They would not communicate at large, or in common with others; but formed
churches among themselves of such as could give some account of their
conversion, at least of very promising experiences of the work of God's
grace upon their hearts, and under mutual agreements and covenants of
fellowship, they kept together. These people were somewhat of a softer
temper, and seemed to recommend religion by the charms of its love,
mercy, and goodness, rather than by the terrors of its judgments and
punishments; by which the former party would have awed people into
religion.
They also allowed greater liberty to prophesy than those before them; for
they admitted any member to speak or pray, as well as their pastor, whom
they always chose, and not the civil magistrate. If such found anything
pressing upon them to either duty, even without the distinction of clergy
or laity, persons of any trade had their liberty, be it never so low and
mechanical. But alas! even these people suffered great loss: for tasting
of worldly empire, and the favour of princes, and the gain that ensued,
they degenerated but too much. For though they had cried down national
churches and ministry, and maintenance too, some of them, when it was
their own turn to be tried, fell under the weight of worldly honour and
advantage, got into profitable parsonages too much, and outlived and
contradicted their own principles; and, which was yet worse, turned, some
of them, absolute persecutors of other men for God's sake, that but so
lately came themselves out of the furnace; which drove many a step
further, and that was into the water: another baptism, as believing they
were not scripturally baptized: and hoping to find that presence and
power of God, in submitting to this watery ordinance, which they desired
and wanted.
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