196 LIVES OF TEE PURITANS. survived these calamities, it does not appear at what period he was released from prison. Previous to his total separation from the church of England, he spent nine months in studying the grounds of conformity and nonconformity ; and held a disputation with Messrs. Dod, Hildersham, and Barbou, on the points of conformity, and the use of prescribed forms of prayer.÷ He was preacher in the city of Lincoln, and afterwards beneficed at Gainsborough. In the county of Lincoln, and on the borders of Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire, the principles of the Brownists gained considerable ground. Two churches were formed, over one of which Mr. Smyth was chosen pastor; andover the other Mr. Richard Clifton, who was succeeded by Mr. John Robinson.t After endur- ing numerous hardships 'and incessant persecution fromthe, high commission, they fled from the storm, and went to Holland. Mr. Smyth and his followers settled at Amster- dam, in the year 1606, and joined themselves to the English church at that place, of which Mr. Francis Johnson was pastor, and Mr. Henry Ainsworth teacher. It wasnot long, however, before a very serious breach took place. The subjects of debate, which gave rise to this division, were certain opinions very similar to those afterwards espoused byArminius. Mr. Smyth maintained the doctrines of free- will and universal redemption ; opposed the predestination of particular persons to eternal life; as also the doctrine of original sin ; and maintained that believers might fall from that grace which would have saved them, had they con- tinued in it. He seems, indeed, to have entertained some very singular notions : as, the unlawfulness of reading the scriptures in public worship ; that no translation of the Bible was the word of God ; that singing the praises of God in verses, or set words, was without authority ; that flight in time of persecution was unlawful; that the new creatureneeded not the support of scripture and ordinances, but was above them ; and that perfection was attainable in this life.§ Mr. Smyth differed also from his brethren on the subject of baptism. The Brownists, who denied the church of England to be a true church, maintained that her ministers acted without a divine commission; and, consequently, that Life of Ainsworth,p. 36. + Cotton's Congregational Churches, p. 7. t Prince's Chron. Hist, vol. i. p. 19, 20.-Morse and Parish's New Log. 1). 6. Life of Ainsworth, p.58.
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