The Portland daily press., 1883-02-06
The Birth of oongregationalism.

[Rev. Increase f. Tarbox in Frank Leslie's Sunday
Magazine for February1
1t was in England that matters at length
took shape for the birth and growth of modern
Congregationalism. And here there was be-
ginning long before the organized beginning.
For more than two hundred years prior to the
time when the first Congregational Church
was planted upon English SOIL there had been
steady struggle toward light and liberty. The
TRANSACTIONS of the Bible by Wycliff and Tyn-
dale had opened the eyes of not few to the
gross perversons of scriptural truth, as seen in
the lives of the priests, and in the idle pomps
and shows of the Church. But the ecclesiasti-
cal powers were then enthroned in such
strength that it was almost impossible TO make
head against them. Whoever dared to lift his
voice in dissent or criticism was quickly put to
silence by the strong arm. The years rolled
YEARLY away amid the prevailing darkness and
superstition; while the few who saw the light
and loved the truth sat waiting. and in the
bitterness of their spirits crying, "How long,
o Lord, how long!'' 1t was not until near the
very end of the reign of Elizabeth, in the year
1902, that little company Of devout men and
women, in the north of EDgland, organized
themselves into Separatist or Independent
Church, which proved able to endure all the
shocks and tempests of those times, and report
itself far down into the years of the future.
This was the little church, first resident for a
few years at Scrooby, England, then dwelling
twelve years as an exiled Church in Holland,
and then daring the stormy ocean to find its
permanent ABODE az Ely rnoute, IN Now Ems
land. This was not the first attempt at an or
ganization of this kind The names of the
martyrs who had wrought in this direction lie
scattered along all the closing years of the six
tenth century. But this was the first organ
lied body. in the way of dissent and separation
from the Established Church, that was able to
outiive storm and persecution, and pass on I'M
broken to the generations which were to come.
The people composing this little Church,
which wandered many years, like Israel in the
wilderness, before it found its settled habita-
ton, are called Pilgrims; and it is important
that they should continue TO bear that name
for all coming time. They were men of Pc
euliar type and a peculiar experience, and
they have exerted upon the world a very choice
and select influence. Though they were only
a few out OF an immense number OF English
people who afterward came to be known by the
general name of Puritans yet they were SO
early in the field, their fortunes were SO dis
tinct, and their testimony for the truth so clear
and simple, that we ought always to be able TO
point to their separate record, and easily dis
tlngush them from all other men of their own
times or of the subsequent generations.
Through the whole of the reign of James I.
1603-l625), and through all the early part of
the reign OF Charles l., the growth and spread
OF Puritan sentiment was very rapid. The
kiDgly folly of James and Charles greatly has
tened this growth. When the Long Paria-
ment came together in 1910, this Puritan sem
timent was SO thoroughly embodied that it no
longer humbly petitioned the king fer re-
dress of grievances, but boldly dictated and de-
H.
be. When the clash of arms came, Puritan
ism proved triumphant upon the field, and
Charles l. was brought to the block, as his
chief agents, Strafford and Laud, had been
brought before him.
The Puritahs who controlled the Long Par
Lament were more of the Presbyterian than
the Independent type. This Parliament in
1643, appointed and called together what is
known as the Westminster Assembly. The
persons named to compose it lone hundred and
forty nine in number-were eminent divnes,
with some prominent laymen. For various
reasons only sixty-nine answered to the roll
call when the assembly came together in July,
1913. This body wrought at its task between
fye and six years, holding in that time 1853
sessions, or about four week. One of the OBJ
jects which it had in view was to embody the
doctrines and truths Of the Bible in conven-
lent and systematic form. Though, as we have
said, the majority of the members were Pres
byteriaD, yet Independents and Presbyteriaps
were alike Calvinistic, and SO far as the prepa-
ration OF a Confession of Faith was concerned,
both parties could work together with good
degree of harmony, while, in respect to points
pertaining to church government, the Inde-
pendents would settle matters for themselves,
and the Paesby terisns for themselves. Crom-
well was an Independent, and when he was
chosen to the Protectorate in 1868, dissolved
the Long Parliament and the Independents
were in favor. During the few years while he
was Protector, independently held the place OF
honor and strength in the Commonwealth
But this dominion was short, and upon his
death clouds and storms gathered again about
all dissenting bodies in England and Scotland,
by whatever name they might be called