1815 CALEB BLOOD. Rare Baptist - Principal Difference Between the Baptists and Pedobaptists.

Very scarce work from very early in the heated Baptist controversy of the early 19th century in America. The public debate and voluminous press activity were significantly increased by the then recent news [1812] of Adoniram Judson and company's prominent conversion to the Baptistic view. 

Caleb Blood (1754-1814) was converted at 20 years old, just two years before the American Revolution. He was, in his words, "struck with his sinfulness and gloriously converted." 

An eager disciple and attending himself to study and prayer, within a year and a half he was licensed to preach by the Baptist church in Charlton, Massachusetts in 1776 and became an itinerant preacher.  In 1777 he was ordained and served a newly formed Baptist church for four years in Marlow, New Hampshire.  In 1781 he accepted a call to Pastor in Newton, Mass., where he served for seven years. During this time he was active with the Warren Association combating the doctrines of Universalism and earned a reputation as an able defender of the faith.

In 1788 he accepted the Pastorate of the Fourth Baptist Church of Shaftsbury, Vermont where he served with great blessings for twenty years. During 1798-99 a great revival broke out where Blood saw great numbers added to his church. He always discouraged an excess of mere feelings and knew well the difference between the genuine operation of the Holy Spirit and mere human excitement. During this time he also traveled in missionary expansion into the northwest sections of New York and Canada.  

Beginning in 1791, he served as a Trustee for the University of Vermont. He resigned, however, when in 1807, he endured a personal tragedy. He suffered a blow to his face. Initially though to be minor, it caused him intense physical pain the rest of his life and resulted in seasons of "depressed spirits."

Hee never ceased preaching and defending the Baptist faith. He died on March 6, 1814. He had perfect peace and expressed one great desire that ministers might be faithful, souls saved, and his Master glorified.

He was one of the leading Baptist ministers in Massachusetts and Vermont. He authored several tracts on the differences between Baptists and pedobaptists, including the present issued in the direct swell of interest in the Baptists after the very public conversion of Adoniram Judson and company. 

Blood, Caleb. A Concise View of the Principal Points of Difference Between the Baptists and Pedobaptists, in a Familiar Dialogue, in which the Abrahamic Covenant is Illustrated, and a Scriptural Account Given of the Olive-Tree, Mentioned in the Eleventh of Romans, Showing in what Sense the Jews were Broken Off, and the Gentiles Grafted in, so as to Partake of its Root and Fatness. To Which are Added, Remarks on the Atonement. By Caleb Blood, Late Pastor of the Baptist Church in Portland. Boston. Printed and Published by Lincoln & Edmands. 1815. 128pp.

A good copy, bound in wraps, lightly shaken, with one page detached, but present. Pages have moderate foxing, are toned, and have minor dampstains throughout.