History of Congregationalism from about A.D. 250 to the Present Time

ACCESSION OF JAMES I., 1603. -THE MILLENARY PETITION.

PROCLAMATION OF THE KING, AND THE CANONS OF THE CON-

James VI. of Scotland ascends the English throne as James I.,
March 24th, 1602-3, p. 250. All parties have hopes and fears
- His hypocritical, contemptible character-Soon becomes
unpopular, 251. The millenary petition, of seven hundred
and fifty puritan ministers, against burdensome rites and cere-
monies The Separatists approach the king, 253. Present

four petitions, 254. The first petition described, 255. The

second, 257. The third, 260. The fourth, 264. All

disregarded — The millenary petition receives some atten-

tion, 265. A Conference at Hampton Court - Nine bishops

and four puritans appointed by the king to discuss the points of

the petition The Conference a farce- The king browbeats

and abuses the puritans without mercy or decency, 266. Gross

flattery by the bishops, 267. The king's threat to "harrie "

the nonconformists out of the kingdom, 268. Reports of this

conference by different writers, 268, note, 269. One good thing

from the conference, viz. a new translation of the Bible, 270.

Arrest of persons concerned in the millenary petition, 271. A

royal proclamation, March 5th, 1603-4, establishes the whole

Book of Common Prayer-James opens his first parliament,

March 19th-Acknowledges the Roman church as his "Mother

church" - Convocation draws up one hundred and forty

canons, harsh and cruel- Confirmed by the king's letters-

patent, June 25th, 1504, p. 273. The king's proclamation,

July 6th, 1604, ordering the puritans to conform by the last

of November, or to quit their places, 274. Hundreds of min-

isters ejected, silenced, or suspended, within a year, 275.

CHAPTER XI.

REV. JOHN ROBINSON AND REV. JOHN SMYTH. REV. RICHARD

CLYFTON. -THE SEPARATISTS IN THE NORTH OF ENGLAND.

PERSECUTION. -FLIGHT TO

CHURCH ORGANIZATION.

HOLLAND.

John Robinson first introduced to us, in 1604-Probably born in
Lincolnshire, in 1575- Educated at Cambridge, 277. Enters
the ministry at or near Norwich, Norfolk county - A moder-
ate conforming puritan - His scruples about rites and cere-
monies bring him into trouble - Even those who seek his
counsel in private persecuted, 278. Tries, unsuccessfully, for
the mastership of Norwich Hospital, or to lease a building in
which to preach — A rare man, 279. Separatism in the North
of England previous to 1604-Penry's letter about these
brethren, in 1593, p. 280. Mr. Robinson among these poor,

persecuted people, 281. Of several towns, in three counties

First organized church at Gainsborough, in Lincolnshire, 282.

First pastor, Rev. John Smyth, a great sufferer for noncon-

formity, 283. A leading Separatist in 1592 - Imprisoned

eleven months - Arraigned before the high commissioners -

Promised his liberty if he would go to church-"be a

dissembler, a hypocrite, a devil," only go to church - Mr.

Smyth carefully investigated the questions at issue between

the church of England and the Separatists, 284. "A true

description out of the word of God of the visible church,"

1589, by Smyth or Clyfton, 285. Bernard's efforts to keep his

people from Smyth, note, 285. A second Congregational

church, at William Brewster's house, in Scrooby; Richard

Clyfton pastor, 286. The "manor house"- Brewster, post-

master, 1594-1607 The village of Scrooby, 289. Persecu-

tion revived by Bancroft- Emigration Smyth and his

friends flee to Amsterdam - In the fall of 1607 Clyfton's

(the Scrooby) church decide to follow, 289. Trouble in get-

ting away, 290. Final success, 292. The Scrooby church

finding Mr. Smyth at variance with Mr. Johnson's church de-

cide to go to Leyden - Robinson's petition for liberty to re-

move thither, 293 and note. Clyfton remains . William

Brewster assistant to Mr. Robinson, 294. Trouble in the Am-

sterdam church Smyth's strange notions, 295 and note.

Questions church-of-England baptism and infant baptism

Becomes an Arminian, 297. Separates from his brethren, and

with Hellwisse, Murton and others, forms an Arminian-Baptist

church, 1606-1609- Ainsworth's" Defence" against Smyth's

"Differences of the Separatists" - Smyth dies, 1610, p. 298.

Hellwisse succeeds him - His church removes to London

about 1611, and bears noble testimony in favor of religious

liberty, 299. Hellwisse, note, 299..

CHAPTER XII.

MR. ROBINSON AND HIS CHURCH IN LEYDEN.

PUBLICATIONS.

HIS NUMEROUS

The Scrooby church in Leyden, 300. Their uprightness and dil-

igence win the Hollanders - Robinson's activity, 301. His
first publication, "An Answer to a Censorious Epistle," by
Rev. Joseph Hall, afterwards bishop - Hall's sharp and labored
reply, 302. Robinson makes no rejoinder As much against
the Puritans as the Separatists - All essential points previ-
ously answered — Robinson's courteous "Answer to Yates,"
303. "A Justification of Separation," 1610, against Rev.
Richard Bernard's " Separatists' Schisme Some account

of Bernard, 304. "Counterpoy son," by Henry Ainsworth, in

reply to Bernard Also, "Parallels, Censures, and Observa-

tions" by Smyth, in reply to Bernard, 305. Robinson's work

a perfect storehouse of facts and arguments - Dr. Campbell's

high opinion of it- Analysis of the work, 306. The church

of England, 307. Burdensome rites and ceremonies - True

antiquity, 308. The novelty of Separatism, 309. The argu-

ment for a national church, from the parables of the field and

the net, demolished, 310. The proper constitution of a church,

314. Government in the officers, 315. Rights and duties of

members, 316. Women's rights, 317. Ordination of minis-

ters, 318.
The Arminian controversy in Holland, 1612-13