358 AUTHENTIC HISTORY 



record in Heamn, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these tJiree are one. 

 And there are three that hear initness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood; 

 and these three agree in one.'''' 



3. They believe that salvation is of Grace, and not of works; and they rely solely on 

 the merits and atonement of Christ. They believe, also, that that atonement is suffi- 

 cient for every creature — that Christ died for all who will call upon his name, and otfer 

 fruits meet for repentance; and that all who come unto Christ are drawn of the Father. 



4. They contend for the observance of the original Sabbath, believing that it requires 

 an authority equal to the Great Institutor, to change any of his decrees. They main- 

 tain that as he &fess6(? and sanctified iih^t A'Ay forever, which has never been abrogated 

 in his Word, nor any scripture to be found to warrant that construction, that it is still 

 as binding as it was when it was announced amid the thundei-s of Mount Sinai. To 

 alter so positive and hallowed a commandment of the Almighty, they consider would 

 require an explicit edict from the Great Jehovah. It was not foretold by any of the 

 Prophets, that with the New Dispensation there would be anj change in the Sabbath, 

 or any of the commandnrents. Christ who declared himself the Lord of the Sabbath, 

 observed the Seventh day, and made it the day of his especial ministrations; nor did he 

 authorize any change. The Apostles have not assumed to do away the original Sab- 

 bath, or give any command to substitute the first for the Seventh day. The circum- 

 stance of the disciples meeting together to break bread on the first day, which is some- 

 times used as a pretext for observing that day, is simply what the Seventh day people 

 do at this day. The sacrament was not administered by Christ, nor by the Apostles on 

 the Sabbath, but on the first day, counting as the people of Ephrata still do, the even- 

 ing and the morning to make the day. 



5. They hold to the Apostolic Baptism — believers' Baptism — and administer trine im- 

 mersion, with the laying on of hands and prayer, while the recipient yet remains 

 kneeling in the water. 



G. They celebrate the Lord's supper at night, in imitation of our Saviour — washing 

 at the same time each others' feet, agreeably to his command and example, as is ex- 

 pressly stated in the 13th chapter of the evangelist John, 14th and 15th verses. This is 

 attended to on the evening after the close of the Sabbath — the Sabbath terminating at 

 sunset of the Seventh day, thus making the supper an imitation of that instituted by 

 Christ, and resembling also the meeting of the Apostles on the first day to break bread, 

 which has produced much confusion in some minds in regard to the proper day to be 

 observed. 



Celibacy they consider a virtue, but never require it, nor do they take any vows in 

 reference to it. They never prohil>ited marriage and lawful intercourse, between the 

 sexes, as is stated by some writers, but when two concluded to be joined in wedlock, 

 they were aided by the Society. It (celibacy) was urged as being more conducive to a 

 holy life, for Paul saith: " They that are after the flesh, do mind the things of the fl,esh: 

 but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.-' 



They do not approve of paying their ministers a salary. They think that the Gospel 

 was sent without money and without price, and that every one called to preach the 

 word, should do it from the love of the cause, and in this matter to follow the advice 

 and examjile of Paul. However, they never had any scruples in aftbrding their nrinis- 

 ters such supplies of life as they possess themselves, and gave them the same support 

 the other brethren enjoyed. Individual members may give, as presents, what to them 

 seemeth fit, in money, goods, &c. ; and whenever he travels for religious purposes, if 

 needy, is supplied with money out of the treasury to bear his expenses. 



These are the great and leading tenets, and principles of the Seventh day Baptists 

 of Pennsylvania. There are many other minor points of not sufficient importance to 

 enumerate in detail, and may better be adverted to in replying to some errors which 

 writers have saddled \\\w\\ them, and which cannot, properly, be considered as tenets 



