godliness in the long, dark ages before the Christian era; why not go to them for a sabbath likewise? The spiritual pride that opposes such a measure will not stand in the great and burning day. CHAPTER I. SABBATARIAN CHURCHES IN ASIA AND AFRICA. 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 the convulsions of the latter,—the temporal with the spiritual affairs. But the archiepiscopal see of Armenia appears to have preserved its ancient form of discipline and doctrine in the most remarkable manner, notwithstanding the changes of the royal and ducal dynasties in the state, and its alternate subjection to Saracenic and Persian dominion. The propagation of the gospel throughout Armenia is ascribed by ancient historians to St. Bartholomew, who is said to be identical with Nathaniel,—that Israelite indeed. In Albanopolis, a city of this country, we are informed that the apostle suffered martyrdom; but his blood only watered the seed of divine truth, and caused a more glorious harvest of proselytes from the Zendavesta to the gospel,—from the adoration of the host of heaven to the spiritual worship of their Maker, "the King immortal, eternal, and invisible." Notwithstanding the penal edicts of the sovereign, and the opposition of the Magian priesthood, Christianity flourished like a tree planted by the rivers of water, and the rising generations of Armenia reposed under its salutary shade. Few religious sects have been extirpated by persecution. Religion shines brightest in the night of adversity; it is quenched and extinguished in the sunshine of courts. Zeal and intrepidity are always stimulated by the presence of an enemy. The Christians of Armenia received the crown of martyrdom, rejoicing that they were accounted worthy to suffer for their attachment to the cross. At last, however, the eloquence of a priest, named Gregory, succeeded in converting the monarch and his principal nobility, who received the rite of baptism, and entered into the communion of the church. In consequence of this, Leontius, bishop of Cappadocia, consecrated Gregory bishop of the Armenians, and their church became annexed to the episcopal jurisdiction of the Antiochan prelate.