Early Puritanism

Early PuritanismEarly Puritanism

An historical introduction to An historical introduction to English Non-Conformity to English Non-Conformity to 16251625

CHURCH HISTORY IICHURCH HISTORY IILesson 11Lesson 11

AgendaAgenda

1.1. Identity and DefinitionsIdentity and Definitions

2.2. Historical OverviewHistorical Overview

3.3. Lessons we can learnLessons we can learn

Identity and Identity and DefinitionsDefinitions

Who were the Who were the Puritans?Puritans?

English English

preacherspreachers

who wanted to reformwho wanted to reform

church lifechurch life

further than the episcopal further than the episcopal establishment would allowestablishment would allow

in the 16in the 16thth and 17 and 17thth centuries centuries

What’s in a name?What’s in a name?

““Puritan” = Puritan” = CathariCathari

Lumped with Donatists, Montanists, Lumped with Donatists, Montanists, Novatians, Cathari, AnabaptistsNovatians, Cathari, Anabaptists

Also called “Precisians”Also called “Precisians”

Puritans came to accept the name “Puritan”Puritans came to accept the name “Puritan”

Proper name would be English Dissenters or Proper name would be English Dissenters or Non-ConformistsNon-Conformists

Protestant

Lutheran Reformed Anabaptist Anglican

Anglo-Catholic

Protestant Conformist

s

Protestant Non-

Conformists

Separa-tionist

Indep-endent

BaptistPuritans

HistoricalHistorical

OverviewOverview

Historical OverviewHistorical Overview

1.1. Preparing the Soil (1376-1555)Preparing the Soil (1376-1555)

2.2. Emergence (1555-1565)Emergence (1555-1565)

3.3. The Spread of Dissent (1565-1577)The Spread of Dissent (1565-1577)

4.4. Full-blown Persecution (1577-1595)Full-blown Persecution (1577-1595)

5.5. A Lull in the Battle (1595-1604)A Lull in the Battle (1595-1604)

6.6. Renewed Persecution (1604-1610)Renewed Persecution (1604-1610)

7.7. Polarization of a nation (1610-1625)Polarization of a nation (1610-1625)

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Preparing the SoilPreparing the SoilSlide 1/2Slide 1/2

Wycliffe & the LollardsWycliffe & the Lollards

Proto-puritan forerunners:Proto-puritan forerunners:– William Tyndale (1531)William Tyndale (1531)– John Frith (1533)John Frith (1533)– William Turner & John Bale (1543)William Turner & John Bale (1543)– Miles Coverdale (1548)Miles Coverdale (1548)– John Bradford (1550)John Bradford (1550)– John Hooper (1550) John Hooper (1550)

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The First Vestments ControversyThe First Vestments Controversy (1550-1551)(1550-1551)

John HooperJohn Hooper

vsvs

Bp. Nicholas RidleyBp. Nicholas Ridley

Preparing the SoilPreparing the SoilSlide 2/2Slide 2/2









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EmergenceEmergenceSlide 1/6Slide 1/6

The Troubles at Frankfort The Troubles at Frankfort (1555)(1555)

John KnoxRichard Cox’s

Party

?1552 Book of

Common Prayer

Knox’s Form of Prayers

To Geneva

Liturgy of Compromise

Whittingham& others

From Geneva

Calvin on the 1552 Prayer Book: it contains “Many foolish, tolerable

things”


Geneva (1556-1560)Geneva (1556-1560)

First Reformed service in EnglishFirst Reformed service in English

Heavy influence from CalvinHeavy influence from Calvin

Geneva BibleGeneva Bible


Return to England (1558-1560)Return to England (1558-1560)

Act of Uniformity (1559)Act of Uniformity (1559)

Queen’s InjunctionsQueen’s Injunctions– Holy DaysHoly Days– Clerical celibacyClerical celibacy– Habits / square capsHabits / square caps– Collegiate choirsCollegiate choirs

Some ministers scruple the habitsSome ministers scruple the habits

Conforming ministers (Coxians) elevated to Conforming ministers (Coxians) elevated to bishopsbishops

Elizabethan Settlement (1562)Elizabethan Settlement (1562)

Petitions to Parliament to remove:Petitions to Parliament to remove:– VestmentsVestments– KneelingKneeling– Private baptism / cross in baptismPrivate baptism / cross in baptism– Collegiate Choirs & OrgansCollegiate Choirs & Organs– Holy daysHoly days

1552 Book of Common Prayer confirmed1552 Book of Common Prayer confirmed

Thirty-nine ArticlesThirty-nine Articles



Suppression of Dissent (1564)Suppression of Dissent (1564)

Secretary Cecil’s report to the queenSecretary Cecil’s report to the queen

Bishops cave in and break promiseBishops cave in and break promise

Sampson & Humphreys*Sampson & Humphreys*– Interaction with Reformed leadersInteraction with Reformed leaders– Non-conforming ministers deprivedNon-conforming ministers deprived


SummarySummary

Puritanism arose from four ingredients:Puritanism arose from four ingredients:

– Dissent over ceremoniesDissent over ceremonies

– Left out of positions of authorityLeft out of positions of authority

– Failed to gain concessions from majority partyFailed to gain concessions from majority party

– Pressured to conform against their consciencePressured to conform against their conscience









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The Spread of DissentThe Spread of DissentSlide 1/2Slide 1/2

Cambridge dissent (1565)Cambridge dissent (1565)

Puritan pamphleteers*Puritan pamphleteers*

First separationistsFirst separationists– ““Plumber’s Hall” congregationPlumber’s Hall” congregation– Richard Fitz’ “Privye Church”Richard Fitz’ “Privye Church”

Field, Wilcox and Cartwright (1572)Field, Wilcox and Cartwright (1572)– Admonition to the ParliamentAdmonition to the Parliament

Many conform after Reformed letters publishedMany conform after Reformed letters published

Excursus:The Regulative

Principle of WorshipNormative Principle of Worship:

Every church is free to adopt practices in its worship servicewithout warrant from God’s Word as long as their practices

are not contrary to the Word of God, nor thought of as necessary for true worship.

[in-between position]Every church is free to adopt practices in its worship service

without specific warrant from God’s Word if they are moderate, edifying and reasonable applications of general

biblical principles and serve to enhance, rather than detract from, those practices that God has commanded.

Separationists,Independents,

Baptists,Strict Puritans

Anglicans,Lutherans

Reformed,Moderate Puritans

“We hold nothing that is not warranted by the word of God… we will be tried by the best reformed churches”

“the pure vnmingled and sincere worshippinge of God, accordinge to his blessed and glorious worde in al things, onely abolishinge and abhorringe all tradicions and inuentions of man…”

Regulative Principle of Worship:In the worship service, it is unlawful to do anything

except what God has prescribed in His Word, excepting only minor matters of public order.

The Spread of DissentThe Spread of DissentSlide 2/2Slide 2/2

SummarySummary

Puritan sentiments spread rapidlyPuritan sentiments spread rapidly

The people in the cities largely sided with The people in the cities largely sided with themthem

The Puritans:The Puritans:– Most remained faithful to AnglicanismMost remained faithful to Anglicanism– Many began promoting PresbyterianismMany began promoting Presbyterianism– A few broke off and became SeparationistsA few broke off and became Separationists









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Full-blown PersecutionFull-blown PersecutionSlide 1/1Slide 1/1

AB Grindal imprisoned for defending Puritans* (1577)AB Grindal imprisoned for defending Puritans* (1577)

AB Whitgift sets up High Commission* (1583)AB Whitgift sets up High Commission* (1583)

““Martin Mar-prelate” tracts (1588-1589)Martin Mar-prelate” tracts (1588-1589)

Brownists / BarrowistsBrownists / Barrowists– Robert Brown: Robert Brown: Reformation without tarrying for anyReformation without tarrying for any

(1582)(1582)– Barrowe, Greenwood and Penry hanged (1593)Barrowe, Greenwood and Penry hanged (1593)– Brownists flee to HollandBrownists flee to Holland






5.5. A Lull in the Battle (1595-1604)A Lull in the Battle (1595-1604)6.6. Renewed Persecution (1604-1610)Renewed Persecution (1604-1610)


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A Lull in the BattleA Lull in the BattleSlide 1/1Slide 1/1

Parliament backs offParliament backs off

Richard Hooker’s Richard Hooker’s Ecclestiastical PolicyEcclestiastical Policy (1597)(1597)

Ascession of King James (1603)Ascession of King James (1603)

Millenary Petition (1603)Millenary Petition (1603)

Hampton Conference (1604)*Hampton Conference (1604)*









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Renewed PersecutionRenewed PersecutionSlide 1/2Slide 1/2

Book of Canons (1604)*Book of Canons (1604)*

AB Bancroft renews High Commission (1604)*AB Bancroft renews High Commission (1604)*

Puritans defend themselves in pamphletsPuritans defend themselves in pamphlets– Loyalty to king emphasizedLoyalty to king emphasized

Small groups of Puritans flee to Holland, Small groups of Puritans flee to Holland, VirginiaVirginia

Parliament defends Puritans and is dissolved Parliament defends Puritans and is dissolved (1610)(1610)

Renewed PersecutionRenewed PersecutionSlide 2/2Slide 2/2

Fracturing of the SeparationistsFracturing of the Separationists

Brownists excommunicate each otherBrownists excommunicate each other

John Smith becomes first BaptistJohn Smith becomes first Baptist– Gathers church in Leydon, HollandGathers church in Leydon, Holland– Embraces ArminianismEmbraces Arminianism– Eventually merge with the MennonitesEventually merge with the Mennonites

John Robinson becomes first IndependentJohn Robinson becomes first Independent– Leaves Brownism under influence from Dr. William Leaves Brownism under influence from Dr. William

AmesAmes

Intra-Puritan debate over separationIntra-Puritan debate over separation









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Polarization of a NationPolarization of a NationSlide 1/2Slide 1/2

Dr. Abbot becomes archbishopDr. Abbot becomes archbishop

King James Bible published (1611)King James Bible published (1611)

Separationists return to EnglandSeparationists return to England– Baptists: Thomas Helwys* (1612)Baptists: Thomas Helwys* (1612)– Independents: Henry Jacob (1616)Independents: Henry Jacob (1616)

Declaration of Sports (1618)Declaration of Sports (1618)

Part of John Robinson’s congregation leaves Part of John Robinson’s congregation leaves Holland for New England (1620)Holland for New England (1620)

Polarization of a NationPolarization of a NationSlide 2/2Slide 2/2

Three Alarming TrendsThree Alarming Trends

The growth of ArminianismThe growth of Arminianism

The growth of Roman CatholicismThe growth of Roman Catholicism

Growing tensions between the Growing tensions between the king and parliamentking and parliament


SummarySummary

Puritans pressed to violate their consciences over ceremoniesPuritans pressed to violate their consciences over ceremonies

Pressure increases dissent and drives them further awayPressure increases dissent and drives them further away

Begin to splinter into various groups that disagreed among Begin to splinter into various groups that disagreed among themselvesthemselves

Suffered severe persecution while maintaining loyalty to the Suffered severe persecution while maintaining loyalty to the statestate

Became staunch defenders of CalvinismBecame staunch defenders of Calvinism

Eventually found most of the nation politically on their side Eventually found most of the nation politically on their side against the growing threat of Catholicism.against the growing threat of Catholicism.

Lessons Lessons

we can learnwe can learn

Lessons we can learnLessons we can learn Slide 1/3Slide 1/3

Lesson #1Lesson #1

– GOOD:GOOD: Supremacy of the Word Supremacy of the Word of God in all matters (all)of God in all matters (all)

– BAD:BAD: Naïve to think that Naïve to think that the Bible gives us a complete order the Bible gives us a complete order of worship and church government of worship and church government (most)(most)


Lesson #2Lesson #2

– GOOD:GOOD: Conscientious about the Conscientious about the protecting the gospel (all) protecting the gospel (all)

– BAD:BAD: Made too much out of Made too much out of insignificant matters over which insignificant matters over which many were willing to leave the many were willing to leave the ministry over (many) and some to ministry over (many) and some to quarrel among themselves and quarrel among themselves and divide (Separatists) divide (Separatists)


Lesson #3Lesson #3

– GOOD:GOOD: Serious about church Serious about church discipline (all) discipline (all)

– BAD:BAD: Often too ready to Often too ready to excommunicate and disfellowship excommunicate and disfellowship over minor matters (Separatists)over minor matters (Separatists)

The EndThe End

Early Puritanism

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