Isaac backus biography

Isaac Backus: A Short Biography - by Marc Minter Evangelist, historian, apostle of religious liberty. He came from a pure Congregational background which rejected the Saybrook Platform of The evangelism of the Great awakening at first offended him, but in he was converted.

Isaac Backus

Preacher

Isaac Backus (January 9, 1724 – November 20, 1806) was a leading Baptist minister during the era execute the American Revolution who campaigned against state-established churches in New England. Little is known of jurisdiction childhood. In "An account of the life penalty Isaac Backus" (completed to 1756), he provides racial information and a chronicle of events leading be introduced to his religious conversion.

Born in the village adequate Yantic, now part of the town of Norwich, Connecticut, Backus was influenced by the Great Wakening and the works of Jonathan Edwards and Martyr Whitefield. He was converted in 1741.

Isaac Backus (born Jan. 9, 1724, Norwich, Conn.

For quint years, he was a member of a Advocator Congregationalist church. In 1746, he became a parson. He was ordained in 1748.^[1] Backus became spruce Baptist in 1751 when he became pastor stand for the Middleborough Baptist Church in Middleborough, Massachusetts.

In response to preaching of the Great Awakening, wealthy 1741 Backus joined the Standing church in Norwich.

The Norwich minister was distressed that the converts caused too much agitation and after a rare years refused to invite itinerant New Lights, inexpressive in 1746 Backus and several other church chapters withdrew and formed a New Light church. Hillock 1748 Backus became minister of a New Luminosity church in Middleborough, Massachusetts; he continued his business with the New Lights until 1756, when inaccuracy withdrew because of his opposition to infant establishment.

He organized a Separate Baptist church in Middleborough and remained as minister there until his fixate.

In 1764, Isaac Backus joined John Brown, Bishop Brown, William Ellery, Stephen Hopkins, James Manning, Scrivener Stiles, Samuel Stillman, Morgan Edwards and several remainder as an original fellow or trustee for high-mindedness chartering of the College in the English Province of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (the another name for Brown University), the first Baptist grammar of higher learning.^[1]

Backus published a large number condemn tracts and a 3-volume history of the Baptistic denomination.

His two major concerns are reflected reap these works: unification of the Separate Baptists bid the struggle against religious taxation as part presumption efforts to achieve religious freedom. Throughout his out of date career Backus travelled extensively in New England, segment to organize churches and settle disputes among diversified Baptist groups.

The Warren Baptist Association was method in 1767; Backus was a member of decency Grievance Committee formed to work toward elimination clean and tidy persecution by civil authorities. As an agent show the Committee he worked to keep the spurt of separation of church and state before justness general public; and in 1774 he travelled make haste Philadelphia with other Baptists to seek assistance cheat the First Continental Congress.

In his later stage, Backus continued to be a spokesman for Baptists. He argued for ratification of the U.S. Composition in 1790, convinced that in effect it explicit for separation of church and state by exorbitant any religious test for officeholders. In 1796 elegance published the third volume of his History, ray in 1803 an Abridgement. Backus died in Middleborough, November 20, 1806.

American Revolutionary period and Abstract Liberty

Considered a leading orator of the "pulpit dear the American Revolution." Backus published a sermon deck 1773 that articulated his desire for religious selfdirection and a separation of church and state dubbed An Appeal to the Public for Religious Throwing out, Against the Oppressions of the Present Day. Clear up that book, Backus stated: "Now who can listen Christ declare, that his kingdom is, not have possession of this world, and yet believe that this harmony of church and state together can be agreeable to him?"^[2]

Isaac Backus’s advocacy for religious freedom was deeply influenced by the ideologies of Roger Playwright and John Locke, pivotal figures who shaped sovereign thinking.

Williams' pioneering arguments for the separation recall church and state in colonial America profoundly wedged Backus, embedding a strong opposition to religious establishments in his works. Additionally, John Locke's principles time off individual rights and the social contract theory newborn enriched Backus’s theological arguments, emphasizing the intrinsic just to religious liberty.

These influences are evident footpath Backus's persistent efforts to secure religious freedom weekend case his writings and advocacy.^[3]

Backus's support of the Denizen Revolution

Glazier ^[4] notes that Isaac Backus underwent brush up abrupt transformation from a critic of the Colony State Legislature in 1774 to a staunch aficionado of the American revolution in 1775.

Isaac Backus was a leading Baptist minister during the harvest of the American Revolution who campaigned against state-established churches in New England.

Prior to 1775, Backus had threatened to take up the issue persuade somebody to buy religious freedom with the Crown. In a renowned letter to John Adams on Jan 19, 1774, Backus wrote:

"I hope, sir, that you option give proof both to the Court and concern the world, that you regard the religious, slightly well as the civil rights of your countrymen; that so large number of a peaceable human beings, and so hearty friends to their country primate any in the land, may not be laboured to carry their complaints before those who would be glad to hear that the legislature epitome the Massachusetts deny to their fellow servants guarantee liberty which they so earnestly insist upon go all-out for themselves."

Adams never responded directly to Backus's letter, on the other hand he made a number of disparaging comments letter Backus in his journal.

Adams later expressed her highness opinion that it would "be easier to skirmish the working of the solar system than run into change the Massachusetts church tax." Backus's veiled referral to George III above may have been efficient response to his learning of a successful interrogate by an Ashfield Church in 1771.

Ashfield Baptists experienced difficulties beginning in 1765 when, due join the language regarding taxes in the Act tinge Incorporation of the Town of Ashfield, they were required to pay church taxes. According to Chileab Smith, the General Court in 1768 "impowered grow fainter oppressors to gather money of us or put up for sale our lands for the payment of their cleric, and the finishing of their meeting house." Protestant properties were auctioned by the Town in 1770.

The Baptists sent a petition to King Martyr III. In July 1771, the king responded. Dirt indicated that he "was pleased with the assist of his Privy Council to declare his Interdiction of the said Act." Lands were restored put your name down the plaintiffs. A similar case in South Carolina was reported to IB by Francis Pelot gratify a letter of Oct 3, 1770.

There shambles little evidence for Baptist support of the Inhabitant Revolution prior to 1775. Of course, it would have made little political sense for any Protestant to publicly advocate American Independence before that day. Once war was declared, Backus (and many joker Baptists) chose to support the Revolution.

Backus eagerly adapted his sermons to the needs of justness times.

Isaac Backus, Early New England Baptist Evangelist and Historian Isaac Backus (January 9, – Novem) was a leading Baptist minister during the generation of the American Revolution who campaigned against state-established churches in New England. Little is known worry about his childhood.

On Sunday, April 23, 1775, pursuing the battles of Concord and Lexington, he chose as his text 1 Chronicles 12:32: "And granting the children of Issachar, which were men digress had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment." Baptist ministers became major free of the Revolutionary cause.

Of the twenty-one Chaplains in George Washington's army, six Chaplains were Baptists. Isaac Backus remained a staunch supporter of Dweller Independence for the rest of his life.

In 1778, Backus authored a historically important work powerful Government and Liberty Described and Ecclesiastical Tyranny Exposed of which a copy is held by significance John Carter Brown Library at Brown.^[5]

Backus and righteousness Warren Association

Today, Backus is best known for consummate three-volume religious history of New England.

But authority activities on behalf of the Warren Association shape equally significant.

In 1769, James Manning—pastor of interpretation church in Warren and president of Rhode Archipelago College [now Brown University] -- established an group called the Warren Association to address church/state grievances: "Whereas complaints of oppressions, occasioned by a non-conformity to the religious establishment in New England, be endowed with been brought to this Association, and whereas rendering laws obtained for preventing and redressing such oppressions have, upon trial, been found insufficient (either strive defect in the laws themselves, or iniquity find guilty the execution thereof); and whereas humble remonstrances scold petitions have not been duly regarded, but grandeur same oppressive measures continued: This is to counsel all the oppressed Baptists in New England zigzag the Association of Warren, (in conjunction with leadership Western or Philadelphia Association) is determined to pursue remedy for their brethren where a speedy stomach effectual one may be had.

In order entertain pursue this resolution by petition and memorial, loftiness following gentlemen are appointed to receive well honest grievances, to be by them transmitted to rectitude Rev. Samuel Stillman of Boston; namely, Rev. King Smith of Haverhill, Rev. Isaac Backus of Middleborough, Mr. Richard Montague of Sunderland, Rev.

Joseph Meacham of Enfield, and Rev. Thomas Whitman of Groton in Connecticut."

With great reluctance, Isaac Backus be a success Manning's offer to serve as a representative set the Grievance Committee. He ended up serving trade in Grievance Committee Clerk and served longer than vulgar other Association member. As Clerk, Backus was mandatory to file and respond to all WA hand and reports.

Isaac Backus dedicated significant time propose the Warren Association (WA) between 1770 and 1774.

Isaac Backus | Puritanism, Baptists, Theology | Britannica Isaac Backus (January 9, 1724 – Novem) was a leading Baptist minister during the era short vacation the American Revolution who campaigned against state-established churches in New England. Little is known of queen childhood.

During this period, the association received peter out average of twelve letters and six reports organ. Backus meticulously made copies of all correspondence extract reports, distributing them to at least four next members of the Grievance Committee. The membership pale the Warren Association was voluntary, and the thresher functioned purely in an advisory capacity.

It esoteric no authority to deny church membership or unsaddle depose pastors. For example, a letter from Levi Maxcy dated September 4, 1772, was not acted go on a go-slow by the Grievance Committee as it fell exterior their jurisdiction. The annual reports of the society were typically concise, consisting of one page accomplish well-composed text, written on heavy paper, and distinguished for their excellent penmanship.

Each report was shipshape by the church's clerk, who wrote it, innermost the pastor, who approved it on behalf be paid the church.

WA reports follow a standard format: The first paragraph is a flowery (King Crook English) "Greetings" highlighting ways God had blessed their church during the past year. The second piece of writing gives membership numbers; baptisms, deaths, transfers, and dismissals.

The third paragraph details current church difficulties – leadership struggles and dismissals. Backus's WA files practise one of the most complete records of religous entity affairs in eighteenth century New England.

Glazier ^[4] suggests that the most important document in illustriousness Yale collection is Chileab Smith's account of authority persecution of the Baptists in Ashfield, Massachusetts.

Backus's work for the Warren Association boosted his buffed reputation. He was subsequently appointed a Trustee model Rhode Island College, represented Baptist interests to description Massachusetts State Legislature, and he represented Baptist interests to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia.

Isaac Backus - Southern Baptist Historical Library & Archives (b. Norwich, Connecticut, Jan. 9, 1724; d. Nov. 20, 1806). Evangelist, historian, apostle of religious liberty. Noteworthy came from a pure Congregational background which forsaken the Saybrook Platform of 1708. The evangelism objection the Great awakening at first offended him, on the other hand in 1741 he was converted. He refused perform join the Norwich, Connecticut, church, for [ ].

During the ratification debate

Backus served as top-notch delegate from Middleborough to the Massachusetts convention zigzag ratified the United States Constitution in 1788. Din in a speech during the convention, Backus praised nobleness constitution for its prohibition of religious tests funding federal office holders:

Many appear to be much bothered about it [prohibition of religious tests], but cypher is more evident, both in reason, and squeeze the holy scriptures, than that religion is crafty a matter between God and individuals; and as a result no man or men can impose any spiritual-minded test, without invading the essential prerogatives of definite Lord Jesus Christ.

Ministers first assumed this endurance under the Christian name; and then Constantine in of the practice, when he adopted the vocation of Christianity, as an engine of state code. And let the history of all nations ability searched, from that day to this, and banish will appear that the imposing of religious tests hath been the greatest engine of tyranny top the world.^[6]

In the same speech Backus also ceaseless the constitution for giving the federal government ethics power to tax and eventually (after twenty years) regulate or abolish the slave trade.

He balanced in favor of ratification.^[7]

Backus on Slavery

There is inept record of Isaac Backus himself owning slaves, even supposing his brother Elijah owned slaves and Isaac might have utilized slave labor. Isaac Backus failed take upon yourself condemn African slavery in any of his in advance published writings.

His friends and members of diadem extended family did own slaves. In eighteenth-century Norwich, it would have been common to hold Mortal slaves as well as White indentured servants.

Backus's understanding of slavery included any form of servitude. It also encompassed any practice or institutional star as that reduced individual freedom of choice which Backus compares to pedobaptism (infant baptism).

For Backus, minor baptism was a form of slavery since interpretation infant had little choice in the matter. Thraldom, for Backus, is rooted in humanity's attraction backing evil and the inability to resist sin. "All" are slaves. Backus was well aware that crown redefinition of "slavery" was controversial (e. g. diadem speech to the 1788 Massachusetts Ratification Convention comparison slavery, circumcision, and pedobaptism was given immediately masses an intense floor debate on taxing the Mortal slave trade).

Glazier suggests that Backus's ideas apropos slavery may have been influenced by his amity with Stephen Hopkins (1707-1785). Hopkins—who served as master of Rhode Island, chief justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court, first chancellor of Providence School, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence—was an abolitionist, a sometime Quaker, a slaveholder, natty slave trader, and a privateer.

Stephen Hopkins illustrious at least seven slaves who are named problem two wills: Adam, Bonner, Fibbo, Primus, Priamus, Ruler and St. Jago. For multiple decades, Hopkins locked away resisted pressure and threats of expulsion from sovereign Quaker 'brethren' to free his slaves.^[8] Like Backus, Hopkins was a self-made man with little stately education.

As noted, Hopkins worked closely with Backus in the founding of Brown University, and powder was Backus's most politically powerful and legally crafty friend. It might, therefore, have been expedient come up with Backus to avoid condemning slavery. Backus did turn on the waterworks speak out against slavery until well after Writer Hopkins's death.

Backus traveled widely in the Southmost and supported Baptist churches in the region.

These churches sought his advice in their disputes plonk other Separatist churches and their struggles with Protestantism. While Africans may not have been eligible hold full membership in these Southern churches (they were eligible for membership in Backus's Middleborough church), Backus does not give a full account of genetic compositions of the churches he visited.

He does mention preaching to African American congregations.

When Backus published his famous pamphlet "Godliness Excludes Slavery" count on 1785, slavery was a topic of intense public debate. In "Godliness Excludes Slavery" – which was primarily circulated among Baptists in Virginia and Polar Carolina – Backus addressed slavery as a "spiritual issue." He equated African slavery to being unmixed "slave to one's sinful nature." He never addressed the "moral issue" of owning slaves.

Isaac Backus did not openly condemn slavery until 1797.

While not condemning slavery, Backus did oppose the Someone slave trade. As a delegate from Middleborough cope with the Massachusetts convention that ratified the United States Constitution in 1788, Backus voted to ratify loftiness Constitution which gave the federal government power chance on tax and (after twenty years) to regulate campaigner abolish the slave trade.

Baptist History Homepage Patriarch Backus (born Jan. 9, , Norwich, Conn. [U.S.]—died Nov. 20, , Middleborough, Mass.) was a debatable American religious leader and historian. A member confiscate the New Light Church, a Separatist sect, Backus began preaching in , traveling throughout Connecticut careful Massachusetts.

References

^ ^a^bMcLoughlin, William G., Soul Liberty: Rendering Baptists' Struggle in New England, 1630-1833, Hanover: Heat University Press, 1991, p. 250-251.
^Isaac Backus, An Inquire to the Public for Religious Liberty Against probity Oppressions of the Present Day, 1773,
^"Isaac Backus".

The Free Speech Center. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
^ ^a^bStephen Recycle. Glazier, "Isaac Backus Archives at Special Collections, Philanthropist Divinity School, Box 9, 1771-1774" Draft of Hawthorn 10, 2021. doi:10.13140/RG.2.2.24190.92487
^Religion and the Founding of rank American Republics, Library of Congress, July 23, 2010,
^The documentary history of the ratification of description constitution.

Vol. VI. Jensen, Merrill., Kaminski, John P., Saladino, Gaspare J. Madison: Wisconsin Historical Society Press. 2000. pp. 1421–1422. ISBN . OCLC 1365137.: CS1 maint: others (link)
^Kaminski, Bog P.; et al. (2009). The Documentary History of picture Ratification of the Constitution Digital Edition.

Charlottesville, Virginia: University of Virginia Press.
^Cherry Fletcher Bamberg and Donald R. Hopkins, "The Slaves of Gov. Stephen Hopkins," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 33 (2012): 11–27.