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house for public worship is a com-||tans been united among themselves plete church; has sufficient power in sentiments, views, and measures. to act and perform every thing relat-But the case was quite otherwise : ing to religious government within that large body, composed of persons itself; and is in no respect subject of different ranks, characters, opinior accountable to other churches. ons, and intentions, and unanimous Though the Episcopalians con-in nothing but their antipathy to the tend that there is not a shadow of established church, was all of a sudthe independent discipline to be den divided into a variety of sects. found either in the Bible or the Of these, the most famous was that primitive church, the independents, which was formed about the year on the contrary, believe that it is 1581, by Robert Brown, a man inmost clearly to be deduced from the sinuating in his manners, but unpractice of the apostles in planting steady and inconsistent in his views the first churches. See CHURCHnd notions of men and things. CONGREGATIONAL, and EPISCo-Brown was for dividing the whole PACY. The Independents, how-body of the faithful into separate ever, were not distinguished as a societies, or congregations; and body till the time of queen Eliza-maintained, that such a number of beth. The hierarchy established by persons as could be contained in an that princess in the churches of her ordinary place of worship ought to dominions, the vestments worn by be considered as achurch, and enjoy the clergy in the celebration of diall the rights and privileges that are vine worship, the book of Common competent to an ecclesiastical comPrayer, and, above all, the sign of unity. These small societies he the cross used in the administration pronounced independent, jure diviof baptism, were very offensive tono, and entirely exempt from the many of her subjects, who, during jurisdiction of the bishop, in whose the persecutions of the former reign hands the court had placed the reins had taken refuge among the Pro-of spiritual government; and also testants of Germany and Geneva. from that of presbyteries and synods, These men thought that the church which the Puritans regarded as the of England resembled in too many supreme visible sources of ecclesiparticulars the anti-christian church ||astical authority. But as we have of Rome: they therefore called given an account of the general parpetually for a more thorough re-opinions and discipline of the formation, and a purer worship. Brownists, we need not enumerate From this circumstance they were them here, but must beg the reader stigmatised with the general name to refer to that article. The zeal of Puritans, as the followers of with which Brown and his associates Novatian had been in the ancient maintained and propagated his nochurch. See NOVATIANS. Eliza- tions, was, in a high degree, inbeth was not disposed to comply temperate and extravagant. He with their demands; and it is diffi-affirmed that all communion was to cult to say what might have been be broken off with those religious the issue of the contest, had the Puri-societies that were founded upon a

different plan from his; and treat-Christians who look upon charity ed more especially the church of as the end of the commandments. England as a spurious church, Hitherto the sect had been called whose ministers were unlawfully Brownists; but Robinson having ordained; whose discipline was po- in his apology affirmed that all pish and anti-christian; and whose Christian congregations were so sacraments and institutions were many independent religious sociedestitute of all efficacy and virtue. ties, that had a right to be goHis followers not being able to verned by their own laws, indeendure the severe treatment which pendent of any farther or foreign they met with from an administra-jurisdiction, the sect was hencetion that was not distinguished for forth called Independents, of which its mildness and indulgence, re-the apologist was considered as tired into the Netherlands, and the founder.

founded churches at Middlebourg, The first independent or conAmsterdam and Leyden. Their gregational church in England was founder, however, returned into established by a Mr. Jacob, in the England, renounced his principles year 1616. Mr. Jacob, who had of separation, and took orders in fled from the persecution of bishop the established church. The Pu- Bancroft, going to Holland, and ritan exiles whom he thus aban- conversing with Mr.Robinson,emdoned disagreed among them- braced his sentiments respecting selves, were split into parties, and church discipline. Some time aftheir affairs declined from day to ter, returning to England, and day. This engaged the wiser having imparted his design of setpart of them to mitigate the seve-ting up a separate congregation, rity of their founder's plan, and to like those in Holland, to the most soften the rigour of his unchari- learned Puritans of those times, it table decisions. was not condemned as unlawful,

The person who had the chief considering there was no prospect merit of bringing about this re- of a national reformation. Mr. formation was one of their pas- Jacob, therefore, having summontors, of the name of Robinson; aed several of his friends together, man who had much of the solemn and having obtained their consent piety of the times, and no inconsi- to unite in church fellowship for derable portion of learning. This enjoying the ordinances of Christ well-meaning reformer, perceiving in the purest manner, they laid the defects that reigned in the the foundation of the first indediscipline of Brown, and in the pendent church in England in the spirit and temper of his followers, following way. Having observed employed his zeal and diligence in a day of solemn fasting and prayer correcting them, and in new mo- for a blessing upon their undertakdelling the society in such a man- ing, towards the close of the soner as to render it less odious to lemnity, each of them made an his adversaries, and less liable to open confession of their faith in the just censure of those true Christ; and then, standing toge

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ther, they joined hands, and so-||ters chosen respectively by the con lemnly covenanted with each other gregations where they are fixed; in the presence of Almighty God, nor is it common for any person to walk together in all God's ways among them to speak in public and ordinances, according as he before he has submitted to a prohad already revealed, or should per examination of his capacity farther make known to them. Mr. and talents, and been approved Jacob was then chosen pastor by of by the heads of the congrethe suffrage of the brotherhood; gation. and others were appointed to the From 1642, the Independents office of deacons, with fasting and are very frequently mentioned in prayer, and imposition of hands. the English annals. The charge

The Independents were much alleged against them by Rapin (in more commendable than the his History of England, vol. ii, Brownists; they surpassed them, p. 514, fol. ed.) that they could both in the moderation of their not so much as endure ordinary sentiments and in the order of ministers in the church, &c. is their discipline. They did not, groundless. He was led into this like Brown, pour forth bitter and mistake by confounding the Inuncharitable invectives against the dependents with the Brownists. churches which were governed Other charges, no less unjustifia. by rules entirely different from ble, have been urged against the theirs, nor pronounce them, on Independents by this celebrated that account, unworthy of the historian and others. Rapin says, christian name. On the contrary, that they abhorred monarchy, and though they considered their own approved of a republican governform of ecclesiastical government ment; this might have been true as of divine institution, and as with regardto many persons among originally introduced by the au- them, in common with other sects; thority of the apostles, nay, by but it does not appear, from any the apostles themselves, they had of their public writings, that reyet candour and charity enough publican principles formed their to acknowledge, that true religion distinguishing characteristic; on and solid piety might flourish in the contrary, in a public memorithose communities which were al drawn up by them in 1647, they under the jurisdiction of bishops, declare,thatthey do not disapprove or the government of synods and of any form of civil government, presbyteries. They were also but do freely acknowledge that a much more attentive than the kingly government, bounded by Brownists in keeping on foot a just and wholesome laws, is alregular ministry in their commu-lowed by God, and also a good nities; for, while the latter allow-accommodation unto men. The ed promiscuously all ranks and or- Independents, however, have been ders of men to teach in public, generally ranked among the rethe Independents had, and still gicides, and charged with the have, a certain number of minis- death of Charles I. Whether this

fact be admitted or denied, no ambition of the Presbyterians, conclusion can be fairly drawn who aimed at a very high defrom the greater prevalence of re-gree of ecclesiastical power, and publican principles, or from violent who had succeeded, soon after the proceedings at that period, that elevation of Cromwell, in obtaincan affect the distinguishing te-ing a parliamentary establishment nets and conduct of the Independ-of their own church government. ents in our times. It is certain But after the restoration, their that the present Independents cause declined; and in 1691 they are steady friends to a limited entered into an association with monarchy. Rapin is farther mis-the Presbyterians residing in and taken when he represents the re-about London, comprised in nine ligious principles of the English articles, that tended to the mainIndependents as contrary to those tenance of their respective instituof all the rest of the world. It tions. These may be found in appears from two confessions of the second volume of Whiston's faith, one composed by Robinson Memoirs, and the substance of in behalf of the English Inde-them in Mosheim. At this time pendents in Holland, and pub- the Independents and Presbytelished at Leyden in 1619, en-rians, called from this association titled, Apologia pro Exulibius An- the United Brethren, were agreed glis, qui Brownista vulgo appellan-with regard to doctrines, being getur; and another drawn up in nerally Calvinists, and differed London in 1658, by the principal only with respect to ecclesiastical members of this community in discipline. But at present, though England, entitled, "A Declara- the English Independents and tion of the Faith and Order own-Presbyterians form two distinct ed and practised by the Congre-parties of Protestant Dissenters, gational Churches in England, they are distinguished by very triagreed upon and consented unto fling differences with regard to by their Elders and Messengers, church government, and the dein their Meeting at the Savoy, Oct. nominations are more arbitrarily 12, 1658," as well as from other used to comprehend those who writings of the Independents, that differ in theological opinions. they differed from the rest of the The Independents are generally reformed in no single point of any more attached to Calvinism than consequence, except that of eccle- the Presbyterians. Independentsiastical government; and their ism is peculiar to Great Britain, religious doctrines were almost the United States, and the Bataentirely the same with those vian Republic. It was carried adopted by the church of Geneva. first to the American colonies in During the administration of 1620, and by successive Puritan Cromwell, the Independents ac-emigrants, in 1629 and 1633, quired very considerable reputa-from England. One Morel, in tion and influence; and he made the sixteenth century, endeavouruse of them as a check to the led to introduce it into France;

but it was condemned at the Synod not lie in the act of the ministers of Rochelle, where Beza presided; who assist, but in the choice and and again at the synod of Ro-call of the people, and the candichelle, in 1644. date's acceptance of that call; so

Many of the Independents reject that their ordination may be conthe use of all creeds and confes-sidered only as a public declasions drawn up by fallible men, ration of that agreement. See though they require of their ORDINATION. They consider it teachers a declaration of their be-as their right to choose their own lief in the gospel and its various ministers and deacons. They own doctrines, and their adherence to no man as head of the church. the scriptures as the sole standard They disallow of parochial and of faith and practice. They at-provincial subordination; but tribute no virtue whatever to the though they do not think it nerite of ordination, upon which cessary to assemble synods, yet, if some other churches lay so much any be held, they look upon their stress. According to them, the resolutions as prudential counsels, qualifications which constitute a but not as decisions to which they regular minister of the New Tes-are obliged to conform. They tament are, a firm belief in the consider the scriptures as the only gospel, a principle of sincere and criterion of truth. Their worship unaffected piety, a competent is conducted in a decent, plain, and stock of knowledge, a capacity simple manner, without the ostenfor leading devotion and commu- tation of form and the vain pomp nicating instruction, a serious in-of ceremony.

clination to engage in the import- The congregations of the Indeant employment of promoting pendents are very numerous, both the everlasting salvation of man- in England and America, and kind, and ordinarily an invitation some of them very respectable. to the pastoral office from some This denomination has produced particular society of Christians.many characters as eminent for Where these things concur, they learning and piety as any church consider a person as fitted and in Christendom; whose works, no authorised for the discharge of doubt, will reflect lasting honour every duty which belongs to the on their characters and abilities. ministerial function; and they be- See CHURCH CONGREGATIONAL; lieve that the imposition of hands NONCONFORMISTS, and books unof bishops or presbyters would der those articles.

convey to him no powers or pre- INDEX EXPURGATORY, a rogatives of which he was not be- catalogue of prohibited books in the fore possessed. But though they church of Rome. The first cataattribute no virtue to ordination,logues of this kind were made by as conveying any new powers, yet the inquisitors, and these were they hold with and practise it.afterwards approved of by the Many of them, indeed, suppose council of Trent, after some alat the essence of ordination does iteration was made in them by way

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