Wilson Thompson on Regeneration and Birth

The following is from Wilson Thompson's book "Simple Truth" published in 1821. It can be downloaded and read (here or read here). It is a composite of several of his sermons. His book "Triumph of Truth" was published in 1825. 

DISCOURSE #6 On the Work of the Spirit after Justification.

"This change wrought by the spirit, is called regeneration because it is begetting them unto a divine nature. The first work of the spirit on the heart is regeneration, or the implanting of that incorruptible seed with cleaves to holiness, and so it is sometimes called quickened, because this is a living seed, that causes the motions of life to appear, and this is always followed by the new birth which is effected when the soul is enabled to view Christ by faith, and lay hold of the comfort contained in the gospel, and so they are said to be born again, not of corruptible seed, but of an incorruptible seed, by the word of God."

This is a concise statement that shows that Wilson Thompson, "the ablest Primitive Baptist minister" of the 19th century, according to Sylvester Hassell, believed that regeneration and the new birth were not the same. He taught, as did others, that "regeneration" was the "implanting" of the male seed, and corresponds to when conception occurs in the womb, and that this occurs apart from the means of the Gospel. But, he also taught that the birth occurred when one was later "delivered" from the womb and "born again," and that this corresponded to the time when the regenerated soul came to believe in Christ and receive assurance of salvation, and that this occurred by means of the Gospel.

I had a sister write to me years ago and said that she read where Thompson said that one is "regenerated" apart from means. I had to say to her "yes sister, that is true, but he believed that the regenerated soul had to be born again later by the Gospel." The first Primitive Baptists did not believe that the birth by the Gospel was optional, but was as certain as regeneration.

Elder William Conrad of Kentucky, an associate of Thompson, wrote:

"There is also a begetting and being born, but our being born does not give us life; we are born because we have life; but there is a begetting, and previous to this begetting there is no vital or actual existence; but there is eternal decreed, purposed or treasured in Christ before it is given, and in due time we are said to receive it according to the election of grace; and therefore we are said to be the Temple of God, which is holy, which temple ye are." (Life and Travels of Elder William Conrad; chapter 25 and cited by me in this posting here)

Notice also Conrad's denial of the Two Seedism of his fellow minister Elder T.P. Dudley. Dudley denies that there was any actual existence of the children of God before they are born again.

In chapter 52 of "The Hardshell Baptist Cult" I gave extensive citations from Elder Gilbert Beebe, Elder Samuel Trott, and others who taught the same thing. (See here) In another post titled "The 'Reformed' Paradigm?" I gave many other citations showing that many of the first Hardshells believed the same. In that posting I wrote:

"The First Hardshell Birth Model" 

1. "Regeneration" was without means, by "direct speaking," while "conversion" was often by use of means.

2. "Regeneration" was the initial "implanting" of the "seed" or "principle of life," and "conviction" represented the state of a newly "begotten" soul in the "womb" of darkness, longing to be freed and delivered from the "womb," to see the light, and finally, the actual "delivery" or "birth" of the soul represented "evangelic conversion."

3. The "new birth" had three distinct stages to it. The first stage is "regeneration," the second stage is "conviction of sin," and the final stage is "conversion."

In that post I also quoted from Samuel Richardson, signer of the first London Baptist Confession of Faith in 1644 who also believed the same. He said "Thou may be begotten, but not borne." 

In chapter 56 ("On Conviction III") of "The Hardshell Baptist Cult" I cited extensively from Wilson Thompson to show that he also believed in this three stage model, making "regeneration" to be distinct from being "born again." (See here) In those citations, taken from his first writings in the 1820s, he also taught that God uses means, the Gospel and word of God, in bringing regenerated sinners to the birth. 

Another posting titled "First PBs On Rebirth" (See here) also gives other citations from others and also has links to other posts where I do the same.

In a post titled "Elder J.H. Purifoy on Being Born Again" (See here) I cited this elder's words from "Zion's Advocate" for the year 1879 where he said "Nothing is born before it is begotten, or has a previous existence."

So, if Thompson is your founding father and ablest minister, will you at least affirm as he did, that you must be born again by the Gospel to be saved?