Chapter II: Part I: The Puritan Heritage--1620-1660

I. English Backgrounds

I. Carolinian liberalism an attempt to create a new social system
to replace the feudal, resulting in the doctrine of natural
rights, democracy, and equalitarianism. The result of changing
economics. Puritanism primarily middle-class. Types of church
polity--monarchical, aristocratic, democratic. Separatism the left
wing of Puritanism 5

II. Diverse theologies of Luther and Calvin. Reactionary nature of
Calvinism: established in absolutism--universality of moral law,
determinism, reprobation--denial of natural rights 11

II. The Transplanting of Ideas

I. The settlement of New England came in the middle period of the
Puritan movement. Pilgrim and Puritan 16

II. The Puritan Presbyterian: Social station--aristocratic, yet
with middle-class ambitions. Hostility to ideal of Separatism.
Sanctions of the oligarchy, of the theocracy. A Utopian venture 17

III. Certain Mistakes: The Plymouth covenant-principle--stages in
the nullification of the Separatist principle: the fellowship of
the churches; statutes erecting a state church; the climax reached
in the Cambridge Platform. The adoption of a freehold tenure of
land. Webster’s interpretation 22

III. The Chief Stewards of Theocracy

I. Master John Cotton--Priest: Representative of priestly
stewardship. Scholar and intellectual. Doctrine of an ethical
aristocracy and carnal liberty. A scripturist, seeking to check
the drift towards democracy. His _Model of Moses his Judicials_.
Rejection of natural rights, of hereditary aristocracy. _The
Way of the Congregational Churches Cleared._ Debate with Roger
Williams--freedom to follow the law of God 27

II. John Winthrop--Magistrate: Lay representative of theocracy. A
cultivated gentleman. Reasons for removal. Influence of the Bible.
His leadership; conception of magistracy ennobled by Puritanism.
Implied absolutism--political philosophy. Struggle with the
deputies; distrust of democracy. Absolute authority of law--the
Little Speech. Liberty to the good, just, and honest.
Consequences 38

IV. The Contributions of Independency

I. The clash between Presbyterianism and Independency--the right
of individual freedom. Liberal leaders--Hooker, Williams. Two
commonwealths--Connecticut, Rhode Island 51

II. Thomas Hooker--Puritan Liberal: A moderate. Sprung from low
social origins. As a preacher in England; removal to Hartford.
Democratic order of the commonwealth due to Hooker. His _Survey of
the Summe of Church Discipline_ 53

III. Roger Williams--Seeker: Embodiment of radical Independency,
and forerunner of later generations. A provocative figure. Stages
in his intellectual development. A mystic and Christian democrat,
concerned with a new social order. His political theory: the
compact theory and theocratic absolutism; conception of the
state--of government; the compact a constitution, government an
agent, and the end the common well-being. Theory of toleration. A
great political thinker. The constitution of Rhode Island 62

V. Other Dreamers in Israel

I. Nathaniel Ward--Elizabethan Puritan: A Puritan wit and belated
Euphuist. The _Simple Cobler of Aggawam_--a mingling of satire and
politics. A constitutionalist, pleading for a written compact to
delimit prerogative and popular rights. His body of law 76

II. John Eliot--A Theocratic Utopia: _The Christian Commonwealth_.
Ordered to be suppressed. His plan of a Christian state. A rigid
social order 81