The Ecclesiastical History of New England (Volume 2); Comprising Not Only Religious, But Also Moral, and Other Relations

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1862. Excerpt: ... ROGERENE CREED. 681 1678. From this time, John Rogers, so doing, began to act conspicuously and draw off from the Sabbatarians. He preached, baptized, gained a few disciples, formed a church, viewed as a new sect, designated as Rogerenes, or Rogerene Quakers, or sometimes Rogerene Baptists. He and his followers resolved to pursue a course which they knew was a disturbance of the public peace, and must bring on them the penalties of the law. They interrupted others in their worship, and denounced what they counted sacred. They were strong advocates for salvation by faith in Christ, for the Trinity, regeneration, resurrection of the just and unjust, and eternal judgment. They taught that it was right to obey civil government, except wherein opposed to conscience and religion; to pay town rates, but not those for ministers; to resist all civil power in divine worship. Like Sabbatarians, they held to immersion and rejection of the first day, as Sabbath, but differed from them in other points. They considered all days alike, though they met on the first day for worship; still they worked freely when such service was over, at any part of the day. They had no meeting-houses, looking on a pulpit, steeple and salaried minister with abomination. They denied swearing by oath, and made no prayers in public worship or in the family. They believed that prayer should be mental, not vocal, except on special occasions, when prompted by the Holy Spirit. They used no means to recover health, except care, kindness and attention. They viewed all application to drugs, medicines and physicians, as sinful. Part of their practices were very distasteful to the Seventh-day Baptists. 1678. May 5. Rev. James Fitch writes f from Norwich to the Assembly respecting Uncas: I shall add n...