the Rev. W. Turner , Jun. , MA., Lives of the eminent Unitarians

[103] Presbyterianism was by no means such a mere name as it has since become universally among us, and as it was among the greater part of the class of dissenters, so called, even in his own time. In a sermon under the title, ‘Presbyterian Ordination proved regular,’ he argues strongly against the Independents; maintaining that to the end of the world, presbyters, and not the people, are to judge of men's qualifications for the sacred office. ‘The congregation are invited to unite in prayers for a blessing on his person and labours, who is now to be set apart to minister in the church of Christ. This (he adds) is your act as well as ours. But the authoritative separating and commissioning him to the work is not your act, but primarily the Lord's, and secondarily our acting in his name.’ If we are to rely on the account given by Mr. Fox, of Plymouth, in his curious and biographical papers,¹ Mr. Peirce was not indisposed, as long as his popularity continued, to carry matters with a high hand in the assembly; and he even insinuates that, if his falling into the Unitarian scheme had not convinced him that he should at one time or another stand in great need of the charity of his fellow-christians, he would have shewn but little to such as should happen to differ from him. The tone of some passages in the tracts he published in the controversy which ensued on this occasion, is certainly such as to shew that he had a sufficient feeling of his own importance, and was fully sensible of his superiority to the men who were enabled by circumstances to annoy and overcome