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 Denominaton in the United StatesDavis, Tamar
Religion
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 Denominaton in the United States
Davis, Tamar
Sabbatarians -- History
It is worthy of note, that, in 1746, Mr. Benjamin Purser, the youngest
son of Rev. John Purser before mentioned, purchased an estate in the
village of Natton, and fitted up, at his own expense, a chapel for
divine worship, adjoining his dwelling-house. It is a small room,
distinguished only for neatness and convenience. He also walled in a
corner of his orchard for a burial-place. When he died, in 1765, he
donated the house and burial-place to the church, together with ten
pounds a year out of his estate to all succeeding ministers. At the
present time the congregation is so small that the chapel is not opened
except upon extraordinary occasions, such as a funeral or the like. It
serves, however, as the depository for a small collection of rare and
valuable books.
THE CRIPPLEGATE CHURCH.
A congregation of Sabbatarians, known under that denomination, was
gathered in London by Francis Bampfield, during the reign of Charles the
Second. Mr. Bampfield was descended from an ancient and honourable
family in Devonshire, and was a brother of Thomas Bampfield, Speaker in
one of Cromwell's Parliaments. Having been designed for the ministry
from childhood, he received a classical education, at Wadham College,
Oxford, where he remained for eight years. Subsequently he was provided
with a living in Dorsetshire, and was likewise chosen Prebend of Exeter
Cathedral. Thence he was transferred to the populous town of Sherburne,
where he exerted a most extensive and happy influence among the members
of the established church. In this connexion he continued only a short
time; for beginning to doubt the authority of the church to prescribe
forms of worship, he became in the end a decided nonconformist.
Consequently he was not only ejected from the ministry, but confined in
Dorchester jail, for preaching and conducting religious services
contrary to law. During his imprisonment, which continued about eight
years, his views upon the subjects of the Sabbath and baptism were
materially changed, and he became a decided advocate of Seventh-day
Baptist sentiments. He preached his new opinions boldly to his
fellow-prisoners, and several were led to embrace them. Soon after his
release from Dorchester, Mr. Bampfield went to London, where he preached
the gospel for about ten years. In Bethnal Green, in the eastern parts
of London, he gathered a small church, whose place of meeting was in his
own hired house. This church was organized in 1676, and Mr. Bampfield
continued its pastor until 1682, when he was brought before the Court of
Sessions, on a variety of charges connected with his nonconformity. He
was several times examined, and upon each examination required to take
the oath of allegiance, which he persisted in refusing, alleging that
his conscience would not allow him to take it. This resulted in his
condemnation, the forfeiture of his goods, and a sentence of
imprisonment during life, or what was equivalent, during the king's
pleasure.
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