APPENDIX B
THE SECOND LONDON CONFESSION OF 1677

The Baptists of the London area determined to show their agreement with the Presbyterians and Independents or Congregationalists by making the Westminster Confession the basis of a new statement of doctrine by themselves. In 1677 a meeting was held, and the Westminster Confession was altered to suit Baptist views of the church and its ordinances, and the new confession was adopted. Messengers from one hundred and seven Calvinistic Baptist churches in England and Wales met in London September 2-12, 1689. They approved the Second London Confession of 1677 and recommended its perusal both by other Christians and by their own members. It became for 200 years the most influential and important of all Baptist Confessions.[1] Here are the significant articles on religious liberty and the Christian and the state:

Chapter XXI.
Of Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience.

2. God alone is Lord of the Conscience, and hath left it free from the Doctrines and Commandments of men which are in any thing contrary to his Word.

Chapter XXIV.
Of the Civil Magistrate.

1. God the supream Lord, and King of all the World, hath ordained Civil Magistrates to be under him, over the people, for his glory, and the publick good; and to this end hath armed them with the power of the Sword, for the defence and encouragement of them that do good, and for the punishment of evil doers.

2. It is lawful for Christians to Accept, and Execute the Office of Magistrate, when called thereunto; in the management whereof, as they ought especially to maintain Justice, and Peace, according to the wholesome Laws of each Kingdom, and Commonwealth: so for that end they may lawfully now under the New Testament wage war upon just and necessary occasions.

3. Civil Magistrates being set up by God, for the ends aforesaid, subjection in all lawful things commanded by them ought to be yielded by us, in the Lord.

These articles were adopted into the Philadelphia Confession of Faith, and published by Benjamin Franklin in 1763. The Charleston Association adopted it in 1767, and many other churches and associations, both north and south, adopted it. The influence of this Baptist confession has been extremely far-reaching.

[1] McGlothlin, Baptist Confessions, pp. 215-219, 258-259, 262-263.