Whatever might be the comparative claims of a version of the Psalms composed two hundred years ago, it would grate upon ears accustomed to the more majestic flow of modern poetry. It has been the privilege—the almost exclusive privilege of nonconformity, to have derived the benefit of progressing refinement, and to have retained poetry as the permanent handmaid of devotion, while in the national churches the uncouth doggerel of the sixteenth century is still cherished as a thing which it were sacrilege to touch. * * * * * The Independents never introduced into their assemblies that unbounded liberty of teaching, which had been the mark and the bane of the Brownist churches. {134} But they desired, under the prudent, constant, and salutary superintendence of a ministry invested, if not with more extensive powers, with a more commanding moral influence, to retain the advantages of an open discussion of topics connected with their religious system and spiritual prosperity. The following extracts from the church book, show that something of this kind was attempted at Beccles. The reader will regret, that no account of the questions discussed, or of the manner in which they were treated, has been preserved. “It was likewise” (at the meeting, held 25th March, 1657) further “agreed, that upon the next monthly meeting, the church doe take in considerac’on ye bretherens’ prophesying, {135} or speaking to a question.” “At a meetinge of the church upon the 3rd day of the month, com’only called June, 1657, it was agreed upon and condesended unto, that two of these bretheren hereunder written be appoynted in ther order to speake unto the questions wch shall be hereafter p’pounded, to be answered in our publiq church meeteinges; and our pastour or Mr. Clearke, one of them, be desired constantly to conclude the meetinge: Edmond Artis & John Morse. Francis Haylocke & Richard Heasell. Edmond Nevill & Robert Horne. Wm. Cutlove & Richard Shildrake.” Then follows: “The order of bretheren to find ther questions wch they are desired to acquaynt eyther our present pastor with, or or brother Mr. Clearke, to this end yt upon the conclusion of eyther days of these exercises, the question next to be spoken unto may be p’pounded unto the bretheren, who are desired to stay a little space, every meetinge, after the rest of the company who attend these meeteinges beside the church have withdrawen themselves, to the end yt they may know wt & whose question is next in order to be considered; and that one of them be desired to give out the question. “Brother Thomas Onge,” &c. &c. [eleven other names.]