The History Of The Freewill Baptists

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1862 edition. Excerpt: ... This year the church in New Durham received an accession of thirty-one members, and the next year twentysix were added. At the October session of the Quarterly Meeting in 1794, neither David Knowlton, an unordained preacher, nor any other member from Pittsfield, was present. Such a delinquency was not allowed to pass unnoticed; and Randall, by instruction, admonished them as follows: "We are this day convened at our Quarterly Meeting, and have a good day, through grace; but feel somewhat grieved at finding--David's seat empty. We wonder at you, brethren, that none of all your meeting are present, when the weather is so pleasant, and the travelling so good." The request for the ordination of Knowlton in 1795 was referred from the Quarterly Meeting to the June session of the Yearly Meeting, and a council of five ministers, each to be accompanied by a layman, was chosen and sent to Pittsfield. It convened with the church August 12th, and the following extract from the church record is here inserted at length, as a specimen examination by the fathers: "1, Chose John Buzzell Chairman. "2. Chose Benjamin Ran dull Clerk. "3. Queried with the candidate as follows: "' Dost thou believe that the Lord has called thee to preach the gospel?' "Answer. 'Yes.' "' Dost thou believe it will be for the glory of God that hands should be laid upon thee, if the council should find satisfaction?' "Answer. 'I dare not draw back.' "* Then give us a reason of thy hope; relate the dealings of God in bringing thy soul from bondage into liberty, and thy call to public improvement.' "He did so; all of which was satisfactory to the council. Questions were proposed as to the fall of man--his 1795.] CHURCH IN CANTERBUBY. 147 restoration by Jesus Christ--the obligations...

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The last decades of the eighteenth century brought numerous changes to the citizens of colonial New England. As the colonists were joining together in their fight for independence from England, a collection of like-minded believers in southern New Hampshire forged an identity as a new religious tradition. Benjamin Randall (1749ndash;1808) was one of the principle founders of the Freewill Baptist movement in colonial New England. Randall was one of the many eighteenth-century colonists that enjoyed a conversion experience as a result of the revival ministry of George Whitefield. His newfound spiritual zeal prompted him to examine the scriptures on his own, and he began to question the practice of infant baptism. Randall completed his separation from the Congregational church of his youth when he contacted a Baptist congregation and submitted himself for baptism. When Randall was introduced to the Baptists in New England, he was made aware that his theology, including God's universal love and universal grace, was at odds with Calvin's doctrine of election that was affirmed by the other Baptists. Randall's spiritual journey continued as he began to preach revival services throughout the region. His ministry was well received and he established a new congregation in New Durham, New Hampshire, in 1780. The congregation in New Durham served as Randall's base of operation as he led revival services throughout New Hampshire and Southern Maine. Randall's travels introduced him to many colonists who accepted his message of universal love and universal grace and a movement was born as Randall formed many congregations throughout the region. Randall spent the remainder of his life organizing, guiding, and leading the Freewill Baptists as they developed into a religious tradition that included thousands of adherents spread throughout New England and into Canada.