From Answer to Mr. Byles, by John and Joseph Bolles
Considerable light is thrown upon the “Outbreak” of 1764-66 by a Rogerene pamphlet (of about 1759), which appeared in several editions, sometimes ascribed on the title-page to John Bolles, sometimes to his son Joseph, and probably the joint work of father and son, written out by the latter; thus having a style noticeably different from that of John Bolles, although equally clear-cut and forcible. John Bolles, being at the date of this work eighty-two years of age, may be supposed to have welcomed the aid of his son Joseph, both as collaborator and amanuensis. The following is from a copy of this work to be found in the New London Public Library:—
An Answer to A Book entitled The Christian Sabbath, explained and vindicated in a discourse on Exodus XX. 8.192 Jan. 14, 1759, upon a particular occasion, by Mather Byles, pastor of “The First Church of Christ” (as he saith) in New London, written by Joseph Bolles, in behalf of the rest which suffer persecution for breaking said pretended sabbath.
In page 5 of Mather Byles sermon, he says: The Christian Sabbath has of late been publickly attacked; and those who observe it have been challenged to show any scripture warrant for the practice.
Ans.
We have been imprisoned 23 at a time, 8 of us about 7 months, and some of the best of our cattle and horses and other goods taken away, and 3 of us cruelly whipped, near 20 stripes apiece, for doing the business of our ordinary calling on the 1st day of the week, which he calls the Sabbath, all within 9 months. And in these persecutions we have continually desired our persecutors to show any Scripture warrant for their practice; we have also sent forth advertisements promising ten pounds reward to any person that could show us one word in the Bible that forbids labor on this pretended Sabbath; which we suppose he calls “a challenge;” and because he cannot find a word in the Bible that forbids labor on his pretended Sabbath he has preached a sermon instead thereof, and though he calls it the Christian Sabbath, it is not called so in Scripture; by which it is evident it was not the Christian Sabbath in the apostles time; for if it had been they would have called it so. Also his text is part of the commandment to labor six days and rest the seventh; so that his own text that he builds his Sabbath upon requires labor on his pretended Sabbath. For it says six days shalt thou labor; and we know that this pretended Sabbath is the first of the six days....
... In page 18 he says, “And lastly to assign a reason why there is no command for this Sabbath in the New Test.;” and in his next page he says, “The apostles left it to after discoveries,” which will be answered in its place. But neither God nor man require us to keep a Sabbath without a law, “For where no law is, there is no transgression.” Rom. IV. 15. And sin is not imputed when there is no law: And the “Confession of Faith” of this Colony requires a command for all the worship we perform to God, in page 7, and there is no discovery of this pretended Sabbath in the Bible; for he says, “the apostles left it to after discoveries,” and the first command that we have discovered for this pretended Sabbath was more than 300 years after Christ by Constantine the emperor, recorded in “Fox’s Acts and Monuments,” Vol. I. p. 134, in these words: “The Sunday he commanded to be kept holy by all men and free from all judiciary causes, from markets, marts, fairs and other manual labors, only husbandry excepted.” Here we may observe no husbandry labor is forbidden, in this “after discovery.”
Also king Inas, who reigned in England, in the year of our Lord 712, commanded that infants should be baptised within 30 days, and that no man should labor on Sunday. “Fox’s Acts etc.” Vol. I, P. 1016. Observe in this after discovery all labour is forbidden; as popish darkness increased, this Sabbath strengthened and infant baptism was also “discovered.”
Also king Edgar, who began his reign in England in the year of our Lord 959, he ordained that Sunday should be kept holy from Saturday noon till Monday morning, and he ordained and decreed for holy days and fasting days. “Fox’s Acts,” Vol. I. P. 1017. Observe this “after discovery” being in midnight popish darkness, this Sabbath was kept more strict and they also discovered half a day more, and holy days and fasting days to be observed. Also king Canutus, who began to reign in England in the year 1016, he commanded celebration of the Sabbath from Saturday noon till Monday morning. This king “discovered” it by the name of “Sabbath”; but the other three “discovered” it by the name of “Sunday.”
Also in our Colony there is an ample “after discovery” of it by the name of Sabbath or Lord’s day, which exceeds the four other “after discoveries;” with a famous law to torture the bodies of them that break this pretended Sabbath, by whipping, not exceeding 20 stripes if they refuse to pay a fine; and doubtless there has been more “after discoveries” by express commands, for this pretended Sabbath, in Rome, France and Spain. Therefore if M. B. will preach up this pretended Sabbath, which he says the apostles left to “after discoveries,” he ought to have taken his text out of the forementioned “after discoveries,” where there are express commands to build their Sabbath upon; but, as he builds it on God’s commandment, which commands labor on his pretended Sabbath, it has no foundation to stand upon, and therefore stands upon nothing. No “after discovery,” neither this pretended Sabbath, infant baptism, nor the mass nor purgatory, ought to be built on any text in the Bible. But whoever preaches up any of these “after discoveries” they ought to take a text out of the law book, where they are instituted and commanded, and not out of the Bible where they are not “discovered.”
How fully Mr. Byles had endeavored to stir up the authorities to take the offenders strenuously in hand will be inferred from the following, from the same pamphlet.
... He calls us deluded, blind, obstinate, because we suffer persecution for breaking a Sabbath which he says the apostles left to “after discoveries.” But it is this sort of ministers that preach to our General Court to suppress or persecute them that walk by the apostle’s doctrine, for not observing this Sabbath which he says the apostles left to “after discoveries.”
He further says:
“Take away the Sabbath and what will be the consequence?”
Ans. He speaks like the idolaters of old. Judges XVIII. 24. “Ye have taken away my gods which I made, and the priests,—and what have I more?” Here we may see the idolaters speak all with one voice; their heart is after their idols and their priests more than after God.
Next he says: “Errors in doctrine and corruption in practice would break in upon us like a flood, immorality would triumph without control.”
Ans.
It is such a time now, for there are errors in doctrine, manifest errors indeed, in this and other sermons; and corruption in practice is already broken in upon us like a flood, and immorality triumphs almost without control among the people, who are encouraged to it by the example of their priests, which live immoral lives in covetousness, pride, fulness of bread and abundance of idleness.... Also the observers of this pretended Sabbath do allow that there is more immorality amongst themselves than there is among us who do not observe it. Immorality triumphs in a high degree, even in gathering money for the priests of many poor people to whom there is more need to give, and casting some into prison to force them against their conscience to pay money to maintain such priests in idleness,193 which they know God hath not sent to teach them.