[31] That is, that they were adopted from the ancient heathen festivals; and as the Dominical day was in that time regarded as a festival of the church, of course it must have been included with the others.
[32] Will not Balaam, the son of Bozor, rise up in judgment against these men? For, though he loved the wages of unrighteousness, he had enough of the fear of God before his eyes to make him hesitate about cursing those whom God had not cursed. These, however, are bold in cursing those whom God has blessed,—such as observe his Sabbath.
[33] The Anabaptists had not the power of persecution; for their disposition, particularly in some cases, I would not be answerable.
[34] Observe, the seventh day is called the Sabbath.
[35] I have been informed that there is at this time a small society of Seventh-day people in the west part of England, in the vicinity of St. Asaph, but will not vouch for the accuracy of the statement.
CHAPTER III.
SEVENTH-DAY BAPTISTS IN THE UNITED STATES.
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 were regarded as the only Sabbath-keepers. This term, though highly expressive of the main Sabbath doctrine, was, on account of its supposed indefiniteness, rejected by the General Conference of the American Churches, in 1818, and the appellation of Seventh-day Baptist, which was considered more generally expressive, adopted in its stead.