttedalexander.com\/category\/bookstore\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n