Chapter I: The Evolution of Early Congregationalism

1, H. M. Dexter, Congregationalism as seen in Literature, p. 49.

2, Robert Browne, A True and Short Declaration, p. l.

3, H. M. Dexter, Congregationalism as seen in Literature, p. 70.

4, Report of Conference April 3, 1590, quoted in F. J. Powicke, Henry Barrowe, p. 54.

5, W. Walker, Creeds and Platforms, p. 12.

6, Ibid., pp. 14, 15; also H. M. Dexter, Congregationalism as seen in Literature, pp. 96-104.

7, Robert Browne, A Treatise on Reformation without Tarrying, pp. 4, 7,12.

8, Robert Browne, A True and Short Declaration, p. 7; Book which Sheweth, pp. 117-148.

9, Robert Browne, Book which Sheweth, Questions 55-58.

10, Ibid., Def. 35-40; Henry Barrowe, Discovery of False Churches, p. 34, and The True Description in Appendix IV of F. J. Powicke's Henry Barrowe.

11, Robert Browne, Book which Sheweth, Def. 53 and 54.

12, Henry Barrowe, Discovery of False Churches, p. 48.

13, Henry Barrowe, Discovery of False Churches, pp. 166, 275; Robert Browne, Book which Sheweth, Def. 51; A True and Short Declaration, p. 20; The True Confession of Faith, Article 38.

14, H. M. Dexter, Congregationalism as seen in Literature, pp. 221, 232; also John Brown, Pilgrim Fathers of New England, pp. 22-25.

15, The True Confession, Art. 39.

16, "The Seven Articles," of which the following is the text:--

(1) "To ye confession of fayth published in ye name of ye Church
of England and to every artikell thereof wee do w'th ye reformed
churches wheer wee live & also els where assent wholly.".

(2) "And as wee do acknowlidg ye doctryne of fayth theer tawght so
do wee ye fruites and effeckts of ye same docktryne to ye
begetting of saving fayth in thousands in ye land (conformistes &
reformistes) as ye ar called w'th whom also as w'th our brethren
wee do desyer to keepe speirtuall communion in peace and will
pracktis in our parts all lawful thinges."

(3) "The King's Majesty wee acknowlidg for Supreme Governor in his
dominion in all causes, and over all parsons [persons] and ye none
maye decklyne or apeale his authority or judgment in any cause
whatsoever, but ye in all thinges obedience is dewe unto him,
either active, if ye thing commanded be not against God's woord,
or passive yf itt bee, except pardon can bee obtayned."

(4) "Wee judge itt lawfull for his Majesty to apoynt bishops,
civill overseers, or officers in awthoryty onder hime in ye
severall provinces, dioses, congregations or parishes, to oversee
ye churches, and governe them civilly according to ye Lawes of ye
Land, uutto whom ye ar in all thinges to geve an account and by
them to bee ordered according to Godlyness." (This is not an
acknowledgment of spiritual--superiority or authority, only the
recognition that as church officers were also magistrates, the
king could appoint them as his civil servants.)

(5) "The authority of ye present bishops in ye land wee do
acknowlidg so far forth as ye same is indeed derived from his
Majesty untto them and as ye proseed in his name, whom wee will
also therein honor in all thinges and hime in them."

(6) "Wee believe ye no sinod, classes, convocation or assembly of
Ecclesiastical Officers hath any power or awthority att all but ye
same by ye Majestraet given unto them." (Intended to be a denial
of Presbyterianism.)

(7) "Lastly wee desyer to geve untto all Superiors dew honour to
preserve ye unity of ye spiritt w'th all ye feare God to have
peace w'th all men what in us lyeth and wherein wee err to bee
instructed by any." (Text of Points of Difference and Seven
Articles in W. Walker, Creeds and Platforms, pp. 75-93.)