From the journal of William Bradford... |
Describing the Pilgrims Separatist religious beliefs :
"The one side [the Reformers] laboured to have ye right worship of God &
discipline of Christ established in ye church, according to ye simplicitie of ye gospell,
without the mixture of mens inventions, and to have & to be ruled by ye laws of Gods
word, dispensed in those offices, & by those officers of Pastors, Teachers, &
Elders, &c. according to ye Scripturs. The other partie [the Church of England],
though under many colours & pretences, endevored to have ye episcopall dignitie
(affter ye popish maner) with their large power & jurisdiction still retained; with
all those courts, cannons, & ceremonies, togeather with all such livings, revenues,
& subordinate officers, with other such means as formerly upheld their antichristian
greatnes, and enabled them with lordly & tyranous power to persecute ye poore servants
of God." |