THE EXCELLENT BENJAMIN KEACH
By Austin Walker
Joshua Press. 400 pages. £28.99
ISBN 978 1 894 400 633
Benjamin Keach (1640–1704) was one of the key Particular (Reformed, Calvinistic) Baptist leaders in England in the 17th century, and thus one of the forefathers of this global movement today.
He was an advocate of the laying on of hands straight after baptism (for the increase of the Spirit’s work in the believer), a staunch defender of justification by faith against the Neonomianism of Richard Baxter (good on yer), and the one who, more than any other, introduced congregational hymn-singing (as distinct from Psalm-singing) into English church life. He also suffered for his faith during the Restoration period (1660–1689) and was a man of courage, faith, love, humility and genuine piety.
Well researched and written
This much is made clear in Austin Walker’s well researched and well written biography. It is also pleasing to see that the author does not hide the warts of his subject – we discover that Keach really went over the top with folk in his church who didn’t want to sing hymns, thoroughly losing his temper with some of them.
However, the question arises: since Keach was not (on Walker’s own admission) a great man, and since his story is not particularly interesting as a story (except to a very devoted and committed Reformed Baptist who wants reassurance that the founding fathers of the movement really were fine and godly people), and since we just don’t know enough about Keach to get a clear, close picture of him as a rounded human being (so that we might see and perhaps feel the work of the Spirit in him, for our enlightenment and encouragement) – since this is so, what is the purpose of this 400-page book?
It may be nice for my Reformed Baptist friends to feel comforted now and then, but I can think of better uses of their reading time. For students of 17th-century English Baptist history, the 38-page bibliography will be very useful.
