William Gadsby On Means

(1773–1844) 

The Following citations show that one of the founders of the Strict or Gospel Standard Baptists, though he held Hyper Calvinistic tenets as they, nevertheless neither he nor they went to extremes as did their American cousins, those known as "Primitive," "Old School," or "Hardshell" Baptists. They did not deny that the elect were brought to Christ by the Spirit creating evangelical faith, that being born again was effected by the Spirit's use of gospel preaching or revelation of it to the soul.

In Gadsby’s Catechism (see here) we read (emphasis mine):

Q. 1. Who is the only self-existent Being?

A. God is the only self-existent Being.
(Ex 3:14; Ps 90:2; Is 45:5, 22; Jn 8:58)

Q. 2. Ought everyone to believe that there is a God?

A. Everyone ought to believe that there is a God, and it is their great sin and folly who do not.
(Ps 9:17; Ecc 12:13; Mk 16:16; Jn 8:24 & 16:8-9; 2 Thess 2:11-12)

Note: I find this inconsistent on Gadsby's part. He denied that men "ought" (a word of duty and obligation) to believe in Christ and the gospel but here says men ought to believe in "God." If it is a sin not to believe in God, why is it not sin to believe in the Son of God?

Q. 3. How may we know that there is a God?

A. The works of creation and providence plainly declare that there is a God, but His Word and Spirit only do it effectually to the salvation of His people.
(Job 38 & 39; Ps 19; Jn 16:8-14 & 17:8; 1 Cor 2:10)

Note: Same wording as the 1689 London Confession to which Gadsby upheld. "His Word and Spirit." Not "word alone" and not "Spirit alone."

Q. 10. What are the decrees of God?

A. The decrees of God are His eternal purpose according to the counsel of His will, whereby, for His own glory, He has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.
(Is 46:10; Rom 8:28-30, 9:6-24; Eph 1:11-12; 2 Thess 2:13-14)

Note: The belief in the foreordination (or predestination) of all things was the belief of nearly all the English Particular Baptists. The same was true of the first generation of Hardshells in the early 19th century.

Q. 32. How does Christ execute the office of a prophet?

A. Christ executes the office of a prophet in revealing to the elect, by His word and Spirit, the will of God in their salvation. 
(Jn 1:18, 6:33,45,63, 10:27-28, 13:19, 14:26, 15:15)

Q. 39. How are the elect made partakers of the redemption by Christ?

A. The elect are made partakers of the redemption by Christ in the effectual application of it to them by His Spirit.
(Zech 4:6; Jn 3:27, 14:26; 1 Cor 2:10, 6:11; Eph 2:1; Col 2:13)

Q. 40. How does the Spirit apply the redemption by Christ to the elect?

A. The Spirit applies the redemption by Christ to the elect by working faith in them, and thereby bringing them to a knowledge of their union to Christ in effectual calling.
(Jn 6:29, 16:8-15; 1 Cor 1:8-9; Eph 2:8-10, 3:17-19; Phi 2:13; 2 Tim 1:9; Heb 3:1)

Q. 41. What is effectual calling?

A. Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit whereby, convincing them of sin, enlightening their minds in the knowledge of Christ, and creating them anew, He enables the elect to embrace Jesus Christ, freely given to them in the gospel. 
(Jn 6:37, 16:8-11,13-14, 17:3; 2 Cor 4:6; Eph 2:1; 1 Jn 2:27; Rev 22:17)

Note: Another inconsistency for Gadsby and his Strict Baptists brethren is seen in their vehement opposition to "offers" of the gospel, but they seem to have no difficulty with use of the word "invitation" and here Gadsby speaks of what is "given" in the gospel. Many times "give" implies a kind of offer, this being because gifts can be refused, or not accepted.

Q. 71. What blessings are connected with faith in Christ Jesus?

A. The blessings connected with faith in Christ Jesus are, a freedom from the bondage of sin, Satan, the world, death and the law, with free access to the Father, and a hearty welcome to all the glory of the gospel and the blessings of God’s house. 
(Jn 3:14-17; Rom 5:2, 6:14, 8:1-4; Eph 2:18-22; 1 Jn 2:12-14, 5:4-5).

Q. 98. What has God said shall take place with the elect in this life?

A. God has declared that they shall be born again, not of corruptible but of incorruptible seed, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever; and that He will put His laws into their minds, and write them in their hearts, and He will be their God, and they shall be His people.
(Jer 31:31-34; Ez 36:25-27; 1 Pet 1:23-25)

Gadsby, on these points, shows what has been the historic or true "primitive" (original) teaching of the Particular or Predestinarian Baptists in England and America in the late 18th century and during the first half of the 19th century. The Hardshell view of today is a novel view, being conceived in the mid to late 19th century. This we have more than proven.