Benjamin Keach

Early Life and Conversion

· Benjamin Keach was born on February 29, 1640 in Stoke Hammond, Buckinghamshire. He was baptized six days later at the parish church.

· In 1644 the first London Baptist Confession was signed and in 1646 the Westminster Confession was published.

· 1649-1650: Charles I was executed and England becomes a Common Wealth under Oliver Cromwell. Religious freedom is granted.

· 1655: Keach is converted under the ministry of Matthew Mead and is baptized by immersion among General Baptists

Early Pastoral Ministry and Sufferings

· 1658: Oliver Cromwell dies

· 1658: Begins preaching among the General Baptist

· 1660: Marries Jane Grove. They were married ten years before she died, and they had five children and three of them survived infancy

· 1660: Chrarles II ascends to the throne

· 1662: The Act of Uniformity declared, persecution of nonconformists begins.

· 1664: Keach arrested for publishing a work for the instruction of children. It included a statement of believers baptism. He was imprisoned for two weeks and fined a sizable amount for a poor pastor. Had to stand in a pillory for two hours at a time twice during this period.

· At another time he was almost trampled to death by Calvary men who had seized in the middle of his preaching.

· 1668: Moves to London with wife and children to flee persecution. Begins pastoring a General Baptist Church there.

Later Pastoral Ministry and Calvinism

· 1670: His wife Jane dies leaving three young children.

· 1672: Marries Susannah Partridge and adopts Calvinism, becoming a Particular Baptist. Began a Calvinistic work in London.

· Ministers faithfully preaching the Word through the times of intolerance.

· 1689: Act of toleration and the publication of the 1689 London Baptist Confession. Keach was one of the signatories.

· Keach writes several books, preaches faithfully, and eventually dies in 1704 at the age of 64

· The Church he pastored for 36 years in London eventually became the Metropolatin Tabernacle under the pastorate of Charles Spurgeon.

Writing Ministry/Impact

· Benjamin Keach wrote 43 books in his life.

· Keach against the Quakers

· Keach against the Neonomians

o Jesus died for everyone, meriting them a different and milder law: Faith, repentance, and sincere obedience. It is by obeying gospel demands that one is justified in God’s sight. Jesus met abolished the old law and established the new. Keach insisted on the passive resting in Jesus active and passive obedience for justification. That faith was accompanied and followed by good works and sanctification. Justification has nothing to do with our deeds. Our assurance is rooted in the Savior, not our partial obedience to a new law.

· Keach and the Hymn singing controversy

Lessons of Application

1. The willingness to suffer for truth

2. The need for faithful pastors

3. The importance of Justification

4. The importance of Bible interpretation

5. The importance of Godliness

Recommended Reading

1. The Marrow of True Justification

2. The Travels of True Godliness

3. The Glories of a True Church

4. Tropologia: a Key to Open Scriptures Metaphors

5. An Exposition of Parables

6. The Excellent Benjamin Keach by Austin Walker