In the history of Sabbath-keepers we have had a beautiful exemplification of the truth of that promise, that he who soweth in labour and with many tears, shall return rejoicing, laden with the products of an abundant harvest. Their numbers were few, their churches isolated, and their opportunities for sharing in the emoluments of the world both limited and unfrequent, nevertheless the dissemination of their doctrines has become, through Divine Providence, the means of reclaiming many wanderers to the Bible Sabbath. The increase of the number of the Sabbath-keeping churches may be attributed to a variety of causes. Every society possesses within itself the principle of extension and multiplication, by which it will ultimately quadruplicate its numbers, when no counteracting agencies of more potent influence are at work. In consequence of this, the numerosity of a church sometimes became burdensome, and it was considered necessary to establish a new fraternity from the surplus members of the old. Emigration also became a great source for the dissemination of the scriptural doctrine of the Sabbath, as well as indicative of the ground to be occupied by future churches. Thus some brother, whom poverty or untoward circumstances had forced to abandon his native state, and the Christian society of his childhood, has been the pioneer of religious instruction to the neighbourhood, and the honoured founder of a religious establishment.
In the third place, the perceptions of many have been enlightened by an unprejudiced perusal of the Holy Scriptures, accompanied by the convincing energies of the Spirit of truth. A venerable lady, resident in the State of New York, embraced the Sabbath, to which she rigidly adhered, notwithstanding the opposition and persecution of her husband and kindred, although at the time unaware that any denomination of Christian Sabbatarians existed. She had obtained her knowledge of the Sabbath, its ordinance and obligation, from the Bible alone. A gentleman of Maryland, with his family, embraced the Sabbath without having any previous communication or connexion with the Sabbatarians; but the unprejudiced perusal of the Scriptures had instructed him in the knowledge of his duty, and he hesitated not in the performance of it. A multitude of similar cases might be recorded; these, however, are sufficient to show that Scripture testimony, when acting upon unprejudiced minds, will invariably lead to a clear conviction of the holy and sabbatical character of the seventh day.
It is well known, that in nearly every State of the Union, the observance of the first day is enforced by law. It is certainly remarkable that these States, so distinguished for their otherwise liberal and enlightened policy, should retain, with such tenacity, this hateful feature in their legislative system; thus subjecting to the alternative of conformity, or to the liability of fines and imprisonment, a large and respectable portion of the community. To obtain the redress of these grievances, and the exemption from being made amenable to civil processes served, or made returnable upon the Sabbath, petitions were circulated for two or three consecutive years, in the different States where the Sabbatarians reside, and then presented to the consideration of the legislative bodies. In no case, however, were they attended with the results anticipated, either by a repeal of the obnoxious statutes, or by the enactment of other laws, more conformable to the spirit of the age.
Upon several occasions, the Seventh-day Baptists have attempted to participate with their first-day brethren, in Sabbath Conventions, and similar convocations. But, as might have been expected, they have been uniformly excluded from these deliberations; courteously, it is true, and with expressions of Christian feeling and charity. In consequence of this, they have instituted, and held, within their own bounds, several Conventions and similar meetings, designed to advance and disseminate the Bible doctrine of the Sabbath.
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.
CHURCHES IN RHODE ISLAND.
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 theories and practices. It remained for the founder of this little colony to make the discovery that the consciences of men were above the cognizance of penal regulations or legal processes; but the principles of religious freedom which he exposed and incorporated in his government were regarded by all other bodies, both civil, judicial, and ecclesiastical, as in the highest degree visionary in theory, and dangerous, disorganizing, and impracticable in real life.
It is not surprising that a pampered priesthood and lordly prelates, whose honours and preferments were based upon a system of ecclesiastical tyranny, should oppose, by every possible means, the establishment of unlimited toleration; although we may well wonder that those who had felt themselves the heavy weight of religious persecution, should commit so great an error, so palpable an inconsistency, as to attempt to deprive others of the inestimable blessing of worshipping God according to the dictates of their own consciences. Roger Williams, who fled from the persecuting Puritans, became the founder of the first Baptist Church in America, which was instituted at Providence, 1644, and from which originated a church at Newport, in 1652, under the auspices of Rev. William Vaughan. From this community seven persons seceded in 1671, and established the first Seventh-day Baptist, and the Third Baptist Church upon the American continent. This secession took place in consequence of the teachings of Stephen Mumford, who emigrated from England in 1665, and who contended, with zeal and fervour, for the perpetuity and unchangeable nature of the Sabbatical ordinance. It is greatly to be lamented that of the early life of this man, the parent, under God, of so many flourishing religious communities, so little is known.
Only a few facts have been preserved, and these rest on questionable evidence. I have not been able to obtain any knowledge of his parents, of the place of his birth and education, or any of the circumstances connected with his conversion. It is certain, however, that he embraced Sabbatarian sentiments, or was educated in that belief in Europe.