Which Document Created the Government the Puritans Would Follow?

The Puritans were a Protestant group who sought to purify the Church of England of what they saw as Catholic practices and beliefs. They believed that the church should be governed by a body of elected elders, rather than by bishops appointed by the king. In 1643, the Puritans drew up a document called the Westminster Confession of Faith, which outlined their religious and political beliefs. This document would eventually form the basis of the government of the Puritan Commonwealth, which was established in England in 1649.

The Westminster Confession of Faith

The Westminster Confession of Faith was a lengthy document that covered a wide range of topics, including the nature of God, the authority of Scripture, the role of the church, and the duties of magistrates. It was written by a group of Puritan divines who were assembled at Westminster Abbey by the Parliament of England. The confession was intended to be a statement of the Puritans’ beliefs, and it was eventually adopted by the Puritan churches in England and Scotland.

The Westminster Confession of Faith was a radical document for its time. It rejected the idea of a divine right of kings and argued that the government should be based on the consent of the governed. It also called for the separation of church and state and for the establishment of a republic.

The Puritan Commonwealth

The Puritan Commonwealth was a republic that was established in England in 1649 after the execution of King Charles I. The Commonwealth was governed by a council of state, which was elected by Parliament. The Puritans implemented a number of reforms during their rule, including the abolition of the monarchy, the establishment of a republic, and the introduction of a number of religious reforms.

The Puritan Commonwealth was a period of great social and political upheaval. The Puritans were a minority group, and they faced opposition from both Royalists and Catholics. The Commonwealth was also plagued by economic problems and by the threat of invasion from Scotland. In 1660, the monarchy was restored and the Puritan Commonwealth came to an end.

The Legacy of the Westminster Confession of Faith

The Westminster Confession of Faith is still considered to be an important document in the history of Protestantism. It has been used as a basis for the constitutions of a number of churches, including the Presbyterian Church of Scotland, the United Church of Canada, and the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. The confession has also been influential in the development of American constitutional law.

The Westminster Confession of Faith is a complex and controversial document. It has been praised for its clarity and precision, but it has also been criticized for its rigidity and intolerance. Nevertheless, the confession remains an important landmark in the history of Protestantism and a valuable source of information about the beliefs of the Puritans.

Key Points

• The Westminster Confession of Faith was a document that outlined the religious and political beliefs of the Puritans.
• The confession was written by a group of Puritan divines who were assembled at Westminster Abbey by the Parliament of England.
• The confession was intended to be a statement of the Puritans’ beliefs, and it was eventually adopted by the Puritan churches in England and Scotland.
• The Westminster Confession of Faith was a radical document for its time. It rejected the idea of a divine right of kings and argued that the government should be based on the consent of the governed.
• The Puritan Commonwealth was a republic that was established in England in 1649 after the execution of King Charles I.
• The Commonwealth was governed by a council of state, which was elected by Parliament.
• The Puritans implemented a number of reforms during their rule, including the abolition of the monarchy, the establishment of a republic, and the introduction of a number of religious reforms.
• The Puritan Commonwealth was a period of great social and political upheaval.
• In 1660, the monarchy was restored and the Puritan Commonwealth came to an end.
• The Westminster Confession of Faith is still considered to be an important document in the history of Protestantism.

Tables

Table 1: Key Provisions of the Westminster Confession of Faith

Table 2: Major Events in the History of the Puritan Commonwealth

Table 3: Influential Figures in the Puritan Commonwealth

Table 4: Impact of the Puritan Commonwealth