OF CONGREGATIONALISM FROM ABOUT A. D. 250 TO 1616. UNIVERSITY OF BY GEORGE PUNCHARD, AUTHOR OF A VIEW OF CONGREGATIONALISM.' BOSTON TAPPAN & DENNETT, CROCKER & BREWSTER. NEW YORK: DAYTON & SAXTON. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1841, by JOHN P. JEWETT, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. Allen & Morrill, Printers, Andover. 5 '13 P96 PREFACE. THIS Volume contains the history of Congregationalism from about A. D. 250 to 1616. Much of it, consequently, is occupied with the history of the principles and doctrines now embraced by the denomination, rather than by the his tory of Congregationalists themselves. Though as a denomination, we had no distinctive, organized existence until near the close of the sixteenth century; yet, inasmuch as some of our denominational peculiarities have always found advocates and friends, since the days of the apostles, -a very imperfect notion could be formed of our history, if these facts were entirely overlooked. But, in order to bring them out, it has been necessary to travel over a very extensive field of observation, and to introduce more of general history than, at first thought, may seem strictly proper in a denominational work. The sources whence this history has been drawn, will sufficiently appear by reference to the margin. Original authorities have been appealed to whenever they have been within my reach; and when they have not, the defect has been, in part at least, supplied, by comparing several second-hand authorities, and when it was possible, men of different views and habits of thought. I have not been anxious to avoid the charge of making my pages" bristle with notes and references." It would have saved a great deal of labor to have omitted them altogether; but I could not persuade myself that an historical work would be of any value which did not furnish vouchers for its statements. The pretty copious extracts from the early Congregational writers, will, I am confident, be regarded as among the most valuable portions of this volTo the community generally, these writings are unknown, and utterly inaccessible; and yet, they are among the richest and most important materials of our history: ume. Brown 4. Erl. 222357 and I flatter myself that I have performed an acceptable service to the denomination by bringing to light the sentiments of our ancestors in their own quaint but vigorous style. So far as I know, this is the first attempt ever made to write a history of Congregationalism. It may seem a strange and unaccountable fact, that so large, and important, and learned a denomination has never before found a historiographer. And some may think that the present undertaking requires explanation and apology. I have thought so myself; and designed to say a few words to palliate, if not to excuse my boldness. But, on reflection, it has occurred, that, if the undertaking should prove measurably successful, no apology will be necessary; and if a failure, none will avail if offered. Conscious of having done what I could to render the work acceptable and valuable to the intelligent part of the denomination, I shall cheerfully submit to their judgment, be it what it may. And if, in traveling so long, and difficult a path, and one hitherto untrodden, I have sometimes stumbled by the way, it will not be a matter of much surprise; and I shall feel that they deserve my thanks, rather than my complaints, who shall discover and point out my mistakes; remembering that a wise man has said, "He that commits anything to writing, gives men a bill of his manners; which every one that reads may put in suit against him, if there be cause." Should the success of this volume warrant it, another -which is already in a state of forwardness-will be published, containing the history of the denomination at home and abroad from about 1616, to the present time. GEORGE PUNCHARD. Plymouth, N. H. June, 1841. CONTENTS. Principles and Doctrines of Congregationalism, page 13. This, for substance, the Polity of the Apostolic Churches, 14. How this System was gradually undermined, and finally destroyed- the process commenced at a very early period, 16. Deviations from apostolic church order, before the close of the 2d century, 17. The process of deterioration noticed-Extra-scriptural authority given to the pastors, 18. Influence of city churches, 20. Of law. making synods and councils, 21. The admission that Christian ministers were successors to the Jewish priesthood, 22. Careless- ness in the admission of members to the churches, 24. Wealth and temporal honors conferred upon the clergy, 29. Ornaments, ele gancies, and luxuries, indulged in by the churches-Influence of Paganism, 33. The establishment of the temporal power of the Roman Pontiff, 36._The Bible the grand instrument of Reforma- tion from Papacy-The sufficiency of the Bible, the corner stone Origin and History of the Nopatians, A. D. 251. First organized Dissenters from the Catholic church, 41. Ap: proved soon after the terrible Decian persecution, 44. Opposed the easy restoration of the lapsed, 45. Their grand principle was -The church should receive and retain only such as were of ex- emplary and consistent piety; and that open apostates should not be restored to the bosom of the church, 46. Increase of Novatian- ism, 47. Commendations of the sect by Socrates, Milner, Wad- dington, 48. Persecution begins, 50. Violent and exterminating in its character, but unsuccessful, 51. The sect continue, proba- Rise and History of the Donatists, A. D. 311. The current account of their origin not entirely satisfactory, 54, 55. The sect arose in Africa-Rapidly extends-Attempts to re- claim them to the church, 56. Persecution resorted to by Constan- tine, 59. By Constans, 60. Julian stops it, 61. Honorius renews it, 61. Augustine's agency in their persecution, 63. Finally ex- terminated, or nearly so, about the end of the 6th century, 65. Commendations of this sect, 66. Sentiments, 67. In favor of a Congregational church organization, for the sake of purity, 68, |