FOR the purpose of this paper, the ‘early American period’ is intended to cover the New England colonies from c. 1630 to c. 1660, i.e. it begins with the years of the great migration in the 1630s and covers the first generation of the great New England divines: Thomas Hooker (who arrived in New England [...]
Revival Terminology in History by Richard Owen Roberts
A number of years ago in a book entitled Revival, I gave the following definition of that term: ‘Revival is an extraordinary work of the Holy Spirit producing extraordinary results.’ While that phrase conveys the fundamental concept of revival, over the intervening years I have come to the conviction that one single word describes revival [...]
Why We Need the Puritans by J.I. Packer
Horse Racing is said to be the sport of kings. The sport of slinging mud has, however, a wider following. Pillorying the Puritans, in particular, has long been a popular pastime both sides of the Atlantic, and most people’s image of Puritanism still has on it much disfiguring dirt that needs to be scraped off. [...]
The Puritans and Revival Christianity by Iain Murray
Following as it did so closely upon the Reformation it is not surprising that the Puritan movement in England believed so firmly in revivals of religion as the great means by which the Church advances in the world. For the Reformation was itself the greatest revival since Pentecost — a spring-time of new life for [...]
The Puritan Approach to Worship by J.I. Packer
It is sometimes said that evangelicals are not interested in worship. If by worship one means the technicalities of liturgical study, this may be true. But I do not suppose that I am the only evangelical who finds that the actual exercise of worship, the deliberate lifting of one’s eyes from man and his mistakes [...]
The Pilgrims and Puritans – Total Reformation for the Glory of God by Samuel T. Logan, Jr.
What’s the difference between the Pilgrims and the Puritans? Are they all the same folks? When did the two groups first form? And why did they emerge as distinct religious groups? Excellent questions, every one! In answering all of the above questions, the year 1517 was especially crucial. Most know one reason for this-in October [...]
The Example of the English Puritans by Erroll Hulse
Why should Christians today be interested in the English Puritans? The answer to that is that the English Puritans have left to the Christian Church a most valuable library of expository books. In recent years there has been a rediscovery of this literary heritage. Who were the English Puritans? When the 16th-century Reformation took place [...]
The Character of an Old English Puritan, or Non-Conformist by John Geree
The Old English Puritan was such an one, that honored God above all, and under God gave every one his due. His first care was to serve God, and therein he did not what was good in his own, but in God’s sight, making the word of God the rule of his worship. He highly [...]
Puritanism Essay by Don Kistler, Dr.
In many of the Puritan portraits shown on our website, it says that many of these men were suspended from their ministry, and/or excommunicated for ‘non-conformity.’ To most Christians today, the matter of conformity and non-conformity are at least unknown, and at best considered to be irrelevant. But the story of the Protestant faith in [...]
New Testiment Puritanism by Benjiman B. Warfield
2 Cor. 6:11-7:1. – ‘Our mouth is open unto you, 0 Corinthians, our heart is enlarged. Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own affections. Now for a recompense in like kind (I speak as unto my children), be ye also enlarged. Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what [...]
Is the Puritan Movement Dead-Ended? by Erroll Hulse
In a volume called ’77 Notts Untied’ Michael Smout draws attention to the absence of evangelical Anglican theologians. The National Evangelical Anglican Congress proved to be a very lightweight affair as far as theology was concerned. Their most accomplished theologian was little to the fore. Michael Smout describes J. I. Packer as the ‘lost leader [...]
In Defence of the Puritans by Martin Brow
In the course of my studies towards ordination in the Church of England I have, on a number of occasions, been challenged by others about my persistent reading of Puritan Theology. Over the years I have spent at college (five of them now), there has been a growing desire within me to give an answer [...]
Calvinism in History: John Calvin by Loraine Boettner
John Calvin was born July 10, 1509, at Noyon, France, an ancient cathedral city about seventy miles northeast of Paris. His father, a man of rather hard and severe character, held the position as apostolic secretary to the bishop of Noyon, and was intimate with the best families of the neighborhood. His mother was noted [...]
Calvinism in History: Calvinism in France by Loraine Boettner
France, too, at that time, was all aglow with the free, bounding, restless spirit of Calvinism. ‘In France the Calvinists were called Huguenots. The character of the Huguenots the world knows. Their moral purity and heroism, whether persecuted at home or exiled abroad, has been the wonder of both friend and foe.’1 ‘Their history,’ says [...]
Calvinism in History: Calvinism in Holland by Loraine Boettner
In the struggle which freed the Netherlands from the dominating power of the Papacy and from the cruel yoke of Spain we have another glorious chapter in the history of Calvinism and humanity. The tortures of the Inquisition were applied here as in few other places. The Duke of Alva boasted that within the short [...]
Calvinism in History: Calvinism in England by Loraine Boettner
A glance at English history readily shows us that it was Calvinism which made Protestantism triumphant in that land. Many of the leading Protestants who fled to Geneva during the reign of Queen Mary afterward obtained high positions in the Church under Queen Elizabeth. Among them were the translators of the Geneva version of the [...]
Calvinism in History: Calvinism in America by Loraine Boettner
When we come to study the influence of Calvinism as a political force in the history of the United States we come to one of the brightest pages of all Calvinistic history. Calvinism came to America in the Mayflower, and Bancroft, the greatest of American historians, pronounces the Pilgrim Fathers ‘Calvinists in their faith according [...]
Calvinism in History: Calvinism and Representative Government by Loraine Boettner
While religious and civil liberty have no organic connection, they nevertheless have a very strong affinity for each other; and where one is lacking the other will not long endure. History is eloquent in declaring that on a people’s religion ever depends their freedom or their bondage. It is a matter of supreme importance what [...]
Calvinism in History: Conclusion by Loraine Boettner
We have now examined the Calvinistic system in considerable detail, and have seen its influence in the Church, in the State, in society, and in education. We have also considered the objections which are commonly brought against it, and have considered the practical importance of the system. It now remains for us to make a [...]
The Rise & Demise of Calvinism Among Southern Baptists by Tom Nettles
In Search of Restoration in the Land A woman of Shunem had house and land. Her recognition of God’s goodness to her was demonstrated in the care she gave to God’s prophet, Elisha. God had also twice blessed her with one son. His conception was God’s gift, and, when he died as a child accompanying [...]
Calvinism in History: Calvinism and Education by Loraine Boettner
Again, history bears very clear testimony that Calvinism and education have been intimately associated. Wherever Calvinism has gone it has carried the school with it and has given a powerful impulse to popular education. It is a system which demands intellectual manhood. In fact, we may say that its very existence is tied up with [...]
The Puritan Approach to Worship by J. I. Packer
It is sometimes said that evangelicals are not interested in worship. If by worship one means the technicalities of liturgical study, this may be true. But I do not suppose that I am the only evangelical who finds that the actual exercise of worship, the deliberate lifting of one’s eyes from man and his mistakes [...]
Calvinism in History: Before the Reformation by Loraine Boettner
It may occasion some surprise to discover that the doctrine of Predestination was not made a matter of special study until near the end of the fourth century. The earlier church fathers placed chief emphasis on good works such as faith, repentance, almsgiving, prayers, submission to baptism, etc., as the basis of salvation. They of [...]
