156 THEOLOGY. 



recht), which met in 1618, and condemned the peculiar tenets of the 

 Arminians ; whose imprudence led to their cruel persecution, till the 

 death of Prince Maurice in 1625. Their doctrines have found most 

 favor among the Wesleyan Methodists. 



3. The term Episcopalians, from the Greek Ertiaxortos, a bishop, 

 though applicable to all who acknowledge the office of bishops, is 

 usually confined to the Protestant Episcopal Church, in England 

 and the United States ; called also the English Church, or Church 

 of England. This Church first abjured the papal authority under 

 Henry VIII., in 1533; and again under Queen Elizabeth, after the 

 Catholic reign of Mary. The Episcopalians recognize the office of 

 bishops as of divine institution ; and of course regard it as the only 

 sanctioned form of church government. The Episcopal Church 

 professes to conform to apostolic doctrine and usage ; and traces its 

 line of bishops back to the primitive ages, before the Roman usurpa- 

 tions and corruptions ; between which, and the extremes of secession 

 and dissension, it seeks to pursue the narrow path of truth. Its 

 Liturgy, or Book of Common Prayer, was compiled by the early 

 Reformers ; its materials being drawn from the Bible, or transmitted 

 from the primitive ages of the Christian church ; and its doctrines 

 are strictly evangelical, adopting neither the views of Calvin, nor 

 those of Arminius exclusively, but conforming to the Bible alone. 

 The first settlers of the United States, at Jamestown, Va., with their 

 clergyman, Mr. Hunt, were Episcopalians. 



The Presbyterians, are Protestants, who reject the office of 

 bishops ; and contend that the words fruaxortos, or bishop, and ytpea- 

 fivtspos, or elder, signify one and the same grade of ministers. Their 

 pastors, accordingly, are ordained by the laying on of hands of other 

 ministers of equal grade ; and their church government is vested in 

 an assembly of delegates from the churches. The General Assem- 

 bly, is recognized as having ecclesiastical authority over all the 

 churches which it represents, or which are represented by it. The 

 Church of Geneva, founded in 1533, was Presbyterian; and most 

 of the Presbyterians are Calvinists. This form of government was 

 introduced into Scotland by John Knox, the reformer, after his visit 

 to Geneva in 1555 ; and retained by the Covenanters both of 1581, 

 and 1643. The first Presbyterian church in the United States, 

 appears to have been erected in Philadelphia, in 1703 ; and the first 

 Presbytery was organized in the following year. Each presbytery 

 consists of several churches ; and several Presbyteries, associated, 

 compose a synod. 



The Congre Rationalists, are so called because they believe each 

 church or parish to be entirely independent of all others ; its mem- 

 bers having a right to select and ordain their own minister. They 

 admit however of a fellowship and association of the churches, on 

 purely republican principles ; the name Independents, though some- 

 times given to all this denomination, being properly applicable only 

 to those who decline such association. Their tenets are generally 

 Calvinistic ; though some Unitarians claim the name of Congrega- 

 tionalists. The first church of this sect, founded in England in 1602, 

 by John Robinson, was driven by persecution to Holland, and some 



