bounds, they were liberated, upon giving a bond for
good behaviour.

The rage of persecutors had in no wise abated ; they
seemed, sometimes, to strive to treat the Baptists and
their worship with as much rudeness and indecency as
was possible. They often insulted the preachers in time



70 Remarkable Deaths of two profane Opposers.

of service, and would ride into the water, and make
sport, when they administered baptism. They fre-
quently fabricated and spread the most groundless re-
ports, which were injurious to the characters of the
Baptists ; and when a Baptist fell into any improper
conduct, it was always exaggerated to the utmost extent.
On one occasion, when Robert Ware was preaching,
there came two sons of Belial, one named Davis and the
other Kemp, and stood before him with a bottle, and
drank, offering the bottle to him, cursing him. As soon
as he closed his service, they drew out a pack of cards,
and began to play on the stage where he had been stand-
ing, wishing him to reprove them, that they might beat
him. But it is worthy of note, that these two men both
died soon after, ravingly distracted, each accusing the
other of leading him into so detestable a crime. Not-
withstanding these severe oppositions, the word of the
Lord grew and multiplied greatly. Young preachers
were ordained, and churches constituted ; the first of
which was Lower King and Queen church, constituted
October 17, 1772, with seventeen members, and on the
llth February following, Robert Ware was ordained as
pastor. Glebe Landing church was also constituted at
the same time, and James Greenwood was ordained a
lay-elder. Exol and Piscataway churches were consti-
tuted in no great while after this. These new churches,
filled with young and inexperienced members, were vis-
ited frequently by John Waller, accompanied sometimes
by one, and sometimes by another of the preachers of
his own vicinity. Kis ministrations, on the one hand,
were exceeding salutary and comfortable to his friends ;
but on the other, highly displeasing to the enemies of
the Baptists. They viewed Waller as the ring-leader of
all the confusion and disturbance that had befallen
them. Great congregations of people attended the Bap-
tist meetings, while very few went to the parish church-
es. The zealots for the old order were greatly embar-
rassed : If, say they, we permit them to go en, our church
must come to nothing ; and yet, if we punish them, as far as
we can stretch the law, it seems not to deter them ; for they
preach through prison windows, in spite cf cur endeavours to
prevent it. Sometimes the rector of the parish would



The Episcopal Clergy oppose the Baptists. 7 1

give notice, that on a certain day, he would prove the
Baptists to be deceivers, and their doctrines false. The at-
tempt was often made, but they uniformly injured their
own cause j their arguments were generally drawn from
the extravagancies of the German Anabaptists ; to this
the Baptists in a word replied, that they disclaimed all con-
nexion with the Anabaptists, and felt themselves no more re-
sponsible for their irregularities, than the Episcopalians could
feel for the fooleries of the Papists ; that the BIBLE was the
criterion ; by that they were willing to stand or fall. Not
unfrequently, their leading men would attend the Bap-
tist meetings, and would enter into arguments with the
preachers : they insisted that their church was the old-
est, and consequently the best ; that their ministers were
learned men, and consequently most competent to inter-
pret scripture ; that the better sort and well-informed,
adhered to them, whilst none, or scarcely any except the
lower order, followed the Baptists ; that they were all
in peace and friendship before the coming of the Bap-
tists, but now their houses and neighbourhoods were
filled with religious disputes ; that the Baptists were
false prophets, who were to come in sheeps' clothing.

To these arguments, Waller and the other preachers,
boldly and readily replied, that if they were wolves in
sheeps' clothing, and their opponents were true sheep,
it was quite unaccountable that they were persecuted,
and cast into prison ; it is well known that wolves
would destroy sheep, but never, until then, that sheep
would prey upon wolves ; that their coming might, in-
deed, interrupt their peace ; but certainly, if it did, it
must be a false peace, bordering on destruction j and to
rouse them from this lethargy, was like waking a man
whose house was burning over him j that the effects of
their coming was similar to those foretold by Christ, as
arising from the propagation of his word, namely, " that
there should be jive In one house, three against two, and t'ivc
against three ;" that if the higher ranks in society did
not countenance them, it was no more than what befel
their Master, and his inspired Apostles ; that rich meq.
in every generation, with some few exceptions, were
enemies to a pure gospel ; but that God had declared;
that he had chosen the poor of this world to be rich in



72 Persecutions continued.

faith ; that, it: was true, most of their preachers were
unlearned, yet that they had evidences they were call-
ed to the ministry by the will of God ; that this was
the most essential qualification of a minister, the want
of which, all the learning of all the schools could not
supply.

The Baptist preachers would often retort their own
inconsistencies upon them ; that while they professed
to be Christians, they indulged themselves in the viola-
tion of most of the Christian precepts ; that their com-
munion was often polluted, by the admission of known
drunkards, gamesters, swearers, and revellers ; that even
their clergy, learned as they were, had never learned the
most essential doctrine of revelation, the indispensable
necessity of the new birth, or being born again ; that their
publick discourses were nothing more than moral ad-
dresses, such as a pagan philosopher, unassisted by the
Bible, could have composed.

Foiled in their arguments, and galled by the reproach-
es cast upon them, which, doubtless, were often done
with too much acrimony, they again resorted to the
civil power. In August, 1772, James Greenwood and
William Loveall were preaching, not far from the place
where Bruington meeting-house now stands, in the
county of King and Queen, when they were seized by
virtue of a warrant, and immediately conveyed to pris-
on. After the first day and night, they were allowed
the bounds. Having continued in prison sixteen days,
until Court, they were discharged, upon giving bond
merely for good behaviour. At this season they receiv-
ed the most unbounded kindness from Mr. Harwood
the jailer, and his lady. They preached regularly while
in prison, and to much purpose.

On March 13th, 1774, the day on which Piscataway
church was constituted, a warrant was issued to appre-
hend all the Baptist preachers that were at meeting.
Accordingly, John Waller, John Shackleford, Robert
Ware, and Ivison Lewis, were taken and carried before
a magistrate. Ivison Lewis was dismissed, not having
preached in the county ; the other four were sent to
prison. It appears from Waller's journals, that while in
prison, God permitted them to pass through divers and



Sufferings of God 1 s Ministers. ~ 5

fiery trials ; their minds, for a season, being greatly ha-
rassed by the enemy of souls. They, however, from,
first to last of their imprisonment, preached twice a
week, gave much godl^ advice to such as came to visit
them, read a great deal, and prayed almost without
ceasing. In their stated devotion, morning, noon, and
night, they were often joined by others, They contin-
ued in close confinement from the 13th to the 21st of
March, which was Court day ; being brought .to trial,
they were required to give bond and security for their
good behaviour for twelve months, or go back to pris-
on. Ware and Shackleford gave bond, and went home ;
Waller, being always doubtful of the propriety of giving
any bond whatever, determined to go back to jail.

The trials of this man of God were now greater than
ever. Deserted by his brethren, scoffed at, persecuted
by his enemies, locked up with a set of drunken, pro-
fane wretches, he had no alternative but to commit
himself to the hands of his God, and wait his deliver-
ance. After remaining in prison fourteen days, he gain-
ed his own consent to give bond, and go home.

We have thus stated a few instances of the sufferings
of God's ministers in those times ; time and space would
fail to enumerate them all. They used to preach to the
people through the grates ; to prevent which, some ill-
disposed men would be at the expense of erecting a
high wall round the prison ; others would employ half-
drunken strolls to beat a drum round the prison, to pre-
vent the people from hearing. Sometimes matches and
pepper-pods were burnt at the prison door, and many
such afflictions the dear disciples went through. About
thirty preachers were honoured with a dungeon, and a
few others beside. Some of them were imprisoned as
often as four times, besides all the mobs and perils they
went through. The dragon roared with hideous peals*
but was not red the beast appeared formidable, but
was not scarlet-coloured. Virginia soil has never been,
stained with vital blood for conscience sake. -Leland's
Virginia Chronicle.

From the beginning, the Baptists were unremitting
in their exertions to obtain liberty of conscience ; they
contended that they could not be imprisoned by any

VOL. 2. 10



Baptists apply to Government for Privileges.

feasting law ; that they were entitled to the same privi-
leges that were enjoyed by the dissenters in England :
their judges, however, decided otherwise; and as there
was no regular appeal, the propriety of that decision has
not been legally ascertained. The prevailing opinion in
the present day is, that their imprisonment was unlaw-
ful. When they could not succeed in this way, they re-
sorted to the General Court, for the purpose of obtaining
licensed places for preaching, &c. agreeably to the toler-
ation law in England.

On this subject Mr. Edwards has the following obser-
vations : " Some, who have allowed the sufferings of
the Baptists in Virginia to be of the nature of persecution,
have also said, " that they may blame themselves for
them, because they refused to put themselves under the
protection of the Toleration Act." To this it may be re-
plied, that the spread of the Baptists in Virginia is almost
a new thing, and that among people, who, for the most
part, knew little of law, and of the rights and privi-
]eges of protestant dissenters. However, it is not true
that Baptists have either refused or neglected to claim
their rights. Some have obtained licenses, others have
been refused under various pretences ; some alleging
that the Toleration Act was not in force in Virginia, be-
cause it is of later date than their charter, and was never
formally adopted by the Legislature ; others, that they
never would adopt it, but keep it out of the province as
they did the Stamp Act ; and some, that it was the busi-
ness of the Assembly, and not of justices of inferior
Courts, to grant licenses. By these means, the suits of the
Baptists were deferred, and the clergy, magistrates, and
mobs, in many places, continued to treat them despite-
fully. At last, the Baptists addressed the Assembly for
their privileges as protestant dissenters. The Assembly,
instead of adopting the Toleration Act as it was framed
in England, drew up a bill something like it. When
this made its appearance in the publick papers, the Bap-
tibts saw themselves under a necessity of remonstrating
against it, and of renewing their claim to peace and
impunity, in consequence of the Toleration Act, which,
rn their opinion, is co-extensive with the establishment
of the Church of England."



Patrick Henry and others patronise the Baptists. 75

It was in making these attempts, that they were so
fortunate as to interest in their behalf the celebrated
Patrick Henry ; being always the friend of liberty, he
only needed to be informed of their oppression ; with-
out hesitation, he stepped forward to their relief. From
that time, until the day of their complete emancipation
from the shackles of tyranny, the Baptists found, in
Patrick Henry, an unwavering friend ; after some diffi-
culty they obtained their object, and certain places were
licensed accordingly. But to a people, prompted as the
Baptists were, with unwearied zeal for the propagation
of the gospel, a few licensed places in each county was
but a small acquisition ; they thirsted for the liberty to
preach the gospel to every creature.

In the mean time, every thing tended to favour their
wishes ; their persecution, so far from impeding, really
promoted their cause ; their preachers had now become
numerous, and some of them were men of considerable
talents. Many of the leading men favoured them, some
from one motive, and some from another ; their congre-
gations were large, and when any of their men of talents
preached, they were crowded. The patient manner in
which they suffered persecution, raised their reputation
for piety and goodness, in the estimation of a large ma-
jority of the people. Their numbers annually increased
in a surprising degree. Every month, new places were
found by the preachers, whereon to plant the Redeemer's
standard. In these places, although but few might be-
come Baptists, yet the majority would be favourable.
Many, who had expressed great hostility to them, upon
forming a more close acquaintance with them, professed
to be undeceived.

We have already seen that the first Separate Baptist
Church, north of James-river, was formed in 1767, and
the second in 1769 ; so that, at the commencement of
the year 177O, there were but two Separate churches in
all Virginia, north of James-river ; and we may add,
there were not more than about four on the south side.
In 1774, by referring to the History of the General As-
sociation, we find, that there were thirty on the south,
and twenty-four on the north side, that sent letters, &c. to
the Association ; besides a probability of several that did



76 Petitions for Liberty of Conscience.

not associate. By which it appears, that about fifty
churches were gathered in about four years, which must
be considered a most rapid and astonishing increase.
But the Baptist interest increased in a much greater pro-
portion. So favourable did their prospects appear, that
towards the close of the year 1774, they began to en-
tertain serious hopes, not only of obtaining liberty of
conscience, but of actually overturning the church estab-
lishment, from whence all their oppressions had arisen.
Petitions for this purpose were accordingly drawn, and
circulated with great industry. Vast numbers readily
and eagerly subscribed to them.

The great success and rapid increase of the Baptists in
Virginia, must be ascribed primarily to the power of
God working with them ; yet it cannot be denied, but
that there were subordinate and co-operating causes ;
one of which, and the main one, was the loose and im-
moral deportment of the established clergy, by which
the people were left almost destitute of even the shadow
of true religion. It is true, they had some outward
forms of worship, but the essential principles of Christi-
anity were not only not understood among them, but
by many never heard of. Some of the cardinal precepts
of morality were disregarded, and actions plainly for-
bidden by the New-Testament were often proclaimed by
the clergy, harmless and innocent, or at worst, foibles of
but little account. Having no discipline, every man
followed the bent of his own inclination. It was not
uncommon for rectors of parishes to be men of the
loosest morals. The Baptist preachers were, in almost
every respect, the reverse of the established clergy;
without learning, without patronage, generally very
poor, plain in their dress, unrefined in their manners,
awkward in their address ; all of which, by their enter-
prising zeal and unwearied perseverance, they either
turned to advantage, or prevented their ill effects. On
the other hand, most of the ministers of the establish-
ment were men of classical educations, patronised by
men in power, connected with great families, supported
by competent salaries, and put into office by the strong
arm of civil power. Thus pampered and secure, the
men of this order were rolling on the bed of luxury.



Causes of the Ecclesiastical Revolution. 77

when the others began their extraordinary career.
Their learning, riches, power, &c. seemed only to hast-
en their overthrow, by producing an unguarded heed-
lessness, which is so often the prelude to calamity and
downfall.

We are not to understand, that this important ec-
clesiastical revolution was effected wholly by the Bap-
tists ; it is true, they were the most active, but they were
joined by other dissenters ; neither was the whole dis-
senting interest united, at that time, equal to the accom-
plishment of such a revolution ; but we must turn our
eyes to the political state of the country, to find adequate
causes for such a change.

The British yoke had now galled to the quick, and
the Virginians, having the most tender necks, were the
first to manifest uneasiness. Republican principles had
gained much ground, and were fast advancing to superi-
ority ; the leading men on that side, viewed the estab-
lished clergy and the established religion as inseparable
appendages of Monarchy, one of the pillars by which it
was supported. The dissenters, at least the Baptists,
were republicans from interest, as well as principle ; it
was known that their interest was great among the com-
mon people ; and the common people, in every country,
are, more or less, republicans. To resist British op-
pressions effectually, it was necessary to soothe the minds
of the people, by every species of policy. The dissenters
were too powerful to be slighted, and too watchful to
be cheated by an ineffectual sacrifice. There had been
a time, when they would have been satisfied to have
paid their tithes, if they could have had liberty of con-
science ; but now the crisis was such, that nothing less
than a total overthrow of all ecclesiastical distinctions,
would satisfy their sanguine hopes. Having started the
decaying edifice, every dissenter put to his shoulder, to
push it into irretrievable ruin. The revolutionary party
found that the sacrifice must be made, and they made it.

It is said, however, and probably not without truth,
that many of the Episcopalians, who voted for abolishing
the establishment, did it upon an expectation that it
would be succeeded by a general assessment ; and, con-
sidering that most of the men of wealtlj were on that



78 Laws by which the Establishment arose and fell.

side, they supposed that their funds would be lessened
very little. This, it appeared in the sequel, was a vain
expectation. The people having once shaken off the
fetters, would not again permit themselves to be bound.
Moreover, the war now rising to its height, they were
in too much need of funds, to permit any of their re-
sources to be devoted to any other purpose, during that
period ; and we shall see, that when it was attempted, a
few years after the expiration of the war, the people set
their faces against it.

Having thus mentioned the establishment, it will be
proper to treat more fully respecting the origin and na-
ture of those laws, by which it arose and fell.

The first settlers of Virginia being chiefly emigrants
from England, brought with them all that religious in-
tolerance which had so long prevailed in the mother
country. Thus we see, that the first care of the early
Legislatures, was to provide for the Church of England,
as established by the act of Parliament. By the first act
of 1623, it is provided, that in every plantation or set-
tlement, there shall be a house or room set apart for the
worship of God. But it soon appears that this worship
was only to be according to the canons of the Church of
England, to which a strict uniformity was enjoined. A
person absenting himself from divine service on a Sun-
day, without a reasonable excuse, forfeited a pound of
tobacco ; and he that absented himself a month, forfeited
fifty pounds. Any minister, who was absent from his
church above two months in a year, forfeited half his
salary ; and he who absented himself four months, for-
feited the whole. Whoever disparaged a minister,
whereby the minds of the parishioners might be aliena-
ted, was compelled to pay five hundred pounds of to-
bacco, and ask the minister's pardon publickly in the
congregation. No man was permitted to dispose of any
of his tobacco, till the minister was satisfied, under the
penalty of forfeiting double his part of the minister's
salary.

The first allowance made to the ministers was ten
pounds of tobacco and a bushel of corn for each titheable ;
and every labouring person, of what quality or condition
soever, was bound to contribute. In the year 1631,
the Assembly granted to the ministers, besides the form-



Statutes against Dissenters. 79

er allowance of ten pounds of tobacco and a bushel of
corn, the twentieth calf, the twentieth kid, and the
twentieth pig. This was the first introduction of tythes,
properly so called, in Virginia. But it did not continue
long, for the law was repealed in 1633.

To preserve the "purity of doctrine, and unity of the
church,'* it was enacted in 1643, that all ministers
should be conformable to the orders and constitutions
of the Church of England, and that no others be per-
mitted to teach or preach publickly or privately. It
was further provided, that the Governor and Council
should take care, that all non-conformists departed the
colony with all conveniency.

The statute of England of the 3d of James I. against
popish recusants, was also adopted in Virginia, in the
year 1643. This statute declared, that no popish recu-
sant should exercise the office of secret counsellor, regis-
ter, commissioner, (a term then used for justices of the
peace) surveyor, or sheriff, or any other publick office.
Nor should any person be admitted into any of those
offices, before he had taken the oaths of allegiance and
supremacy. The same act of Assembly, by which the
statute of 3d James I. was adopted, further declared,
that if any person should assume the exercise of any of
those offices, and refuse to take the said oaths, he should
be dismissed, and moreover forfeit one thousand pounds
of tobacco. No popish priest thereafter arriving in the
colony, was permitted to remain more than five days, if
wind and weather permitted his departure.

During the existence of the commonwealth of En-
gland, the church government of Virginia experienced
an important change. Instead of enjoining obedience to
the doctrine and discipline of the Church of England, no
injunction in favour of any particular sect appears. Ev-
ery thing relating to the affairs of the church, was left at
the entire disposal of the vestry, who being elected by
the people, it may, in effect, be said that the people reg-
ulated their own church government.

The Quakers were now flying from persecution in
England. They cast their eyes on these new countries,
as asylums of civil and religious freedom ; but they soon
found them free onlv for the reigning sect. When thc-v



8O Severe Law against the Quakers.

first made their appearance in Virginia, the utmost de-
gree of persecution was exercised towards them. Sev-
eral acts of the Virginia Assembly of 1650, 1662, and
1663, had made it penal in their parents to refuse to
have their children baptized ; had prohibited the unlaw-
ful assembling of the Quakers ; had made it penal for
any master of a vessel to bring a Quaker into the State j
had ordered those already here, and such as should come
hereafter, to be imprisoned till they should abjure the
country ; provided a milder punishment for their first
and second return, but death for the third ; had inhibit-
ed all persons from suffering their meetings in or near
their houses, entertaining them individually, or disposing
of books which supported their tenets. If no capital exe-
cution took place here, as did in New-England, it was
not owing to the moderation of the church, or spirit of
the Legislature, as may be inferred from the law itself;
but to historical circumstances, which have not been
handed down to us.

This severe law against the Quakers passed during