THE HALL-KINGHORN COMMUNION DEBATE OF 1815-1827
Comprising the published works respecting the terms of church communion by Robert Hall, Jr. of Harvey Lane, Leicester, and Joseph Kinghorn of Norwich, Norfolk.
Compiled and edited by Terry Wolever and Douglas J. Holcomb
“The controversy that is the subject of this book: Should believer’s baptism be a prerequisite to participating in the Lord’s Supper or communion? Answered in the affirmative is the close/closed/strict communion position, championed here by Joseph Kinghorn; answered in the negative is the open/mixed communion position advocated by Robert Hall, Jr. The debate certainly did not begin with these two men, and unfortunately, it did not end with them, either. . . .
“In the debate with Kinghorn, Hall maintained that “mixed” or open communion must be practiced, in keeping with brotherly love. He believed that as long as the brothers and sisters were in Christ, they had a right to participate in the communion table. . . . In response, the scholarly Kinghorn rebutted that strict communion was not an insult against the duty of love, but instead a necessity by the duty of conscience. Kinghorn’s argument in Baptism, a Term of Communion is simple: baptism is commanded by God as a public profession of faith, and the example of the apostles was to only admit baptized persons into the churches. . . . Furthermore, he said the danger of Hall’s arguments was its potentiality to annihilate other parts of “the revealed will of Christ.” . . . Kinghorn’s concerns were vindicated as Baptists fell further away from doctrinal fidelity.” —from the Introduction by Douglas J. Holcomb.
Contents included in this volume:
Biographical Sketch of Robert Hall, Jr.
Biographical Sketch of Joseph Kinghorn
I. On Terms of Communion; with a Particular View to the Case of the Baptists and Pædobaptists (1816) by Robert Hall
II. Baptism, a Term of Communion at the Lord’s Supper (1816) by Joseph Kinghorn
III. A Reply to the Rev. Joseph Kinghorn: Being a Further Vindication of the Practice of Free Communion (1818) by Robert Hall
IV. A Defence of “Baptism a Term of Communion”. In Answer to the Rev. Robert Hall’s Reply (1820) by Joseph Kinghorn
V. Baptism the Scriptural and Indispensable Qualification for communion at the Lord’s Table: or, Considerations designed to expose the erroneous practice of departing from the original Constitution of the Christian Church. Including Animadversions on the “Preface &c.” of the Rev. Robert Hall’s “Reply” to the Rev. Joseph Kinghorn’s works on “Baptism a Term of Communion” (1824) by Joseph Ivimey
VI. Review of Baptism the Scriptural and Indispensable Qualification for Communion at the Lord’s Table (1824) by Joseph Ivimey. The Baptist Magazine, June 1824
VII. “To Correspondents.” An address to strict communionists. The Eclectic Review, December 1824
VIII. Considerations Addressed to the Eclectic Reviewer, In Defence of Those who Maintain that Baptism should Precede Communion: occasioned by his address “To Correspondents,” in the Eclectic Review for December, 1824 (1825) by Joseph Kinghorn
IX. Review of Considerations Addressed to the Eclectic Reviewer by Joseph Kinghorn. The Baptist Magazine, May 1825
X. An article in reply to Considerations Addressed to the Eclectic Reviewer by Joseph Kinghorn. The Eclectic Review, May and June 1825
XI. Remarks on an Article in The Eclectic Review for May and June, 1825: viz: A Review of Considerations Addressed to the Eclectic Reviewer by Joseph Kinghorn. An Essay by “A Strict Baptist.” The Baptist Magazine, August 1825
XII. Arguments against the Practice of Mixed Communion, and in Support of Communion on the Plan of The Apostolic Church; with Preliminary Observations on Rev. R. Hall’s Reasons for Christian, in Opposition to Party Communion (1827) by Joseph Kinghorn
Appendix: Extracts from a letter from Joseph Kinghorn to Joseph Jarrom, dated April 20, 1818
Indexed, two illustrations, 1140 pages, hardcover cloth vellum.