SOO LIVES OF THE PURITANS. people just emerging from civil and ecclesiastical oppression, was very different from what might have been expected. The civil power, commonly more friendly to a toleration than the ecclesiastical, does not, indeed, seem to have troubled them. But the Dutch clergy regarded them with a jealous eye; and they appear to have been screened from persecution chiefly by their own insignificance.* During this season of tribulation, Mr. Ainsworth did not remain idle; for most of his books, which are evidently the fruit of good learning, much reading, and close application, were written at this period. After the publication of the above piece, the next work in whichwe find him to have been engaged was a transla. tion of the Brownists' Confession of Faith into Latin. It appeared in 1598, and was dedicated to the universities of Leyden, Heidelberg, Geneva, St. Andrews, and the other public seminaries of Holland, Germany, France, and Scot- land. It was afterwards translated into English, and does not differ much in doctrine from the Harmony of Con. fessions.+ In this confessionthe Brownists did not intend to erect a standard of faith for others, and impose it upon them ; but merely to vindicate themselves from the odium under which they laboured, as discontented and factious sectaries. Their conduct was very different from that of the most famous councils or synods, which, while they have compiledsystems of faith and tests of orthodoxy for ages and nations, have seldom failed to sow the seeds of discord and enmity among men. After the Brownists were first settled at Amsterdam, they erected a church, as they thought, according to the model of the New Testament, choosing Mr. Francis Johnson for their pastor, and Mr. Ainsworth for doctoror teacher. The church, however, did not continue long in peace, but was torn in pieces by several unhappydivisions, as will be found particularly noticed in another place4 In the first of these divisions Mr. Ainsworth took part with Mr. Johnson the pastor ; but was so much grieved at the unnatural heats which the controversy excited, that he spoke of laying down his office as teacher. In the next controversy, Mr. Ainsworth took an active part against Mr. John Smyth, who had espodsed sentiments similar to those of Armimus, and who rejected infant baptism. And of the third division, in which he was personally concerned, he Life of Ainsworth, p. 16. 1. Ibid. p. 15, 18. See Art. FrancisJohnson.
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