Until recent times the author never believed that any people who
called themselves Baptists would embrace sacerdotalism. No people have
ever more bravely stood against the curse of priestcraft than our
Baptist forefathers. But he lived to see some brethren invent and preach
a moderate form of sacerdotalism. “Sacerdotal” means “relating to
priests or a priesthood.” “Sacerdotalism” is the “religious belief
emphasizing the powers of priests as essential mediators between God and
man.” Modern New Lighters conceive of the Baptist church being God’s
priests on earth. To them there are no spiritual blessings or rewards
outside of this anointed priesthood.
Some of these same brethren, having already confused no small number
of our preachers on prophesy, are now compassing sea and land to confuse
the brotherhood on the local church. They would replace the old
Landmark position with an anointed priesthood which confers all
spiritual blessings. Some in this crowd have taken it upon themselves to
be a council of presiding bishops who alone has the authority to
determine the doctrines taught in the Bible. All other preachers are
limited in their understanding and must pay attention to them.
