Sermons and Biblical Studies

(c.1600–March 1661), was Rector of St. Andrew’s Church in Scotland and one of the commissioners at Westminster Assembly in London, 1643–47. In 1644, he wrote the controversial book, Lex, Rex or, The Law and the Prince, which challenged the “divine right of kings.” Instead of the king being God’s appointed regent whose word is law, … Continue reading “RUTHERFORD,
SAMUEL”

(April 25, 1599–September 3, 1658), was the Lord-Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland from 1653–58. He was offered the title of King of England by the Parliament, but declined. A strong supporter of religious freedom, he had at one time considered emigrating to the Puritan Colony in America. A minor landowner, he … Continue reading “CROMWELL,
OLIVER”

(September 1598–April 23, 1672), the founder of Woburn, Massachusetts, was a contemporary of Massachusetts Governor John Winthrop. He became a trader, author, historian, and in 1654, witnessed the founding of the Puritan Church in the New World. Edward Johnson reported this event in his history entitled 2: Although the number of faithful people of Christ … Continue reading “JOHNSON,
EDWARD”

(October 18, 1595–May 8, 1655), was a Pilgrim leader and founder of the Plymouth Colony. Selected as an administrator of the colony, 1621, he served as its English agent from 1629 to 1632. Edward Winslow was Governor of the Plymouth Colony for three separate terms, 1633–34, 1636–37, and 1644–45. He succeeded in developing a friendship … Continue reading “WINSLOW,
EDWARD”

(c.1595–March 1617), was the daughter of the North American Indian Chief Powhatan. In 1607, she befriended the English settlers of the Jamestown Colony. Captain John Smith recorded her intervention which prevented her father from executing him. In 1613, the Indian Princess was baptized into the Christian faith, taking the name Rebekah, by the Reverend Richard … Continue reading “POCAHONTAS”

(March 1590–May 9, 1657), was a Pilgrim leader who helped establish the Plymouth Colony. Sailing in the Mayflower, he was chosen as governor of the colony in 1621, and was reelected 30 times until his death. In 1650, William Bradford wrote a history Of Plymouth Plantation, which is comparable to Shakespeare’s works in literary and … Continue reading “BRADFORD,
WILLIAM”

(January 22, 1588–April 5, 1649), was the founder of the Massachusetts Bay Colony (1630), being elected 12 times consecutively as its governor. In England, he was a member of the gentry, having been raised on the 500 acre estate his father had bought from Henry VIII. He had become a successful lawyer and strong Puritan … Continue reading “WINTHROP,
JOHN”

(July 7, 1586–July 7, 1647), was the founder of Hartford, Connecticut in 1636. A Cambridge University graduate, Thomas Hooker was persecuted in England after having gotten involved with the Christian movement known as the Puritans. Exiled from England for his religious beliefs, he fled first to Holland, then to Massachusetts (1633), where he became the … Continue reading “HOOKER,
THOMAS”

(December 1585–December 23, 1652), was a powerful Puritan minister and scholar in Boston, Massachusetts. Born in England, he fled to the colonies in 1632 to avoid religious persecution. There he rose to become perhaps the most influential leader in shaping the destiny of Puritan New England, serving at the First Church of Boston, 1633–52. Known … Continue reading “COTTON,
JOHN”

(April 10, 1583–August 28, 1645), was a Dutch jurist, theologian and statesman, who was considered the founder of the science of International Law. In 1607, being 24 years old, he was appointed Advocate General for the provinces of Holland and Zealand. In 1613, at the age of 30, he became the Chief Magistrate of Rotterdam. … Continue reading “GROTIUS,
HUGO”