These dissenting Christians had separated from the Church of England and were living in exile in Leyden, Amsterdam, and  Plymouth Plantation so they could practice their doctrine as congregational churches with each church bound by its covenant.

Introduction

The church at Leyden was the mother church for the Pilgrim congregation in Plymouth Plantation in New England. John Robinson was pastor of the Leyden congregation and continued ministy there until his death in 1625. During his era the Plymouth Pilgrims and the Leyden Church were tied together in mutual ministry despite their separation by many miles. As the editor of Robinson’s works Robert Ashton expressed it, the churches were identical and it was agreed that members returning to Leyden should be “reputed as members, without further dismissal or testimonial, and therefore entitled at once to take their places at the sacramental board, and to exercise their rights in the meetings of the church.” These dissenting Christians had separated from the Church of England and were living in exile in Leyden, Amsterdam, and  Plymouth Plantation so they could practice their doctrine as congregational churches with each church bound by its covenant.

The text following this introduction is transcribed from volume 3 of The Works of John Robinson, London, 1851, pages 490-91. Ashton says he transcribed the list of ten principles of the congregational churches from George B. Cheever, The Pilgrim Fathers: or, The Journal of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, New England, in 1620, published 1862. Ashton determined that Cheever agreed with earlier works by Thomas Prince, A Chronological History of New-England: in the Form of Annals…to the Arrival of Gov. Belcher, 1730, 1736, and George Punchard’s History of Congregationalism From About A.D. 250 to 1616, 1841.

Read More