 The Seceders had caught that Gallican spirit so hostile to kings and rulers, and they now found out that all connection between church and state should cease.Each was to shift for itself as it best could, without the aid or co-operation of the other; while kings and magistrates, instead of being bound by their office to be nursing fathers of the church, were engaged to nothing more, and could claim nothing higher, than what they might effect as mere members and private individuals.In this way the Voluntary principle was recognised as the only earthly stay of the church's dependence, and the party who adopted it thenceforth became, not seceders from the Establishment, but Dissenters.