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Colonial Quotes

ALEXANDER MACK, JR (1712-1803)
(From the verse of a hymn written in German by Mack Jr. - date and translator unknown)

To repeat the words of Christ, in his steps to follow free
Jesus' words to trust always, though the world will not agree;
But the mind toward heaven bent,
Is with heavenly joy, content. [1]
SAMUEL SMITH (1720-1776)
(Smith was a Quaker historian whose paper on Pennsylvania history, written around 1765, includes these remarks about the Brethren of his day.)

"They have a great esteem for the New Testament, valuing it higher than all other books: and if they are asked about the articles of their faith, they know of no other than what is contained in this book, and therefore can give none." [3]
CHRISTOPHER SAUR JR. (1721-1784) (This quote is from a response to a Quaker booklet entitled "A Serious Call to Christian Love". Its author is uncertain but some historians believe that either Christopher Saur Sr. or Jr. penned it. It reflects the sentiments of the Saurs and the Brethren of the day.)

"The Holy Scripture is a letter of God which He has written to the human race through the operation of His Eternal Spirit, etc.

That which stands written in the New Testament is especially directed to all those who hope to become heirs of those blessings which are willed in the New Testament to the children of the new covenant. Whoever is one of those has reason to look upon the New Testament as a letter written to him by the eternal God and to prefer it by far to all other books, publications, letters, and opinions, and especially his own thoughts. Just as even among men every will is confirmed through the death of him who made it, in order that one might know that it is the very last will of the one who made it, and that later nothing may ever be changed (Hebrews 9:17); likewise Christ, through His death, confirmed and sealed the New Testament.

Therefore the necessity of Christendom requires that all the words of Christ and His Spirit be so read, considered and believed, that they are taken in and accepted with such tears, sighs, and prayers crying to God with deeply contrite hearts that they shall gradually change into the reader himself. This is so that the entire New Testament is written into the heart of the reader by the finger of God until the entire life of the reader becomes a living letter of God in which one can read all the commandments of Jesus Christ. (2Corinthians 3:3). It is not nearly enough to consider the New Testament as a book which does contain truths although they do not concern us very much, or do not commit us to the carrying out of Christ's commandments." [4]
 

THE FIRST BRETHREN HYMNAL PRINTED IN ENGLISH (1791)
The hymn "Precious Bible" first appeared in English for the Brethren in a hymnal printed by Peter Leibert, a leader in the Germantown Church. It continued to appear in Brethren hymnals until 1935. An adapted version can be found, with music taken from the 1872 Brethren hymnal, on this website under DVD Program, Music/Drama. You can hear the adapted version sung on the DVD that accompanies the Bible Visit. The music for the adapted hymn or praise chorus may be printed from the Music/Drama page. (Neither the original nor the adapted hymn is copyrighted.)

1. Precious Bible! What a treasure does the Word of God afford;
All I want for life or pleasure, food and medicine, shield and sword,
Let the world account me poor; having this, I need no more.

2. Food to which the world's a stranger, here my hungry soul enjoys;
Of excess there is no danger; though it fills it never cloys;
On a dying Christ I feed, he is meat and drink indeed.

3. When my faith is faint and sickly, or when Satan wounds my mind;
Cordials to revive me quickly, healing medicines here I find;
To the promises I flee, each affords a remedy.

4. In the hour of dark temptation, Satan cannot make me yield;
For the word of consolation is to me a mighty shield;
While the scripture-truths are sure, from his malice I'm secure. [5]
ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES (1794)
(This Annual Meeting was responding to some Brethren in Carolina who were denying certain basic Brethren doctrines. The elders of the Annual Meeting sought to tie their refutation on the importance of following Scripture.)

"For this cause some brethren desire to hear the views or minds of the brethren (in general council), and therefore we inform the loving brethren, that "The view or doctrine of the old brethren is, that we are to believe as the Scripture has said. For Christ says, 'He that believeth on me, as the Scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.' (John 7:38). Further he says, 'The Scripture cannot be broken.' (John 10:35) Again, we see that Christ in his whole life has looked upon the Scriptures, and has fulfilled them in all things." [7]
G. PETER KEYSER (1766-1849)
(Keyser was the elder of the Germantown and Philadelphia churches, succeeding Alexander Mack, Jr. This quote is about Keyser as told by Abraham H. Cassel.)

"I was well acquainted with the Rev. Peter Keyser. He told me some of his early life; that his father had been a tanner, and he was early put at the bark mill for grinding. Above it he had made a shelf, on which he kept an open Bible, and as the grinding went on he would read a passage in it, memorize it, and so he would take verse after verse and chapter after chapter, until he had completely memorized the whole of the New Testament. Of the Old Testament he memorized the whole of the Psalms, and the Prophets and the five books of Moses - the whole of the New and the great part of the Old Testament." [8]