ing. Accordingly, John Waller, John Schackleford, Robert Ware and Ivifon Lewis, were taken and carried before a magiftrate. Ivifon Lewis was difmiffed, not having preached in the county; the other four were fent to prifon. It appears from Mr. Waller's journals, which we have before us, that while in prifon, God permitted them to pass through divers and fiery trials; their minds, for a feafon, being greatly harraffed by the enemy of fouls. They however, from first to last of their imprisonment, preached twice a week, gave much godly advice to fuch as came to vifit them, read a great deal, and prayed almost without ceafing. In their ftated devotion, morning, noon, and night, they were often joined by others. They continued in close confinement from the 13th to the 21ft of March, which was court day; being brought to trial, they were required to give bond and fecurity for their good behavior for 12 months, or go back to prifon. 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. Deferted by his brethren, fcoffed and perfecuted by his enemies, locked up with a set of drunken, profane wretches, he had no alternative but to commit himself to the hands of Omnipotence, and wait his deliverance. After remaining in prifon 14 days, he gained his own confent to give bond, and go home.

We have thus ftated a few inftances of the sufferings of God's minifters, in thofe times: time and fpace would fail to enumerate them all; many of them, however, will be rehearfed, in treating upon the churches, and in the biography of fome of the fufferers. The trial and imprisonment of all the reft, differ only in small matters from thofe already defcribed. From the beginning, the Baptifts were unremitting in their exertions to obtain liberty of con

science: they contended that they could not be imprifoned by any exifting law: that they were entitled to the fame privileges that were enjoyed by the diffenters in England; their judges, however, decided otherwise, and as there was no regular appeal, the propriety of that decifion, has not been legally afcertained; the prevailing opinion in the prefent day, is, that their imprifonment was unlawful; when they could not fucceed in this way, they reforted to the general court, for the purpose of obtaining licensed places for preaching, &c. agreeable to the toleration law in England.

It was, in making these attempts, that they were fo fortunate as to intereft in their behalf, the celebrated Patrick Henry; being always the friend of liberty, he only needed to be informed of their oppreffion; without hesitation, he stepped forward to their relief. From that time, until the day of their complete emancipation, from the shackles of tyranny, the Baptifts found in Patrick Henry, an unwavering friend.. May his name defceed to pofterity with unfullied honour! After fome difficulty, they obtained their object, and certain places were licenfed accordingly.But to a people, prompted as the Baptifts were, with unwearied zeal for the propagation of the gofpel, a few licensed places in each county, was but a small acquifition; they thirfted for the liberty to preach the gofpel to every creature.

In the meantime, every thing tended to favour their wishes: their perfecution so far from impeding, really promoted their caufe: their preachers had now become numerous, and fome of them were men of confiderable talents. Many of the leading men favoured them; fome from one motive and fome from another their congregations were large, and when any of their men of talents preached, they were crow- ́ ded. The patient manner in which they fuffered perfecution, raised their reputation for piety and goodness, in the estimation of a large majority of the

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ple. Their numbers annually increased in a surprising degree. Every month, new places were found by the preachers, whereon to plant the Redeemer's ftandard. In these places, although but few might become Baptifts, yet the majority would be favourable. Many that 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 1770, 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 association, we find, that there were 30 on the South, and 24 on the North fide, that fent letters, &c. to the affociation; besides a probability of several that did not associate. This must be considered a very rapid increase, for so short a time. The Baptift intereft increased in a much greater proportion. So favourable did their prospects appear, that towards the close of the year 1774, they began to entertain serious hopes, not only of obtaining liberty of conscience, but, of actually overturning the church establishment, from whence, all their oppressions had arisen. Petitions for this purpofe were accordingly drawn, and circulated with great induftry. Vast numbers readily, and indeed eagerly, subscribed to them. The great success and rapid increase of the Baptifts in Virginia, must be afcribed 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 immoral deportment of the established clergy, by which, the people were left almost destitute of even the shadow of true religion. 'Tis true, they had some outward forms of worship, but the essential principles of chriftianity, were, not only not understood among them, but by many, never heard of. Some of the cardinal precepts

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of morality, were disregarded, and actions plainly forbidden by the New Teftament, were often proclaimed by the clergy, harmless and innocent, or at worft, foibles of but little account. Having no discipline, every man followed the bent of his own inclination. It was not uncommon for the rectors of parishes, to be men of the loosest morals. The Baptist preachers were, in almost every respect, the reverse of the established clergy. The Baptist preachers were without learning, without patronage, general

very poor, very plain in their dress, unrefined in their manners, and awkward in their address; all of which, by their enterprising zeal and unwearied perseverance, they either turned to advantage, or prevented their ill effects. On the other hand, most of the ministers of the establishment were men of classical and scientific 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, when the others began their extraordinary career.Their learning, riches, power, &c. seemed only to hasten their overthrow, by producing an unguarded heedlessness, which is so often the prelude to calamity and downfall.

We are not to understand, that this important ecclesiastical revolution, was effected wholly by the Baptists -They were certainly the most active; but they were also joined by other dissenters. Nor was the dissenting interest, all united, by any means, at that time, equal to the accomplishment of such a revolution; we muft 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, as having the most tender necks, were

among the first to wince.. Republican principles had gained much ground, and were fast advancing to superiority; the leading men on that side, viewed the established clergy, and the established religion, as in

separable appendages of Monarchy; one of the pillars by which it was supported. The dissenters, at least the Baptifts, were republicans from interest, as well as principle; it was known that their influence was great among the common people; and the common people of every country are, more or less, republicans. To resist British oppreffions effectually; it was necessary to foothe the minds of the people by every species of policy. The dissenters were too powerful to be slighted, and they were too watchful, tobe 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 conscience; 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 fhoulder, to push it into irretrievable ruin.The revolutionary party found that the sacrifice muft 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 considering, that most of the men of wealth were on that 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 their 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 resources, to be devoted to any other purpose, during that period; and, we fhall 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 proper to treat more fully, respecting the origin and nature of those laws, by which it arose and fell. Our ancestors, being chiefly emigrants from En

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