The Emergence of Religious Toleration in Eighteenth-Century New England: Baptists, Congregationalists, and the Contribution of John Callender (1706-1748)

This book examines the life and work of the Reverend John Callender (1706-1748) within the context of the emergence of religious toleration in New England in the later seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, a relatively recent endeavor in light of the well-worn theme of persecution in colonial American religious history.

New England Puritanism was the culmination of different shades of transatlantic puritan piety, and it was the Puritan’s pious adherence to the Covenant model that compelled them to punish dissenters such as Quakers and Baptists. Eventually, a number of factors contributed to the decline of persecution, and the subsequent emergence of toleration. For the Baptists, toleration was first realized in 1718, when Elisha Callender was ordained pastor of the First Baptist Church of Boston by Congregationalist Cotton Mather.

John Callender, Elisha Callender’s nephew, benefited from Puritan and Baptist influences, and his life and work serves as one example of the nascent religious understanding between Baptists and Congregationalists during this specific period. Callender’s efforts are demonstrated through his pastoral ministry in Rhode Island and other parts of New England, through his relationships with notable Congregationalists, and through his writings. Callender’s publications contributed to the history of the colony of Rhode Island, and provided source material for the work of notable Baptist historian, Isaac Backus, in his own struggle for religious liberty a generation later.

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The Emergence of Religious Toleration in Eighteenth-Century New England: Baptists, Congregationalists, and the Contribution of John Callender (1706-1748)

This book examines the life and work of the Reverend John Callender (1706-1748) within the context of the emergence of religious toleration in New England in the later seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, a relatively recent endeavor in light of the well-worn theme of persecution in colonial American religious history.

New England Puritanism was the culmination of different shades of transatlantic puritan piety, and it was the Puritan’s pious adherence to the Covenant model that compelled them to punish dissenters such as Quakers and Baptists. Eventually, a number of factors contributed to the decline of persecution, and the subsequent emergence of toleration. For the Baptists, toleration was first realized in 1718, when Elisha Callender was ordained pastor of the First Baptist Church of Boston by Congregationalist Cotton Mather.

John Callender, Elisha Callender’s nephew, benefited from Puritan and Baptist influences, and his life and work serves as one example of the nascent religious understanding between Baptists and Congregationalists during this specific period. Callender’s efforts are demonstrated through his pastoral ministry in Rhode Island and other parts of New England, through his relationships with notable Congregationalists, and through his writings. Callender’s publications contributed to the history of the colony of Rhode Island, and provided source material for the work of notable Baptist historian, Isaac Backus, in his own struggle for religious liberty a generation later.

125.99 In Stock
The Emergence of Religious Toleration in Eighteenth-Century New England: Baptists, Congregationalists, and the Contribution of John Callender (1706-1748)

The Emergence of Religious Toleration in Eighteenth-Century New England: Baptists, Congregationalists, and the Contribution of John Callender (1706-1748)

by Jeffrey A. Waldrop
The Emergence of Religious Toleration in Eighteenth-Century New England: Baptists, Congregationalists, and the Contribution of John Callender (1706-1748)

The Emergence of Religious Toleration in Eighteenth-Century New England: Baptists, Congregationalists, and the Contribution of John Callender (1706-1748)

by Jeffrey A. Waldrop

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Overview

This book examines the life and work of the Reverend John Callender (1706-1748) within the context of the emergence of religious toleration in New England in the later seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, a relatively recent endeavor in light of the well-worn theme of persecution in colonial American religious history.

New England Puritanism was the culmination of different shades of transatlantic puritan piety, and it was the Puritan’s pious adherence to the Covenant model that compelled them to punish dissenters such as Quakers and Baptists. Eventually, a number of factors contributed to the decline of persecution, and the subsequent emergence of toleration. For the Baptists, toleration was first realized in 1718, when Elisha Callender was ordained pastor of the First Baptist Church of Boston by Congregationalist Cotton Mather.

John Callender, Elisha Callender’s nephew, benefited from Puritan and Baptist influences, and his life and work serves as one example of the nascent religious understanding between Baptists and Congregationalists during this specific period. Callender’s efforts are demonstrated through his pastoral ministry in Rhode Island and other parts of New England, through his relationships with notable Congregationalists, and through his writings. Callender’s publications contributed to the history of the colony of Rhode Island, and provided source material for the work of notable Baptist historian, Isaac Backus, in his own struggle for religious liberty a generation later.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9783110586558
Publisher: De Gruyter
Publication date: 04/09/2018
Series: Arbeiten zur Kirchengeschichte , #138
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 258
File size: 5 MB
Age Range: 18 Years

About the Author

Jeffrey A. Waldrop, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA, U.S.A.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction 1

Academic Significance of the Study 1

On the Effects of the Enlightenment on Callender's Thought 6

Literature Review 10

Methodology 14

Chapter 2 Backgrounds of Puritanism in New England 17

Introduction 17

Puritanism in England 18

Possible Theological Roots of Puritanism 18

The Changing Definition of "Puritanism" 22

Puritanism and Various Forms of Piety 24

Nomistic Piety 25

Evangelical Piety 26

Rationalistic Piety 27

Mystical Piety 28

Transatlantic Puritanism Characterized by Covenant and Nomistic Piety 29

English Puritanism Summarized 31

Chapter 3 Emergence of Religious Toleration in Puritan New England 33

Puritanism in America 33

Toleration and Persecution in Seventeenth-Century New England 35

Toleration in the Seventeenth-Century Context 36

Degrees of Toleration in New England 39

Little Toleration in Massachusetts 39

Moderate Toleration in Plymouth Colony 43

Freedom of Religion in Rhode Island 46

The Emergence of Religious Toleration in Puritan New England 50

Pressure from Britain 50

Economic Factors 54

De-Centralization of Church and Government 55

Kinship with Baptists 56

Conclusion 57

Chapter 4 The First Baptist Church of Boston and the Influence of the Callenders 62

The First Baptist Church of Boston 64

The Ministry of Ellis Callender 75

The Ministry of Elisha Callender 77

Chapter 5 Religious Toleration between Boston Congregationalists and Baptists 87

The Metamorphosis of Cotton Mather 87

The Ordination of Elisha Callender 100

Conclusion 111

Chapter 6 John Callender: Early Life and Ministry 113

Early Life 114

The First Baptist Church of Swansea and the Influence of John Myles 118

Calender's Decision to Leave Swansea 125

Relationship with Congregationalists 128

Friendship with Samuel Mather 128

Friendship with Harvard Congregationalists 130

Chapter 7 John Callender: Later Life and Ministry 136

First Baptist Church of Newport 136

The Funeral of Nathaniel Clap 142

The Ordination of Jeremiah Condy 148

Baptist Leader 160

Relationships within the Newport Community 162

The Newport Philosophical Society 163

The Advantages of Early Religion, School Master and Colony Assembly Member 165

Friendship with Newport Quakers 167

Death 169

Conclusion 171

Chapter 8 Callender's Historical Discourse and Religious Toleration 173

Introduction 173

Select Themes of Tolerance in the Historical Discourse 174

Themes of Tolerance and the Founding of Rhode Island 178

Themes of Tolerance in the Religious Affairs of Rhode Island 181

Calender's Exhortation for Freedom of Conscience 185

Callender's Understanding of Toleration in Context 188

Callender's Toleration and the Debate between Williams and Cotton 191

Full Liberty of Conscience in Callender and Williams 194

The Parallel between Williams and John Locke 196

Chapter 9 Calender's Historical Method and His Contribution to Isaac Backus 201

Callender's Historical Method 201

Callender as a Whig Historian 202

Callender as a Revisionist Historian 206

Callender's Scholarship 208

Callender's Contribution to Rhode Island History 212

The Historical Discourse as a Source for Isaac Backus 215

Conclusion 223

Chapter 10 Conclusion 225

Summary 225

Concluding Thoughts 230

Bibliography 232

Primary Sources 232

Secondary Sources 235

Books, Essays, and Entries 235

Articles 244

Index 248

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