The question is frequently asked, What is the creed, and what are the acknowledged standards of the Baptist
churches in this country? To this, the general answer has ever been, “Our rule of faith and practice is the New
Testament.” We have no other authority to which we all profess submission. To this it will be replied by
Christians of other denominations, We all make the same profession, but we have also our authorized confessions,
creeds, and formularies, to which every one who enters our churches must subscribe; they are framed by our highest
ecclesiastical tribunals, and they, to a greater or less extent, govern the profession of all our members. It is
in this manner alone that our unity is preserved, and our members protected from the seductions of error.
To this we answer, Whether an established confession of faith is desirable or not, with us it is impossible.
We believe, in the fullest sense, in the independence of every individual church of Christ. We hold that each
several church is a Christian society, on which is conferred by Christ the entire power of self-government. No
church has any power over any other church. No minister has any authority in any church, except that which has
called him to be its pastor. Every church, therefore, when it expresses its own belief, expresses the belief of
no other than its own members. If several churches understand the Scriptures in the same way, and all unite in
the same confession, then this expresses the opinions and belief of those who profess it. It, however, expresses
their belief, because all of them, from the study of the Scriptures, understand them in the same manner; and not
because any tribunal has imposed such interpretations upon them. We can not acknowledge the authority of any such
tribunal. We have no right to delegate such an authority to any man, or to any body of men. It is our essential
belief that the Scriptures are a revelation from God, given not to a Pope, or a congregation of Cardinals, or an
Archbishop, or a bench of Bishops, or a General Assembly, or a Synod, but to every individual man. They were
If the question be asked, How are we saved from divisions and heresies? we reply, by asking again, How are other
denominations saved from them? Have creeds and confessions any power either to create or to preserve unity? Have
they done it in the Papal, the Episcopal, the Lutheran, or the Presbyterian churches? Nay, where a creed is most
strictly imposed, and even established by law, there is the divergence in sentiment from it the most remarkable.
A large proportion, perhaps the majority, of the members of the Lutheran church, believe no more in the doctrines
of Luther than in the doctrines of Confucius.
We reply, secondly, that this very absence of any established creed is in itself the cause of our unity. If the
Bible be a book designed for every individual man, and intended to be understood by every man, then the greatest
amount of unity attainable among men of diversified character, will be produced by allowing everyone to look at
it and study it for himself. Here is an inspired record allowed to be pure truth. The nearer the opinions of men
approach to its teachings, the nearer they approach to each other. Here is a solid and definite basis of unity.
It is such a unity as is adapted to the nature of man as an intelligent and accountable being. Other foundation
can no man lay than that which is laid. If we stand upon this we can not be far distant from each other.
And the fact has proved the truth of this remark I do not believe that any denomination of Christians exists,
which, for so long a period as the Baptists, have maintained so invariably the truth of their early confessions.
The confessions of the persecuted Baptists in the time of Charles II. are almost identical with those of our
churches of the present day in this country, though probably not one in ten thousand of our members ever heard of
their existence. The churches which boast of standards of faith and practice, are in this respect certainly much
less fortunate than ourselves. Abundant evidence of this remark will be seen in the following numbers.
While there is, however, this general belief, it may be of use to present a brief view of our principles and
practice, that we ourselves may have the means of verifying it, and knowing the
[Francis Wayland, Notes on the Principles and Practices of Baptist Churches. Sheldon, Blakeman and Co.
New York, 1857. Pages 13-15. Document provided by William VanNunen, John Leland Baptist College, Georgetown, KY.
Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]
THE ABSENCE OF SUCH CONFESSION A CAUSE OF UNION
RATHER THAN
DIVISION.
p. 14
given
to every individual that he might understand them for himself, and the word that is given him will judge him at
the great day. It is hence evident that we can have no standards which claim to be of any authority over us. This,
however, in no manner prevents those who are agreed from working together, and cooperating in every form of
Christian effort, and uniting in every manifestation of brotherly love.
p. 15
harmony which exists between us
and our brethren. The writer of this paper has, therefore, thought that a few miscellaneous notes on this subject
might be acceptable to his brethren. He pretends to no learning in ecclesiastical history. He has no leisure for
extensive research, or indeed for any research whatever. He has, however, had some opportunity for knowing the
opinions and practices of Baptists in the northern States, and these he proposes to present as he may find now
and then a leisure moment. They bind no one, but are the simple record of the observation of an individual.
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