DIFFERENCES BETWEEN OLD & NEW SCHOOL BAPTISTS 1/6

These articles have, as far we know, never been posted in the internet and were last published in paper form in 1894 - ed.

Although much has been written and said on the various points of doctrine and a general order and practice on which the Old and New School Baptists divide, there is still a great lack of correct information with many of both parties on the subject. It is important for the general peace of Zion and permanent fellowship of the Saints, that the real position of the Old School Baptists in regard to their New School, their movements, doctrines, and humanly devised institutions, as in reference to everything else, should be as distinctly understood as possible. Such an understanding will promote harmony and fellowship of ourselves, not only as it will lead to unity of sentiment, but as it will more fully prepare us for resisting those who would palm themselves upon us whose hearts are not with us. We have no reason to doubt that some have found their way into our connection, whose claim to the particular classification is that they are opposed to the missionary operations of the New Order. Or that they stand aloof from all the other popular religious institutions which are cherished by the New Order. It should be remembered that all these things may be resolutely opposed from very different motives. As a body, the Old School Baptists opposed those institutions because they honestly believed them to be contrary to the spirit and letter of the divine rule that Christ has given us as our only rule, and consequently a reflection and insult upon His wisdom, power, goodness, and government, as head over all things to His church and King of Zion. But we have no good reason to doubt that there are those who oppose the same institutions, rather because they find them expensive, oppressive and insatiable. This class in some instances has claimed kindred with the Old School Baptists and their claims, it is feared, in too many instances have been allowed where covetousness more than the fear of the Lord has governed their course. Neither the Old or New school Baptist have any general or uniform creed or published standard of their faith and order, which by general consent must be adopted in order to their being allowed to bear the names by which they are called. Both parties profess to regard the Bible as their standard, and generally the churches and associations of both orders adopt such written summaries of their understanding of what the Scriptures teach as they can agree upon, while one church does not require that a sister church shall adopt the same written confession in order to correspond with and fellowship each other. If they are generally agreed on certain leading or cardinal points, they generally leave other points as of minor consideration. Hence, among the New School especially, we find it in some cases their adopted articles of faith and their practice are as inharmonious as light and darkness. Yet they all agree in their worldly policy for evangelizing the world and opposing the Old School Baptists.

The Old School solemnly profess to be governed by the New Testament of our Lord Jesus Christ in all matters of faith and practice, and we hold that to either add to or diminish from that standard disqualifies for a name and place in any consistent Old School, church, or association. The Old School Baptist Church we hold to be the only Apostolic Church on earth and the ground of the fellowship in that church is clearly stated in Acts 2.42. None can enjoy the fellowship of the Apostles or of the Apostolic Church, who do not continue steadfastly in the apostle's doctrine. The rejection, therefore, of any part of the doctrine taught by the apostles, or the reception or practice of anything which the apostles have not taught in Christ's name, must unavoidably mar the fellowship and disqualify the offenders for the privileges peculiar to Apostolic churches and saints. As the New School, no less than the Old School, claimed to be Baptist, the essential matters of distinction between them cannot be too clearly stated nor too strongly marked. We propose to devote a few articles, as we may have time and space for them in subsequent numbers, to a statement of some of the most prominent and radical points of doctrine between these two kinds of Baptists. The field before us is in this undertaking, as much more extensive than it may at first appear, For there are a few if any, points where we can consistently agree it is not our work to make the difference greater than it is now is nor to exaggerate the real discrepancy But to draw a line in truth and soberness, that all who read may understand more fully on which side of the line they belong. And if it shall be found that we have among us any who do not belong to our common family. Every consistent Old School Baptist will freely give them up, so that they may go their own company. And if any captive prisoners among the New School shall find that they belong to us, we trust in God, they may be enabled to come out of their captivity and return to Zion with singing and everlasting joy. Such an interchange of prisoners would promote harmony on both sides. For God's people cannot sing the Lord's song in a strange land. Neither can the children of the alien unite in spirit and truth with the children of the living God. Let them, who have no inheritance with the Church of God, go every man to his own tent. While Zion, in the language of the inspired Psalmist, shall pray, "rid me and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaks vanity, and her right hand is a right hand of falsehood that our sons may be as plants grow up in their youth, that our daughters may be as cornerstones, polished after the similitude of a palace. That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store." See Psalms 149.11, 15.

Elder Gilbert Beebe

New Vernon, NY 

January 15th, 1848