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Originally published in 1967, this book is a history of church puritanism as a movement and as a political and ecclesiastical organism; of its membership structure and internal contradictions; of the quest for 'a further reformation'. It tells the fascinating story of the rise of a revolutionary moment and its ultimate destruction.
List of contents
Part 1: Puritanism and the Elizabethan Church 1. The Church of England and the English Churches 2. ‘But Halfly Reformed.’ 3. The Beginnings of a Party Part 2: The Breach Opens 1. So Many Learned and Religious Bishops 2. That Comical Dress 3. London’s Protestant Underworld 4. The People and the Pope’s Attire Part 3: The First Presbyterians 1. A New Dogma 2. The Circumstances of its Assertion 3. The Universities and the New Men 4. The Early Presbyterian Movement 5. An Inquisition and a Witch-Hunt Part 4: Moderate Courses 1. Grindal 2. The Prophesyings 3. Pastores Pastorum: The Promise of Grindal’s Church 4. Reaction 5. Exercises, Conferences and Fasts 6. The Dedham Conference Part 5: 1584 1. Whitgift 2. The First Round 3. The Second Round 4. The Parliament of 1584-5 Part 6: The Grand Design 1. The Book of Discipline 2. The Bill and Book 3. A Mixed Reception Part 7: Presbytery in Episcopacy 1. The Congregation and its Ministers 2. Discipline and the Eldership 3. Worship 4. The Meetings of the Godly Part 8: Discovery, Prosecution and Dissolution 1. Partly Fearing, Partly Hoping 2. On Trial 3. The Star Chamber 4. Underground and Diverted 5. The End of a Movement
About the author
J. T. Cliffe is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.
Summary
Originally published in 1967, this book is a history of church puritanism as a movement and as a political and ecclesiastical organism; of its membership structure and internal contradictions; of the quest for ‘a further reformation’.
