Church History
Church History
Church History
Calvin The Educator
Reason #12: Calvin models for us a proper recognition of the importance of education—especially seminary training, which is the backbone of the Christian enterprise (2). David Hall provides an apt summary of this point: Calvin broke with medieval pedagogy that limited education primarily to an aristocratic elite. His academy, founded...
Church History
Definition of Puritanism
Just what is meant by the term Puritan? Many people today use the term to describe a morose and legalistic brand of Christianity that borders on fanaticism. Much of this stereotype was the product of nineteenth-century anti-Puritan sentiments. While subsequent cultures have expressed various opinions of the Puritans, it is...
Church History
A Succint Puritan View of the Christian’s Mission in Society
The Puritans sought to bring every area of life consciously under Christ’s lordship and the direction of God’s Word. They believed that all of life is under God’s fatherly providence and that his infinite goodness is the source of every good thing we enjoy. They also believed that we constantly...
Church History
Archibald Alexander Life and ministry
The nineteenth century was a time of great change in the churches of Britain and the United States. This period witnessed an explosion of worldwide missions as William Carey, Adoniram Judson, Henry Martyn, Hudson Taylor, and many others led waves of Protestant missionaries to fields around the world. At the...
Church History
Twenty Benefits from the Lord’s Supper
Our Reformed and Puritan forebears were fond of calling the Lord’s Supper a feast. They viewed it as a feast given by the Lord of hosts, the faithful, covenant-keeping God, who, in Christ Jesus, is the author, founder, master, and divine host of this feast. He provides this feast “of...
Church History
Puritans on Marital Love
Edward Taylor (c. 1642–1729), a pastor, physician, and poet of Puritan New England, wrote, “A curious knot God made in Paradise…. It was the true-love knot, more sweet than spice.” The writings of the Puritans are sprinkled with declarations of the sweetness of marital love. They delighted in the love...
Church History
Calvin’s interpretation of the clarity of Scripture
In working out his interpretation of the clarity of Scripture, Calvin used several hermeneutical principles: The interpreter must be a believer, and must strive to grow in such qualities as humble wisdom, attentive listening, sound judgment, reverential piety, obedient teachableness, and mature perseverance. The interpreter must be theologically informed and...
Church History
The Worldview of the Puritans
The Puritans did not use the term worldview, for such terminology did not appear until the late eighteenth century in Germany and was popularized in the nineteenth century. But the Puritans still had a worldview, which was shaped by the written Word of God. With this divinely given worldview they...
Church History
Some of My Favorite Puritans
My favorite Puritan-minded theologian from the English tradition is Anthony Burgess; from the Dutch tradition, Wilhelmus á Brakel; and from the Scottish tradition, Samuel Rutherford. Let me explain why. Anthony Burgess (d. 1664) In my opinion, Anthony Burgess, vicar of Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire from 1635 to 1662, is the most...
