submitting to mortifications which they might easily avoid, lead a life of voluntary martyrdom.

Of the sufferings of the non-conformists, though we can make but an imperfect statement, the exact record is on high. Mr. Jeremy White is said to have collected a list of sixty thousand persons, who had suffered for dissent, between the restoration and the revolution, of whom five thousand died in prison, Lord Dorset was assured by Mr. White, that king James had offered a thousand guineas for the manuscript, but that in tenderness to the reputation of the church of England, he had determined to conceal the black record. In the preface to the plea for the nonconformists by Mr. Delaune, that gentleman is said to have been one of near eight thousand, who, in the reign of Charles the second, had, for dissenting from the church of England, perished in prison. It is added that within three years, property was wrung from them to the amount of two millions sterling. But who could calculate the total loss of lives, and of substance which the dissenters sustained from the first rise of the puritans to the triumph of toleration under king William ? It is justly questioned, whether the annals of the Christian church, since the reformation, contain any instance of persecution equally severe. The multitudes, who fled from these oppressions, peopled a considerable part of the new world; while the English refugees, who formed churches in all the principal towns of Holland, added to the strength and industry of that rising state. But from these accumulated injuries, the dissenters rose, at the revolution, little diminished in strength or numbers, and capable of turning either scale, into which they might choose to throw their weight*.

HISTORY OF DISSENTERS.

3

FIRST PERIOD.

Containing the History of the Dissenters from the Revolution to the Death of Queen Anne.

CHAP. I.

AN ACCOUNT OF THE SEVERAL

DENOMINATIONS

OF DISSENTERS, THEIR DISTINGUISHING SENTIMENTS AND RISE.

SECTION I. THE PRESBYTERIANS.

THIS denomination, which is derived from the Greek word PRESBUTEROS, elder, signifies a body governed by the united presbyters, or elders of the churches. They stand distinguished, on the one hand, from those who plead for the distinct order of diocesan bishops, with authority to rule both presbyters and people; and, on the other, from such as maintain the right of every Christian congregation, to regulate its own affairs, by the voice of the brethren.

The presbyterian believes that Christ, the legislator of his church, has appointed but one order of ministers to preach his word and administer the sacraments. To express their diversified qualifications and duties, they are called by the various names of

overseer, or bishop; presbyter, or elder; pastor, or shepherd; teacher and minister: but the identity of the office is evident; for the same persons who were, in one verse, called elders or presbyters, are, in the next, styled bishops or overseers". That these presbyter-bishops formed the highest, as well as lowest, order of ministers, competent to every duty of the sacred function, who can doubt, when they read that Timothy, who is, by episcopalians revered as a bishop, was ordained by the laying on of the hands of the presbytery? The notion of a distinct order of bishops, superior to presbyters, seems to have arisen from the plurality of elders, which obtained in each primitive church; for when the pastors met together in what is called the presbytery, or eldership, he, who was most revered for age, piety, or usefulness, would become a kind of president, or moderator. This chair of courtesy in a meeting of his equals might, by an ambitious man, in course of time, be easily converted to a seat of office, and a throne of power. In support of this opinion, Jerome is quoted as saying," the church was governed communi presbyterorum concilio, by the common-council of the elders. But on the decease of the elder, who had been chosen moderator, his place was supplied with another elected by the elders from among themselves; and thus, by degrees, the whole pastorial care of the flock devolved on one man.

In addition, however, to these elders, or bishops, who administer the word and sacraments, presbyterians choose, from among the people, some who are called, ruling elders, who are considered lay officers, and assist only in the government of the church. Te

2 Acts xx. 17, 18.

these the apostle is supposed to refer, when he says, "let the elders, who rule well, be counted worthy of double honour; especially those who labour in word and doctrine." Hence it is supposed, that there were, in the primitive churches, some who were not ministers of the word, but were chosen to rule, and not to teach. To these, are added deacons, on whom devolves the care of the poor.

A meeting of these several officers forms a classis, or class, or, as it is called in Scotland, a kirk session. The minister is, by office, president, or moderator, but has no other than a casting voice, when the votes of the other elders are equal. The vote of the deacons is admitted only in those questions which relate to the relief of the poor. This court governs each distinct congregation; but from its decision, appeals may be brought to the next judicatory, which we have now to describe.

An assembly, composed of all the pastors within a certain district, together with one ruling elder from each parish, forms a presbytery. The jurisdiction of this court extends to all the congregations which have deputed hither their ministers and ruling elders. Within these limits, the presbytery examines candidates for the ministry; gives licenses to preach on probation; ordains to the sacred office; confirms the election of ministers by their flocks; pronounces sentence on accusations of erroneous doctrine, or improper conduct; and confirms, or revokes, the sentence of excommunication, which has been passed by the different classes on the members of their respective congregations.

A synod is the next court in the ascending scale, and is composed of the members of all the presby

teries within its bounds. Persons who conceive themselves aggrieved by the sentence of the inferior judicatories, may bring their appeal to the synod, which exercises the same authority over the several presbyteries, as these over the kirk sessions. In the church of Scotland there are fifteen synods, each of which meets twice a year.

But the general assembly of the church of Scotland is the supreme court, to which lies a final appeal from every other ecclesiastical tribunal. It is composed of a certain number of ministers, and ruling elders, chosen from each presbytery. The universities and royal burghs of Scotland also delegate members to the assembly. The king presides by his commissioner, who is always a nobleman, but has no voice. This is the acme of presbyterian hierarchy, of which we have taken the church of Scotland as a specimen; because here the stranger may contemplate this form of church-government, established on an extensive scale, rendered illustrious by the sufferings from which it has risen triumphant, adorned by the talents and virtues of its members, and now growing venerable in years.

The advocates of presbyterianism insist chiefly on the scriptural evidence, for the parity of ministers, the identity of bishops and presbyters, the authority of the latter to ordain all other ministers, the right of elders to rule without asking the consent of the brethren, and the subordination of each congregation to a higher tribunal or synod. Some, indeed, maintain the divine authority of the general assembly, and of all the other gradations of the presbyterian discipline; affirming, that every pin of the sacred tabernacle is prescribed by the sovereign Ruler, and revealed in his