Brooks - BX9338 .B7 1813 v3

GREENE. 35 a felt-maker or hat-maker, but he became a zealous and popufar preacher. In the year 1641, there was published a quarto pamphlet, entitled, " The Brownists' Synagogue ; or, a late Discovery of their Conventicles, Assemblies, and places of meeting ; where they preach, and the manner of their praying and preaching ; with a relation of the names, places, and doctrines of those which do commonly preach. The chief of which are these : Greene, the felt-maker; Marler, the button-maker ; Spencer, the coachman ; Rogers, the glover : which sect is much increased of late within this city. A kingdom divided cannot stand." In this work, Greene and Spencer are called the two arch-separatists, and are said to be "accounted as demi-gods, who were here and every where." It shews the manner of their worship, which we extract, because it gives some idea of the spirit of the times, and proves that the voice of slander could not attribute any improper conduct to them in their public assemblies. " In the house where they meet," it is said, " there is one appointed to keep the door, for the intent to give notice, if there should be any insurrection, warning may be given them. They do not flock together, but come two or three in a company; and all being gathered together, the man appointed to teach stands in the midst of the room, and his audience gather about him. The man prayeth about the space of half an hour; and part of his prayer is, that those which come thither to scoff and laugh, God would be pleased to turn their hearts ; by which means they think to escape undiscovered. His sermon is about the, space of an hour, and then doth another stand up, to make the text more plain ; and at the latter end he entreats them all to go home severally, lest the next meeting they should be interrupted by those which are of the opinion of the wicked. They seem very steadfast in their opinions, and say, rather than turn, they will burn.". During the above year came forth another pamphlet, entitled, " New Preachers, New ;" in the epistle to which, the writer, addressing Mr. Greene, says, " Do not these things come from proud spirits, that he, (Mr. Spencer,) a horse-keeper, and you, a hat-maker, will take upon you to be ambassadors of God, to teach your teachers, and take upon you to be ministers of the gospel in these days of light. Consider, I pray you, that our Lord would not have had the ass, (Matt. xxi. 3,) if he had not stood in need of Brownish,' synagogue, p. 5, 6, *

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=