Hassell vs. Hassell

Hassell's Church History is a virtual second bible to Hardshells. It has great weight of authority for Hardshells. Many consider it almost infallible. However, Hassell's History is full of contradictions, biased opinion, unfounded assertions, and incorrect facts. This I will show when I get into the deeper historical chapters, where I will be critically reviewing the major histories of the Hardshells.

Actually, "Hassell's History" is only partially "history," for there is much of the nature of a body of divinity in it, even some diatribe and propaganda. It was begun by Elder C. B. Hassell, who wrote the first sections of it. The son, Elder Sylvester Hassell, completed the work. Both father and son received direct financial support for the work from the Kehukee Association and indirect support from Hardshells far and near. It is called "The Church of God From The Creation to A.D. 1885." You can find it on the Internet here.

C. B. Hassell's work follows the previous authorized history of the Kehukee Association, from her beginning, by Elders Lemuel Burkett and Jesse Read, whose work is known as "Concise History of the Kehukee Baptist Association." The Hardshells have never been concerned with keeping this older history of the Kehukee in print. Perhaps it is because it states things contrary to Hardshell historical claims?

Present day Hardshell elder, Claude McKee, wrote:

"If you read the History of the Kehukee Assoc.(1765-1803), by Elder's Burkett and Read, you will see the seeds of the modern missionary movement being planted." ("Introduction of Missions in America" by Claude Mckee. Article 1 - As printed in The Christian Baptist, November 1995)

See here

In "Hassell's History" there are, as I stated, numerous contradictions. Sometimes Sylvester contradicts himself and sometimes he contradicts his father. But, pointing those out will come when I take up writing my critical reviews of the various "histories" written by Hardshells.

Notice what the senior Hassell wrote about the question of whether all the elect will hear the gospel and see if today's Hardshells can agree with it.

C. B. Hassell wrote:

"Should the Lord create an humble, teachable and inquiring disposition in the heart of an inhabitant of China, Japan or the unexplored parts of Africa, He would sooner send an angel from Heaven, or a minister from the uttermost part of the earth, to show him the way of salvation, than leave him destitute of that knowledge, for which he longs and prays without ceasing. The alms and supplications of such persons spring from right principles and motives, and go up as a memorial before God, not to merit His favor, but to plead with Him to fulfill His gracious promises." (pg. 203 of Hassell's History)

It does appear that this is a citation of some writer, by the elder Hassell, however he is clearly citing it with approval, as expressing his own sentiments, and those of his fellow Hardshells. Clearly the words of Hassell affirm that the Lord will get the gospel to all the elect once they have been regenerated.

Hassell junior seemed to waiver on this point, but he did affirm the following (emphasis mine SG):

Q. Will any persons be saved unless the gospel is preached to them?

A. While it is true that the ministry is to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, as the Spirit of God may direct them, and as the providence of God may open the way to them, and it is the duty of other members to help them on their way after a godly sort, and those to whom they minister in spiritual things should minister to them in carnal things, as the Scripture teach, it is at the same time true that all the elect and redeemed people of God, both infants and adults, will be saved. (Psalm 33:12; Isa. 35:10; 45:17; 53:11; Jer. 31-34; Matt. 1:21; 11:25-27; 16:16,17; John 5:25; 6:37-40; 10:27-30; 17:1-3, 24; Rom. 8:28-39; I Cor. 1:26-31; 12:3; Eph. 1:1-14; I Pet. 1-5; Rev. 5:9,10). Jesus is the Great Preacher, and, by His omnipresent Spirit, He preaches His gospel savingly to His people (Isa. 61:1-3,10,11; Luke 4:16-30; Heb. 2:11,12; Psalm 110:3). (Questions and Answers-Part 11)

See here

He also wrote:

"There is no salvation, no eternal life, no enjoyment of heaven, without the renewing power of the Holy Ghost and the atoning death of the Son of God; and, unless we are first regenerated, or born again, or born from above, or born of God, or born of the purifying power of the Holy Spirit (called by Paul "the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit," Titus 3:5), we will never truly repent or believe or obey or enter heaven; and, if we are thus born of God, we will certainly repent, believe, obey, and inherit the fullness of eternal life." (Gospel Messenger, 1896)

It appears that Sylvester wanted to hold to the view of his father and affirm that all the elect will hear the gospel, even if it must be preached by God himself.

See here

Sylvester took sides with the "anti-means" side in the late 19th century, and affirmed that the gospel was not a means in regeneration, but he seems to strongly favor, nonetheless, the view that all the called will be brought to hear and believe the gospel. Will Hardshells affirm that Sylvester was stating the predominant view of the Hardshells of the 19th century?