MONDAY 3

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