Puritanism – A Puritanism – A Historical BackgroundHistorical Background

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►The Puritan movement began in England in The Puritan movement began in England in the middle of the sixteenth century the middle of the sixteenth century (1500(1500’’s). s).

►Puritanism moved into the New England Puritanism moved into the New England colonies by way of settlers in the New colonies by way of settlers in the New World.World.

►Christians in England had began to feel Christians in England had began to feel that the church was corrupt.that the church was corrupt.

►As a result, reformers suggested that As a result, reformers suggested that scripture, NOT the clergy, should guide scripture, NOT the clergy, should guide Christian life.Christian life.

►THE POPETHE POPE’’S AUTHORITY WASS AUTHORITY WAS

CHALLENGED! CHALLENGED!

►1543 – King Henry broke away from the 1543 – King Henry broke away from the Catholic Church to form the Church of Catholic Church to form the Church of England.England.

►BY LAW English citizens were forced to BY LAW English citizens were forced to join the new church.join the new church.

►However, many began to believe that However, many began to believe that their quarrel was with a temporal their quarrel was with a temporal authority dictating spiritual life, not authority dictating spiritual life, not with the pope.with the pope.

These non-conformists were calledThese non-conformists were called

PURITANS!!PURITANS!!

►Several beliefs differentiated Puritans Several beliefs differentiated Puritans from other Christians:from other Christians: PREDESTINATION: The belief that all PREDESTINATION: The belief that all

features of salvation are determined by features of salvation are determined by GodGod’’s sovereignty.s sovereignty.►Including those who were to be saved.Including those who were to be saved.►*Belief in Jesus was not enough!*Belief in Jesus was not enough!►*Participation in sacraments was not enough!*Participation in sacraments was not enough!►Neither of the above could effect salvation!Neither of the above could effect salvation!

JUSTIFICATION: The gift of GodJUSTIFICATION: The gift of God’’s grace to s grace to the the electelect (those (those ““CHOSENCHOSEN”” for salvation). for salvation).

SANCTIFICATION: The behavior that SANCTIFICATION: The behavior that resulted in an individual when they had resulted in an individual when they had been saved.been saved.►Evidence of salvation, but Evidence of salvation, but did notdid not cause it!!!! cause it!!!!

Primary Puritan InfluencesPrimary Puritan Influences

►Martin Luther (1483-1546)Martin Luther (1483-1546) A German theologian who attacked the A German theologian who attacked the

corruption in the Catholic Church with the corruption in the Catholic Church with the publication of his 95 thesis.publication of his 95 thesis.

Believed that all people were innately Believed that all people were innately endowed with grace through God.endowed with grace through God.

Argued that no pope or bishop had any Argued that no pope or bishop had any God-given right over the souls of men.God-given right over the souls of men.

► John Calvin (1509-1564)John Calvin (1509-1564) Believed that the downfall of mankind was Believed that the downfall of mankind was

directly related to the corruption resulting directly related to the corruption resulting from the fall of Adam and Eve.from the fall of Adam and Eve.

Believed that GodBelieved that God’’s forgiveness is limited s forgiveness is limited to a select group of followers (LIMITED to a select group of followers (LIMITED ATONEMENT).ATONEMENT).

Believed THAT GodBelieved THAT God’’s forgiveness could s forgiveness could neither be earned nor denied (IRRESTIBLE neither be earned nor denied (IRRESTIBLE GRACE).GRACE).

►Calvin Cont.Calvin Cont. Felt that GodFelt that God’’s chosen remain in a state of s chosen remain in a state of

grace while on earth and are taken grace while on earth and are taken directly to heaven when dead directly to heaven when dead (PERSEVERANCE OF SAINTS).(PERSEVERANCE OF SAINTS).

Covenants of Puritan Covenants of Puritan ThoughtThought

►The Covenant of WorksThe Covenant of Works – God – God promised his decedents eternal life if promised his decedents eternal life if they obeyed moral law.they obeyed moral law. After Adam broke this covenant, God After Adam broke this covenant, God

made a new covenant with Abraham.made a new covenant with Abraham. Puritans believed they were direct Puritans believed they were direct

descendants of Abraham.descendants of Abraham.

►The Covenant of GraceThe Covenant of Grace – This requires – This requires an active faith and an active faith and ““softenssoftens”” the the doctrine of predestination.doctrine of predestination. God still chooses the elect but there is God still chooses the elect but there is

now a sort of now a sort of ““contractcontract”” or understanding. or understanding.►Punishment for sin is a proper response to Punishment for sin is a proper response to

disobedience.disobedience.

►The Covenant of RedemptionThe Covenant of Redemption – The – The pre-existence of the aforementioned pre-existence of the aforementioned covenant.covenant. Christ bound God to accept him as manChrist bound God to accept him as man’’s s

representative.representative.►If Christ paid the price for the redemption of If Christ paid the price for the redemption of

believers, his followers would be washed of believers, his followers would be washed of their sins.their sins.

Puritanical Laws and Puritanical Laws and PunishmentsPunishments

►The laws and restrictions of the Puritans The laws and restrictions of the Puritans are known as some of the harshest in are known as some of the harshest in early American colonization and were early American colonization and were administered through religion.administered through religion. A person was fined, imprisoned, and whipped A person was fined, imprisoned, and whipped

for non-attendance at church services!for non-attendance at church services!►People were dealt with more harshly if they spoke People were dealt with more harshly if they spoke

against religion or denied the divine origin of any against religion or denied the divine origin of any book from the Bible.book from the Bible.

Women were not allowed to wear lace or Women were not allowed to wear lace or have clothes that showed skin!have clothes that showed skin!

EXCEPTIONEXCEPTION – Slashes in the wrists and – Slashes in the wrists and one in the back.one in the back.

Long hair worn by men, smoking in public, Long hair worn by men, smoking in public, or showing P.D.A. was unacceptable!!or showing P.D.A. was unacceptable!!

Youths were not allowed to court one Youths were not allowed to court one another in public and needed the consent another in public and needed the consent of the girlof the girl’’s parents to court period!s parents to court period!

Children were often found crying in fear Children were often found crying in fear they would go to hell and not be chosen they would go to hell and not be chosen as the elect!as the elect!►Crying was done privately as children were Crying was done privately as children were

punished for doing so in public!!!!!!punished for doing so in public!!!!!!

Puritan Literature (1650-Puritan Literature (1650-1750)1750)

►Content: Obviously the content was Content: Obviously the content was religious and included such religious and included such themes/ideasthemes/ideas Life is a Life is a ““testtest””: winners go to Heaven, losers : winners go to Heaven, losers

go to hell!go to hell! Earth is a battlefield between God and Earth is a battlefield between God and

SatanSatan American is a holy American is a holy ““promised landpromised land”” where where

Puritans will create Heaven on Earth, a Puritans will create Heaven on Earth, a Christian utopia!Christian utopia!

►Literary Genre:Literary Genre: sermons and religious tractssermons and religious tracts diariesdiaries historieshistories personal narrativespersonal narratives religious poemsreligious poems

Effect: There was very little, if any, Effect: There was very little, if any, imaginative literature produced.imaginative literature produced.

- If such lit. was produced it was for - If such lit. was produced it was for personal satisfaction and not to be personal satisfaction and not to be published.published.

Historical Context: Puritans were highly Historical Context: Puritans were highly educated and literate (many had university educated and literate (many had university degrees), mainly to understand scripture!degrees), mainly to understand scripture!