John Clifford (1836-1923): Irrepressible Liberal Thomas J
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John Clifford (1836-1923): Irrepressible Liberal Thomas J. Nettles Thomas J. Nettles has served as Introduction and perhaps contributed to, his chief weak- Professor of Historical Theology at The William Carey died in June of 1834. Just ness. Hall’s power could compensate for Southern Baptist Theological Seminary prior to that, the notable Baptist Pastor and the intrinsic unworthiness of a cause thus since 1997. He has taught previously historian Joseph Ivimey had died in Feb- granting it a recommendation far beyond at Southwestern Baptist Theological ruary 1834. Robert Hall Jr. preceded both its merits. His insistence on the preemi- Seminary (1976-1982), Mid-America in his presence before the Lord in 1831. Hall nence and unifying effects of the central Seminary (1982-1988), and Trinity had preached a sermon on the death of issues of Protestant theology, his zeal for Evangelical Divinity School (1989- John Ryland, Jr., in 1825 that set all of these the personal discovery of truth from the 1997). Dr. Nettles is a prolific author deaths in perspective when he noted the whole Bible without being hampered by and has written extensively about Bap- strength and character of those who were shallow assent to narrower, and merely tist history. passing so quickly from the scene. human, formulas, and his zeal for the practical and moral in Christian thought That denomination of Christians, of created inattention to important aspects of which he [Ryland] was so long a dis- tinguished ornament, will especially Baptist witness. Zeal for doctrinal dis- lay this providence to heart. Our tinctiveness, the positive usefulness of hands are weakened this day; and if confessions, and the conserving power of the glory is not departed from us, it is at least eclipsed and obscured. We theological expansiveness suffered severe have been visited with stroke upon blows from Hall’s overall influence and stroke. Our brightest lights have been formed the climate for the energetic mod- successively extinguished; and in vain do we look around for a Bed- ernism of John Clifford. dome, a Booth, a Fuller, or a Ryland; While concerned about doctrinal issues names which would have given lus- and willing to be forthright in his defense tre to any denomination, and were long the glory of ours.1 of fundamental teachings, Hall steered his course most closely to the side of practical Hall’s own influence generated massive Christianity. As a convinced advocate of admiration, not only for him personally, holistic Christianity, Hall would warn but for dissenters in general. His eloquence, against overlooking “the distinguishing his masterful and courageous stance on doctrines of the gospel under the pretence important social issues such as freedom of of advancing the interests of morality” just the press, his magnificent defense of the as clearly as he would eschew a tendency character, integrity, and cause of historic to “inculcate those doctrines, without English Dissent, his energetic support of habitually adverting to their purifying and the Baptist Missionary Society, and his transforming influence.” His most ardent patient perseverance under the pain and energies, however, centered on “the fre- vagaries of poor health garnered accolades quent and earnest inculcation of the prac- and recognitions of greatness from which tical precepts of the gospel, in an accurate Baptists benefited immensely. delineation of the Christian temper, in a His greatness, however, failed to hide, specific and minute exposition of the per- 58 sonal, social and relative duties” enforced more broadly in another context. In writ- by both the “endearing” as well as the ing a preface to a republication of his “alarming” motives of Scripture.2 father’s remarkably helpful book Help to This concern for the practical, stated Zion’s Travelers, the admiring but indepen- most forcefully in his resistance to dent son issued a caveat. antinomianism, found a complementary partner in his defense of open commun- If there be any impression, in the following treatise, which implies ion among the churches. This defense that the questions at issue betwixt involved an interaction with how far error the Calvinists and Arminians are of is to be tolerated in Christian communion. the nature of fundamentals, (of which, however, I am not aware,) I beg “If, amidst the infinite diversity of opin- leave, as far as they are concerned, ions,” Hall argues, “each society deems it to express my explicit dissent; being necessary to render its own peculiarities the fully satisfied that upon either sys- tem the foundations of human hope basis of union, as though the design of remain unshaken, and that there is Christians, in forming themselves into a nothing in the contrariety of views entertained on these subjects, which church, were not to exhibit the great prin- ought to obstruct the most cordial ciples of the gospel, but to give publicity affection and harmony among 6 and effect to party distinctions, all hope of Christians. restoring Christian harmony and unanim- ity must be abandoned.” Hall did not The abridgment of importance in these doubt the “pernicious influence of error in historic confessional distinctions uncovers general” and he agreed that the “formal a tendency in Hall that enlarged in Baptist denial of saving essential truth” constituted life throughout the nineteenth century. An reason for refusal of fellowship.3 In issues ordination sermon in which Hall gives not fundamental to salvation, however, adoring commendation to the beauty and Hall found no reason for division. An heir power of the central Christian doctrines as of Bunyan on this issue, Hall envisions a well as the minister’s unmitigated obliga- palpable absurdity in a system that invests tion to focus on truth includes an implicit “every little Baptist teacher with the pre- sweeping away of any value in confes- rogative of repelling from his communion, sional fidelity. To a strong admonition to a Howe, a Leighton, or a Brainerd, whom make personal acquaintance with the the Lord of glory will welcome to his pres- entire corpus of Scripture the foundation ence.” Hall found such a claimed preroga- of a powerful and refreshing ministry, Hall tive at least as revolting as transubstantia- adds the following personal injunction. tion.4 “Religious parties,” he had learned You, I am persuaded, will not satisfy by much observation, “imply a tacit yourself with the study of Christian- compact, not merely to sustain the funda- ity in narrow jejune abridgments mental truths of revelation, . but also to and systems, but contemplate it, in its utmost extent, as it subsists in the uphold the incidental peculiarities by sacred oracles; and, in investigating which they are distinguished.”5 these, you will permit your reason Though in the preceding context he and conscience an operation, as free and unfettered, as if none had exam- spoke specifically of infant baptism as a ined them before. The neglect of this peripheral matter, not an essential doctrine, produces, too often, an artificial scarcity, where some of the choicest not fundamental, he spread the umbrella provisions of the household are 59 7 exploded or overlooked. definition of a Christian became much more loosely defined. While admirable as a commendation of the whole Scripture and as an admonition The Life of Clifford for personal responsibility in making dis- In the year that Carey and Ivimey died, coveries of the comprehensiveness of its Charles Haddon Spurgeon was born. Two truth, the implicit isolationism and deni- years and four months after the birth of gration of the insights of other centuries as Spurgeon, John Clifford was born the first well as the imputation of aridity and dull- of seven children to Samuel Clifford and ness to the systematic approach of confes- Mary Stenson Clifford in the village of sions bore poisonous fruit. Personal study Sawley about ten miles from Nottingham. of Scripture need not be opposite to the His birthdate, October 16, 1836, came about gifts of others nor need it see confessions twenty years after the end of the Napole- as the enemy of personal knowledge and onic Wars. Clifford heard from his parents growth. the terrible conditions through which the Hall’s views became more prominent Midlands passed in those post-war through the century. Graham Hughes notes decades. “I was a factory child,” he the powerful influence of Hall in his recalled, “and know something of the ter- acknowledgment that “the ultimate adop- rible conditions of old England at that tion of the principle of Open Communion time.” “Work was slavery for the toilers by such a large number of the Baptist who crowded into the factory towns of the churches was due to Hall’s advocacy of the North and of the Midlands.” Wages were practice.” His mediating stance toward at a point “fathoms below the demands of Calvinism also settled into the Baptist mere subsistence,” crime was rampant, fellowship, so that as it receded from riots devastated necessary implements for hyper-Calvinism, “Many of them, unfor- life, the government was not merely dis- tunately, continued to recede until they had trusted but loathed, poverty was unbear- 8 no theology at all.” able, workers had no freedom and had little As stated in his preface to “On Terms of say about their own lives. “George III was Communion,” Hall did not expect a sud- mad and George IV was immoral.” Work- den revolution in the “sentiments and prac- ers’ meetings were illegal and cause for im- tice” of Baptists, but would be satisfied if prisonment, journalists were prosecuted, his work, along with other factors, would the press was not free, hanging was pun- “ultimately contribute to so desirable an ishment for petty offenses, nonconformists 9 issue.” At least one individual, John were persecuted and ridiculed and could Clifford, seemed overjoyed to put Hall’s legally gather for no other purpose than inclusive policy to the test.