deterred some who embraced their opinions from uniting with them, and
discouraged others from investigating the subject. At present the
Sabbath is not as extensively observed in England as formerly. But the
extent of Sabbath-keeping cannot be determined by the number and
magnitude of the churches, either there or in other countries. For
many persons live in the observance of the seventh day and remain
members of churches which assemble on the first day; and a still
greater number acknowledge its correctness, who conform to the more
popular custom of keeping the first day.
At what time the Sabbath became the subject of attention in America,
we cannot definitely say. The intolerance of the first settlers of New
England was unfavorable to the Sabbath. The poor Christian who may
have been banished to this country for its observance could find no
refuge among the _Pilgrim Fathers_. The laws of Rhode Island were more
tolerant than those of some other States, and observers of the Sabbath
first made their appearance at Newport in 1671. The cause of the
Sabbath has gradually gained ground in this country from that period;
but it has found much to oppose its progress, even in Rhode Island. It
was in opposition to the general practice of Christians, on which
account an odium was put upon it, and those who have kept the Sabbath
have been reproached with Judaizing, and classed with Jews. Besides
this, they have ever been subjected to great inconvenience in their
occupations, especially in cities and towns.
At no time does there appear to have been in this country any general
excitement on the subject. The observers of Sunday have avoided as far
as possible its discussion; so that those who have observed the
Sabbath have had but little encouragement, as they have supposed, to
try to extend their sentiments. But the propagation of their opinions
has not depended exclusively on their efforts. The common English
version of the Bible has been found in many instances a sufficient
means of converting men to the truth. Churches observing the Sabbath
have been formed in Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, and in most of the
Western States, embracing, as is supposed, a population of forty or
fifty thousand.
Conclusion.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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