1. These three centuries, fifteenth, sixteenth, and
seventeenth, are among the most eventful in all the world's
history, and especially is this true in Christian history. There
was almost a continual revolution inside the Catholic Church--
both Roman and Greek--seeking a Reformation. This awaken-
ing of long dormant Conscience and the desire for a genuine
reformation really began in the thirteenth century or possibly
even a little earlier than that. History certainly seems to indicate
it.2. Let's go back just a little. The Catholic Church by its many
departures from New Testament teachings, its many strange
and cruel laws, and its desperately low state of morals, and its
hands and clothes reeking with the blood of millions of martyrs,
has become obnoxious and plainly repulsive to many of its
30 THE TRAIL OF BLOOD
adherents, who are far better than their own system and laws
and doctrines and practices. Several of its bravest and best and
most spiritual priests and other leaders, one by one, sought most
earnestly to reform many of its most objectionable laws and
doctrines and get back, at least nearer, to the plain teachings of
the New Testament. We give some striking examples. Note, not
only how far apart and where the reformatory fires began, but
note also the leaders in the reformation. The leaders were, or had
been, all Catholic priests or officials of some kind. There was,
even yet, a little of good in the much evil. However, at this time
there was probably not one solitary unmarred doctrine of
the New Testament retained in its original purity--but
now note some of the reformers and where they labored.3. It is well to note, however, that for many centuries prior to
this great reformation period, there were a number of noted
characters, who rebelled against the awful extremes of the
Catholic--and earnestly sought to remain loyal to the Bible--but
their bloody trail was about all that was left of them. We come
now to study for awhile this most noted period--the "Reforma-
tion."4. From 1320 to 1384 there lived a man in England who
attracted world-wide attention. His name was John Wycliff. He
was the first of the brave fellows who had the courage to attempt
a real reformation inside the Catholic Church. He is many times
referred to in history as "The Morning Star of the Reformation."
He lived an earnest and effective life. It would really require
several volumes to contain anything like an adequate history of
John Wycliff. He was hated, fearfully hated, by the leaders of the
Catholic hierarchy. His life was persistently sought. He finally
died of paralysis. But years later, so great was Catholic hatred,
his bones were dug and burned, and his ashes scattered upon the
waters.5. Following tolerably close on the heels of Wycliff came
John Huss, 1373-1415, a distinguished son from far away
Bohemia. His soul had felt and responded to the brilliant light of
England's "Morning Star." His was a brave and eventful life, but
painfully and sadly short. Instead of awakening a responsive
chord among his Catholic people in favor of a real reformation,
he aroused a fear and hatred and opposition which resulted in his
THE TRAIL OF BLOOD 31
being burned at the stake--a martyr among his own people. And
yet he was seeking their own good. He loved his Lord and he loved
his people. However, he was only one of many millions who had
thus to die.6. Next to John Huss of Bohemia, came a wonderful son of
Italy, the marvelously eloquent Savonarola, 1452-1498. Huss
was burned in 1415, Savonarola was born 37 years later. He, like
Huss, though a devout Catholic, found the leaders of his people--
the people of Italy--like those of Bohemia, against all reforma-
tion. But he, by his mighty eloquence, succeeded in awakening
some conscience and securing a considerable following. But a
real reformation in the Hierarchy meant absolute ruin to the
higher-ups in that organization. So Savonarola, as well as Huss,
must die. HE TOO WAS BURNED AT THE STAKE. Of all the
eloquent men of that great period, Savonarola possibly stood
head and shoulders above all others. But he was contending
against a mighty organization and their existence demanded
that they fight the reformation, so Savonarola must die.7. Of course, in giving the names of the reformers of this
period, many names are necessarily to be left out. Only those
most frequently referred to in history are mentioned here.
Following Italy's golden tongued orator came a man from
Switzerland. Zwingle was born before Savonarola died. He lived
from 1484 to 1531. The spirit of reformation was beginning now
to fill the whole land. Its fires are now breaking out faster and
spreading more rapidly and becoming most difficult to control.
This one kindled by Zwingle was not yet more than partially
smothered before another, more serious than all the rest, had
broken out in Germany. Zwingle died in battle.8. Martin Luther, probably the most noted of all the
fifteenth and sixteenth century reformers, lived 1483 to 1546, and
as can be seen by the dates, was very nearly an exact contem-
porary of Zwingle. He was born one year earlier and lived fifteen
years later. Far more, probably, than history definitely states,
his great predecessors have in great measure made easier his
hard way before him. Furthermore, he learned from their hard
experience, and then later, and most thoroughly from his own,
that a genuine reformation inside the Catholic Church would be
32 THE TRAIL OF BLOOD
an utter impossibility. Too many reform measures would be
needed. One would demand another and others demand yet
others, and so on and on.9. So Martin Luther, after many hard fought battles with the
leaders of Catholicism, and aided by Melancthon and other
prominent Germans, became the founder in 1530, or, about then,
of an entirely new Christian organization, now known as the
Lutheran Church, which very soon became the Church of
Germany. This was the first of the new organizations to come
directly out of Rome and renounce all allegiance to the Catholic
Mother Church (as she is called) and to continue to live
thereafter.10. Skipping now for a little while, the Church of England,
which comes next to the Lutheran in its beginnings, we will
follow for a little while the Reformation on the Continent. From
1509 to 1564, there lived another of the greatest of the reformers.
This was John Calvin, a Frenchman, but seeming at the time to
be living in Switzerland. He was really a mighty man. He was a
contemporary of Martin Luther for 30 years, and was 22 years old
when Zwingle died. Calvin is the accredited founder of the
Presbyterian church. Some of the historians, however, give that
credit to Zwingle, but the strongest evidence seems to favor
Calvin. Unquestionably the work of Zwingle, as well as that of
Luther, made much easier the work of Calvin. So in 1541, just
eleven years (that seems to be the year), after the founding by
Luther of the Lutheran Church, the Presbyterian Church came
into existence. It too, as in the case of the Lutherans, was led by a
reformed Catholic priest or at least official. These six--Wycliff,
Huss, Savonarola, Zwingle, Luther and Calvin, great leaders in
their great battles for reformation, struck Catholicism a stagger-
ing blow.11. In 1560, nineteen years after Calvin's first organization in
Geneva, Switzerland, John Knox, a disciple of Calvin, establish-
ed the first Presbyterian Church in Scotland, and just thirty-two
years later, 1592, the Presbyterian became the State Church of
Scotland.12. During all these hard struggles for Reformation, con-
tinuous and valuable aid was given to the reformers, by many
Ana-Baptists, or whatever other name they bore. Hoping for
THE TRAIL OF BLOOD 33
some relief from their own bitter lot, they came out of their hiding
places and fought bravely with the reformers, but they were
doomed to fearful disappointment. They were from now on to
have two additional persecuting enemies. Both the Lutheran and
Presbyterian Churches brought out of their Catholic Mother
many of her evils, among them her idea of a State Church. They
both soon became Established Churches. Both were soon in
the persecuting business, falling little, if any, short of their
Catholic Mother."THE TRAIL OF BLOOD" Sad and awful was the fate of these long-suffering
Ana-Baptists. The world now offered no sure place for
hiding. Four hard persecutors were now hot on their trail.
Surely theirs was a "Trail of Blood."13. During the same period, really earlier by several years
than the Presbyterians, arose yet another new denomination, not
on the continent, but in England. However, this came about not
so much by way of reformation (though that evidently made it
easier) as by way of a real split or division in the Catholic ranks.
More like the division in 869, when Eastern Catholics separated
from the Western, and became from that time on, known in
history as the Greek and Roman Catholic Churches. This new
division came about somewhat in this wise:
England's king, Henry VIII, had married Catherine of Spain,
but unfortunately, after some time his somewhat troublesome
heart had fallen in love with Anne Boleyn. So he wanted to
divorce Catherine and marry Annie. Getting a divorce back then
was no easy matter. Only the Pope could grant it, and he in this
case, for special reasons, declined to grant it. Henry was in great
distress. Being king, he felt he ought to be entitled to follow his
own will in the matter. His Prime Minister (at that time Thomas
Cromwell) rather made sport of the King. Why do you submit to
papal authority on such matters? Henry followed his suggestion,
threw off papal authority and made himself head of the Church
of England. Thus began the new Church of England. This was
consummated in 1534 or 1535. At that time there was no change
in doctrine, simply a renunciation of the authority of the Pope.
34 THE TRAIL OF BLOOD
Henry at heart really never became a Protestant. He died in the
Catholic faith.14. But this split did ultimately result in some very con-
siderable change, or reformation. While a reformation within
the Catholic Church and under papal authority, as in the case
of Luther and others, was impossible, it became possible after the
division. Cranmer, Latimer, Ridley and others led in some
marked changes. However, they and many others paid a bloody
price for the changes when a few years later, Mary, "Bloody
Mary," a daughter of the divorced Catherine, came to the English
throne, and carried the new Church back under the papal power.
This fearful and terrific reaction ended with the strenuous and
bloody five-year reign of Mary. While the heads were going under
the bloody axe of Mary, hers went with them. The people had
gotten, however, a partial taste of freedom so when Elizabeth, the
daughter of Anne Boleyn (for whom Catherine was divorced),
became Queen, the Church of England again overthrew papal
power and was again re-established.15. Thus, before the close of the Sixteenth Century, there were
five established Churches--churches backed up by civil
governments--the Roman and Greek Catholics counted as two;
then the Church of England; then the Lutheran, or Church of
Germany; then the Church of Scotland, now known as the
Presbyterian. All of them were bitter in their hatred and
persecution of the people called Ana-Baptists, Waldenses and all
other non-established churches, churches which never in any
way had been connected with the Catholics. Their great help in
the struggle for reformation had been forgotten, or was now
wholly ignored. Many more thousands, including both women
and children were constantly perishing every day in the yet
unending persecutions. The great hope awakened and inspired
by the reformation had proven to be a bloody delusion. Remnants
now find an uncertain refuge in the friendly Alps and other
hiding places over the world.16. These three new organizations, separating from, or com-
ing out of the Catholics, retained many of their most hurtful
errors, some of which are as follows:(1) Preacher-church government (differing in form).
THE TRAIL OF BLOOD 35
(2) Church Establishment (Church and State combination).
(3) Infant BAPTISM.
(4) Sprinkling or Pouring for Baptism.
(5) Baptismal Regeneration (some at least, and others, if
many of their historians are to be accredited).
(6) Persecuting others (at least for centuries).17. In the beginning all these established Churches
persecuted one another as well as every one else, but at a council
held at Augsburg in 1555, a treaty of peace, known as the "Peace
of Augsburg" was signed between the "Catholics" on the one
hand, and the "Lutherans" on the other, agreeing not to
persecute each other. You let us alone, and we will let you alone.
For Catholics to fight Lutherans meant war with Germany, and
for Lutherans to fight or persecute Catholics meant war with all
the countries where Catholicism predominated."THE TRAIL OF BLOOD" 18. But persecutions did not then cease. The hated Ana-
Baptists (called Baptists today), in spite of all prior
persecutions, and in spite of the awful fact that fifty
million had already died martyr deaths, still existed in
great numbers. It was during this period that along one
single European highway, thirty miles distance, stakes
were set up every few feet along this highway, the tops of
the stakes sharpened, and on the top of each stake was
placed a gory head of a martyred Ana-Baptist. Human
imagination can hardly picture a scene so awful! And yet a
thing perpetrated, according to reliable history, by a
people calling themselves devout followers of the meek
and lowly Jesus Christ.19. Let it be remembered that the Catholics do not regard the
Bible as the sole rule and guide of faith and life. The claim
that it is indeed unerring, but that there are two other things
just as much so, the "Writings of the Fathers" and the decrees of
the Church (Catholic Church) or the declarations of the Infallible
Pope.
36 THE TRAIL OF BLOOD
Hence, there could never be a satisfactory debate between
Catholic and Protestant or between Catholic and Baptist, as
there could never possibly be a basis of final agreement. The
Bible alone can never settle anything so far as the Catholics are
concerned.20. Take as an example the question of "baptism" and the
final authority for the act and for the mode. They claim that
the Bible unquestionably teaches Baptism and that it teaches
immersion as the only mode. But they claim at the same time
that their unerring Church had the perfect right to change the
mode from immersion to sprinkling, but that no others have
the right or authority, none but the infallible papal authority.21. You will note of course, and possibly be surprised at it, that
I am doing in these lectures very little quoting. I am earnestly
trying to do a very hard thing, give to the people the main
substance of two thousand years of religious history in six hours
of time.22. It is well just here to call attention to facts concerning the
Bible during these awful centuries. Remember the Bible was not
then in print and there was no paper upon which to have printed
even if printing had been invented. Neither was there any paper
upon which to write it. Parchment, dressed goat of sheep skins, or
papyrus (some kind of wood pulp), this was the stuff used upon
which to write. So a book as big as the Bible, all written by hand
and with a stylus of some sort, not a pen like we use today, was an
enormous thing, probably larger than one man could carry.
There were never more than about thirty[?] complete Bibles in all
the world. Many parts or books of the Bible like Matthew, Mark,
Luke, John, or Acts, or some one of the Epistles, or Revelation or
some one book of the Old Testament. One of the most outstanding
miracles in the whole world's history--according to my way of
thinking--is the nearness with which God's people have thought
and believed together on the main and vital points of Christiani-
ty. Of course God is the only solution. It is now a most glorious
fact that we can all and each, now have a full copy of the whole
Bible and each in our own native tongue.23. It is well also for us all to do some serious and special
thinking on another vital fact concerning the Bible. It has
THE TRAIL OF BLOOD 37
already been briefly mentioned in the lecture preceding this, but
is so very vital that it will probably be wise to refer to it again. It
was the action taken by the Catholics at the Council of Toulouse,
held in 1229 A. D., when they decided to withhold the Bible, the
Word of God from the vast majority of all their own people, the
"Laymen." I am simply stating here just what they stated in their
great Council. But lately in private a Catholic said to me, "Our
purpose in that is to prevent their private interpretation of
it." Isn't it marvelous that God should write a book for the people
and then should be unwilling for the people to read it. And yet
according to that book the people are to stand or fall in the day of
judgment on the teachings of that book. No wonder the declara-
tion in the book--"Search the scriptures [the book]; for in them ye
think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me."
Fearful the responsibility assumed by the Catholics!
FOURTH LECTURE--17th, 18th, 19th Centuries 1. This lecture begins with the beginning of the Seventeenth
Century (A.D. 1601). We have passed very hurriedly over much
important Christian history, but necessity has compelled this.2. This three-century period begins with the rise of an entirely
new denomination. It is right to state that some historians give
the date of the beginning of the Congregational Church (at first
called "Independents") as 1602. However, Schaff-Herzogg, in
their Encyclopedia, place its beginning far back in the sixteenth
century, making it coeval with the Lutheran and Presbyterian.
In the great reformation wave many who went out of the Catholic
Church were not satisfied with the extent of the reformation led
by Luther and Calvin. They decided to repudiate also the
preacher rule and government idea of the churches and return to
the New Testament democratic idea as had been held through the
fifteen preceding centuries by those who had refused to enter
Constantine's hierarchy.3. The determined contention of this new organization for this
particular reform brought down upon its head bitter persecution
from Catholic, Lutheran, Presbyterian and Church of England
adherents--all the established churches. However, it retained
many other of the Catholic made errors, such for instance as
38 THE TRAIL OF BLOOD
infant baptism, pouring or sprinkling for baptism, and later
adopted and practiced to an extreme degree the church and state
idea. And, after refugeeing to America, themselves, became
very bitter persecutors.4. The name "Independents" or as now called
"Congregationalists," is derived from their mode of church
government. Some of the distinguishing principles of the
English Congregationalists as given in Schaff-Herzogg En-
cyclopedia are as follows:(1) That Jesus Christ is the only head of the church and
that the Word of God is its only statue book.
(2) That visible churches are distinct assemblies of Godly
men gathered out of the world for purely religious
purposes, and not to be confounded with the world.
(3) That these separate churches have full power to choose
their own officers and to maintain discipline.
(4) That in respect to their internal management they are
each independent of all other churches and equally
independent of state control.5. How markedly different these principles are from
Catholicism, or even Lutheranism, or Presbyterianism or the
Episcopacy of the Church of England. How markedly similar to
the Baptists of today, and of all past ages, and to the original
teachings of Christ and His apostles.6. In 1611, the King James English Version of the Bible
appeared. Never was the Bible extensively given to the people
before. From the beginning of the general dissemination of the
Word of God began the rapid decline of the Papal power, and the
first beginnings for at least many centuries, of the idea of
"religious liberty."7. In 1648 came the "Peace of Westphalia." Among other
things which resulted from that peace pact was the triple
agreement between the great denominations--Catholic,
Lutheran and Presbyterian, no longer to persecute one another.
Persecutions among these denominations meant war with
governments backing them. However, all other Christians,
especially the Ana-Baptists, were to continue to receive from
them the same former harsh treatment, persistent persecution.
THE TRAIL OF BLOOD 39
8. During all the seventeenth century, persecutions for
Waldenses, Ana-Baptists, and Baptists (in some places the
"Ana" was now being left off) continued to be desperately severe;
in England by the Church of England, as John Bunyan and
many others could testify; in Germany by the Lutherans; in
Scotland by the Church of Scotland (Presbyterian); in Italy, in
France, and in every other place where the papacy was in power,
by the Catholics. There is now no peace anywhere for those who
are not in agreement with the state churches, or some one of
them.9. It is a significant fact well established in credible history
that even as far back as the fourth century those refusing to go
into the Hierarchy, and refusing to accept the baptism or those
baptized in infancy, and refusing to accept the doctrine of
"Baptismal Regeneration" and demanding rebaptism for all
those who came to them from the Hierarchy, were called "Ana-
Baptists." No matter what other names they then bore, they were
always referred to as "Ana-Baptists." Near the beginning of the
sixteenth century, the "Ana" was dropped, and the name
shortened to simply "Baptist," and gradually all other names
were dropped. Evidently, if Bunyan had lived in an earlier period
his followers would have been called "Bunyanites" or "Ana-
Baptists." Probably they would have been called by both names
as were others preceding him.10. The name "Baptist" is a "nickname," and was given to
them by their enemies (unless the name can be rightfully
attributed to them as having been given to them by the Saviour
Himself, when He referred to John as "the Baptist"). To this day,
the name has never been officially adopted by any group of
Baptists. The name, however, has become fixed and is willingly
accepted and proudly borne. It snugly fits. It was the dis-
tinguishing name of the forerunner of Christ, the first to teach
the doctrine to which the Baptists now hold.11. I quote a very significant statement from the Schaff-
Herzogg Encyclopedia, under "History of Baptists in Europe,"
Vol. 1, page 210. "The Baptists appeared first in Switzerland
about 1523, where they were persecuted by Zwingle and the
Romanists. They are found in the following years, 1525-1530,
with large churches fully organized, in Southern Germany, Tyrol
40 THE TRAIL OF BLOOD
and in middle Germany. In all these places persecutions made
their lives bitter."
(Note--that all this is prior to the founding of the Protestant
churches--Lutheran, Episcopal, or Presbyterian.)
We continue the quotation--
"Moravia promised a home of greater freedom, and thither
many Baptists migrated, only to find their hopes deceived. After
1534 they were numerous in Northern Germany, Holland,
Belgium, and the Walloon provinces. They increased even during
Alva's rule, in the low countries, and developed a wonderful
missionary zeal." (Note--"Missionary Zeal." And yet some folks
say that the "Hardshells" are primitive Baptists.)
Where did these Baptists come from? They did not come out of
the Catholics during the Reformation. They had large churches
prior to the Reformation.12. As a matter of considerable interest, note the religious
changes in England as the centuries have gone by:
The Gospel was carried to England by the Apostles and it
remained Apostolic in its religion until after the organization of
the Hierarchy in the beginning of the fourth century, and really
for more than another century after that. It then came under the
power of the Hierarchy which was rapidly developing into the
Catholic Church. It then remained Catholic--that was the state
religion, until the split in 1534-1535, during the reign of Henry
VIII. It was then called the Church of England. Eighteen years
later, 1553-1558, during the reign of Queen Mary ("Bloody
Mary") England was carried back to the Catholics, and a bloody
five-years period was this. Then Elizabeth, a half-sister of Mary,
the daughter of Anna Boleyn, came to the throne, 1558. The
Catholics were again overthrown, and again the Church of
England came into power. And thus things remained for almost
another century, when the Presbyterian Church came for a short
while into the ascendancy, and seemed for a while as if it might
become the State Church of England as well as that of Scotland.
However, following the time of Oliver Cromwell, the Church of
England came back to her own and has remained the established
church of England ever since.
THE TRAIL OF BLOOD 41
13. Note the gradual softening down of religious matters in
England from the hard and bitter persecutions of the established
church for more than a century.(1) The first toleration act came in 1688, one hundred and
fifty-four years after the beginning of this church. This
act permitted the worship of all denominations in
England except two--the Catholics and the Unitarians.
(2) The second toleration act came in 1778, eighty-nine
years still later. This act included in the toleration the
Catholics, but still excluded the Unitarians.
(3) The third toleration act came in 1813, thirty-five years
later. This included the Unitarians.
(4) In 1828-1829 came what is known as the "Test Act"
which gave the "dissenters" (the religionists not in
accord with the "Church of England") access to public
office and even to Parliament.(5) In 1836-37 and 1844 came the "Registration" and
"Marriage" acts. These two acts made legal baptisms
and marriages performed by "dissenters."
(6) The "Reform Bill" came in 1854. This bill opened the
doors of Oxford and Cambridge Universities to dissen-
ting students. Up to this time no child of a "dissenter"
could enter one of these great institutions.14. Thus has been the march of progress in England toward
"Religious Liberty." But it is probably correct to state that real
religious liberty can never come into any country where there is
and is to remain an established church. At best, it can only be
toleration, which is certainly a long way from real religious
liberty. As long as one denomination among several in any
country is supported by the government to the exclusion of all
others this favoritism and support of one, precludes the possibili-
ty of absolute religious liberty and equality.15. Very near the beginning of the eighteenth century there
were born in England three boys who were destined to leave upon
the world a deep and unfading impression. These boys were
John and Charles Wesley, and George Whitfield.
John and Charles Wesley were born at Epworth (and here
42 THE TRAIL OF BLOOD
comes a suggestion for the name Epworth League), the former
June 28, 1703, and the latter March 29, 1708. George Whitfield
was born in Gloucester, December 27, 1714. The story of the lives
of these boys cannot be told here, but they are well worth being
told, and then retold. These three boys became the fathers and
founders of Methodism. They were all three members of the
Church of England, and all studying for the ministry; and yet at
that time, not one of them converted (which at that time was not
unusual among the English clergy. Remember, however, that in
those days, the parent frequently, if not usually, decided on the
profession or line of the life to be followed by the boy). But these
boys were afterwards converted, and genuinely and wonderfully
converted. [JW & GW made religious professions.]16. These men seemed to have no desire to be the founders of a
new denomination. But they did seem to greatly desire and
earnestly strive for a revival of pure religion and a genuine
spiritual reformation in the Church of England. This they tried
in both England and America. The doors of their own churches
were soon closed against them. Their services were frequently
held out in the open, or in some private house, or, as especially in
the case of Whitfield, in the meeting houses of other
denominations. Whitfield's great eloquence attracted markedly
great attention everywhere he went.17. The definite date of the founding of the Methodist Church
is hard to be determined. Unquestionably Methodism is older
than the Methodist Church. The three young men were called
Methodists before they left college. Their first organizations were
called "Societies." Their first annual conference in England was
held in 1744. The Methodist Episcopal Church was officially and
definitely organized in America, in Baltimore in 1784. Their
growth has really been marvelous. But, when they came out of
the Church of England, or the Episcopal Church, they brought
with them a number of the errors of the mother and grandmother
churches. For instance, as the Episcopacy, or preacher-church
government. On this point they have had many internal wars
and divisions, and seem destined to have yet others. Infant
Baptism and sprinkling for baptism, etc., but there is one great
thing which they have, which they did not bring out with them, a
genuine case of spiritual religion.
THE TRAIL OF BLOOD 43
18. September 12, 1788, there was born in Antrium, Ireland, a
child, who was destined in the years to come, to create quite a
religious stir in some parts of the world, and to become the
founder of a new religious denomination. That child was
Alexander Campbell. His father was a Presbyterian minister.
The father, Thomas Campbell, came to America in 1807.
Alexander, his son, who was then in college, came later. Because
of changed views, they left the Presbyterians and organized an
independent body, which they called "The Christian Associa-
tion," known as "The Brush Run Church." In 1811, they adopted
immersion as baptism and succeeded in persuading a Baptist
preacher to baptize them, but with the distinct understanding
that they were not to unite with the Baptist Church. The father,
mother, and Alexander were all baptized. In 1813 their indepen-
dent church united with the Red Stone Baptist Association. Ten
years later, because of controversy, they left that association and
joined another. Controversies continued to arise, and they left
that association. It is fair to say that they had never been
Baptists, nor had they so far as any records I have seen, to show,
ever claimed to be.19. It could hardly be fair to Christian history, and especially
to Baptist history, to say nothing in these lectures about John
Bunyan. In some respects, one of the most celebrated men in
English history and even in world history--John Bunyan, a
Baptist preacher--John Bunyan, twelve years in Bedford jail--
John Bunyan the author while confined in jail, of the most
celebrated and most widely circulated book, next to the Bible, in
the whole world. "Pilgrim's Progress"--John Bunyan, one of the
most notable of all examples of the bitterness of Christian
persecution.
And the story of Mary Bunyan, John Bunyan's blind
daughter, ought to be in every Sunday School library. For many
years it was out of print. I think it is now in print again. I almost
defy any man or woman, boy or girl, to read it and keep dry eyes.20. Another thing about which at least a few words should be
said in these lectures in concerning Wales and the Welch
Baptists. One of the most thrilling stories in Christian history is
the story of the Welch Baptists. The Baptists of the United States
44 THE TRAIL OF BLOOD
owe far most to the Welch Baptists than the most of us are
conscious. Some whole Baptist churches, fully organized, have
migrated in a body from Wales to the United States. (Orchard, p.
21-23; Ford chapt. 2.)21. The story of the beginning of Christian work in Wales is
strikingly fascinating and from history it seems to be true. That
history begins in the New Testament (Acts 28:30-31; II Tim. 4:21).
The story of Claudia and Pudens--their visit to Rome--their
conversion under Paul's preaching, and carrying the gospel back
to Wales, their homeland, is thrillingly interesting. Paul did this
preaching in Rome as early as A.D. 63. Soon after that Claudia,
Pudens, and others, among them two preachers, carried the same
gospel into England and especially into Wales. How mightily the
Welch Baptists have helped the Baptists in America can hardly
be estimated.Go to: ttob5.htm