Tuesday 22 September 2015

Pocket Puritan edition Baptist Confession of Faith 1689

Today I received from Amazon my copy of the Banner of Truth "Pocket Puritan" 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith.  It's quite small, only 5 1/2 " high (or almost 14 cm if you insist on new money) so it's easily carried in jacket pocket, handbag, or perhaps Bible case.   Despite its small size I find the type very easy to read. 

The foreward was written by Walter Chantry and is a history of this confession in the UK and the US.  Spellings and punctuation have been changed but otherwise it has been taken from the 1677 edition (which was called the second Baptist confession, and was published anonymously due to the persecution at that time).  The edition of the LBCF which I have had for a few years was changed in at least one section by Spurgeon (so I am led to believe) so I am glad to have this one now.

I am continually filled with thanksgiving to God that we can so freely buy copies of this confession today when at one time it had to be published secretly because of the religious oppression that so many believers experienced in Britain in the 17th century.  Though published recently, it is a real connection to history that can be held in your hand and carried around!   As a Christian (and as a mom who has lots of questions asked her - I see now from a quick glance in the book what I could have added to my answer when I was asked why people needed to be baptised)  it is nice to have such access to good doctrine and the Biblical reasonings for that doctrine. 

This volume, and the Westminster Confession of Faith, and the Heidelberg Catechism are all available through Amazon or through Banner of Truth.