A quick thought for you following from last weeks discussion For you to think about and possibly...
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Transcript of A quick thought for you following from last weeks discussion For you to think about and possibly...
A quick thought for you following from last weeks discussion
For you to think about and possibly bring to Friday’s discussion
Does an English Rogue in America
an American Rebel make?
England of 16th and 17th Centuries was a hierarchical place
One area that this played out was in religion
Especially after 1534 when England broke away from Rome
Religion at this time was a central part
individual life Political and National life
It was also changing, Joe Smith born 1514 Entered a society with a traditional
religion At 20, 1534, learned the shocking news
that the King was the head of his church, not the pope
At 35, had to become a protestant and worship to the English Prayer book
At 39, back to being a Catholic or risk “going to the fire”
1558, Elizabeth took thrown
Elizabeth 1 Announced
would not meddle with the consciences of the people
As long as they conformed to the national religion in worship
Catholic population Small approximately 35,000 Recusant Catholics At this time Puritans were also
low in number But made a noise far larger than
their numbers
Protestants who had fled under Mary came back
Headed directly to the pagan glories with ax hammer and paintbrush
Checked by royal authority and had to act more discreetly
Turn to political action And printing (abusive press led to first press
censorship)
Protestantism Ephesians ii:8 “For it is by His grace
that you are saved, through trusting him; it is not your own doing. It is God’s gift, not a reward for Work done” Predestination
Everyone should read the bible Central point of church service was
sermon Clergy educated enough to preach
intelligently and be effective in propagating the Gospel
Those with the strongest beliefs“the hotter type of protestant”
Called themselves “The Godly” Their lives had a greater focus on
living the Puritan ideals Made much of the difference
between “Credal” predestination Shallow “Experimental” predestination
“Experimental” predestination Every aspect of the lives of “The
Godly” was dominated by predestination
Spent days and nights in a high level of spiritual intensity
Long periods of self-examination and introspection
To reveal that they have been “chosen” by God
Belief that England was an Elect Nation
Early 1600s A couple of (suspected) puritan
printers were hung Law forbade all preaching in private
houses Included Barns Open spaces And woods i.e. any where but official church
Particularly harsh to the separatists
For the separatists The congregation should
choose its own pastor, elder, and other officers
No bishop whether acting for Pope or King should have any control
A strong location for the puritans/separatists was London
Leaders of London congregation
John Greenwood & Henry Barrow
Greenwood arrested October 1587
Barrow went to visit him in November They did not let him go
1592 Francis Johnston chosen as Pastor
1593 Greenwood and Barrow hung
Hung under the Anti-catholic act of 1581
Not the only ones to die
Important to note They were not
hung for heresy But for treason Taking this as a
hint 50 or so of the
congregation left for Amsterdam
1588 English successfully , if luckily, defeated the Spanish Armada
Allowed for reinforcement of English power
1597 Johnston was allowed to follow
Was pastor for 25 years
Church in Amsterdam
known as the First English Church of the Separation
24th March 1603 James VI of
Scotland becomes James I of England A skillful leader in
many ways Years of
experience in Scotland
Made tactical peace with Catholic Spain
However, James was frustrated by challenge to his position as head of
the church Wanted submission to his own idea
of the direction of the Church of England
Angered by puritans Exclaimed against the idea that any “Jack and Tom and Will and Dick
shall meet, and at their pleasure censure me and my Council and all their proceedings”
Hampton Court Ceremony 1604Attempt to resolve issuesEnglish language bible not much else
King James BibleAttempt to fix the religious
understanding of England
Title Page 1st edition
“I will make them
conform or I will harry
them out of the land, or
else do worse”
Catholic recusants increased
Punishment increased
1605 Guy Fawkes & the Gunpowder plot
Not only were Catholics chased and harried
Separatists also came under renewed pressure
Difference grows between Puritans & Pilgrims Both shared a belief that no one above
the congregation should influence local church behavior
Difference was one of temperament Puritans wanted to “purify” the church Separatists, “the Godly,” did not
believe the reformation of the church was complete
Wanted to “separate” from the Church of England