Transcribed from the 1837 Jackson and Walford edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org
BRIEF RECORDS
OF THE
INDEPENDENT CHURCH,
AT
BECCLES, SUFFOLK;
INCLUDING BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES OF ITS MINISTERS, AND
SOME ACCOUNT OF THE RISE OF NONCONFORMITY
IN THE EAST ANGLIAN COUNTIES.
BY
SAMUEL WILTON RIX.
LONDON:
JACKSON AND WALFORD, 18, ST. PAULS CHURCHYARD.
M DCCC XXXVII.
The churches in those early times were entirely Independent; none of them subject to any foreign jurisdiction, but each one governed by its own rulers and its own laws.
Mosheim , Cent. I.
Indeed this way of examining all things by the Word... is a course I would admonish all to beware of who would avoid the danger of being made Independents.
Owen on Schism .
WILLIAM LENNY, PRINTER, BECCLES.
THE FOLLOWING PAGES
ARE INSCRIBED
TO THE YOUNG PERSONS
OF THE INDEPENDENT CHURCH AND CONGREGATION
AT BECCLES.
PREFACE.
Many months ago, I was favoured with a perusal of the earliest records of the Independent church at Beccles. An interest in the subject once excited, I went on to collect such other materials for its history as fell in my way: and the re-opening of its place of worship, after considerable alteration, appeared a suitable time for offering these records to notice, in a permanent and connected form.
Publications of dissenting church history have not usually received extensive encouragement. That circumstance is, I believe, chiefly attributable to the anxiety of dissenting ministers and parents, in general, to inculcate and maintain the principles of personal religion, rather than the peculiarities of nonconformity. A just preference, unquestionably,but which has betrayed many into a neglect of topics immensely, though not supremely, important. The youth of dissenting families too frequently grow up in ignorance of any other reason for their nonconformity than parental example. The natural result is, that by and by, when persecution ariseth, or when fashion, or emolument, or the attractive pomp of the national worship, allures, they forsake the ground which their ancestors maintained at the peril of liberty, and of life itself.
Viewed in this light, the prevalent disregard of such subjects becomes a powerful inducement to invite attention to them. Nor am I altogether without hope that local associations and attachments, may, in the present instance, be subservient to such a purpose. At all events, I am desirous that my humble compilation should not be regarded as a mere depository of what is curious; but should tend to encourage a thoughtful and candid investigation of the history and principles of nonconformity, as they are developed in works of wider interest and higher literary pretensions.
Hence I have been induced to sketch at some length, though, I am aware, very imperfectly, the rise of nonconformity in the East Anglian counties,a topic which deserves to be separately discussed, with the aids of extensive knowledge and ample leisure.
The value of such a book as this greatly depends upon its accuracy and fidelity. At the same time it must be recollected, that general inferences cannot be deduced from isolated facts. The cause of nonconformity, if it be the cause of truth, will not ultimately suffer from the most candid development of its local history.
I do not know that what I have written can justly give offence to an individual of any communion. There is high ecclesiastical authority for the sentiment, that whatever moderation or charity we may owe to mens persons, we owe none at all to their errors, or to that frame which is built on and supported by them.
I must not omit to acknowledge the assistance I have received from several ministers and other friends; especially the Rev. Edward Hickman, of Denton, to whom I am indebted for material aid in compiling the account of his intimate and lamented friend, Mr. Sloper.
My express thanks are also due to the Rev. Dr. Owen, Rector of Beccles, for the readiness and courtesy with which he allowed me to inspect the early parochial registers in his possession.
S. W. R.
BECCLES,
March 11th, 1837.
CHAPTER I.
Antiquity of dissent from state religionsLeading principles of modern nonconformity: authority of Christ; sufficiency of the Scriptures; duty of examining and privilege of interpreting their contentsRight of private judgment claimed by its enemiesPosition and duty of those by whom it is concededIllustrations from English ecclesiastical historyThis right asserted by the first converts to Christianity; by the reformersHenry VIII.Edward VI.Mary; seeks support from Suffolk protestants; promises toleration; practices persecutionEast Anglian counties abound with protestants; they petition the queen; are rebuked; and remonstrate with her commissioners in vain.
It has been remarked by Lord Bacon, that those times are ancient when the world is ancient, and not those we vulgarly account so, by counting backwards: so that the present time is the real antiquity. Modern institutions are not hastily to be rejected as impertinent or crude; for they are frequently found to exhibit the successful result of a protracted struggle between truth and error, or to imbody the accumulated wisdom of many generations. But if it be contended that, in speculations relating to religion, quod verum, id antiquissimum, that antiquity is the test of truth; they who claim to be free from all human authority in religious affairs, need not shrink from the application of such a principle. The origin of dissent from the commandments of men, on such subjects, must be sought at a period far more remote than the rise of Independent Churches in England. Under the Old Testament dispensation, nonconformity, thus understood, was nobly exemplified and divinely sanctioned in the instances of Daniel, and the three Hebrew youths. During the apostolic times its course was distinctly marked. It has since mingled with the impurities, and has sometimes been almost lost amid the intellectual and moral stagnation, of passing ages. At length opposing elements again brought it more conspicuously into notice: obstruction augmented the rapidity of its current; and it will flow on until it shall be lost in the ocean of piety and freedom, which is destined to cover the whole earth.
The leading principle of nonconformity, as the term is now generally employed, to signify a continued separation from the national church of England, is, the sole authority of Jesus Christ as the head and lawgiver of his people. This exclusive right he is alleged to have claimed, when he cautioned his disciples against the assumption of ecclesiastical power, emphatically reminding them that One was their master, even Christ.
From this view of Christs authority is derived another principle scarcely less momentous,the absolute sufficiency of the sacred Scriptures, the word of Christ, to prescribe the faith and regulate the practice of his followers. A revelation inadequate to these purposes, it is generally admitted, would be at once derogatory to God, and a cruel mockery of erring man. Nor can the perplexity arising out of contending human powers, and conflicting articles of faith and rules of practice, be avoided, but by submitting all to one criterion,to the law and to the testimony,and by the consideration that if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
