Barton W. Stone
1772–1844
Presbyterian-turned-independent minister at Cane Ridge; his 1804 Last Will and Testament of the Springfield Presbytery dissolved his own presbytery in favor of unity among Christians on the Bible alone, a founding document of the Stone–Campbell movement.
In his own words
The Gospel contains facts in themselves, which require nothing from us to make them true. It is a fact, that the great supper was prepared, whether those invited believed it or not; or whether they came, and partook of it or not. Their believing the fact could not make it more true. So it is a fact, that God has absolutely given to the world his son, with all his fulness; whether we believe, or disbelieve; whether we receive, or reject the gift. To insert any condition in the Gospel, on which its truth should depend, would be to destroy its very nature; or to cover it with such a mist of darkness, that no one could see its reality. Thus to say that Christ died for us, on condition we should believe on him, is to cast a veil over the truth: for we should then have no certain end of his death, and therefore no foundation for our faith.
Quoted verbatim from the library, as an answer would quote it.
What we hold of him
Last Will and Testament of the Springfield Presbytery
Classic
The Christian Messenger, Volume 1
Classic
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