IV. That the Holy Spirit is the Divine agent in the conversion of sinners, and the sanctification of Christians.
V. That the Old and New Testament Scriptures are the inspired word of God.
VI. That there is future punishment for the wicked, and future reward for the righteous.
VII. That the Deity is a prayer-hearing and prayer-answering God.
VIII. That the Bible is our only creed.
The founder of the sect was for a long time a member of the Baptist Church, and declared that he differed from them only in his "disbelief in the binding force of the church creed, and in the necessity of ministerial ordinations."
The new church grew very rapidly, notwithstanding the persecutions it received from both the Baptist and Freewill Baptist denominations, and it numbers now over half a million members.
It is not strange that James was drawn to this single-hearted, struggling sect of "Disciples." The earnest, persuasive arguments of one of its preachers led him to Christ, and when, that same winter, he was baptized in the little river at Orange, he became at once an earnest champion of the new church. In all religious discussions, he claimed the right of following the Bible according to the convictions of his own conscience, and declared that every one else should have the same right.
His consistent Christian life added strength to his spoken words, and the Disciples felt that a bright and shining light had been added to their ranks.