Baptists and Revivals in 18th-Century America

7/30/2019 Baptists and Revivals in 18th-Century America

1/22


2/22

1st Great Awakening (c. 1739-

1742)

key leaders: Jonathan Edwards(Congregationalist), GeorgeWhitefield (Anglican), Gilbert Tennent

(Presbyterian)emphasis onpreaching for conversion,experimental religion

division between supporters,

opponents of revivals (e.g., Edwardsvs. Charles Chauncy; Old Side vs.New Side Presbyterians)


3/22

Whitefield (unfocused)


4/22

Edwards


5/22

1st G.A. (cont.)

dissent, schism, controversy all part

of legacy of 1st G.A.in New

England, Separatist or Strict

Congregationalist churches appearedwith new affirmation of regenerate

church membership, rejection of

earlier compromises like the HalfwayCovenant of 1662


6/22

1st G.A. (cont.)

a new Baptist division developedbetween Regulars and Separates Regulars had existed before the revival,

had some continuities with EnglishParticular Baptists

Separates originated in New Englandwhere at times entire SeparateCongregationalist churches becameBaptist (over 100)they viewedbelievers baptism as a way of protectingregenerate membership


7/22

1st G.A. (cont.)

at times already existing Regular Baptist

churches split (e.g., 1st Baptist in Boston

in 1743strongest supporters of revival

broke away and started 2

nd

Baptistyetnot all Regulars were anti-revival)

characteristics of Separates:

did not accept Philadelphia Confession

said that Bible alone was sufficient basisfor their beliefs

critical of Regulars on examination of new

members re: their conversions


8/22

1st G.A. (cont.)

Separate preaching noisier, with more

exhortation than Regular preaching

Regulars more expositional

Separates usually less educated, less

privileged than RegularsRegulars better

educated, more likely from urban areas or

towns, whereas Separates found more

often in rural areas or frontier

Separates sometimes called New Lightsbecause of emphasis on possibility of

immediate inspiration from Holy Spirit


9/22

1st G.A. (cont.)

Separates more suspicious of associations

threatening autonomy of local churches

(although many Separates eventually

organized associations)


10/22

Baptist Leaders in

Evangelistic Surge

Hezekiah Smith (1737-1805):

Baptist preacher who was born on Long

island and raised in NJgraduated from

College of NJ (Princeton) in 1762 labored for a time in the South as an

itinerant

involved in founding of RI College

(Brown) in 1764


11/22

Leaders (cont.)

1766although he was not a classic

Separate, Smith became pastor of a Separate

Baptist Church in Haverhill, MA, and served

there for 39 yearshe also itinerated

throughout New England, contributing tochurch growth in that region (by 1790 there

were 92 Baptist churches in MA with

combined membership of over 6000)

he helped to organize the Warren (RI) Assoc.in 1767 and the Mass. Baptist Missionary

Society in 1802 (1st state org. of its kind)


12/22

Leaders (cont.)

Morgan Edwards (1722-1795):

born in Wales, educated at Bristol Baptist

College in Englandon John Gills

recommendation, he came to FBC,Philadelphia, in 1761, where he was

active in the Phila. Assoc.he helped in

the founding of Brown

promoted evangelistic efforts of Phila.Assoc.in 1771 he became evangelist-

at-large, serving mainly in the South


13/22

Leaders (cont.)

his travels led to his 2-vol. Materialstoward a History of the Baptists

he and other Phila. Assoc. missionaries

planted many Regular Baptist churches


14/22

Leaders (cont.)

Shubal Stearns (1706-1771):

born in Boston, raised in CT as a

Congregationalist

converted under George Whitefieldsministry in 1745 and joined Separate

Congregationalists

1751Stearns immersed and became a

Separate Baptistserved for while in achurch in CT


15/22

Leaders (cont.)

1754moved to the South, briefly to

Virginia and then on to Sandy Creek, NC

(1755)

a moving, emotional preacherStearnspastored the Sandy Creek church and

itinerated extensively

during his time in Sandy Creek, 42 other

churches were formed and 125 werecalled as preachers


16/22

Leaders (cont.)

1758Stearns set up Sandy Creek

Assoc., 1st Separate assoc.

Stearns assisted by brother-in-law Daniel

Marshall (1706-1784), another formerCongregationalistMarshall preached

widely in VA, NC, SC, and GA

Shurden characterized Sandy Creek

tradition as one of ardor that expresseditself in individualism,

congregationalism, biblicism, and

egalitarianismalso known for

invitations


17/22

Baptists & Early Stages of

2nd Great Awakening Virginiaevidence of revival about

1785-1791a key leader was John

Leland (1754-1841), a Separate

Baptist preacher who moved fromNew England to VA in 1777he

pastored at Mt. Poney, Orange, and

Louisa (near Charlottesville) and also

itineratedhe baptized 400 in a 20

square mile area between 1787-89


18/22

Leland


19/22

2nd G.A. (cont.)

Virginia (cont.)revival marked by

physical & emotional

manifestationsalso brought unity

between Regulars & Separates in1787


20/22

2nd G.A. (cont.)

Kentuckyrevivals beginning in 1785

brought significant growth for

Baptistsby time of KY statehood in

1792, there were already 55 Baptistcongregations and 3 associations

camp meetings like Cane Ridge

(1801) brought new growth after

some decline in 1790shelped spark

union of Regulars & Separates in

1801


21/22

Camp Meeting Scene


22/22

2nd G.A. (cont.)

Kentucky (cont.)by 1840 there were

711 Baptist churches in KY and 50

associations (1 in every 15 people in

state was a Baptist)

Documents

Baptists and Revivals in 18th-Century America