Genealogical notes of Barnstable families - citizen hylbom blog

GENEALOGICAL NOTES OF BARNSTABLE FAMILIES. 173
Puritans, as nick-named by their opponents. There was, however,
little difference between them in matters of faith and prac-
tice. The Plymouth people were more Catholic, more tolerant to
those who differed from them in opinion.
Neal thus describes the manner in which the first Independent
Church was formed in London. '"Having observed a day of
solemn fasting and prayer for a blessing upon their undertaking
towards the close of the solemnity, each of them made open confession
of his faith in our Lord Jesus Christ ; then standing together
they joined hands, and solemnly covenanted with each
other in the presence of Almighty God, to walk together in all
God's ways and ordinances, according as he had already revealed,
or should further make known to them."
"Mr. Jacob was then chosen pastor by the suffrage oj the
brotherhood, and others were appointed to the office of deacons,
with fasting and prayer, and imposition of hands." Mr. Jacob
continued with his people about eight years ; but in the year 1624,
being desirous to enlarge his usefulness, he went with their consent
to Virginia, where he soon after died.
Upon the departure of Mr. Jacob the church chose Mr. Lothrop
pastor. Mr. Jacob was the first pastor of the first Independent
Church in England, Mr. Lothrop the second. The early wri-
ters do not furnish an account of the exercises at the installation
of Mr. Lothrop ; but the presumption is that he was inducted into
office as Mr. Jacob was, and as he subsequently was at Scituate,
by the election of the brethren, by fasting, by prayer, and by the
imposition of hands.
In the few simple details, already given, we have the history
of a movement which has already produced most remarkable results,—the
leaven which is leavening the whole lump of the christian
and the political world. The essential principle of Independency
is, it asserts the manhood of the race, that the power is in
the church and congregation, not in ministers nor in bishops, or
popes, not in kings or parliaments, but in the people. It is es-
sentially democratic, and a man cannot long be an Independent in
his religious faith and not be a republican in politics, an asserter
of the rights of the people, in opposition to the power of lords
spiritual and lords temporal.
I am aware that it may be said that the offices of the church
at Southwalk, London, were from necessity installed by the members
thereof, because no churches or ministers could be invited to
assist, there were none to invite. It is a sufficient answer to this
to say that in 1635, when Mr. Lothrap was ordained pastor of
the Scituate church, there were churches and ministers that might
have been invited, but none were. The members of the church
elected, ordained and installed its own officers, and this fundamental
principle of Independency or Congrfegationalism is ac-