Elder Sylvester Hassell, probably the greatest spokesman for Hardshellism, from the late 19th to the early 20th centuries, is a unique character to study for anyone researching the history of the "Primitive Baptist Church." He is a kind of "link" between the first generation of Hardshells (1820s-1860s) and the second (1860s-1900) and third (1900-1940s) generations. In Hassell's doctrinal views one can see reflections of the first generation's views, and one can also see the reflections of the second and third generation's views. Notice what Hassell says about preaching repentance to all men, a view that most of today's modern Hardshells reject. (emphasis mine)
Q. Who are "the all-men-everywhere" whom Paul says in his discourse at Athens "God commands to repent?" (Acts 17:30).
A. The whole world of human beings, the whole human race, whom Paul says, in the next verse, God will judge by Jesus Christ. God is the same since the fall of man that He was before, and His holy law, which requires all His intelligent creatures to love and worship Him exclusively and supremely, is the standard of all creature obedience, and cannot change, even if man, by his own will and sin, has rendered himself unable to obey that law. If a man owes another a thousand dollars, and is not able to pay him a cent, he owes him just the same. Ability is not the limit of obligation. If it were, no human being would be under any obligation to God; for no human being in the present state can spiritually and perfectly fulfill any commandment of God. All men should be told, as Christ told His hearers, that "unless they repent they will perish." (Luke 13:3-5). (see here)
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