Unity in Diversity presents a fresh appraisal of the vibrant and diverse culture of Stuart Puritanism. This work provides a historiographical and historical survey of current issues within... Show moreUnity in Diversity presents a fresh appraisal of the vibrant and diverse culture of Stuart Puritanism. This work provides a historiographical and historical survey of current issues within Puritanism, critiques notions of Puritanisms, which tend to fragment the phenomenon, and introduces unitas within diversitas in three divergent Puritans, John Downame, Francis Rous, and Tobias Crisp. This study draws on insights from these three figures to propose that seventeenth-century English Puritanism should be thought of both in terms of Familien_hnlichkeit, in which there are strong theological and social semblances across Puritans of divergent persuasions, and in terms of the greater narrative of the Puritan Reformation, which united Puritans in their quest to reform their church and society. Show less
My dissertation, “Why Heaven Kissed Earth”, looks at the Christology of the Reformed theologian and English Puritan, Thomas Goodwin (1600-1680). The thesis attempts to answer a question first posed... Show moreMy dissertation, “Why Heaven Kissed Earth”, looks at the Christology of the Reformed theologian and English Puritan, Thomas Goodwin (1600-1680). The thesis attempts to answer a question first posed by St. Anselm of Cantebury, namely, Cur Deus Homo (“Why did God become man?). Goodwin answers that particular question by arguing that in the eternal counsels of God the three persons in the Trinity undertook to provide salvation for mankind. The Father arranged how this would be accomplished; the Son was chosen to assume a human nature and act as Mediator on behalf of the people the Father had chosen; and the Holy Spirit applied the work of the Father and of the Son to those whom the Son acted as Mediator. The focus of the dissertation is on the Son, which includes both his person (i.e. the God-man) and his work. There are few works on Christology in the English Puritan tradition and so this dissertation makes a unique contribution not only to understanding one of the most famous Puritans, but to the tradition in general. In addition, students of Christology are better able to place the various trajectories of Christological thought over the ages with this study on Thomas Goodwin. Show less
