a denomination of Protestants in England and Holland,
originally called Brownists. They derive their name from their
maintaining that every particular congregation of Christians has,
according to the New Testament, a full power of ecclesiastical
jurisdiction over its members, independent of the authority of bishops,
synods, presbyteries, or any other ecclesiastical assemblies. This
denomination appeared in England in the year 1616. John Robinson, a
Norfolk divine, who, being banished from his native country for
non-conformity, afterward settled at Leyden, was considered as their
founder and father. He possessed sincere piety, and no inconsiderable
share of learning. Perceiving defects in the denomination of the
Brownists, to which he belonged, he employed his zeal and diligence in
correcting them and in new modelling the society. Though the
Independents considered their own form of ecclesiastical government as
of divine institution, and as originally introduced by the authority of
the Apostles, nay, by the Apostles themselves; yet they did not always
think it necessary to condemn other denominations, but often
acknowledged that true religion might flourish in those communities
which were under the jurisdiction of bishops, or the government of
presbyteries. They approved, also, of a regular and educated ministry;
nor is any person among them now permitted to speak in public before he
has submitted to a proper examination of his capacity and talents, and
has been approved of by the church to which he belonged. Their grounds
of separation from the established church are different from those of
other puritans. Many of the latter objected chiefly to certain rites,
ceremonies, vestments, or forms, or to the government of the church;
while yet they were disposed to arm the magistrate in support of the
truth, and regretted and complained that they could not on these
accounts conform to it. But Robinson and his companions not only
rejected the appointments of the church on these heads, but denied its
authority to enact them; contending, that every single congregation of
Christians was a church, and independent of all legislation, save that
of Christ; standing in need of no such provision or establishment as the
state can bestow, and incapable of soliciting or receiving it. Hence
they sought not to reform the church, but chose to dissent from it. They
admitted there were many godly men in its communion, and that it was
reformed from the grossest errors of the man of sin; but thought it
still wanted some things essential to a true church of Christ; in
particular, a power of choosing its own ministers, and a stricter
discipline among its members. The creed of the Independents is uniformly
Calvinistic, though with considerable shades of difference; and many in
Scotland and Ireland have symbolized with the Sandemanians, or the
Scottish Baptist denominations. The Congregationalist and Independent
have been generally considered as convertible and synonymous: many,
however, in the present day, prefer the former appellation, considering
it desirable, in many cases, to unite, for mutual advice and support,
more closely than the term _independent_ seems to warrant.
originally called Brownists. They derive their name from their
maintaining that every particular congregation of Christians has,
according to the New Testament, a full power of ecclesiastical
jurisdiction over its members, independent of the authority of bishops,
synods, presbyteries, or any other ecclesiastical assemblies. This
denomination appeared in England in the year 1616. John Robinson, a
Norfolk divine, who, being banished from his native country for
non-conformity, afterward settled at Leyden, was considered as their
founder and father. He possessed sincere piety, and no inconsiderable
share of learning. Perceiving defects in the denomination of the
Brownists, to which he belonged, he employed his zeal and diligence in
correcting them and in new modelling the society. Though the
Independents considered their own form of ecclesiastical government as
of divine institution, and as originally introduced by the authority of
the Apostles, nay, by the Apostles themselves; yet they did not always
think it necessary to condemn other denominations, but often
acknowledged that true religion might flourish in those communities
which were under the jurisdiction of bishops, or the government of
presbyteries. They approved, also, of a regular and educated ministry;
nor is any person among them now permitted to speak in public before he
has submitted to a proper examination of his capacity and talents, and
has been approved of by the church to which he belonged. Their grounds
of separation from the established church are different from those of
other puritans. Many of the latter objected chiefly to certain rites,
ceremonies, vestments, or forms, or to the government of the church;
while yet they were disposed to arm the magistrate in support of the
truth, and regretted and complained that they could not on these
accounts conform to it. But Robinson and his companions not only
rejected the appointments of the church on these heads, but denied its
authority to enact them; contending, that every single congregation of
Christians was a church, and independent of all legislation, save that
of Christ; standing in need of no such provision or establishment as the
state can bestow, and incapable of soliciting or receiving it. Hence
they sought not to reform the church, but chose to dissent from it. They
admitted there were many godly men in its communion, and that it was
reformed from the grossest errors of the man of sin; but thought it
still wanted some things essential to a true church of Christ; in
particular, a power of choosing its own ministers, and a stricter
discipline among its members. The creed of the Independents is uniformly
Calvinistic, though with considerable shades of difference; and many in
Scotland and Ireland have symbolized with the Sandemanians, or the
Scottish Baptist denominations. The Congregationalist and Independent
have been generally considered as convertible and synonymous: many,
however, in the present day, prefer the former appellation, considering
it desirable, in many cases, to unite, for mutual advice and support,
more closely than the term _independent_ seems to warrant.