ENGLISH INDEPENDENTS AND THE AMERICAN CONGREGATION
A LISTS.
The founder of this sect was John Robertson, who raised the standard
of Independency or reformed Brownism, at Loyden, 1595. Hie
sect acquired the title by which they are designated, from their main·
tabling that every church is an independent society, and ought to be
governed by its own laws» independent of any foreign jurisdiction.
The first church of this name was established in England, A D. 1616.
Cromwell was very partial to this sect, and made use of it to keep
the Presbyterians, always an ambitious sect, in their proper sphere;
for be always disliked Presbyterian usurpation as be did Episcopal
tyranny· When Presbyterianism fell from heaven, at the restoration
of Royalty and Episcopacy, its sons formed a coalition with the Independents
in and about London, in 1691, under the name Untied
Brethren· About the Restoration, thny dropped the name of Independents
and assumed that of Congregational Brethren* and their re·
ligious assemblies Congregational Churches· The English Prcsbyte·
Hans, with whom they once united, are more properly Socinians or
UNITARIANS There is no important difference in doctrine between
the English and American Congregationalists, and the Scotch and
19
American Presbyterians; they all coincide with the "peculiar theology *
of the Geneveso reformer.
My design is not to write a history of the sects of Antichrist; bat
simply, to exhibit to my readers the curious transmutations the Mystery
of Iniquity has undergone in its different ramifications from the
Apostles' days; and this, too, in as concise a manner as possible, or
compatible with the subject. I shall, therefore, bring my narrative of
the English branch of the Aposlacy to a close, by observing that hundreds
of thousands of dissentients have weakened the power of the
National Ecclesiastical Despotism of England, by ranging themselves
under different leaders, who have successively unfuiled their standards
of revolt against Episcopacy. These are known as Quokfrs, Shaker*%
Universalists. and Deslruetwnists; Mystics* Muggletonians, and
Fifth Monarchy Men% Jlntinomians, Hyper and Hypo Calvinists* besides
many others too numerous to detail. These are all Puritans
under various names After 1662* they were called Nonconformists,
and subsequently Dissenters. One sect, however, is, numerically
speaking, of too much importance to be pretermitted, or simply named
without a notice. The sect to which 1 refer is the
WESLEYAN EPISCOPAL METHODIST CHURCH·
The infusion of Arian, Trinitarian, Socinian, Calvinistic, and
Arminian subtleties into the Church of Rome, some of them under
other names, mainly originated ail those "peculiar theologies" we have
noticed as the sects of Antichrist; as regards the characteristics of their
distinguishing doctrines, as they are termed. The seeds of that grand
defection from the religion of England, we are now considering:» were
sown in its establishment by Armimus, a disciple of Beza,in the year
1600. His tenets are arranged undercut heads, which were stated in
opposition to Ihefioc points of Calvinism, at the famous Synod of Dort
in 16 IB. The tender mercies of Calvinism, in Holland, caused Barneveltto
lose his head; and doomed Hugo Grolius to perpetual imprison·*
went. The fate of Servetus is well known. The articles of the Church
of England are Calvinistic; but her clergy chiefly Arminian. About
1729. the church, and indeed the whole Kingdom, were tending fast
to open infidelity; so much so that to sneer at religion was becoming
quite a fashionable thing. In 1735, the National religion sustained a
shock which convulsed it to ite foundations; for Armmianipm and Calvinism,
headed up in the persons of brothors Wesleys, and George
Whitfield, attacked tho apathy of the Church, and the degeneracy of
the ti nes with so much vigor, that a hue and cry was raised against
them throughout the land. The Wesleys contracted a serious turn of
mind, in the midst of Collegiate dissipation, by imbibing· the spirit and
sentiments of William Law. the celebrated Mystic. They came over
to Georgia, to impart the doctrine of saving grace; but with little effect.
These two "divines" were very enterprising, preaching and propagating
their opinions with great success; especially the doctrine of salvation
by faith alone. After porno time, Xhrfincpoinls divided Wesley
and Wit'afield; the latter setting up for Cahmislic Methodism, tho
former for Arminion, and so, like Lot and Abraham, tho one went to
the right and the other to the left*
The celebrity of Mr. Whitfield's opinions and piety, attracted the
attention of Selina, the Countess Dowager of Huntingdon, who
erected meeting houses, and a college, for the use of hie disciples.
The sect is well known in England as Lady Huntingdon's Connexion The first Methodist Episcopal church in the United States, was
formed in New York. 1766 Their clergy consists of Bishops. Presiding
Elders, Elders, Deacons and an unordained order of licensed preachers.
A schism has recently taken place in this body of religionists·; It may
be termed a revolt of the laity against the clergy, in which the people
determined to divide the authority with their imperious masters, in conformity
with the spirit of the age. Thoy organized themselves ml
Baltimore in 1630· under the name of
THE METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH,
COMPRISING THE
48800rATED METHODIST CHURCHES.
This is the youngest daughter of the antichristian family; one of
the most liberal and democratic of all.
The Methodist Episcopal church has 567,568 member*, and 2,230
priests* besides 159 superannuated. The priests of the Methodist Episcopal
church, call themselves *'thc divinely authorized expounders of
Gospel docttines, ordinances and mom I discipline!" We believe there
are many other shades of Methodism too numerous to mention.
Having thus descended to tho minor twigs of the t>»glish branch
of the Mystery of Iniquity, we shall now proceed to trace out the
several principal ramifi ations of
ΠΙ. T H E GENEVES Ε BRANCH OF T H E APOSTACY.
A LISTS.
The founder of this sect was John Robertson, who raised the standard
of Independency or reformed Brownism, at Loyden, 1595. Hie
sect acquired the title by which they are designated, from their main·
tabling that every church is an independent society, and ought to be
governed by its own laws» independent of any foreign jurisdiction.
The first church of this name was established in England, A D. 1616.
Cromwell was very partial to this sect, and made use of it to keep
the Presbyterians, always an ambitious sect, in their proper sphere;
for be always disliked Presbyterian usurpation as be did Episcopal
tyranny· When Presbyterianism fell from heaven, at the restoration
of Royalty and Episcopacy, its sons formed a coalition with the Independents
in and about London, in 1691, under the name Untied
Brethren· About the Restoration, thny dropped the name of Independents
and assumed that of Congregational Brethren* and their re·
ligious assemblies Congregational Churches· The English Prcsbyte·
Hans, with whom they once united, are more properly Socinians or
UNITARIANS There is no important difference in doctrine between
the English and American Congregationalists, and the Scotch and
19
American Presbyterians; they all coincide with the "peculiar theology *
of the Geneveso reformer.
My design is not to write a history of the sects of Antichrist; bat
simply, to exhibit to my readers the curious transmutations the Mystery
of Iniquity has undergone in its different ramifications from the
Apostles' days; and this, too, in as concise a manner as possible, or
compatible with the subject. I shall, therefore, bring my narrative of
the English branch of the Aposlacy to a close, by observing that hundreds
of thousands of dissentients have weakened the power of the
National Ecclesiastical Despotism of England, by ranging themselves
under different leaders, who have successively unfuiled their standards
of revolt against Episcopacy. These are known as Quokfrs, Shaker*%
Universalists. and Deslruetwnists; Mystics* Muggletonians, and
Fifth Monarchy Men% Jlntinomians, Hyper and Hypo Calvinists* besides
many others too numerous to detail. These are all Puritans
under various names After 1662* they were called Nonconformists,
and subsequently Dissenters. One sect, however, is, numerically
speaking, of too much importance to be pretermitted, or simply named
without a notice. The sect to which 1 refer is the
WESLEYAN EPISCOPAL METHODIST CHURCH·
The infusion of Arian, Trinitarian, Socinian, Calvinistic, and
Arminian subtleties into the Church of Rome, some of them under
other names, mainly originated ail those "peculiar theologies" we have
noticed as the sects of Antichrist; as regards the characteristics of their
distinguishing doctrines, as they are termed. The seeds of that grand
defection from the religion of England, we are now considering:» were
sown in its establishment by Armimus, a disciple of Beza,in the year
1600. His tenets are arranged undercut heads, which were stated in
opposition to Ihefioc points of Calvinism, at the famous Synod of Dort
in 16 IB. The tender mercies of Calvinism, in Holland, caused Barneveltto
lose his head; and doomed Hugo Grolius to perpetual imprison·*
went. The fate of Servetus is well known. The articles of the Church
of England are Calvinistic; but her clergy chiefly Arminian. About
1729. the church, and indeed the whole Kingdom, were tending fast
to open infidelity; so much so that to sneer at religion was becoming
quite a fashionable thing. In 1735, the National religion sustained a
shock which convulsed it to ite foundations; for Armmianipm and Calvinism,
headed up in the persons of brothors Wesleys, and George
Whitfield, attacked tho apathy of the Church, and the degeneracy of
the ti nes with so much vigor, that a hue and cry was raised against
them throughout the land. The Wesleys contracted a serious turn of
mind, in the midst of Collegiate dissipation, by imbibing· the spirit and
sentiments of William Law. the celebrated Mystic. They came over
to Georgia, to impart the doctrine of saving grace; but with little effect.
These two "divines" were very enterprising, preaching and propagating
their opinions with great success; especially the doctrine of salvation
by faith alone. After porno time, Xhrfincpoinls divided Wesley
and Wit'afield; the latter setting up for Cahmislic Methodism, tho
former for Arminion, and so, like Lot and Abraham, tho one went to
the right and the other to the left*
The celebrity of Mr. Whitfield's opinions and piety, attracted the
attention of Selina, the Countess Dowager of Huntingdon, who
erected meeting houses, and a college, for the use of hie disciples.
The sect is well known in England as Lady Huntingdon's Connexion The first Methodist Episcopal church in the United States, was
formed in New York. 1766 Their clergy consists of Bishops. Presiding
Elders, Elders, Deacons and an unordained order of licensed preachers.
A schism has recently taken place in this body of religionists·; It may
be termed a revolt of the laity against the clergy, in which the people
determined to divide the authority with their imperious masters, in conformity
with the spirit of the age. Thoy organized themselves ml
Baltimore in 1630· under the name of
THE METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH,
COMPRISING THE
48800rATED METHODIST CHURCHES.
This is the youngest daughter of the antichristian family; one of
the most liberal and democratic of all.
The Methodist Episcopal church has 567,568 member*, and 2,230
priests* besides 159 superannuated. The priests of the Methodist Episcopal
church, call themselves *'thc divinely authorized expounders of
Gospel docttines, ordinances and mom I discipline!" We believe there
are many other shades of Methodism too numerous to mention.
Having thus descended to tho minor twigs of the t>»glish branch
of the Mystery of Iniquity, we shall now proceed to trace out the
several principal ramifi ations of
ΠΙ. T H E GENEVES Ε BRANCH OF T H E APOSTACY.
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