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List of Puritans
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The Puritans were originally members of a group of English Protestants seeking "purity", further reforms or even separation from the established church, during the Reformation. The group is also extended to include some early colonial American ministers and important lay-leaders. The majority of people in this list were mainstream Puritans, adhering strictly to the doctrine of Predestination.
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[edit]- Robert Baillie
- John Ball
- Henry Barrowe
- Richard Baxter
- Thomas Baylie
- Lewis Bayly
- Richard Bernard
- Robert Bolton
- Samuel Bolton
- John Bond
- Thomas Boston
- Theophilus Brabourne
- William Bradford
- William Bradshaw
- Anne Bradstreet
- William Bridge
- John Brinsley the elder
- Thomas Brooks
- Hugh Broughton
- Robert Browne
- John Bunyan
- Peter Bulkley
- Anthony Burges
- Cornelius Burgess
- Jeremiah Burroughs
- Henry Burton
- Nicholas Byfield
- Richard Byfield
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[edit]M
[edit]N
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[edit]U
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[edit]W
[edit]- George Walker
- Nehemiah Wallington
- John Wallis
- Nathaniel Ward
- Samuel Ward (minister)
- Samuel Ward (scholar)
- Thomas Watson
- Isaac Watts
- Thomas Wellman
- Paul Wentworth
- Peter Wentworth
- John Wheelwright
- Jeremiah Whitaker
- John White
- David Whitehead
- William Whittingham
- Giles Wigginton
- Michael Wigglesworth
- John Wilson
- John Winthrop
- Daniel Williams
- Roger Williams
- George Wither
- John Woodbridge
- Benjamin Woodbridge
- Robert Woodford
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[edit]See also
[edit]
Sources
[edit]- Lives of the Puritans by Benjamin Brook and Daniel Neal's History of the Puritans
- Anderson, Robert Charles, The Great Migration Begins, Immigrants to New England, 1620-1640 (multi-vol series), Boston: New Historic Genealogical Society, 1995.
- Beeke, Joel, and Randall Pederson, Meet the Puritans: With a Guide to Modern Reprints, (Reformation Heritage Books, 2006) ISBN 978-1-60178-000-3
- Cross, Claire, The Puritan Earl, The Life of Henry Hastings, Third Earl of Huntingdon, 1536-1595, New York: St. Martin's Press, 1966.
- Fischer, David Hackett, Albion's Seed, Four British Folkways in America, New York: Oxford University Press, 1989.
- Morison, Samuel Eliot, Builders of the Bay Colony, Boston: Northeastern University Press, 1930 (1981 reprint).
- Powell, Sumner Chilton, Puritan Village, The Formation of a New England Town, Middletown: Wesleyan University Press, 1963.
- Stavely, Keith W.F., Puritan Legacies, Paradise Lost and the New England Tradition, 1630-1890, Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1987.
List of Puritans
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Introduction
Defining Puritanism
Puritanism emerged as a reform movement within the Church of England during the late 16th century, particularly under the reign of Elizabeth I (1558–1603), where proponents sought to eliminate perceived remnants of Roman Catholicism such as elaborate ceremonies, vestments, and episcopal hierarchy. Adherents, initially derogatorily termed "Puritans" around 1560, advocated for a simpler, Scripture-based worship aligned with Reformed theology, drawing from the teachings of John Calvin and continental reformers.[8] This movement emphasized the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Bible as the sole rule of faith and practice, and the need for ongoing reformation beyond the Elizabethan Settlement of 1559, which had established a moderate Protestant church.[9][10] Central to Puritan theology was the doctrine of predestination, rooted in Calvinism, positing that God eternally elects individuals for salvation or damnation independent of human merit, with evidence of election manifested in a converted life of piety and good works.[1] Covenant theology further structured their worldview, viewing God's dealings with humanity through covenants of works (pre-Fall obedience) and grace (post-Fall redemption through Christ), extending to church covenants among believers and even national covenants binding communities to biblical obedience.[11] Puritans stressed experimental religion—personal assurance of grace through introspection, repentance, and sanctification—while promoting rigorous moral discipline, including strict Sabbath observance, family catechizing, and opposition to vices like theater attendance and excessive adornment.[12][13] Though diverse in ecclesiology—ranging from presbyterian advocates of national church reform to congregationalists favoring autonomous gathered churches—Puritans shared a commitment to doctrinal purity and practical divinity, influencing English politics, education, and eventually transatlantic migration in the 17th century.[5] Their insistence on visible saints and disciplined congregations often led to tensions with Anglican authorities, culminating in events like the Westminster Assembly of 1643, which produced confessional standards such as the Westminster Confession emphasizing these tenets.[14] This definitional framework distinguishes Puritans from other Protestants by their intensive pursuit of holiness in church and society, grounded in empirical self-examination and covenantal realism rather than mere orthodoxy.[12]Historical Context and Significance
![The Puritan statue by Augustus Saint-Gaudens][float-right] Puritanism emerged in England during the reign of Elizabeth I (1558–1603) as a reform movement within the Church of England, driven by Protestants who viewed the Elizabethan Religious Settlement of 1559 as insufficiently reformed from Roman Catholic practices, such as episcopal hierarchy and liturgical elements. These reformers, influenced by Calvinist theology emphasizing predestination and scriptural authority, sought further "purification" by advocating simpler worship, presbyterian governance over bishops, and stricter moral discipline in society. The term "Puritan" initially served as a pejorative label for nonconformist clergy and laity who resisted ceremonial vestments and rituals mandated by the Act of Uniformity 1559 and subsequent enforcement under Archbishop John Whitgift in the 1580s–1590s, leading to conflicts like the Classis movement's underground presbyterian networks.[10][1] The movement gained political traction under James I (1603–1625) and Charles I (1625–1649), where Puritans in Parliament opposed Arminian influences at court and the perceived popish tendencies of Archbishop William Laud, culminating in the English Civil War (1642–1651). Puritan-aligned Parliamentarians, bolstered by the New Model Army under Oliver Cromwell, defeated Royalists, executed Charles I in 1649, and established the Commonwealth (1649–1653) followed by the Protectorate (1653–1659), during which Puritan ideals shaped state religion via the Westminster Assembly's 1646 standards and efforts to enforce sabbatarianism and suppress vice. This era marked Puritanism's zenith in England, with reforms like the abolition of the episcopacy in 1646, though internal divisions between Presbyterians, Independents, and sects like Quakers eroded unity.[1] Simultaneously, persecution prompted transatlantic migration, with approximately 15,000 to 20,000 Puritans settling in New England between 1630 and 1640, founding colonies like Massachusetts Bay under John Winthrop's 1630 leadership, where covenant theology informed congregational churches and theocratic governance prioritizing biblical law. These settlements exemplified Puritan visions of a "city upon a hill," influencing early American legal codes, education (e.g., Harvard College founded 1636 for ministerial training), and resistance to hierarchy, though events like the 1692 Salem witch trials exposed tensions between orthodoxy and emerging rationalism.[15][16] The Restoration of Charles II in 1660 ended Puritan dominance in England, as the Cavalier Parliament enacted the Clarendon Code (1661–1665), including the Corporation Act 1661 and Act of Uniformity 1662, which expelled thousands of Puritan ministers and barred nonconformists from public office, forcing many into Dissenting academies or emigration. In America, Puritan influence persisted longer but declined amid the Great Awakening's revivals and secularization, yet their emphasis on literacy, self-government, and Protestant work ethic left enduring legacies in Anglo-American institutions, evidenced by the 1689 Toleration Act's partial concessions and the colonies' role in the 1776 Revolution.[16][17]Inclusion Criteria
Standards for Identification as Puritan
Identification as a Puritan requires adherence to the Reformed theological tradition originating in the Calvinist reforms of the sixteenth century, characterized by doctrines such as predestination, the sovereignty of God, justification by faith alone, and the primacy of Scripture over ecclesiastical traditions.[18] Individuals meeting this standard typically sought to eliminate perceived remnants of Roman Catholicism from the Church of England, including ceremonial practices like the use of vestments, the sign of the cross in baptism, and kneeling at communion, viewing these as superstitious corruptions that hindered true worship.[1] This theological commitment was not merely intellectual but manifested in a rigorous moral discipline, emphasizing personal conversion experiences, visible piety, and the covenantal responsibility of the elect to live holy lives as evidence of divine grace.[19] Historically, Puritans were active primarily from the Elizabethan era through the Restoration, spanning approximately 1560 to 1660, during which they advocated for further reformation beyond the 1559 Settlement that established the Church of England.[19] Key identifiers include participation in reformist networks, such as presbyterian or congregationalist ecclesiology, authorship of polemical works critiquing Anglican hierarchy, or involvement in separatist congregations that prioritized gathered churches of the "visibly godly" over national uniformity.[1] Migration to New England colonies, as in the Great Migration of 1630–1640 led by figures seeking biblical governance, serves as a concrete marker for many, though English Puritans remaining in the homeland through the Civil Wars and Interregnum are equally identifiable by their advocacy for parliamentary reformation and opposition to episcopacy.[18] Scholarly identification relies on primary evidence like sermons, diaries, and correspondence demonstrating these commitments, rather than retrospective labels, as the term "Puritan" was initially a pejorative applied by opponents to denote excessive scrupulosity.[19] Behavioral standards include a revivalistic emphasis on experiential communion with God and practical divinity, distinguishing Puritans from broader Protestants by their intolerance for adiaphora (indifferent matters) in worship that they deemed biblically unwarranted.[1] While variations exist—such as between moderate conformists and radical separatists—core criteria exclude those whose views deviated significantly toward Arminianism or antinomianism, ensuring classification reflects causal alignment with the movement's first-principles drive for scriptural purity over institutional compromise.[18]Debates on Classification and Marginal Cases
Historians have long debated the precise boundaries of Puritan identity, given the term's origins as a pejorative label applied by opponents to nonconformist clergy within the Church of England during the late 16th century, rather than a self-chosen descriptor.[10] This ambiguity complicates classification, as "Puritan" encompassed a spectrum of reformers advocating stricter discipline, Calvinist doctrine, and moral rigor, yet not all shared identical views on church governance or separation from the established church.[20] Scholars like Patrick Collinson emphasized Puritanism as a dynamic movement of "godly" Protestants committed to ongoing reformation, but critics argue this risks anachronistic broadening, conflating mere Calvinism with the activist piety and anti-ceremonialism central to the label.[21] A key contention arises over inclusion of those who remained conformists versus outright nonconformists; mainstream Puritans sought internal purification of the Church of England, distinguishing them from separatists like the Pilgrims, yet transitional figures who occasionally subscribed to episcopal orders challenge rigid categorization.[22] In Restoration England, figures such as Richard Baxter engaged in explicit definitional disputes, portraying Puritans as biblicist moderates upholding scriptural authority in faith and practice, against portrayals of them as sectarian extremists—a debate echoed in modern historiography where Baxter's self-defense highlights how contemporaries rejected the term's derogatory freight while affirming its core as devotion to "pure" worship.[23][24] Marginal cases further illustrate classification challenges, such as Thomas Adams, a 17th-century London preacher whose Calvinist leanings and moral emphases led 19th-century antiquarians to label him Puritan, despite his lack of evident nonconformity and alignment with orthodox Anglican pulpits; modern reassessments, drawing on his self-styling as merely a "preacher" without separatist rhetoric, relegate him to the periphery as a fellow-traveler rather than core exemplar.[25] Similarly, natural philosophers like Francis Bacon have been variably claimed for Puritanism due to providentialist undertones in their work, but historians critique such inclusions for overstretching the term beyond its ecclesiological and pietistic anchors, as Bacon's establishment ties and pragmatic politics diverge from the movement's sabbatarian and presbyterian impulses.[26] These borderline inclusions underscore the need for criteria rooted in contemporary evidence of "godly" affiliation—such as preaching against "popish" remnants or involvement in fast days—over retrospective theological affinity.[19]English Puritans
Religious Leaders and Theologians
English Puritan religious leaders and theologians advanced Reformed theology through preaching, systematic treatises, and advocacy for presbyterian governance, often facing persecution under Elizabethan and Stuart regimes for opposing episcopacy and vestments.- Thomas Cartwright (1535–1603): A Cambridge professor and early leader of the Puritan movement, Cartwright championed presbyterianism against the established episcopal structure, authoring A Second Admonition to Parliament (1572) that argued for classis-based church discipline modeled on Geneva.[27] His expulsion from academia in 1570 exemplified early Puritan resistance to royal supremacy in ecclesiastical matters.[28]
- William Perkins (1558–1602): Lecturer at St. Andrew's Church in Cambridge from 1584, Perkins systematized Puritan theology in works like Armilla Aurea (1590), outlining supralapsarian predestination and experimental Calvinism, influencing generations of clergy through his emphasis on covenant theology and casuistry.[29] His preaching converted figures like Richard Sibbes and shaped Puritan pastoral practice across England.[30]
- Richard Sibbes (1577–1635): Preacher at Gray's Inn, London, from 1617 and master of Catherine Hall, Cambridge, from 1626, Sibbes promoted affectionate piety in sermons such as The Bruised Reed (1630), drawing on Christ's tenderness to encourage weak believers, thereby softening Puritanism's rigor for broader appeal.[31] His irenic style influenced Charles I's court yet avoided conformity controversies.[32]
- John Preston (1587–1628): Chaplain to Prince Charles and master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, from 1622, Preston integrated Ramist logic into theology, authoring The Breastplate of Faith (1622) on assurance and defending Calvinist orthodoxy at the Synod of Dort indirectly through disciples.[7]
- Richard Baxter (1615–1691): Vicar of Kidderminster from 1641 to 1660, Baxter authored over 160 works, including The Reformed Pastor (1656), advocating rigorous pastoral visitation and moderated Calvinism via his "system of divinity" that balanced justification with sanctification.[7] Despite ejection under the Act of Uniformity in 1662, his practical divinity shaped nonconformist theology post-Restoration.[33]
- Thomas Goodwin (1600–1680): Independent divine and president of Magdalen College, Oxford, from 1650, Goodwin contributed to the Westminster Assembly (1643–1652), writing treatises like The Work of the Holy Spirit (1670s) that expounded trinitarian pneumatology and perseverance of the saints.[34]
- John Owen (1616–1683): Chaplain to Oliver Cromwell from 1649 and dean of Christ Church, Oxford, Owen produced seminal defenses of particular redemption in The Death of Death in the Death of Christ (1647) and a multi-volume Commentary on Hebrews (1668–1684), emphasizing mortification of sin and union with Christ.[7] His post-1660 writings sustained Independent Puritanism amid royalist backlash.[35]
Political and Military Leaders
John Pym (1584–1643) was a pivotal Puritan-aligned statesman in the English Parliament, serving as a member for various constituencies including Tavistock from 1621 and leading the opposition against King Charles I's policies through the Petition of Right in 1628 and the Grand Remonstrance in 1641.[36] As the de facto leader of the Long Parliament convened on November 3, 1640, Pym organized parliamentary resistance that contributed to the outbreak of the First English Civil War in 1642, emphasizing Puritan grievances against perceived Catholic influences at court.[36] Oliver Cromwell (1599–1658) emerged as both a political and military titan among English Puritans, converting to fervent Puritanism around 1630 and entering Parliament as MP for Huntingdon in 1628 and Cambridge in 1640.[37] Appointed lieutenant-general of horse in the Parliamentarian forces by 1643, he raised the Ironsides cavalry regiment, known for its discipline rooted in Puritan piety, and played decisive roles in victories at Marston Moor on July 2, 1644, and Naseby on June 14, 1645.[38] Politically, Cromwell orchestrated the New Model Army's purge of Parliament in Pride's Purge on December 6–7, 1648, leading to the regicide of Charles I on January 30, 1649, and his own elevation as Lord Protector on December 16, 1653, under a constitution that centralized power amid Puritan efforts to reform church and state. His rule suppressed radical Puritan sects like the Levellers while enforcing moral reforms, such as closing theaters in 1642 and prohibiting Christmas celebrations as popish.[38] Sir Henry Vane the Younger (1613–1662), influenced by Puritan convictions, served as a key Parliamentarian figure, briefly governing Massachusetts Bay Colony from 1636 to 1637 before returning to England as MP for Hull in 1640.[36] He championed Puritan causes in the Long Parliament, opposing episcopacy and supporting the Solemn League and Covenant in 1643, while militarily aiding in the defense of Hull during the Civil War's early stages.[36] Vane's advocacy for religious toleration clashed with stricter Puritan elements, leading to his execution for treason after the Restoration on June 14, 1662.[36] Other notable Puritan military contributors included officers in the New Model Army, formed on February 15, 1645, under Thomas Fairfax but infused with Puritan zeal, emphasizing prayer and covenanting among troops to sustain morale through campaigns totaling over 600 engagements.[39] Figures like Philip Skippon commanded infantry with Puritan discipline, exemplifying the fusion of religious conviction and martial efficacy that secured Parliament's victory by 1646.[40]Writers and Intellectuals
William Perkins (1558–1602), often regarded as the father of English Puritanism, was a Cambridge theologian whose writings emphasized practical divinity, predestination, and casuistry; his influential works include A Golden Chain (1591), which systematized Calvinist soteriology, and The Arte of Prophesying (1592), a guide to preaching that shaped Puritan homiletics.[41][30] Richard Baxter (1615–1691), a nonconformist minister and one of the most prolific Puritan authors with over 160 publications, focused on pastoral theology and ecclesiology; key texts include The Reformed Pastor (1656), advocating rigorous ministerial oversight, and A Call to the Unconverted (1658), a evangelistic treatise that sold widely and promoted personal piety amid civil unrest.[42][43] John Owen (1616–1683), a leading Independent theologian and former dean of Christ Church, Oxford, produced systematic treatises on pneumatology and Christology; notable among his 40 volumes are The Death of Death in the Death of Christ (1647), defending definite atonement, and Communion with God (1657), exploring Trinitarian fellowship, which underscored Puritan emphasis on experiential orthodoxy.[44][45] Thomas Goodwin (1600–1680), an evangelical preacher and president of Magdalen College, Oxford, contributed to Puritan soteriology through expository works like The Heart of Christ in Heaven Towards Sinners on Earth (1641), highlighting Christ's intercession, and influenced covenant theology while advocating separation from episcopal structures.[46][47] John Bunyan (1628–1688), a Bedford tinker turned nonconformist preacher imprisoned for 12 years under the Restoration, authored allegorical and devotional literature; his masterpiece The Pilgrim's Progress (1678), depicting the Christian journey from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City, became one of the most translated English books, embodying Puritan themes of perseverance amid persecution.[48][49]New England Puritans
Religious Leaders and Theologians
English Puritan religious leaders and theologians advanced Reformed theology through preaching, systematic treatises, and advocacy for presbyterian governance, often facing persecution under Elizabethan and Stuart regimes for opposing episcopacy and vestments.- Thomas Cartwright (1535–1603): A Cambridge professor and early leader of the Puritan movement, Cartwright championed presbyterianism against the established episcopal structure, authoring A Second Admonition to Parliament (1572) that argued for classis-based church discipline modeled on Geneva.[27] His expulsion from academia in 1570 exemplified early Puritan resistance to royal supremacy in ecclesiastical matters.[28]
- William Perkins (1558–1602): Lecturer at St. Andrew's Church in Cambridge from 1584, Perkins systematized Puritan theology in works like Armilla Aurea (1590), outlining supralapsarian predestination and experimental Calvinism, influencing generations of clergy through his emphasis on covenant theology and casuistry.[29] His preaching converted figures like Richard Sibbes and shaped Puritan pastoral practice across England.[30]
- Richard Sibbes (1577–1635): Preacher at Gray's Inn, London, from 1617 and master of Catherine Hall, Cambridge, from 1626, Sibbes promoted affectionate piety in sermons such as The Bruised Reed (1630), drawing on Christ's tenderness to encourage weak believers, thereby softening Puritanism's rigor for broader appeal.[31] His irenic style influenced Charles I's court yet avoided conformity controversies.[32]
- John Preston (1587–1628): Chaplain to Prince Charles and master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, from 1622, Preston integrated Ramist logic into theology, authoring The Breastplate of Faith (1622) on assurance and defending Calvinist orthodoxy at the Synod of Dort indirectly through disciples.[7]
- Richard Baxter (1615–1691): Vicar of Kidderminster from 1641 to 1660, Baxter authored over 160 works, including The Reformed Pastor (1656), advocating rigorous pastoral visitation and moderated Calvinism via his "system of divinity" that balanced justification with sanctification.[7] Despite ejection under the Act of Uniformity in 1662, his practical divinity shaped nonconformist theology post-Restoration.[33]
- Thomas Goodwin (1600–1680): Independent divine and president of Magdalen College, Oxford, from 1650, Goodwin contributed to the Westminster Assembly (1643–1652), writing treatises like The Work of the Holy Spirit (1670s) that expounded trinitarian pneumatology and perseverance of the saints.[34]
- John Owen (1616–1683): Chaplain to Oliver Cromwell from 1649 and dean of Christ Church, Oxford, Owen produced seminal defenses of particular redemption in The Death of Death in the Death of Christ (1647) and a multi-volume Commentary on Hebrews (1668–1684), emphasizing mortification of sin and union with Christ.[7] His post-1660 writings sustained Independent Puritanism amid royalist backlash.[35]