Learn about the dissident groups in Britain in the 17th and 18th centuries, including the Puritans, Baptists, Quakers, and Unitarians. In addition, Sean Kelly presents a vignette of John Biddle’s life and influence.
This is lecture 10 of a history of Christianity class called Five Hundred: From Martin Luther to Joel Osteen.

All the notes are available here as a pdf.
—— Notes ——
Puritans

Robert Browne (1550-1633)
Treatise of Reformation without Tarrying for Any, and of the Wickedness of those Preachers which will not Reform…till the Magistrate Command and Compel Them
Reformation needed to take place whether or not the king wanted it or not
Congressionalist rather than Presbyterian
A group of Dutch Brownists were the ones who came to the New World in 1620s

 
English Baptists

Not related to continental Anabaptists
Founded by John Smyth in 1609, an Englishman from Cambridge who fled to Amsterdam
General [Arminian] vs. Particular [Calvinist] are two types of Baptists
Reject role of the state in matters of conscience (church should be independent of the state)
John Bunyan (1628-88), Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners (1666)

Wrote autobiography Grace Abounding to Chief of Sinners
Pilgrim’s Progress (1678), second part appeared in 1684


Roger Williams (1603?-1683) brought Baptist faith to America

 
Quakers (“Society of Friends”)

Founded by George Fox (1624-1691)
“Inner Light” written in 1647: The word of God is not confined to the Bible but rather came directly to each person (inner light or inner voice)
He rejected social distinctions, allowed women to preach
Pacifists and egalitarians (worked against slavery in the US using underground railway)
No sacraments at all b/c they were physical
Total silence during meetings until someone is inspired to speak

 
British Unitarians

John Biddle (1615-1662), the father of English Unitarianism

brilliant man

1634 his anthology he published his translations from classics into English
at university he “outran his instructors and became tutor to himself” (Protesters, 131)
1634 he went to Magdalen Hall at Oxford
1641 he was headmaster of the Crypt Grammar School in Gloucester
immersed himself in Scripture for years
knew entire NT by heart in English and most in Greek, though about Rev. 4 his memory got fuzzy


claimed he never read Socinian literature before coming to his own opinions
wrote a pamphlet, Twelve Arguments against the Deity of the Holy Spirit
1646 summoned to London’s parliament and imprisoned for 5 years
1648 Publishes two anti-Trinitarian documents

A Confession of Faith Toughing the Holy Trinity According to Scripture
The Testimonies of Irenaeus, Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Novatianus, Theophilus, Origen. As Also of Arnobius, Lactanius, Easebius, Hilary and Brightman Concerning the One God and the Persons of the Holy Trinity


1652 Biddle released and remained in London where he found fellowship
1654 Biddle published his Twofold Catechism
when Oliver Cromwell got in power Biddle was released
returned to quiet active work in a church
two months later he was imprisoned in Newgate prison
remained at St Mary’s for 3 years

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