PREFACE "ONE wishes there were a history of English Puritanism, the last of all our heroisms, but sees small prospect of such a thing at present." So wrote Carlyle in the introduction of his Letters and Speeches of Cromwell. This wish will probably go unfulfilled till the task is taken in hand by some genius like Carlyle himself, but with more genuine religious insight and sympathy. It seems superfluous, and yet perhaps it is necessary, to say, in view of possible misjudgment, that this work does not purport to be "a history of English Puritanism." It originated in the idea of bringing together, and presenting in a succinct and readable form, the best, or the substance of the best, which has been written concerning Puritanism and Independency-their genesis in England and New England, their growth and vicissitudes and struggles, till, at the close of the seventeenth century, Puritanism lost its distinctive name, and became incorporated in the life of the nation as a whole. I have not altogether departed from this intention, but have made. it my business to consult the writings of authors of acknowledged eminence and repute, with a view of collecting the most weighty pronouncements and opinions touching the character of Puritanism, and the work which Puritanism did. I have found it necessary, however, to weave these opinions and judgments into a narrative or monograph of my own, so that in its present form this book may in some sense (a very slender and modified sense, I am well aware) fairly claim to be an independent and original work. I have endeavoured to cast it into the form of a handbook, so that to those wishing to form a general acquaintance with the history of the period to which it relates, and to those wishing to pursue their inquiries further it may serve as a useful and, it is hoped, trustworthy guide. With a view to the requirements of the latter, a somewhat lavish apparatus critici, in the shape of notes, has been introduced, but not more unsparingly, it is believed, than the importance of the subjects they are introduced to illustrate seems to justify. The literature of Puritanism is sporadic and fragmentary, either buried in antiquated and unreadable tomes, for even Neal's history is hard reading in these days, or in more bright and vivacious books (happily not few), treating the subject in too piecemeal a fashion to present any adequate conception of what Puritanism was, or what it contributed to the making of the England of to-day. My aim has been to give as complete and THIRD EDITION THE PILGRIM FATHERS OF NEW ENGLAND And Their Puritan Successors BY THE Rev. JOHN BROWN, D.D., Author of "John Bunyan: His Life, Times and Work." Introduction by the Rev. A. E. Dunning, D.D., Editor of "The Congregationalist.” WITH ILLUSTRATIONS FROM ORIGINAL DRawings by CHARLES WHYMPER, AN INDEX, AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY. "An admirable and much-needed book, scholarly, accurate. temperate, and extremely interesting."—DR. JOHN FISKE "The Pilgrim Fathers live and move and endure and overcome in his pages: to have told their story worthily is his highest praise."- The Bookman. "Of especial interest to American readers are the chapters dealing with the Puritans in their English homes."-The Brooklyn Eagle. "Of decided historical importance."-The Outlook. "A fine example of scholarly and popular qualities combined. It is sufficiently learned to command the respect of historical students, and also popular enough in manner to afford enjoyable reading for all."— The Congregationalist. "An important contribution."- The Book Buyer. "Highly attractive."-The Independent (N. Y.). "A remarkably vivid narrative that brings before us the men of the Mayflower and their associates as men of flesh and blood."- The Christian World. "An admirable narrative."-The Critic. Fleming H. Revell Company NEW YORK: 112 Fifth Ave. FROM ITS INCEPTION IN THE REIGN OF ELIZABETH THEOCRACY IN NEW ENGLAND A HISTORICAL HANDBOOK BY THE ames James REV. J. GREGORY EDINBURGH INTRODUCTION BY THE REV. AMORY H. BRADFORD, D.D. AUTHOR OF THE PILGRIM IN OLD ENGLAND" NEW YORK CHICAGO TORONTO FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY 1896 |
