JACOB. 333 to Mr. Dod, Mr. Throgmorton, and some other learned puritans, who, seeing no prospect of a reformation of the national church, expressed their approbation of his design. He accordingly called several of his friends together, when he obtained their consent to unite in church fellowship for a purer administration of divine ordinances ; and it is generally supposed, though Mr. Edwards asserts the con- traryi* that he laid the foundation of the first independent or congregational church in England. The method of proceeding on this occasion was as follows : - Having observed a day of solemn fasting and prayer, for the blessing of Godupon their undertaking,each member of the society made a public confession ofhis frith in Jesus Christ. Then standing together, theyjoined hands,and solemnly covenanted with each other, in the presence of Almighty God, to walk together in all God's ways and ordinances, according as he had already revealed, or shouldfurther make known to them. Mr. Jacob was chosen their pastor by the sufferage of the brotherhood, and proper persons were chosen to the office of deacons, with fasting and prayer, and the imposition of hands. About the same time, our divine published " A Protestation or Confession, in the name of certain Christians, shewing how far they agreed with the Church of England, and wherein they differed, with the reasons of their Dissent drawn from Scripture," 1616. To this was added a petition to the king for the toleration of such christians. Thiswas soon after followed by another piece, entitled, " A Collection of sound Reasons, shewing how necessary it is for all Christians to walk in all the ways and ordinances of God in purity, and in a right way."+ Mr. Jacob continued with his congregation about eight years ; but, in 1624, beingdesirous to extend his usefulness, he, with the consent of his church, went to Virginia, where he soon after died, aged sixty-one years: Mr. John Lathorp, another distinguished puritan, succeededhim in the pastoral charge of his church in London. In addition to the articles already mentioned, Mr. Jacob was author of the followingworks A Position against vain-glorious, and that which is falsely called, learned Preaching," 1604. - " A Christian and modest Offer of Conference with the Prelates," 1606.-" A Counterpoyson," 1608.-" A plain and clear Exposition of the Second Commandment," 1610. Mr. Jacob had a son of the same name, a man of Edwards's Gangrreua, part fii. p. 165. Neal's Puritans, vol. ii. p. 100, 101.
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