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. PAUL’S 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

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

Antiquity of dissent from state religions—Leading principles of modern nonconformity: authority of Christ; sufficiency of the Scriptures; duty of examining and privilege of interpreting their contents—Right of private judgment claimed by its enemies—Position and duty of those by whom it is conceded—Illustrations from English ecclesiastical history—This right asserted by the first converts to Christianity; by the reformers—Henry VIII.—Edward VI.—Mary; seeks support from Suffolk protestants; promi

Description of Beccles—modern improvements—probable state in the reign of Mary; the scene of persecution—Fox’s account of the burning of three men; their examination; sentence; articles against them; their conduct and treatment at the stake—Remarks. In point of situation and general appearance, Beccles has been accounted by some worthy to rank as the third town in Suffolk.  Towards the west it is skirted by a cliff, once washed by the estuary which separated the eastern parts of Norfolk and Suff

Queen Elizabeth, an intolerant protestant; her measures—Rise of the puritans; their views and position; persecuted; instances in eastern counties—Account of the “prophesyings;” suppressed by the queen—Continued cruelty—Norfolk and Suffolk petitions—Whitgift’s articles—New commission granted—Aylmer—Puritan clergy summoned to London—William Fleming, rector of Beccles; his connexion with corporation differences; testimony to his worth arising out of them; summoned; deprived of the living—Honourable

Rise of the Brownists; persecuted—James I.—Millenary petition; Brownists imprisoned and exiled—Robinson; father of the Independents—Jacob establishes the first English Independent church—Book of Sports—Bishop Harsnet—Laud—Bishop Wren’s Articles of Visitation—William Bridge retires to Holland—Returns on the change of affairs—Formation of Independent churches at Yarmouth and Norwich—Cromwell. The early puritans, in general, were strongly attached to the principle of a national established church. 

Formation of the Independent church at Beccles—Probable covenant—Earliest members—John Clarke—Baptists—Robert Ottee; made pastor—Deacons chosen—First administration of the Lord’s supper and baptism—Prudential arrangements—Day of thanksgiving—Singing introduced—Prophesyings—Savoy conference—Interruption of the record—Act of Uniformity—Mr. Ottee continues his ministry; his death; posthumous work; opinions and character—Meeting-house—Communion plate. The formation of an Independent church at Beccle

. . . . . . . . . Once I beheld his face, when beams divine Broke from his eyelids, and unusual light Wrapt me at once in glory and surprise. My joyful heart, high leaping in my breast, With transport cried, ‘This is the Christ of God:’ Then threw my arms around in sweet embrace, And clasp’d, and bow’d, adoring low, till I was lost in him. . . . . . . But the bright shine and presence soon withdrew; I sought him whom I love, but found him not. I felt his absence, and with strongest cries Proclai

   “Friendship! thou charmer of the mind,    Thou sweet deluding ill, The brightest minute mortals find,    And sharpest hour we feel.    “Fate has divided all our shares    Of pleasure and of pain; In love the comforts and the cares    Are mix’d and join’d again.    “But whilst in floods our sorrow rolls    And drops of joy are few, This dear delight of mingling souls    Serves but to swell our woe.    “Oh, why should bliss depart in haste,    And friendship stay to moan? Why the fond passion c

Joseph Heptinstall—Early life—Settles at Beccles—His ministerial usefulness and character—His death—Isaac Sloper—Residence at Cheltenham—Acquaintance with Rev. Cornelius Winter—Studies for the ministry—Accepts the pastoral office at Beccles—His ordination—Afflicted—Visits his distant friends—Death of Mr. Winter—Meditation and prayer at the beginning of a year—Acquaintance with Mrs. Siddons. Joseph Heptinstall , pastor of the Independent church at Beccles from 1773 to 1802, was born at Walsall, i

Meeting-house rebuilt—Daniel Delf—Formation of the Beccles District Missionary Society—Bible meetings—Association Sermon—Meetings of ministers—Samuel Archer—Illness of Mr. Sloper—Attacked with paralysis—Letter to the Treasurer of the Suffolk Missionary Society—Second attack—Rev. John Flower—Mr. Sloper resigns—His character—Ordination of Mr. Flower—Death of Mr. Sloper—Tablet to his memory—William Crisp—Enlargement of the chapel—Conclusion. The dilapidated state of the meeting-house, as well as it

  PASTORS. SUPPLIES. John Clarke (?) 1653–1656 Robert Ottee 1656–1689 Joseph Tate 1691–1694 John Killinghall 1697–1699 William Nokes 1703(?)–1710 Edmund Spencer 1711–1736(?) Thomas Tingey 1736–1749 William Lincoln 1749–1757 John Hurrion 1757–1758 Nicholas Phené 1758–1760 John Fell 1762–1770 Baxter (?) Cole 1771 Joseph Heptinstall 1773–1802 1771–1773 Isaac Sloper 1803–1834 1802–1803 Thomas Morell 1832–1833 John Flower 1834– Abbot , 102 . Adkins, 10 . After, 73 . Archer, 233 . Articles, 4 , 66 , 7