Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-09-08
Congregationalism.

Ibe old Congregationallsm was proper
ly Puritanism. Presbyteriansm, and In
dependency, or Congregalionalism, were
alike comprehended in Puritanism, al
though the latter better represented, and
at last passed into it. Congregationalism
is simply Puritanism carried out to its re-
suits. Puritanism really existed in Eng
land from the dawn of the English Re
formation. From the time when Hooper
refused the see of Gloucester rather than
wear the hated robes of the episcopate,
the Puritans began to manifest their
growing Importance. The English Re-
formation, indeed, was little more than
the transfer of ecclesiastical supremacy
from the Pope of Rome to Henry VIII,
who, having quarrelled with His Holiness
in the matter of his intended marriage
with Anne Boleyn, renounced his author
ity, and had himself declared by Parlia-
ment the Head of the Angeical Church.
The King says Macaulay, was to be
the Pope of his kingdom, the vicar of
God, the expositor of Catholic verify
the channel Of sacramental graces.'-
This was certainly nothing less than the
whole power Of the keys. No wonder
that the Puritans though not yet formal
ly organized, should h ave exclaimed
against the anomaly of a spiritual bo6y
with secular or political head-nay, the
proclamation Of thus wedding the Church,
the Bride of Christ, to any other thar
Christ himself. At the foundation of
Puritanism, as has been we'll said, was
the supreme authority of Scripture act,
ing directly on the individual conscience,
as opposed to a reliance on the priest
hood and the outward ordinances of the
Church. Add I b e independence of
churches or congregations, and the def>
milton describes Congregationalism. Ii
recognizes no specified doctrines, it has
nothing to do with dogmas, but wholly
and specifically with a principle lying
far deeper. Hence we find Unitarians
and Calvinists and semi Calynists alike
Congregationalists, and equally jealous
for the polity and principles of Congre-
gationalism Fundamentally, in t h e
olden time in England, it was Puritan,
ism, as said before the glory of which
it largely shares. Trace the latter from
the phase it assumed in modern times
down to its still later phase of Congre-
tionalism, and it will be found under that
to have performed its most benficent
work, and to have reared its proudest
and most enduring monuments.
In certain quarters it has been the
fashion to speak contemptuously of both.
And yet in the worlds history few things
have been so significant. Well, how
ever quantity, says Thomas Carlyle -
We may censure Puritanism, and no one
Of US, I suppose, but would find it a very
rough, defective thing. But we, and all
men may understand that it was a gtnI.
inc thing; for nature has adopted it, and
it has grown, and grows. = Look
now at American Saxondon, and at the
little fact of the sailing of the May.hower
wo hundred years ago, from Delft. Ha>
zen in Holland 1t was props
srly the beginning of America there
we're struggling settlers in America be- !
ore; some material as of body was
here /; but the soul Of it was first this ,
These poor men, driven out Of their own
not able well to live in Holland, :
determined on settling in the New World. =
Black, unnamed forests are there, and :
Wild savage creatures but not so cruel .
IS Star Chamber hangman. They J.
bought the earth would yield them food :,
they TILED honestly the everlasting -
eayen would stretch there, too, over I
cad and they should be left in peace
0 prepare for eternity, by living well in
bis world of time; Worsbipping in what a
hey thought the true, not the idolatrous a
ray. They clubbed their small means q
ogether; hired a ship the little May
over, and made ready to set sail. =
la these men, / think, bad work
he weak thing, weaker than child, be-
omes strong one day, if it be a true
ling. Puritanism was only despicable, -
ughable then, but nobody can manage "
laugh at it now. Purlanism has got ''
eapons and sinews it has firearms
ar-naves it has cunning in its ten
ngers, strength in its right arm it can
eer ships, fell forests, remove noun
.ins-it is one of the strongest things
nder this sun at present. ga
Puritanism is a thing significant in tr'
ere human annals, nothing is more so. la
is the keynote to our entire Ameri-