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History of the English Calvinistic Baptists 1771-1892

Immersed in history

HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH CALVINISTIC BAPTISTS 1771 - 1892
By Robert W. Oliver
Banner of Truth. 410 pages. £16.50
ISBN 0 85151 920 2

The book is a pleasure to handle, being produced with typical Banner of Truth care.

The book benefits from fine illustrations of prominent men in English Calvinistic Baptist history of the period under review. The end papers reproduce a watercolour painting by Thomas Spurgeon of the site on the river Lark where his father, C.H. Spurgeon, was baptised. The 15 chapters and three appendices give an overview of the several controversies which repeatedly caused good men to differ through the period under observation, and echoes of which remain controversial even today among different groups of Calvinistic Baptists. Therein lies a practical value of this book, for it could help to prevent a repetition of positions adopted, and answered, by characters of the past and therefore lead to better-informed discussions in the present.

Is the baptism of a believer by immersion a necessary condition of sharing in the Lord’s Supper? Or is a simple profession of Christian faith enough? May Paedobaptists share communion together with Baptists? Is the Old Testament Law of Moses to be the rule of life for the Christian? Or is ‘the law of Christ’ now to be the Christian’s rule of life? Are unbelievers to be called to accept the gospel message of salvation, despite their sinful inability to do so? Does not such a view dilute the purity of biblical Calvinism and lead to a slide into Arminianism? Or is the gospel message only meant for those in whom marks of divine election can be seen? Does not such a view inhibit aggressive evangelism, and weaken biblical Calvinism?

Robert Oliver traces the twists and turns in the progress of these historic controversies with an admirable sure-footedness which is evidence of long hours immersed in reading historic sources, classic writings and fiery pamphlets, a comprehensive list of which appears on pages 369-391. This book was not written in a hurry. Nor can it be read hurriedly, unless the reader has some previous knowledge of the subject. All in all, a profitable book, though more for valuable study than for casual reading.

John Appleby,
worshipping with a Christian group seeking to reach into a large housing estate south of Shrewsbury