J. C. Philpot Was No Hardshell

As we have shown, the Hardshells have historically loved J.C. Philpot. They love his beliefs about sovereign grace. They love his simple style of preaching and worship. They love his experimental preaching. They love his talk about the leadings of the Lord with his people. But, they ought also to love his views on regeneration and conversion, and on predestination and perseverance, etc.

The following are some citations from Philpot to which I would like to call attention.

Said Philpot:

"Our blessed Lord, for instance, declares, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God;" "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish;" "If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins;" "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; and he that believeth not shall be damned." Is there not a standard here, and that set up by our blessed Lord of the new birth, of repentance, and faith? "Strive to enter in at the strait gate: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Is there not a standard there? "He that taketh not up his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me." Is there no standard there? "Come out from among them, and be ye separate, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." Is there no standard there? "A tree is known by its fruits: every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be hewn down." Is there no standard there? Thus we see that there is a standard set up in the word of God..."

What did Philpot mean by the word "standard"? The dictionary says a standard is "something established by authority, custom, or general consent as a model or example," or a "rule for the measure of quantity, weight, extent, value, or quality."

It seems clear to me that Philpot was simply linking being "born again" with coming to faith and repentance, or being converted to Christ and the Gospel. He certainly did not believe, as our modern Hardshell brethren, that though all the elect become "sons" via being born again, yet only few of them become "disciples" of the Lord Jesus, or Gospel believers. He certainly goes against Hardshell basic premises in regard to the new birth and eternal salvation. He does not believe that eternal salvation excluded anything that sinners "do," such as believing, repenting, following, persevering, maturing, etc. In fact, the "standard" is that all who are sons by new birth are disciples, or Christians, people who remain firm in their allegiance to Christ.

Said Philpot:

"Did I not explain that by coming unto God the Scriptures sometimes meant believing in him? "He that cometh unto God," says the apostle, "must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." But to believe in God is to believe the testimony of his word, for we only know God through his word, and can only believe in him as he reveals himself in it to our conscience."

Very clear, is it not?

Said Philpot:

"The way in which the Lord works is this: he applies his word with power to the conscience. It is then received, not as the word of men, but as the word of God; and as thus received "in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance," it effectually worketh in them that believe; that is, it produces certain marked effects in them."

That is what the forefathers of the "Primitive Baptist Church" believed and today's Hardshells who reject these teachings are not "primitive" nor "original."