Page:The Leveller movement; a study in the history and political theory of the English Great Civil War (IA levellermovement01peas).djvu/69

 democracy. But in 1643 the Independents disclaimed the name of Separatists or Brownists, and professed to steer a middle course between democracy and the supposed aristocracy of the Presbyterian system. Actually the Independents colored with a tinge of democratic doctrine much undemocratic practice.

In practice there could be but little difference in the real power enjoyed by the membership of Presbyterian and Independent congregations. The Independents hedged about with restrictions the right of the congregation to elect its officers. True, they taught that business should be transacted and expulsions performed by the officers in the presence of the congregation; but actually they permitted the congregation only to assent to the decrees of its officers; or at most respectfully to reason with them and endeavor to convince them that they did amiss. A New England congregation