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24 chapters
A HISTORY OF THE SABBATARIAN CHURCHES.
A HISTORY OF THE SABBATARIAN CHURCHES.
A GENERAL HISTORY OF THE SABBATARIAN CHURCHES: EMBRACING ACCOUNTS OF THE ARMENIAN, EAST INDIAN, AND ABYSSINIAN EPISCOPACIES IN ASIA AND AFRICA, THE WALDENSES, SEMI-JUDAISERS, AND SABBATARIAN ANABAPTISTS OF EUROPE; WITH THE SEVENTH-DAY BAPTIST DENOMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. BY MRS. TAMAR DAVIS. "The dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."— Rev. xii. 17. PHILADELPHIA: LINDS
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PREFACE.
PREFACE.
At the present time, when the Sabbath controversy is engaging so much of the public attention, and when Sabbath Conventions and Sabbath Unions are being chronicled almost monthly, I consider it unnecessary to offer any apology for the introduction of the following work to the public notice. My reader need not fear a repetition or recapitulation of the arguments generally employed in favour of the sabbatical institution, as it refers either to the first or the last day of the week; neither will h
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PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS.
PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS.
The word Sabbatarian, whether bestowed by their enemies as a term of opprobrium upon those who observed the seventh day of the week as the Sabbath, or whether assumed by themselves, is, nevertheless, peculiarly appropriate, and very distinguishing of this particular tenet in their system of religious faith. Neither do we hesitate to employ it in a very extensive sense, as comprehending all those religious communities, whatever may be their names, modes of worship, or forms of ecclesiastical disc
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SECTION I. HISTORY OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCH.
SECTION I. HISTORY OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCH.
The religious and political history of Armenia has, from the earliest ages, been pregnant with great events; but, obedient to necessity; I condense within a few pages what might fill as many volumes, and content myself with giving an outline of the subject that some future historian may amplify and adorn. In countries where there exists a union between the church and the state, and the prelatic dignity is supported by royal authority, the revolutions of the former are intimately connected with t
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SECTION II. A SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT CHRISTIANS OF INDIA.
SECTION II. A SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT CHRISTIANS OF INDIA.
The introduction, rise, progress, declension, and extirpation of Christianity in India, is, with some partial exceptions, wrapped in profound obscurity, yet many historians of abundant information and unimpeachable veracity are unanimous in supposing that India received the gospel probably before Great Britain. Rev. C. Buchanan says, "There have lately been discovered Sanscrit writings containing testimony of Christ. They relate to a prince who reigned about the period of the Christian era, and
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SECTION III. A SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF THE ABYSSINIAN CHURCH.
SECTION III. A SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF THE ABYSSINIAN CHURCH.
Abyssinia, or ancient Ethiopia, comprehends a vast region in the interior parts of Africa, whose inhabitants, previous to the acquaintance of their Queen with the Jewish king Solomon, were involved in a dark and gloomy superstition, resembling in many respects the idolatrous worship of the Egyptians. The connexion and intimacy that subsequently existed between the Jewish and Ethiopian courts resulted in the conversion of this people to Judaism, in the profession of which they remained until the
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SECTION I. WALDENSES, ALBIGENSES, PASAGINIANS, ETC.—THEIR SABBATICAL CHARACTER EXAMINED.
SECTION I. WALDENSES, ALBIGENSES, PASAGINIANS, ETC.—THEIR SABBATICAL CHARACTER EXAMINED.
It is not my design to give even an abridged account of ecclesiastical affairs as connected with this people during the many centuries of their existence, but confine myself to a consideration of the origin of their distinguishing appellation, with an account of their doctrinal sentiments and religious practices, and their terrible persecutions and dispersion. It is evident that the Latin word vallis has been the parent of the English word valley, the French and Spanish valle, the Provençal vaux
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SECTION II. CONCERNING THE DOCTRINAL SENTIMENTS AND RELIGIOUS PRACTICES OF THE WALDENSES—THEIR SABBATARIAN CHARACTER STILL FURTHER CONSIDERED.
SECTION II. CONCERNING THE DOCTRINAL SENTIMENTS AND RELIGIOUS PRACTICES OF THE WALDENSES—THEIR SABBATARIAN CHARACTER STILL FURTHER CONSIDERED.
In giving an account of the doctrinal sentiments and religious practices of this people, we must principally depend upon the testimonies of their adversaries of the Romish church, and their own apologies, reasonings, and confessions, some of which have been handed down to us through the records of the Inquisition, [18] and by the historians of that period. Of these, Reineirus Saccho is the most celebrated. He had been for seventeen years, in the earlier part of his life, in connexion with the Wa
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SECTION III. CONCERNING THEIR PERSECUTIONS, DISPERSION, AND EXTIRPATION—MORE ACCOUNTS OF THEIR SABBATARIAN CHARACTER.
SECTION III. CONCERNING THEIR PERSECUTIONS, DISPERSION, AND EXTIRPATION—MORE ACCOUNTS OF THEIR SABBATARIAN CHARACTER.
It was not until the twelfth century that the Waldenses, and other heretical parties, appear in history as a people exposed to the persecuting edicts of Rome. And even then it seems to have been occasioned, in a great measure, by the great success that crowned the labours of Peter Waldo, whose followers first obtained the name of Leonists, or Poor Men of Lyons; and who, when persecuted, fled to the mountains, and became incorporated with the other inhabitants of the valleys. By this means, the W
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SECTION IV. SEMI-JUDAISERS—THEIR ORIGIN, HISTORY, ETC.
SECTION IV. SEMI-JUDAISERS—THEIR ORIGIN, HISTORY, ETC.
We have already seen that the different branches of the great Waldensian community were known under a variety of names, which were generally significative of some distinguished leader among them, the country whence they came, or something descriptive of their peculiar tenets. The epithet of Semi-Judaisers, which was applied as a term of reproach to a sect which flourished in Transylvania, Holland, and some parts of Germany, and even extended itself into Russia and Poland, in the latter part of t
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SECTION V. SOME ACCOUNT OF THE SABBATARIANS IN HOLLAND.
SECTION V. SOME ACCOUNT OF THE SABBATARIANS IN HOLLAND.
In my foregoing statements I have been governed entirely by the language and opinions of the writers from whom I derived my information, and who are almost unanimous in supposing that the Semi-Judaisers of Bohemia and Transylvania were descendants of the primitive Waldenses. However this may be, we have every reason to believe that both these countries, with different parts of Germany and Holland, were the abodes of evangelical Christians, and probably of Sabbatarians, before the dispersion of t
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SECTION VI. SEVENTH-DAY BAPTISTS OF ENGLAND.
SECTION VI. SEVENTH-DAY BAPTISTS OF ENGLAND.
About sixty years after the ascension of our Lord, Christianity was first introduced into Britain, and many of the nobility, as well as those of inferior birth, were happily converted. As it can be proved that, at this early period, the seventh day was observed by the Christians in general, we may conclude that these primitive churches were Sabbatarian. The British Christians experienced various changes of prosperity and adversity, until about the year 600, when Austin, the monk, with forty asso
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SECTION I. GENERAL HISTORY.
SECTION I. GENERAL HISTORY.
The Seventh-day Baptist churches in the United States occupy isolated situations in different parts of the Union, and are distinguished from other religious denominations by certain distinctive views relative to the immutability of every precept of the moral law. The term Sabbatarian was formerly adopted by those of the same persuasion in England, subsequent to the Reformation, when the word Sabbath was applied exclusively to the seventh day of the week, and those observant of it as holy time we
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SECTION II. EASTERN ASSOCIATION.
SECTION II. EASTERN ASSOCIATION.
The Eastern Association of Seventh-day Baptists, embraces the churches located in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Jersey. The history of these communities must be highly interesting, and fraught with instruction to every pious mind. This little territory, which circumstances have rendered so peculiarly dear and interesting to every pious mind, was settled at a remarkable period in the history of the world, and under circumstances not only new and peculiar, but strongly adverse to former theor
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SECTION III. SEVENTH-DAY BAPTISTS IN CONNECTICUT.
SECTION III. SEVENTH-DAY BAPTISTS IN CONNECTICUT.
In the first settlement of this country, Baptists were persecuted by Pedobaptists, on account of their tenacity for believer's baptism; but all parties were united in oppressing and persecuting the Sabbatarians. Soon after the organization of the church at Newport, the sentiment, that the moral law was immutable and unchangeable, found advocates in New London, Connecticut, where the spirit of persecution was under less restraint than it was in Rhode Island. There is an old work, which was writte
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SECTION IV. CHURCHES IN NEW JERSEY.
SECTION IV. CHURCHES IN NEW JERSEY.
The churches in New Jersey are large and efficient bodies, and date back to an early period in the history of the state. They were distinguished in early times, and when the denomination was in its infant state, for wealth and respectability of character, and for pastors of eminent piety and worth. This fraternity, the third Sabbatarian Church in America, was organized in 1705, and Rev. Edmund Dunham became their first pastor. Elder Dunham had been for some time a leader in the First-day Baptist
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SECTION V. CENTRAL ASSOCIATION.
SECTION V. CENTRAL ASSOCIATION.
This body embraces all those large and respectable churches which are situated in the State of New York, east of the small lakes. Most of this great body of our denomination have been collected here within half a century. About ninety years ago, we first find traces of Sabbatarian sentiments in this extensive country. Since that period the dissemination of this scriptural truth has been slow but sure. Churches have one after another been constituted, which, taken as a whole, have occupied an imp
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SECTION VI. WESTERN ASSOCIATION.
SECTION VI. WESTERN ASSOCIATION.
The churches embraced in this Association, are situated on what was formerly considered missionary ground, although some of them are at present among the most efficient bodies in the denomination. The principal ornament of this section is the Alfred Academy, a very flourishing literary institution, of a high classical character. It appears to have originated from a High School, and went into operation two or three years previous to the De Ruyter Institute. This church was originally composed of
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SECTION VII. SOUTHWESTERN ASSOCIATION.
SECTION VII. SOUTHWESTERN ASSOCIATION.
Most of the churches embraced in this confederacy are of recent origin. Many of them occupy highly advantageous situations in the broad, the bright, the glorious West, and give every promise of rising to future eminence and usefulness. The history of this church, the oldest one in this Association, is highly interesting. It appears that in 1745, a company of Sabbath-keepers, including one John Davis, removed from Rhode Island, to a place called Square, in Monmouth County, New Jersey. Here they o
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SECTION VIII. NORTHWESTERN ASSOCIATION.
SECTION VIII. NORTHWESTERN ASSOCIATION.
This large and flourishing church was organized in 1838, since which period it has rapidly increased in numbers, and promises to become a very useful and efficient body. For a long time this region was considered as missionary ground. Recently, however, Rev. Stillman Coon and Rev. Zuriel Campbell have connected themselves in the pastoral relation with the church, in which they still continue. Many of its members were emigrants from Scott and the older churches. This church was organized in 1843,
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SECTION IX. GENERAL SUMMARY.
SECTION IX. GENERAL SUMMARY.
The reader who has followed me through this brief and imperfect sketch of the history of the Seventh-day Baptist Denomination, cannot fail to perceive that our churches have gradually and healthfully increased in numbers, notwithstanding the continual opposition which is manifested to the cause we advocate, and the continual discouragements that we have to encounter both in society and business. It is now about one hundred and seventy years since the first Seventh-day Baptist church was organize
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SECTION I. THE KEITHIAN SEVENTH-DAY BAPTISTS.
SECTION I. THE KEITHIAN SEVENTH-DAY BAPTISTS.
The Keithian Baptists were seceders from the Quakers of Pennsylvania, and were so called from their leader, the famous George Keith, who, in 1691, with forty-eight other individuals, withdrew from the communion of the Quakers, and set up separate meetings in different places, and a general one at Burlington, in opposition to that of Philadelphia. Subsequently they published several works of a controversial character, and finally, by resigning themselves to the guidance of Scripture, they became
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SECTION II. A GENERAL HISTORY OF THE GERMAN SEVENTH-DAY BAPTISTS.
SECTION II. A GENERAL HISTORY OF THE GERMAN SEVENTH-DAY BAPTISTS.
The Reformation in Germany and Holland was productive of great and glorious effects, although it was not complete. Errors in doctrine, nearly or quite as incongruous with Scripture as those abandoned, were retained; ceremonies, nearly equal in absurdity to those prohibited, were still celebrated; and persecutions, exhibiting more similarity to the practices of Papacy than to the meekness and quietude of pure Christianity, were still prosecuted. The Reformation required to be reformed, and of thi
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SECTION III. PARTICULAR HISTORY OF THE GERMAN SEVENTH-DAY BAPTISTS OF PENNSYLVANIA.
SECTION III. PARTICULAR HISTORY OF THE GERMAN SEVENTH-DAY BAPTISTS OF PENNSYLVANIA.
Ephrata is located in the interior of the state of Pennsylvania, and is one of its earliest settlements. Few places in America are hallowed by more interesting associations, and none perhaps are connected with an institution of such a peculiar character and ancient establishment. It occupies a pleasant position in Cocalico Township, Lancaster County, at the intersection of the Reading Road with the Downingtown and Harrisburg Turnpike, sixty miles northwest of Philadelphia, thirteen northeast fro
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