The Baptists have held fast to God’s Word throughout the ages. They defied the Catholic beliefs and practices of infant baptism, infant communion, transubstantiation, the union of church and state, image worship, saint worship, Mariolatry (worship of Mary, Jesus’ mother), the selling of indulgences, Purgatory, etc., etc., etc. Because Baptists made the Bible their sole authority for living, they were brutally persecuted.
An excerpt from the book:
Page 3 -- Froude, the English historian, says of these Ana-Baptist [another name for the Baptists] martyrs--
“The details are all gone, their names are gone. Scarcely the facts seem worth mentioning. For them no Europe was agitated, no court was ordered in mourning, no papal hearts trembled with indignation. At their death the world looked on complacent, indifferent or exulting. Yet here, out of 25 poor men and women were found 14, who, by no terror of stake or torture, could be tempted to say they believed what they did not believe. History has for them no word of praise, yet they, too, were not giving their blood in vain. Their lives might have been as useless as the lives of most of us. In their death they assisted to pay the purchase of English freedom.”
Some fifty millions of Baptists were mercilessly slaughtered at the hands of the Catholics, Lutherans, and Presbyterians, yet, as their persecutors fell on them with still crueler methods of torture and death, the Baptist faith grew and spread like wildfire until it could not be stopped. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 16:18, “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Praise God! I have never been so proud to be a Baptist as I am at this moment.
Another excerpt:
Page 46:16 -- “As many as 30 preachers at different times were put in jail with the only charge against them -- “for preaching the Gospel of the Son of God.” James Ireland is a case in point. He was imprisoned. After imprisonment, his enemies tried to blow him up with gunpowder. That having failed, they next tried to smother him to death by burning sulphur under his windows at the jail. Failing this also, they tried to arrange with a doctor to poison him. All this failed. He [Ireland] continued to preach to his people from the windows. A wall was then built around his jail so the people could not see in nor he see out, but even that difficulty was overcome. The people gathered, a handkerchief was tied to a long stick, and that stuck up above the wall so Ireland could see when they were ready. The preaching continued.”
It’s a shame Baptists aren’t that determined to hear the preaching of the Word of God today. At times you would think going to church is like getting teeth pulled. Sad to say, the persecution of the Baptists kept them spiritually alive and fighting. Satan realized that attempting to exterminate them would not rid the world of their beliefs. Now he lets us alone, realizing that our own laziness will destroy us. All he has to do is watch while we fall asleep and become spiritually dead.
I wish Christians would get on fire for the Lord. Baptists need to know their amazing heritage. God said in Hosea 4:6, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” There is no way that we can stay spiritually nonchalant once we start searching the Scriptures and begin reading about the agony our predecessors suffered. Our Baptist forefathers left a trail of blood that we might hold God’s precious Word in our hands today and enjoy the religious freedom we now take for granted. Hebrews 12:1 speaks of the great cloud of witnesses, the ones who have gone on before us, who encompass and watch us as we run the race. Have they found us to be faithful? Will God say, “Well done, though good and faithful servant” to us as He has to them? I hope and pray we will be found worthy.
FUNDAMENTAL DOCTRINES
- A spiritual Church, Christ its founder, its only head and law giver.
- Its ordinances, only two, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. They are typical and memorial, not saving.
- Its officers, only two, bishops or pastors and deacons; they are servants of the church.
- Its Government, a pure Democracy, and that executive only, never legislative.
- Its laws and doctrines: The Bible and that only.
- Its members. Believers only, they are saved by grace, not works, through the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit.
- Its requirements. Believers on entering the church to be baptized, that by immersion, then obedience and loyalty to all Biblical laws.
- The various churches--separate and independent in their execution of laws and discipline and in their responsibilities to God--but cooperative in work.
- Complete separation of Church and State.
- Absolute Religious Liberty for all.
4 comments:
>"I had to read a little booklet called The Trail of Blood, by J. M. Carroll, to complete one of the studies."
Um, not to bust your balloon, but Trail of Blood has been thoroughly refuted by Baptist historians. You might also read Baptist Successionism by Baptist historian James Edward McGoldrick.
By having you read Trail of Blood you are being setup for the first time you encounter someone who actually knows Baptist and early Church history. I'm sure their intentions were good, but they are doing more harm than good by continuing the Trail of Blood myth.
>"Some fifty millions of Baptists were mercilessly slaughtered at the hands of the Catholics, Lutherans, and Presbyterians, yet, as their persecutors fell on them with still crueler methods of torture and death, the Baptist faith grew and spread like wildfire until it could not be stopped."
Um, that didn't happen either.
>"I have never been so proud to be a Baptist as I am at this moment."
There are many reasons to be proud to be a Baptist, but the pride you're feeling from reading Trail of Blood is built on falsehoods. I would encourage you to learn the true history of the Baptist faith.
You might also read some of the early Church fathers like Ignatius, Irenaeus, and Justin Martyr. You'll find the writings of these early "Baptists" at Calvin College.
I recommend:
Didache
Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans
First Apology of Justin Martyr
God bless...
+Timothy
Dear Timothy,
In Matthew 7:13-15, Jesus Christ said, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”
Catholicism is the most accepted, widespread religion in the world. Many have entered into the wide gate and walked the broad way that leads to the doors of the Catholic church. The Catholic church has committed fornication with all other religions of the world in compromising with them. It’s all leading in one direction--to the one-world faith that will be established during the 7 year reign of the Antichrist. The Catholic church no longer uses persecution as a means of destroying people; she uses the new tactic -- the “love, joy, peace” method. The Catholic church tickles the ears of those who sit in her pews. Is it any wonder why so many millions flock to her? The truth of the Gospel is not preached. People are not forced to face their sin as the wickedness it is…the wickedness that will send them to burn in a very real Hell for all eternity. Independent, Bible-believing, Baptist churches preach the true Gospel, and that is why so few walk this narrow way; few people will accept the truth because Satan, the prince of this world, has blinded their eyes. 2 Corinthians 4:4 “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” Jesus Christ said that few would find the way that leads to Heaven through trust in Him and His finished work on the cross of Calvary.
Have you ever done a study on Revelation 17? If you believe that the Bible is the Inspired Word of God, then you cannot deny the overwhelming evidence that points to the Great Whore of the tribulation as being the Catholic church.
Revelation 17
1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: [The “many waters” meaning she is as vast as the oceans and many water ways that cover the world…this could certainly describe the Catholic church.]
2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. [Many of those who sit in positions of authority, kings and queens, have embraced this “faith” of Catholicism. Many millions have committed “fornication” with her.]
3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: [The Catholic church is the richest church in the world.]
5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. [“Mother of harlots.” Many corrupted religions have been born out of the Catholic church.]
6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. [No church on earth has tortured and killed as many Christians as the Catholic church has. By the way, the Catholics like to refer to the Baptists as “witches and heretics” in their history books to cover up this heinous injustice. John wondered with great admiration at this “woman.” Many people today are dumbfounded by the wealth and power of the Catholic church.]
7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns. [The beast is the Antichrist. All the religions of the world will be joined to this woman, the Great Whore or the Catholic church, and this will be the church of the Antichrist until he sets himself up as “god” in the Jews’ temple. Then the eyes of the spiritually blind will be opened.]
8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. [This is talking about the vital wound the Antichrist will receive. After he has been dead he will raise himself, and all the world will wonder at this miracle of Satan.]
9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. [The woman is the Catholic church, who sits on “seven heads,” which are seven mountains. Interesting…the Vatican sits on seven mountains. I think this chapter is evidence enough that the Catholic church is the Great Whore.]
Revelation 18:1-4
1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
The rest of this chapter is also very interesting. There is a small remnant of true believers in the Catholic church who got saved “by accident,” since the truth is not preached. When God destroys the Great Whore, He will call His people out of her. I pray you will see the truth as I have, Timothy. Jesus Christ is coming back soon. The signs are before us. It’s only a matter of time until Jesus Christ returns to claim all who have trusted on Him, and Him alone, for salvation. Will you be ready to face Jesus? If you died today, do you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you would go to Heaven? Catholicism teaches that good works will get us to Heaven, but that is not so. See what God’s Word says…
Isaiah 64:6--But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Ephesians 2:8-9--For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Psalm 9:17--The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
Romans 3:23--For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.
Romans 10:9-10--That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 10:13--For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
A daughter of the King,
Hannah
P.S. Please excuse me. I meant to write that Rome sits on seven hills. But, the Vatican and Rome are basically one and the same, so...
Thank you for your comment and also for the information. I’m not going to argue about this any further. I have found the truth, and I believe what I believe. That is my final word. God bless you. I will be praying for you.
Miss Mouse,
Thank you for getting the word out about this booklet (and defending it well). It is a powerful piece and is absolutely a
"must read" for Baptists.
As a representative for Baptist Ink, I would also like to mention that users may purchase Trail of Blood at Baptist Ink.
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