Good Samaritan Baptist Church

Fall 2008 Sunday School Lessons

Worksheet Answers available http://www.pbministries.org/History/John%20T.%20Christian/vol1/

The next 13 weeks of our Sunday School time together will be a challenging review of John T. Christians book “History of Baptist” Chapters 1 through 17. The two volumes of this book are available at http://www.pbministries.org/History/John%20T.%20Christian Please take the time to browse both volumes as you read his first 17 chapters for the completion of these worksheets. A CD with the first 17 chapters in html, pdf, doc, and odt is available at the church. This worksheet assignment and links to John T. Christian's book are also available at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/baptist as well as a condensed version of John T. Christians Vol 1 A printed copy is also available at the Church. If you do not have access to a computer for this study you can partner with another student, visit your library with these instructions or fill in the blanks during the Sunday School class time.

The worksheets are provided so you will write down key concepts from each chapter and retain some important information in this study. Those completing all 13 lessons with the worksheets will “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” God Bless you in this profitable 13 week study.

Date Complete Grade

Week 1 Read Ch 1 – 2 (11pages) and do worksheet .... ___/___/___ .... _______

Week 2 Read Ch 3 (22pages) and do worksheet .... ___/___/___ .... _______

Week 3 Read Ch 4 – 5 (14pages) and do workshee ....t ___/___/___ .... _______

Week 4 Read Ch 6 (6 pages) and do worksheet .... ___/___/___ .... _______

Week 5 Read Ch 7 (11 pages) and do worksheet .... ___/___/___ .... _______

Week 6 Read Ch 8 (10 pages) and do worksheet .... ___/___/___ .... _______

Week 7 Read Ch 9 – 10 (13 pages) and do worksheet .... ___/___/___ .... _______

Week 8 Read Ch 11 – 12 (17pages) and do worksheet .... ___/___/___ .... _______

Week 9 Read Ch 13 (12 pages) and do worksheet .... ___/___/___ .... _______

Week 10 Read Ch 14 (13 pages) and do worksheet .... ___/___/___ .... _______

Week 11 Read Ch 15 (12 pages) and do worksheet .... ___/___/___ .... _______

Week 12 Read Ch 16 (24 pages) and do worksheet .... ___/___/___ .... _______

Week 13 Read Ch 17 (19 pages) and do worksheet .... ___/___/___ .... _______

Work Sheet CHAPTER 1 The New Testament Churches.

Worksheet Answers available http://www.pbministries.org/History/John%20T.%20Christian/vol1/

(Matthew 28:18-20). Under the terms of this commission Jesus gave to his churches the authority to _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ !
A New Testament Church is a company of _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ voluntarily associated together for the maintenance of the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and the spread of the _ _ _ _ _ _ of Jesus Christ. The distinctive characteristics of this church are clearly marked in the New Testament.
The officers of the church were first, _ _ _ _ _ _ _ , indifferently called _ _ _ _ _ _ or _ _ _ _ _ _ _, and, secondly, _ _ _ _ _ _ _. These were the honorable
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _of a free people.In the New Testament, _ _ _ _ _ and _ _ _ _ _ _ are different names to describe the same office. This one passage (Acts 20:28) is also sufficient to show that the "presbyter" and the "bishop" were at first practically identical.
There were two ordinances in the primitive church, _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and the _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _. Baptism was an outward _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ of faith in Christ. It thus expressed a belief in the _ _ _ _ _, _ _ _ _ _ _ and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and a subsequent resurrection of all believers through the eternal Spirit.
Only believers were baptized and that upon a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ of faith in Jesus Christ. The church was composed of believers or holy persons. The members were called in the New Testament "beloved of God, called to be saints"; "sanctified in Christ Jesus"; "faithful in Christ"; "God’s elect, holy, and beloved." The conditions of membership were repentance, faith, righteousness, and the initiatory rite of baptism, which was symbolical of the changed life.
The above definition, consistently applied, excludes _ _ _ _ _ _ baptism, since infants are incapable of faith, which always, in the New Testament, is a prerequisite to baptism. The New Testament teaching is quite clear on this point. John the Baptist required that those who were applicants for baptism should experience _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _, exercise _ _ _ _ _, make a confession of sin and live a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ life (Math. 3:2; Acts 19:4). Jesus first made disciples and then baptized them (John 4:1), and gave distinct commandment that teaching should precede baptism (Math. 28:19).
Döllinger, a Catholic scholar, Professor of Church History in the University of Munich, says: "There is no proof or hint in the New Testament that the apostles baptized infants or ordered them to be baptized" (John Joseph Ignatius Döllinger, The First Age of the Church, II. p. 184).
The "Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics," says: "There is no indication of the baptism of children" in the New Testament.
Baptism presupposed some Christian instruction, and was preceded by _ _ _ _ _ _ _. It signified the forgiveness of past sins, and was the visible point of departure of the new life under Christian Influence and with the Inspiration of Christian purposes and aims.
The form of baptism was _ _ _ _ _ _ _, or an _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ in water.
This, indeed, is the meaning of the Greek word baptizein. "to _ _ _ _ _ or _ _ _ _ _ the water." In the lexicon of J. H. Thayer, an "_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ in water."
Every candid historian will admit that the Baptist. have, both philologically and historically, the better of the argument, as to the prevailing mode of baptism. The word baptizo means immersion, both in classical and Biblical Greek, except where it is manifestly used in a tropical sense (Dosker, The Dutch Anabaptists, p. 176 Philadelphia, 1921).
Nothing is more certain than that the New Testament churches uniformly practiced immersion,
The Lord’s Supper shows forth the _ _ _ _ _ of the Saviour till he shall come again. It is a perpetual memorial of the broken body and the shed blood of the risen Lord. In the Scriptures the Lord’s Supper is always preceded by the act of baptism, and there is no account of any person participating in the Supper who had not previously been baptized.
The Baptists have always insisted that the ordinances were _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and not
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _. Indeed this is the heart of their contention. “the very life of Christianity depended upon keeping the spiritual and ceremonial elements in their respective places. Christian history certainly justifies them in their view.”
The early churches were _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ bodies. They were required to carry out the great commission given by our Lord. The obedience to the missionary program laid out by the divine Lord, the disciples in a few generations preached the gospel to the known world. The first church was organized by _ _ _ _ _ and his _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _; and after the form of this one all other churches should be modeled. The churches so organized are to continue in the world until the kingdoms of this earth shall become the kingdom of our Lord, even Christ.
In Matthew 16:18 the word church is doubtless used in its ordinary, literal sense as a
_ _ _ _ _ institution;... this passage refers to the _ _ _ _ _, visible church of Christ.
Paul gives a large promise: "Unto him be glory in the church of Jesus Christ
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ages, world without end. Amen" (Eph. 3:21). The church was, therefore, bound to exist in all of the ages.

The author believes that in every age since Jesus and the apostles, there have been companies of believers, churches, who have substantially held to the principles of the New Testament as now proclaimed by the Baptists. No attempt is made in these pages to trace a succession of bishops, as the Roman Catholics attempt to do, back to the apostles. Such an attempt is "laboring in the fire for mere vanity," and proceeds upon a mistaken view of the nature of the kingdom of Christ, and of the sovereignty of God, in his operations on the earth.

The New Testament recognizes a democratic simplicity, and not a hierarchical monarchy. Baptist churches have the most slender ties of organization, and a strong government is not according to their polity. They are like the river Rhone, which sometimes flows as a river broad and deep, but at other times is hidden in the sands. It, however, never loses its continuity or existence. It is simply hidden for a period. Baptist churches may disappear and reappear in the most unaccountable manner.. Persecuted everywhere by sword and by fire, their principles would appear to be almost extinct, when in a most wondrous way God would raise up some man, or some company of martyrs, to proclaim the truth.

The footsteps of the Baptists of the ages can more easily be traced by blood than by baptism. It is a 1ineage of suffering rather than a succession of bishops; a martyrdom of principle, rather than a dogmatic decree of councils; a golden chord of love, rather than an iron chain of succession, which, while attempting to rattle its links back to the apostles, has been of more service in chaining some protesting Baptist to the stake than in proclaiming the truth of the New Testament. It is, nevertheless, a right royal succession, that in every age the Baptists have been advocates of liberty for all, and have held that the gospel of the Son of God makes every man a free man in Christ Jesus.

Work Sheet CHAPTER 2 The Ancient Churches.

Worksheet Answers available http://www.pbministries.org/History/John%20T.%20Christian/vol1/

It is certain, however, in the early days following the death of the apostle John, that the Christians lived simple and zealous lives. Isaac Taylor wrote” Our brethren of the early church challenge our respect, as well as affection; for theirs was the fervor of a steady _ _ _ _ _ in things _ _ _ _ _ _ and _ _ _ _ _ _ _; ... theirs the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ to maintain a good profession before the frowning face of philosophy, of secular tyranny, and of splendid superstition;... How little do many readers of the Bible, nowadays, think of what it cost the Christians of the second and third centuries, merely to rescue and hide the sacred treasures from the rage of the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (Taylor, Ancient Christianity, Vol. I. p. 37).
Through all of this period there were doubtless many churches that remained true to the
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ideals. The more earnestly they adhered to Scriptural principles the less likely was mention made of them. It was the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and the
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ that attracted attention and was recorded in the histories of the times.
"For the first _ _ _ _ _ centuries the Lord placed Christianity in the most unfavorable circumstances that it might display its _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _, and gain its victory over the world by _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ weapons alone.
In spite of these extraordinary difficulties Christianity made progress. The hindrances became H _ _ _ _ in the providence of God. P _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ led to martyrdom, and martyrdom had attractions. Tertullian exclaimed to the heathen: "All of your ingenious cruelties can accomplish nothing; they are only a lure to this sect. Our number increases the more you destroy us. The blood of the Christians is their seed."
The tendency was ... to lessen the demand for _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and _ _ _ _ _, the experimental in _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _, and rather to emphasize external _ _ _ _ _ and
_ _ _ _ _ _ _. It was imagined that the outward symbol could take the place of the inward grace. The point of departure probably had its largest expression in _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ salvation, and the tendency of some churches toward episcopacy, and away from
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ simplicity.
One of the earliest and most hurtful errors was the dogma of _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ regeneration. This error in one form or another has marred the life and colored the history of all of the Christian ages. ... Tertullian was influenced by it to oppose _ _ _ _ _ _ baptism, and under other conditions it became the frightful origin of that heresy.
Nevertheless, the churches continued to be _ _ _ _ and independent. There were as yet no metropolitan bishops, and the office and authority of a pope was not yet known. Rome in those days had no great authority in the Christian world.
There was, however, a constant tendency towards centralization. As the pastor assumed rights which were not granted to him by the S _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _, some of the metropolitan pastors exercised an undue authority over some of the smaller churches.
Gregory the Great (A. D. 590-694) was "the first of the P _ _ _ _ _ P _ _ _ _" and with him begins "the development of the absolute papacy" (Schaff, History of the Christian Church, Vol. I. p. 15). The growth of the papacy was a process of history. Long before this the bishops of Rome had made arrogant claims over other churches. Notably was this true of Leo I., A. D. 440-461. The line of the absolute Mediaeval popes began with G _ _ _ _ _ _.
"Christianity in Rome," says Gregorovius, "became in a very short time _ _ _ _ _ _ _; ..., because the ground in which the seed of its doctrine had been sown was rotten and the least apt of all other grounds to bring forth good fruit. .
B _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _’ baptism continued to prevail in the churches. I _ _ _ _ baptism was of slow growth. Even after its first appearance it was opposed by many, and for a long time was not generally practiced.
The writers known as the Apostolic Fathers, Clement, Barnabas, Ignatius and the Pastor of Hermas, all required _ _ _ _ _ on the part of the candidate baptized. Clement does exhort parents to "let your children be partakers of the Christian T _ _ _ _ _ _ _"
The Apostolic Fathers require that _ _ _ _ _ shall precede baptism and hence they know nothing of I _ _ _ _ _ baptism.
The earliest clear evidence of infant baptism is found in Tertullian who opposed it (A. D. 185). The first direct evidence in favor of it is found in the writings of Cyprian, in the Council of Carthage, in Africa, A. D. 253. The early councils of the church were all against I _ _ _ _ _ baptism. All of this demonstrates that the early Christians continued to baptize upon a profession of _ _ _ _ _; and that infant baptism had gained no permanent foothold till ages after the days of the apostles.
The first rule, to which reference is made as favoring infant baptism in Europe, was by the Spanish Council of Gerunda, A. D. _ _ _.
Charlemagne, A. D. 789, issued the first _ _ _ in Europe for baptizing infants.... by which they were obliged, "on pain of _ _ _ _ _, to baptize themselves, and of heavy _ _ _ _ _ to baptize their children within the year of their birth."
Of this practice of immersion there is proof in Africa, in Palestine, in Egypt, in Antioch and Constantinople and in Cappadocia. At first the Christians baptized in _ _ _ _ _ _ and fountains. ... Later, on account of persecutions, the Christians hid themselves; and the Catacombs furnished many examples of _ _ _ _ _ _ _eries for the administration of the rite of immersion" For the first thirteen centuries immersion was the normal practice of the Christian.
At the time of the birth of Jesus R _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ L _ _ _ _ _ _ was unknown in the world. Early did the Christians avow and amplify religious liberty. . Tertullian boldly tells the heathen that everybody has a natural and inalienable right to W _ _ _ _ _ _ God according to his own _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _. .A forced religion is no religion at all. Unfortunately, the successors of Constantine from the time of Theodosius the Great (385-395) enforced the Christian religion to the exclusion of every other;

The first blood of heretics shed by a Christian prince was by Maximus, A. D. 385, in the Spanish city of Treves. This act was approved by the bishops, with a single exception, but the Christian churches recoiled from it with horror.

Work Sheet CHAPTER 3 The Struggle Against Corruption

Worksheet Answers available http://www.pbministries.org/History/John%20T.%20Christian/vol1/

At first there was unity in fundamental _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and practices. Step by step some of the churches turned aside from the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and sought out inventions.
The first protest in the way of _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ from the growing corruptions of the times was the movement of the M _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _churches. This Montanus, the leader, was a Phrygian, who arose about the year A. D. _ _ _ . The most distinguished advocate of Montanism was T _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ who espoused and defended their views.
The substance of the contentions of these churches was for a _ _ _ _ of the _ _ _ _ _ _. It was not a new form of Christianity; it was a recovery of the _ _ _, the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ church set over against the obvious _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ of the current Christianity.
But Montanism continued for _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _, and finally became known under other names In Phrygia the Montanists came in contact with, and probably in actual communion with, the P _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . We know that they were still in existence in the year _ _ _ .
The rise of the N _ _ _ _ _ _ _ churches was another outcropping of the old strife between the lax and strict _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . In the year 250 Novatian strenuously opposed the election of Cornelius as the pastor of the church in R _ _ _ . ... they ... pleaded for the
_ _ _ _ _ _ of the church.
These churches continued to flourish in many parts of Christendom for _ _ _ centuries Dr. Robinson traces a continuation of them up to the R _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and the rise of the A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ movement.
On account of the _ _ _ _ _ _ of their lives they were called ... the pure. "What is still more," says Mosheim, "they _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ such as came over to them from the C_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _" ... Since they baptized those who came to them from other communions they were called A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
The D _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ arose in Numidia, in the year _ _ _ , and they soon extended over A _ _ _ _ _ . They taught that the church should be a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
In Benedict's book called a "History of the Donatists" (Pawtucket, 1875) ... he ... classes them as B_ _ _ _ _ _ _. He quite freely shows from A_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and Optatus, who were contemporaries, that the Donatists rejected _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and were _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ in their form of government.
Even skeptic Dr. Heman Lincoln says “ It is evident that the D_ _ _ _ _ _ _ held, at some period of their history, many of the principles which are regarded as axioms by modern B_ _ _ _ _ _ _. Christ teaches us to bear wrong, not to revenge it,... God appointed prophets and fishermen, not princes and soldiers, to spread the faith.

Work Sheet CHAPTER 4 The Paulician and Bogomil Churches

Worksheet Answers available http://www.pbministries.org/History/John%20T.%20Christian/vol1/

It is to be regretted that most of the information concerning the P_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ comes through their _ _ _ _ _ _ _. The sources are twofold ... G_ _ _ _ writers,... and ... A_ _ _ _ _ _ _ in its origin.
The Paulician churches were of _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ origin, and were planted in Armenia in the _ _ _ _ _ century. This was the primitive form of Christianity.
The Paulicians did not recognize persons of other _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ as belonging to the churches. "We do not belong to these," they said. "They have long ago _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ with the church and have been _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ." With Paul as their guide, they could not be far removed from the truth of the New Testament.
Professor Wellhausen, in his life of M_ _ _ _ _ _ _ , gives a most interesting account of the B_ _ _ _ _ _ _ of the Syro-Babylonian desert. He says they were called Sabians, Baptists, and that they practiced the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ forms of C_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . Indeed, "Sabian" is an Arabized word meaning "Baptist" ... They were off the line of the main advance of Christianity, and were left _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ in their primitive simplicity. From them Mohammed derived many of his externals. ...“ these nameless witnesses of the Gospel, unmentioned in church history, scattered the seed from which sprung the germ of
I_ _ _ _ ." These Christians were the P_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
The number of the Paulicians constantly _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _, and they soon attracted the attention of their _ _ _ _ _ _ _. In the year 690 Constantine, their leader, was _ _ _ _ _ _ to death by the command of the _ _ _ _ _ _ _; and his successor was b_ _ _ _ _ _ to death. The Empress Theodora instituted a persecution in which one _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Paulicians in Grecian Armenia are said to have lost their lives.
The Paulicians, in the ninth century, rebelled ... and established in Armenia the, free state of T_ _ _ _ _ _. They gave absolute freedom of _ _ _ _ _ _ to all of its inhabitants . From the capital of this free state, itself called Teprice, went forth a host of _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ to convert the Slavonic tribes of Bulgaria, Bosnia, and Servia to the Paulician faith.
This is a striking B_ _ _ _ _ _ peculiarity. The Baptists have always set up _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ when they had opportunity.
“Their system was, ... in its basal idea and conception alien to _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ; for membership in it depended upon _ _ _ _ _ _ _, voluntarily sought for, even with tears and supplications, by the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ adult.
In the year _ _ _ the Emperor, John Tzimisces, transferred some of the P_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ to Thrace and granted them _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _; and it is recorded to their credit that they were true to his interests.
It was in the country of the A_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _, in the Southern provinces of France, that the P_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ were most deeply implanted, and here they kept up a correspondence with their _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ in Armenia.
Historians regard the Paulicians as the forerunners of the A_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _, and, in fact, as the same people.
The various sects of the Middle Ages which, knowing themselves simply as, C_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _, retained _ _ _ _ _ _ _ in its primitive form and significance, steadily refused to recognize as valid the _ _ _ _ _ _ baptism of the great orthodox or persecuting churches;
One thing is certain, that in Italy, in France, and along the Rhine, the P_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and the A_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ were found in the same territory, and there were no great differences between them in practice and _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
Baptist views prevailed among the Paulicians. They held that men must _ _ _ _ _ _ and b_ _ _ _ _ _, and then at a mature age _ _ _ for _ _ _ _ _ _ _, which alone admitted them into the church. "It is evident," observes Mosheim, "they rejected the baptism of _ _ _ _ _ _ _." They baptized and rebaptized by _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . They would have been taken for downright Anabaptists
The B _ _ _ _ _ _ _ were a branch of the Cathari, or Paulicians, who dwelt in Thrace. The Bogomils were repeatedly condemned, and often _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _, but they continued to exist through the M_ _ _ _ _ _ Ages, and still existed in the _ _ ^th century.
The _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _s of the Bogomils, as of other Paulicians, were continuous and _ _ _ _ _ _ . Every effort was made to _ _ _ _ _ _ _ them. "Yet it was not stamped out," says Conybeare, "but only driven _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . It still lurked all over Europe, but especially in the Balkans, and along the Rhine.

Their historians claimed for them the greatest antiquity

Work Sheet CHAPTER 5 The Albigensian, the Petrobrusian, the Henrician,

the Arnoldist, and the Berengarian Churches

Worksheet Answers available http://www.pbministries.org/History/John%20T.%20Christian/vol1/

It has already been indicated that the P_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ came from A_ _ _ _ _ _, by the way of Thrace, settled in F _ _ _ _ _ and I _ _ _ _, and traveled through, and made disciples in, nearly all of the countries of E _ _ _ _ _.
The descent of the A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ has been traced by some writers from the Paulicians ... the Albigenses had been in the valleys of F _ _ _ _ _ from the earliest ages of Christianity.... "it lingered on in Southern France,"
They spread rapidly through Southern France and the little city of A_ _ _ , in the district of A_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ , became the center of the party. From this city they were called _ A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
They said a Christian church should consist of _ _ _ _ people; a church had no power to frame any _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _; it was not right to take _ _ _ _ _ ; it was not lawful to kill mankind; a man ought not to be delivered up to the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ of justice to be _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ; the benefits of society belong alike to all members of it; _ _ _ _ _ without _ _ _ _ _ could not save a man; the church ought not to
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ any, even the wicked; the law of Moses was no rule for Christians; there was no need of _ _ _ _ _ _ _, especially of wicked ones; the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _, and orders, and _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ of the church of Rome were futile, expensive, oppressive, and _ _ _ _ _ _ . They baptized by _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and rejected infant baptism. They were decidedly anti-clerical.
"we have found a body of men in I _ _ _ _ _ , before the year one thousand and twenty-six, _ _ _ _ hundred years before the Reformation, who believed contrary to the opinions of the Church of Rome, and who highly _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ their _ _ _ _ _ _ ."
In, tracing the history and _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ of the Albigenses it must never be forgotten that on account of _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ they scarcely left a trace of their writings, confessional, apologetical, or polemical; and the representations which R _ _ _ _ _ C _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ writers, their avowed _ _ _ _ _ _ _, have given of them, are.highly _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
... the P _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ were not Manichaeans, .... The A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ were oppressed on account of this sentiment, which accusation was also made against the W_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . ... The R _ _ _ _ _ C _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Church sought diligently for excuses to _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . Even Luther was declared by the Synod of Sens to be a Manichaean. The celebrated Archbishop Ussher says that the charge "of Manichaeanism on the Albigensian sect is evidently _ _ _ _ _"
They held to the division of believers into two classes — the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and the im_ _ _ _ _ _ _. This was the common classification of the P _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _, _ W _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
The W_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ were also found in the city of Albi and they were also called A_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ because they resided in that city
This state of affairs greatly alarmed and aggravated the pope. In the year _ _ _ _ they were condemned by the Lateran Council; by that of Tours in 1163, and mission after mission was sent among them to persuade them to return to the R _ _ _ _ C _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Church. Cardinal Henry, in _ _ _ _, employed _ _ _ _ _.
Pope Innocent III. published a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ against them.
In the second crusade the first city captured was that of Braziers, which had some _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ inhabitants. When Simon de Monfort, Earl of Leicester, asked the Abbot of Ceteaux, the papal legate, what he was to do with the inhabitants, the legate answered: "_ _ _ _ them _ _ _ . God knows His own." In this manner the war was carried on for twenty years. Town after town was taken, pillaged, burnt. Nothing was left but a smoking waste.
"We live," says Everwin, of Steinfeld, "a hard and wandering life. We flee from city to city like _ _ _ _ _ in the midst of _ _ _ _ _ _ . We suffer persecution like the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and martyrs because our life is _ _ _ _ and austere. It is passed amidst prayer, abstinences, and labors, but every-thing is easy for us because we are not of this _ _ _ _ _"
Peter of Bruys, a well-known B _ _ _ _ _ _ preacher of those times, sought, about the year _ _ _ _, a restoration of true religion in Languedoc and Provence, France. He considered that the _ _ _ _ _ _ought to be literally understood and he demanded S _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and not _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ from those who attempted to refute him.
He held that persons ought not to be _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ till they come to the use of their reason
On account of his great popularity he was with difficulty _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ from Languedoc. He then appeared in the diocese of Narbonne and Toulouse, where he preached for _ _ _ _ _ _ years with great success. In the year 1126 he was _ _ _ _ _ _ by the authorities and b_ _ _ _ at St. Gilles. ... He had a great company of followers, who after his death were called P_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ s.
Peter of Bruys and his disciples _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _, and were, therefore, in the eyes of their opponents, A_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
Henry of Lausanne, A. D., 1116-1148, was a disciple of P_ _ _ _ of Brays, and was so successful in his work of reformation that he left a large number of followers who were called H_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
Henry was compelled to _ _ _ _ for his life. Within a short time he was arrested in his retreat, brought before the Council of R_ _ _ _ _ , committed to a close prison in 1148, and soon afterwards finished his days in it. ...Like Peter of Bruys, he rejected _ _ _ _ _ _ baptism.
"They first openly condemned _ _ _ _ _ _ b_ _ _ _ _ _, and stiffly asserted that b_ _ _ _ _ _ was fit only for the _ _ _ _ _ ;
Arnold of Brescia was born in the beginning of the twelfth century and died about A. D. 1148. Arnold had his followers, for he was very popular in L_ _ _ _ _ _ _ . "He founded," so his enemies said during his stay in Rome, "a sect of men which is still called the _ _ _ _ _ _ of the Lombards" They had great congregations of laboring men which formed such an important feature of the work of the W_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and A_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . ...The A_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _, like their leader, rejected _ _ _ _ _ _ baptism.
By the year 1184 the Arnoldists were termed A_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _, a little later they were classed as W_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . ... "the Poor of Lombardy (the Waldenses) descended in a direct line from the A_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _"

Work Sheet CHAPTER 6 The Waldensian Churches

Worksheet Answers available http://www.pbministries.org/History/John%20T.%20Christian/vol1/

Peter Waldo, or Valdesius, or W _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _, as he was variously called, was a rich and distinguished citizen of L _ _ _ _ , France, in the closing decades of the twelfth century. Waldo was at first led to study the B _ _ _ _ and he made a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ of it which he circulated among the people.
Waldenses themselves believed in their own _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . ... the Waldenses were influenced by the P_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _. the A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and others. ... the Waldenses were only a part of the general movement of the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ against Rome. They were of "the same general movement" which produced the A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
The most remote origin has been claimed for the W _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ , admitted by their enemies, and confirmed by historians. "Our witnesses are all R _ _ _ _ Catholics,"
Among all the sects, there is no one more _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ to the church than that of the Leonists (Waldenses), and for _ _ _ _ _ reasons: In the first place, because it is the most a_ _ _ _ _ _ _: for some say that it dates back to the time of Sylvester (A. D. 825); others to the time of the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
In the second place. because it is the most _ _ _ _ -_ _ _ _ _ _. There is hardly a country where it does not exist.
In the third place, because if other _ _ _ _ _ strike with horror those who listen to them, the L _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _, on the contrary, posses a great outward appearance of _ _ _ _ _ As a matter of fact they lead irreproachable lives before men and as regards their faith and the articles of their creed, they are _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . (Gretscher, Contra Valdenses, IV.).
In a Waldensian document, which some have dated as early as the year _ _ _ _, ... The Noble Lessons, as it is called, says: “ We do not find anywhere in the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ of the Old Testament that the light of _ _ _ _ _ and _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ was at any time completely extinguished. There have always been men who walked _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ in the paths of righteousness. Their number has been at times reduced to few; but has never been altogether _ _ _ _. We believe that the same has been the case from the time of J_ _ _ _ C _ _ _ _ _ until now; and that it will be so until the _ _ _ ... “
Many pages might be used in describing the upright character of the W _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ , but space is allowed for only a few statements from their _ _ _ _ _ _ _. To this end, the testimony of Olaudius Seisselius, the Archbishop of Turin, is interesting. He says: "Their heresy excepted, they generally live a _ _ _ _ _ life than other Christians. They never _ _ _ _ _ except by compulsion [an Anabaptist trait] and rarely take the name of God in _ _ _ _. They fulfill their promises with punctuality; and _ _ _ _, for the most part, in _ _ _ _ _ _ _; they profess to observe the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ life and doctrine. They also profess it to be their desire to overcome only by the simplicity of _ _ _ _ _ , by _ _ _ _ _ _ of conscience, and _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ of life; not by philosophical niceties and theological subtleties" He very candidly admits: "In their lives and morals they were _ _ _ _ _ _ _, irreprehensible, and without reproach to men, addicting themselves with all their might to observe the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ of God"
The first distinguishing principle of the Waldenses bore on daily _ _ _ _ _ _ _, and was summed up in the words of the apostle: "We ought to obey _ _ _ rather than _ _ _ ." This the Roman Catholics interpreted to mean a refusal to submit to the authority of the _ _ _ _ and the prelates. All of the early attacks against them contain this charge.
The second distinguishing principle was the authority and popular use of the H _ _ _ S_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _. Here again the W _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ anticipated the R_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . The Bible was a _ _ _ _ _ _ book, and there were those among them who could quote the _ _ _ _ _ _ book from memory.
The third principle was the importance of _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and the right of laymen to exercise that function. Peter Waldo and his associates were _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
They claimed the right of _ _ _ _ _ to teach as well as _ _ _ , and when Paul’s words enjoining silence upon the women was quoted, they replied that it was with them more a question of _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ than _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ , and quoted back Titus 2:3, "The aged _ _ _ _ _ should be teachers of good things."
The W _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ movement touched many people, through many centuries and attracted _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ from many sources. The Confessions of Faith of the Waldenses indicate that they did not practice _ _ _ _ _ _ baptism.
"It is almost superfluous to point out the striking agreement between these teachings of the _ _ W _ _ _ _ _ _ ," says Professor Vedder, "and the sixteenth century
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . The testimony is unanimous that the W _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ rejected _ _ _ _ _ _ baptism" (American Journal of Theology IV. 448).
If the W _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ were not B _ _ _ _ _ _ _ there is no historical proof of anything.
Every institution has its vicissitudes, and after progress comes decline. On the eve of the Reformation everything was on the decline—_ _ _ _ _ , _ _ _ _, _ _ _ _ _ . It was so of the Waldenses. The larger portion had gone with the Anabaptist movement. Sick and tired of heart in 1530 the remnant of the Waldenses opened negotiations with the Reformers, but a union was not effected till 1532. Since then the Waldenses have been _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Work Sheet CHAPTER 7

Worksheet Answers available http://www.pbministries.org/History/John%20T.%20Christian/vol1/

The beginnings of the Anabaptist movement are firmly rooted in the earlier centuries. The Baptists have a spiritual posterity of many ages of liberty-loving Christians.
Mosheim, a learned Lutheran historian, ... says: “The origin of the sect, who from their repetition of baptism received in other communities, are called Anabaptists, but who are also denominated Mennonites, from the celebrated man to whom they owe a large share of their present prosperity, is hid in the remote depths of antiquity .
Prior to the age of Luther, there lay concealed in almost every country of Europe but especially in Bohemia, Moravia, Switzerland and Germany, very many persons, in whose minds were deeply rooted that principle which the Waldenses, Wyclifites, and the Husites maintained, some more covertly and others more openly;
Sir Isaac Newton, one of the greatest men who ever lived, declared it was "his conviction that the Baptists were the only Christians who had not symbolized with Rome"
Alexander Campbell says: “I would engage to show that baptism as viewed and practiced by the Baptists, had its advocates in every century up to the Christian era and independent of whose existence (the German Anabaptists), clouds of witnesses attest the fact, that before the Reformation from popery, and from the apostolic age, to the present time, the sentiments of Baptists, and the practice of baptism have had a continued chain of advocates, and public monuments of their existence in every century can be produced .”
Hence it is that the Baptist denomination, in all ages and in all countries, has been, as a body, the constant asserters of the rights of man and of liberty of conscience. They have often been persecuted by Pedobaptists; but they never politically persecuted, though they have had it in their power.
Robert Barclay, a Quaker who wrote largely upon this subject, ... says of the Baptists: “We shall afterwards show the rise of the Anabaptist took place prior to the Reformation of the Church of England, and there are also reasons for believing that on the Continent of Europe small hidden Christian societies, who have held many of the opinions of the Anabaptists, have existed from the times of the apostles. In the sense of the direct transmission of Divine Truth, and the true nature of spiritual religion, it seems probable that these churches have a lineage or succession more ancient than that of the Roman Church .”
Cardinal Hosius, a member of the Council of Trent, A. D. 1560, in a statement often quoted, says: “If the truth of religion were to be judged by the readiness and boldness of which a man of any sect shows in suffering, then the opinion and persuasion of no sect can be truer and surer than that of the Anabaptist since there have been none for these twelve hundred years past, that have been more generally punished or that have more cheerfully and steadfastly undergone, and even offered themselves to the most cruel sorts of punishment than these people.” That Cardinal Hosius dated the history of the Baptists back twelve hundred years, i.e. 360 AD!
The Roman Catholics were in active opposition to the Baptists, through the Inquisition they had been dealing with them for some centuries, ... The Baptists were no novelty to the Roman Catholics of the Reformation period.
Zwingli, the Swiss Reformer, says: “ The institution of Anabaptism is no novelty, but for three hundred years has caused great disturbance in the church, and has acquired such strength that the attempt in this age to contend with it appears futile for a time.”
No definite starting place can be ascribed to the Baptists of the Reformation. For they sprang up in many countries all at once.
No one leader impressed himself upon all of them. There was an independence and an individuality that made it impossible to express a complete system of their intellectual beliefs.
The Anabaptist movement was the continuation of the old evangelical faith maintained by the Waldenses and other Mediaeval Christians.
In those places where the Waldenses flourished there the Baptists set deep root. This statement holds good from country to country, and from city to city.
Many able preachers of the Waldenses became widely known as Baptist ministers. Such were the martyrs, Hans Koch, Leonard Meyster, Michael Sattler and Leonard Kaser, who were all renowned Baptist ministers
The author of the "Successio Anahaptistica," says of the Anabaptists: “I am dealing with the Mennonites or Anabaptists, who pride themselves as having the apostolic succession, that is, the mission and the extraction from the apostles. Who claim that the true Church is found nowhere, except among themselves alone and their congregations, since with them alone remains the true understanding of the Scriptures.”
Blaupot Ten Cate says: “I am fully satisfied that Baptist principles have in all ages. from the times of the apostles to the present. prevailed over a greater or smaller portion of Christendom.”
Dutch Baptists wrote “We have now seen that the Baptists who were formerly called Anabaptist, and in later times Mennonites, were the original Waldenses. and who have long in the history of the church received the honor of that origin. On this account the Baptists may be considered as the only Christian society which has stood since the days of the apostles, ...”
The best historical study and scientific scholarship all lean toward the continuous history of the Baptists.