Benjamin Keach (29 February 1640 – 18 July 1704) was a

Particular Baptist Reformed Baptists (sometimes known as Particular Baptists or Calvinistic Baptists) are Baptists that hold to a Calvinist soteriology (salvation). The first Calvinist Baptist church was formed in the 1630s. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith w ...

preacher and author in

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

whose name was given to

Keach's Catechism Keach's Catechism (also known as the 1677 Baptist Catechism or 1693 Baptist Catechism) is a Reformed Baptist catechism consisting of a set of 118 basic questions and answers from scripture teaching readers the basics of the Reformed Baptist faith. ...

Biography

Originally from

Buckinghamshire Buckinghamshire (), abbreviated Bucks, is a ceremonial county in South East England that borders Greater London to the south-east, Berkshire to the south, Oxfordshire to the west, Northamptonshire to the north, Bedfordshire to the north-ea ...

, Keach worked as a tailor during his early years. He was baptized at the age of 15 and began preaching at 18. He was the minister of the congregation at

Winslow Winslow may refer to: Places United Kingdom * Winslow, Buckinghamshire, England, a market town and civil parish * Winslow Rural District, Buckinghamshire, a rural district from 1894 to 1974 United States and Canada * Rural Municipality of Winslo ...

before moving in 1668 to the church at Horsleydown (Horse-lie-down),

Southwark Southwark ( ) is a district of Central London situated on the south bank of the River Thames, forming the north-western part of the wider modern London Borough of Southwark. The district, which is the oldest part of South London, developed ...

where he remained for 36 years as pastor (1668-1704). (This congregation later became the New Park Street Church and then moved to the

Metropolitan Tabernacle The Metropolitan Tabernacle is a large independent Reformed Baptist church in the Elephant and Castle in London. It was the largest non-conformist church of its day in 1861. The Tabernacle Fellowship have been worshipping together since 1650. ...

under the pastorship of

Charles Spurgeon Charles Haddon Spurgeon (19 June 1834 – 31 January 1892) was an English Particular Baptist preacher. Spurgeon remains highly influential among Christians of various denominations, among whom he is known as the "Prince of Preachers". He wa ...

It was as representative of this church that Keach went to the 1689 General Assembly and subscribed the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith. Keach was one of the seven men who sent out the invitation to the 1689 General Assembly. The signing of the confession was no mute doctrinal assent on the part of the church, for in the same year they entered into a Solemn Covenant which reflected, at the practical and congregational level, some of the doctrines of the confession. There was a secession from Horse-lie-down in 1673 and the Old Kent Road congregation was formed. Spurgeon later republished the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith for use in the congregation. Keach wrote 43 works, of which his "Parables and Metaphors of Scripture" may be the best known. He wrote a work entitled "The Child's Instructor" which immediately brought him under persecution and he was fined and

pilloried The pillory is a device made of a wooden or metal framework erected on a post, with holes for securing the head and hands, formerly used for punishment by public humiliation and often further physical abuse. The pillory is related to the stoc ...

in 1664. He is attributed with the writing of a

catechism A catechism (; from grc, κατηχέω, "to teach orally") is a summary or exposition of doctrine and serves as a learning introduction to the Sacraments traditionally used in catechesis, or Christian religious teaching of children and adult c ...

commonly known as "

", although it is most likely that the original was compiled by William Collins. Keach is also known to have promoted the introduction of

hymn A hymn is a type of song, and partially synonymous with devotional song, specifically written for the purpose of adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. The word ''hymn'' ...

singing in the

Baptist Baptists form a major branch of Protestantism distinguished by baptizing professing Christian believers only (believer's baptism), and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul compete ...

churches.Benjamin Keach Biography from Spurgeon's Autobiography
/ref> His church, Horslydown, was probably the first church in England to sing hymns, as opposed to psalms and paraphrases. Keach's hymnbook, published in 1691, provoked heated debate in the 1692 Assembly of Particular Baptists. Among his eschatological convictions, Keach anticipated a major revival amongst the Jews at the end of this age.

Works

*''The Glory of a True Church, and Its Discipline Display’d'', London: John Robinson (1697) *''The Progress of Sin, Or the Travels of Ungodliness'', London: J. Clarke (5th edition, 1736) *''The Travels of True Godliness'', Boston: Lincoln & Edmands (Revised and Improved, 1831) *''Gold Refin’d, or, Baptism in Its Primitive Purity'', London: Printed for the author. (1689) *''An Exposition of the Parables and Express Similitudes of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ'', London: Aylott and Co. (1858) *''Spiritual Songs: Being the Marrow of the Scripture, in Songs of Praise to Almighty God; From the Old and New Testament'', London: John Marshal (Second Edition, 1700) *''The Baptist Catechism, Commonly Called Keach’s Catechism: Or, a Brief Instruction in the Principles of the Christian Religion'', Philadelphia: American Baptist Publication Society. (1851) *''Tropologia: A Key to Open Scripture Metaphors'', London: William Hill Collingridge (1856) *''The Marrow of True Justification, or, Justification without Works'' London: Dorman Newman (1692) *''War with the Devil; or the Young Man’s Conflict with the Powers of Darkness; Displayed in a Poetical Dialogue between Youth and Conscience'' Coventry: T. Luckman. (n.d.) *''The Scriptures Superior to All Spiritual Manifestations. In H. C. Fish (Ed.), History and Repository of Pulpit Eloquence, Deceased Divines, Containing the Masterpieces (Vol. I)'', New York: Dodd, Mead & Company. (1856) *''A Golden Mine Opened: Or, the Glory of God’s Rich Grace Displayed in the Mediator to Believers: And His Direful Wrath against Impenitent Sinners: Containing the Substance of near Forty Sermons upon Several Subjects'', London: Printed for the author (1694)

References

* Brackney, William H. (2004). ''A Genetic History of Baptist Thought: With Special Reference to Baptists in Britain and North America.'' Macon, GA: Mercer University Press. pp. 33, 66–68, 74, 105, 116–117. *

External links

Information on Benjamin Keach at the Christian History InstituteA quotation from Keach's ''The Child's Instructor'', 'the first Baptist textbook'Recent Scholarship on Keach Available Online at The Benjamin Keach Journal
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Keach, Benjamin 1640 births 1704 deaths People from Buckinghamshire Evangelists Christian writers 17th-century English Baptist ministers English Calvinist and Reformed Christians English Baptist theologians British sermon writers 18th-century English Baptist ministers