The Trail of Blood

$1.00

Buy It Once, Use It On These Platforms

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Description

The Trail of Blood (1931) was originally published as a booklet and based on a series of lectures given by the Baptist minister, James Milton Carroll. The lectures were designed to trace the history of Baptist churches as a succession from the first Christians. He supports his findings with a timeline that shows religious history over a period of 2000 years.

From the Preface

THIS LITTLE BOOK is sent forth for the purpose of making known the little-known history of those FAITHFUL WITNESSES of the Lord Jesus, who, as members of the CHURCH JESUS BUILT, "Overcame Satan by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony: and they loved not their lives unto death," Rev 12:11.

From the Introduction

Dr. J. M. Carroll wrote this book after he was 70 years old, but he said, "I was converted unto God when I was just a boy. I saw the many denominations and wondered which was the church the Lord Jesus founded."

Even in his youth he felt that in the study of the Scriptures and history, he could find the church which was the oldest and most like the churches described in the New Testament.

This research for the truth led him into many places and enabled him to gather one of the greatest libraries on church history. This library was given at his death to the Southwestern Baptist Seminary, Ft. Worth, Texas.

He found much church history — most of it seemed to be about the Catholics and Protestants. The history of Baptists, he discovered, was written in blood. They were the hated people of the Dark Ages. Their preachers and people were put into prison and untold numbers were put to death. The world has never seen anything to compare with the suffering, the persecutions, heaped upon Baptists by the Catholic Hierarchy during the Dark Ages. The Pope was the world's dictator. This is why the Ana-Baptists, before the Reformation, called the Pope The Anti-Christ. Their history is written in the legal documents and papers of those ages...

This Commission — this work — was not given to the Apostles as individuals, but to them and the others present in their church capacity. The Apostles and the others who heard Him give this Commission were soon dead — BUT, His Church has lived on through the ages, making disciples (getting folks saved), baptizing them, and teaching the truth — the doctrines — He committed to the Jerusalem Church. These faithful churches have been blessed with His presence as they have traveled the TRAIL OF BLOOD.

This history shows how the Lord's promise to His churches has been fulfilled. Dr. Carroll shows that churches have been found in every age which have taught the doctrines He committed unto them. Dr. Carroll calls these doctrines the “marks” of New Testament Churches:

1. Its Head and Founder — CHRIST. He is the law-giver; the Church is only the executive. ( Mt 16:18; Col 1:18)
2. Its only rule of faith and practice — THE BIBLE. ( 2Ti 3:15-17)
3. Its name — “CHURCH,” “CHURCHES.” ( Mt 16:18; Rev 22:16)
4. Its polity — CONGREGATIONAL — all members equal. ( Mt 20:24-28; 23:5-12)
5. Its members — only saved people. ( Ep 2:21; 1Pe 2:5)
6. Its ordinances — BELIEVERS' BAPTISM, FOLLOWED BY THE LORD'S SUPPER. ( Mt 28:19-20)
7. Its officers — PASTORS AND DEACONS. ( 1Ti 3:1-16)
8. Its work — getting folks saved, baptizing them (with a baptism that meets all the requirements of God's Word), teaching them ("to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you"). ( Mt 28:16-20)
9. Its financial plan — “Even so (TITHES and OFFERINGS) hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel,” ( 1Co 9:14)
10. Its weapons of warfare — spiritual, not carnal. ( 2Co 10:4; Ep 6:10-20)
11. Its independence — separation of Church and State. ( Mt 22:21)

In any town there are many different churches — all claiming to be the true church. Dr. Carroll did as you can do now — take the marks, or teachings, of the different churches and find the ones which have these marks, or doctrines. The ones which have these marks, or doctrines, taught in God's Word, are the true churches.

This, Dr. Carroll has done, to the churches of all ages. He found many had departed from "these marks, or doctrines." Other churches, however, he found had been true to these marks" in every day and age since Jesus said, "I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." ( Mt 16:18).

About the Author(s)

Dr. J. M. Carroll, the author of this book, was born in the state of Arkansas, January 8, 1858, and died in Texas, January 10, 1931. His father, a Baptist preacher, moved to Texas when Brother Carroll was six years old. There he was converted, baptized, and ordained to the Gospel ministry. Dr. Carroll not only became a leader among Texas Baptists, but an outstanding figure of Southern Baptists, and of the world.

System Requirements

Installed size (unless otherwise indicated): Approximately 2.875 MB. iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Requires iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad running latest version of iOS. Download size: 2.875 MB. Android Requires Android OS 4.4 or later. Download size: 2.875 MB. Windows Phone Requires Windows Phone 7.5 or later. Download size: 2.875 MB. Windows Store Requires Windows 8, 10, 11 or later. Download size: 2.875 MB. Windows Desktop Requires Windows 2000, XP, Vista, Windows 7, 8, 10, 11 or later. Download size: 2.875 MB. Mac OS Requires macOS 10.13 or later. Download size: 2.875 MB.