16 th -century Background

1492 – Columbus discovered the New World & inspired global exploration during the 16th century Global Context • 1607 – England staked a claim in the New World with founding of Jamestown

1517 – Martin Luther sparked Reformation with 95 Theses 1521 – Ulrich Zwingli, began Reform movement in Switzerland 1536 – John Calvin wrote first edition of Institutes Global Context

1536 – William Tyndale was martyred for translating Bible into English; prayed “Lord, open the King of England’s eyes!” Global Context • 1539 – Henry VIII ordered Great Bible to be placed in every church in England

Anabaptists • 1525, in Zürich, Ulrich Zwingli’s students became convinced that believer’s baptism was the correct NT practice • Zwingli & Zürich City Council condemned & persecuted these Anabaptists, or “Re-baptizers” • Most leaders were dead within 5 years

Anabaptists • Commonalities with early Baptists • Authority of Scripture for faith and practice • Scripture determines doctrine and practice • Believer’s baptism • Baptism is a public declaration of one’s faith, not a rite that brings one into the Church • Lord’s Supper as symbolic memorial and witness to Christ’s sacrifice

Anabaptists • Commonalities with early Baptists • Priesthood of the believer • Because of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling, every believer has the ability to understand God’s Word and apply it appropriately • Religious liberty • Belief cannot be coerced by the State which should not prescribe an official belief • Congregational polity • Strong emphasis on church discipline

Anabaptists • Differences with early Baptists • Forbade taking oaths of allegiance to government • Forbade participation in government • Forbade participation in the military (Balthasar Hubmaier was an exception to these three prohibitions)

The English Reformation

Henry VIII (1491-1547) • Opposition to Luther earned him title: “Defender of Faith” • But when Pope denied him divorce, he split from Catholic Church & formed Church of England with Henry as its head • 1534, “Act of Supremacy” • His children: Mary (by Catherine, 1st wife)Elizabeth (by Anne, 2nd wife)Edward (by Jane, 3rd wife)

Edward VI (r.1547-53) • Became king at 9 yrs. • Protestant reform advanced under Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury • Introduced Book of Common Prayer • Catholicism made illegal

Mary Tudor (r.1553-58) • Returned England to Catholicism • Executed over 300 Protestants & Anabaptists • Including Archbishop Thomas Cranmer • Many exiles fled to Geneva • “Bloody Mary”

Elizabeth I (r.1558-1603) • Returned England to Protestantism • 1559, Elizabethan Settlement: Acts of Uniformity & Supremacy • Balance between Catholics & Protestants: via media • Anglican Church: Catholic rituals, Protestant theology, Episcopal polity • Two dissenting sects arose: • Puritans – advocated purification & reform within Church of England • Separatists – called for separation of true church from Church of England

English Dissenters

English Dissent • Catholic resistance to Anglican Church • Anglo-Catholics: Remained in Anglican Church but preferred only Catholic views in Prayer Book • Recusants: Refused to abide by the Prayer Book & held illegal worship services using Catholic liturgy

English Dissent • Puritans • Wanted Anglican Church to follow theology, worship & polity of Reformed (Presbyterian) faith & practice • Advocated purification & reform but remained within Anglican Church • Majority favored rule by presbytery • Accepted Prayer Book but conducted worship as “church within the church” • Cambridge became a hotbed of Puritanism

English Dissent • Separatists • Started meeting during Mary’s reign & began organizing during Elizabeth’s reign • Rejected state established Anglican Church; called for separation of true church – gathering of professing believers joined together by covenant • Held illegal meetings & rejected use of Prayer Book

English Dissent • Separatists • Calvinistic on predestination • Retained infant baptism within the model of a convenanted community • Congregational polity • No governance from outside congregation; • Each congregation decides matters of faith & order; • Each congregation calls, ordains & supervises ministers & church discipline

Separatists • Founding Church • Robert Browne (1550-1633) believed congregation, not the bishop, should choose the pastor • Formed Separatist church in 1581 at Norwich (an area with a sizable Dutch community) • After his imprisonment, most went to Holland and eventually dissolved • Browne withdrew from Separatism & conformed to Anglican Church

Separatists • Second Separatist Congregation in London • Henry Barrow and John Greenwood carried on in London • Staunch, often belligerent advocates of reform • Both executed in 1593

Separatists • Ancient Church • 1592 - Francis Johnson (1562-1617) became pastor of what became known as the “Ancient Church”; he was imprisoned • 1593 - Conventicle Act placed penalties on those meeting outside church • Church moved to Amsterdam (Johnson joined them in 1597) • Often fought over minor details (jewelry, dresses)

Separatists • 1595 - called Henry Ainsworth as pastor • Later split between Johnson and Ainsworth • Johnson advocated ministerial control over the congregation • Ainsworth wanted congregational control • 1617 - Johnson died and church declined

Separatists • 1596, Ancient Church issued a confession of faith with 45 articles called “True Confession” • Reformed in theology • Written in defense of church’s doctrine and polity

Separatists • Double predestination (art. 3) • Sacrificial atonement (art. 14) • 5 offices: pastor, teacher, elder, deacon, helper (art. 19) • Congregational rule over pastors and discipline (art. 23-24) • Attacked episcopacy (art. 28-31)

Separatists • Sacraments • Given only by chosen and ordained leaders (art. 34) • Infant baptism used as sign of God’s covenant (art. 35) • Receive wine and bread which are a sign, neither Roman Catholic nor Lutheran (art. 35)

Separatists • Congregations should follow same rule of faith (art. 38) • King has authority to enforce correct doctrine and practice (art. 39)

16 th -century Background