HELWISSE. 281 accompanied by the greater part of his congregation, he returned to England, and settled in London, where they gained many proselytes, and became, as it is conjectured, the:first GENERAL BAPTIST society in England. However, to justify their conduct in returning home, Mr. Helwisse published " A Short Declaration," in which he stated in what cases it was lawful to flee in times of persecution. To this, also, Mr. Robinson published a reply. In the year 1615, Mr. Helwisse and his church in London, published a treatise, entitled, " Persecution for Religion, Judged and Condemned." Though there was no name prefixed to it, they were certainly its authors.. In this work, besides defending their own opinions as baptists, and attempting to clear themselves of several false charges, they endeavour to expose the evil of-persecution, They maintain, that every man has an equal right to judge for, himself in all matters of religion ; and that to, persecute any person, on account of his religion, is illegal, and anti- christian. They acknowledge that civil magistrates are of, divine appointment ; and that kings, and such as are in authority ought to be obeyed in all civil matters. But that againstwhich they chiefly protest; is the pride, luxury, and oppression of the lordly bishops, and their pretended spiritual power, by which many were exposed to confisca- tion of goods, long and painful imprisonment, hungering, burning, and banishment. " It is no Small persecution," say they, " to lie many years in filthy prisons, in hunger, cold, idleness, divided from wife, family and calling, and left in continual miseries and temptations : so that death to many would be less persecution .+ How many, only for seeking reformation in religion, have beenput to deathby your power (meaning the bishops) in the days of Queen Elizabeth ? And how many have been consumed to death in prisons ? Hath not hungering, burning, exile, imprison- ments, and all kinds of contempt been used ? It is most grievous cruelty to lie several years in most noisome and st Crosby's Hist. of Baptists, vol. i. p. 269-271. -I Bishop Warburton's opinion of persecution is very singular. " The exacting conformity of the ministry by the governors of the church," says he, " is no persecution." This is certainly a strange sentiment to come from the pen of a protestant prelate. Admitting this principle, there was no persecution in the reign of Queen Mary. It was no persecution, when the Jewish sanhedrim agreed, " That if any man did confess that Jesus was the Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue." It was no persecution, when the parliament imposed the Scot's covenant.-Neal's Puritans, vol. i. p. 319.
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