tans were considered. Her determination was to have an ostentatious national church; and to compel all her subjects to conform, outwardly at least, to the order of the church. She cared not, she said, to ransack people's consciences; but outward conformity she must and would have, or she would hew them into shape. But this was found no easy task. The more she hewed the rougher some of her materials grew; and the more unlikely to become polished stones in her idolatrous temple.

The very severity of the queen and the bishops drove back the Puritans to first principles, and to a more thorough examination of the whole frame-work of church polity. The scattered elements of Wickliffism were collected together; the convincing light of experience was thrown upon the sacred page; the writings of the earliest fathers of the church were examined; and the result was, the full discovery and development of those great principles of church polity on which have been erected the thousands of churches now known as CONGREGATIONAL.

But I am anticipating the course of historical detail. To return to the history. 'The bishop's spies were now, (1570,) in every suspected place; many learned and pious ministers, and devout laymen, had been arrested, dragged before these spiritual inquisitions-the high-commissions and bishop's courts-compelled to turn their own accusers; abused by their lordly judges, and fined and imprisoned at their discretion; and all for what? For worshipping God in private houses and in the woods, without the help of the Common Prayer Book, or the adornment of the square cap, and cope, and surplice. For such crimes many were reduced to the last extremity of want and suffering; so that their very jailors were touched with pity; testifying that

their prisoners had not wherewithal to purchase food, or firing; for lack of which, numbers perished in prison.

CHAPTER XIII.

ROBERT BROWNE.-THE BROWNISTS.

Having laid before the reader a summary view of ecclesiastical affairs during the first twelve years of Elizabeth's reign, we are now to open a new chapter in the history of our denomination. We have hitherto considered Congregationalism rather in its principles and doctrines, as occasionally developed by those of other professions and connections; we have contemplated it in its isolated and partially developed elements. We are now to see these scattered elements collected; and to view Congregationalism in its embodied form.

The unworthy instrument, whose labors are first to be noticed, is Robert Browne. This man has the honor of being the first open and persecuted advocate of Congregational principles of church polity during this reign. And by most historians he has been reckoned as the very father of our denomination. But, not to revert to the statements already made, showing that there were persons in England who entertained the same general principles, long before Browne was heard of—perhaps before he was born—it is manifest from the history of this man's contemporaries and fellow-sufferers for the truth, that there were other and more worthy instruments in this work than Robert Browne; -men of piety and learning in the different professions of

divinity, law and medicine-who, though they embraced for substance the same ecclesiastical views, yet called no man master; yea, and some of them did not so much as know precisely what Browne's opinions were. If it should be thought strange that men, without a knowledge of each other's sentiments, should embrace substantially the same view; let it be remembered, that these men all started upon the same great principle-the entire sufficiency of the Scriptures to instruct them respecting the POLITY, as well as the faith of the church. And drawing their knowledge from the same inspired source, it is not strange at all that they embraced the same general principles of church government and discipline. Indeed, England was full of these principles and doctrines, suppressed and kept out of sight by the severity of the times, but ready to burst out, and consolidate in open separation from the persecuting hierarchy, so soon as suitable leaders could be found to encourage and guide the common mind. Browne was a man well fitted to stir up the popular mind; yea, to fan it into a flame.

ROBERT BROWNE was born 1550, a descendant of an ancient and honorable family in Rutlandshire.* He was a near relative of Cecil-afterwards lord Burleigh-Elizabeth's favorite secretary of state, and lord high treasurer of England.

Browne was educated at Cambridge; and was somewhat distinguished as a scholar. He was first a schoolmaster; and afterwards a preacher. As a preacher, he gained con

* It is mentioned by Bogue and Bennet, (His. of Dissenters) that one of Browne's ancestors enjoyed the chartered privilege, from Henry VIII, "of wearing his cap in the presence of the king, or his heirs, or any lords spiritual or temporal; and not to put it off but for his own ease or pleasure.”

siderable reputation among the common people, by the earnestness of his manner, and the vehemence of his delivery. He early distinguished himself by his puritan zeal ; and at the age of twenty-one or two, became a leader among the Puritans in and about London. In June, 1571, with ten others, whom Neal calls "the chief Puritans about London,❞—he was summoned before the archbishop, to answer for his non-conformity. He offered to subscribe to the doctrinal articles, and the sacraments of the church of England, and to use the Book of Common Prayer, " as far as it tended to edification ;" but, refused entire conformity to the order, and government, and discipline of the church. With this subscription the archbishop would not be satisfied; and nothing but the interposition of powerful friends, shield. ed Browne from the fury of the law.

We next hear of him, travelling up and down the country, inveighing against the ceremonies and discipline of the church, and exhorting the people not to conform to them.

The bishop of Norwich soon took him in hand, and delivered him to the sheriff of the county; this was in 1580, or 1581.* Browne acknowledged his offence, and was re

* Hanbury, ("Historical Memorials," Vol. 1. pp. 19, 20,) has preserved two letters of Dr. Freke, then (1581) bishop of Norwich, in which he complains to Cecil most bitterly, of Browne's conduct and influence in his lordship's diocese, he says: "His arrogant spirit of reproving being such as is to be marvelled at, the man be, ing also to be feared, lest, if he were at liberty, he would seduce the vulgar sort of the people who greatly depend on him, assembling themselves to the number of a hundred at a time, in private houses and conventicles, to hear him, not without danger of some thereabout." In another letter, his lordship hints that Brown was winked at, if not of policy set on, by certain "gentlemen."

The bishop does not appear to suspect Cecil himself, of" wink

leased. But, though he acknowledged his offence against the ecclesiastical laws of the realm, he does not seem to have promised amendment; or, if he did, he soon broke his promise for in 1582, he published a work entitled: "A Book which showeth the Life and Manner of all true Christians," to which was prefixed, "A treatise on Reformation, without tarrying for any: and of the wickedness of those preachers who will not reform themselves and their charge, because they will tarry till the magistrate command and compel them."*

The title of his book illustrates the temper of the man, and the nature of his principles. This publication proeured him a third arrest. Through lord Burleigh he soon obtained his release again after which he returned to his

ing at" Browne's movements, but others have ventured to assert, that it is altogether possible that it was even so.

* This book was printed at Middleburgh, by Richard Painter, 1582. 4to. pp. 112. "The contents are comprised in 185 questions and propositions in tabular columns: headed, The state of Christians; ** The state of Heathen; ** The Antichristian state; **The Jewish state. The whole is reduced into analytical principles in phrases and single words. The book is an excellent specimen of typographical arrangement, and is excessively scarce."Hanbury.

As I shall have occasion to refer very often to Mr. Hanbury's invaluable work, it may be well to state, that Benjamin Hanbury one of the deacons of the first Congregational church which was formed in England, is the learned editor of Hooker's Ecc. Polity and other works, the author of an Inquiry concerning the First Congregational Church in England, and more recently, of one of great labor and value, entitled: "Historical Memorials relating to the Independents, or Congregationalists;" containing copious extracts from the writings of all the early Congregationalists. But one volume has yet been published. 8vo. pp. 607. fine print. London.