Introduction to the Puritans Memorial Edition Erroll Hulse (1931-2017) INTRODUCTION TO THE PURITANS Erroll Hulse (1931-2017) Memorial Edition A Tribute to the Life and Ministry of Erroll Hulse Dedicated to the memory of Erroll Hulse with great joy and gratitude for his life and ministry. Many around the world will continue to benefit for many years to come from his untiring service. Those who knew him, and those who read this volume, will be blessed by his Christ- honoring life, a life well-lived to the glory of God. The following Scripture verses, psalm, and hymns were among his favorites. ISAIAH 11:9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. HABAKKUK 2:14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. PSALM 72 1Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king’s son. 2He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment. 3The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness. 4He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor. 5They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations. 6He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth. 7In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth. 8He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. 9They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust. 10The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. 11Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him. 12For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper. 13He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy. 14He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight. 15And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised. 16There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth. 17His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be contin- ued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed. 18Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth won- drous things. 19And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen. HYMNS Jesus Shall Reign (reflecting Psalm 2) Jesus shall reign where’er the sun does its successive journeys run, His kingdom stretch from shore to shore, till moons shall wax and wane no more. To Him shall endless prayer be made, and praises throng to crown His head. His name like sweet perfume shall rise with every morning sacrifice. People and realms of every tongue dwell on His love with sweetest song, and infant voices shall proclaim their early blessings on His name. Blessings abound where’er He reigns: the prisoners leap to lose their chains, the weary find eternal rest, and all who suffer want are blest. Let every creature rise and bring the highest honors to our King, angels descend with songs again, and earth repeat the loud amen.a a Isaac Watts, 1719 (1674-1748) – English hymn writer and theologian; recog- nized as the “Father of English Hymnody.” Hail to the Lord’s Anointed Hail to the Lord’s Anointed, great David’s greater Son! Hail in the time appointed, His reign on earth begun! He comes to break oppression, to set the captive free; to take away transgression, and rule in equity. He comes with succor speedy to those who suffer wrong; to help the poor and needy, and bid the weak be strong; To give them songs for sighing, their darkness turn to light, whose souls, condemned and dying, are precious in His sight. He shall come down like showers upon the fruitful earth; love, joy, and hope, like flowers, spring in His path to birth. Before Him on the mountains, shall peace, the herald, go, and righteousness, in fountains, from hill to valley flow. To Him shall prayer unceasing and daily vows ascend; His kingdom still increasing, a kingdom without end. The tide of time shall never His covenant remove; His name shall stand forever; that name to us is love.a a James Montgomery, 1821 (1771-1854) – Scottish-born hymn writer and poet. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First, by far, I acknowledge with deepest gratitude the con- stant, patient, and skilled help of my wife, Lyn. For inspiration in the Lord’s work, I thank Pastor Lee Roy Shelton, Jr., Michael Snyder, and the team of publishers at Chapel Library, Pensacola, Florida. The daily morning pray- er meeting is the key factor in the work as a constant stream of expository materials is supplied to developing countries. I am among many who depend upon the excellent service provided by the Evangelical Library in London and especially so in the loan of rare Puritan books. I thank the Library staff. My gratitude is recorded to Margaret Siddans for her patient proof-reading and guidance in the use of English grammar. If there are mistakes, they have crept in after her correcting of the manuscript. Thanks too to Mostyn Roberts, pastor of Welwyn Evangelical Church, who read the manuscript at an early stage and made helpful suggestions. For guidance in matters historical, I express gratitude to our daughter Sharon James, to Dr. Robert Oliver of Bradford on Avon, and to Iain Murray for constructive suggestions. I thank David Clark of Evangelical Press who has always en- couraged me in this project. Finally, I appreciate the ministry of Dr. John Armstrong who urged me to write “The Story of the Puritans” for the quarter- ly journal Reformation and Revival (Spring 1996). That 47- page article formed the springboard for this book. —Erroll Hulse FOREWORD When Erroll Hulse was riding a train through Spain in the early 1990s, a lay evangelist walked the cars passing out tracts. To Erroll’s surprise, they were solidly Reformed and written by Spurgeon, Pink, Ryle, Bonar, and the Puritans, and available in both English and Spanish. All were print- ed by Chapel Library in Pensacola, Florida. He made it a point to visit Chapel Library on his next trip to the USA, where he began a long friendship of encouragement and support. With conviction that good Christian literature was vital to both churches and missions, he was Chapel’s best ambassador worldwide. The Puritans represent the best not only of Christian liter- ature, but also of Christian living. No better honor can be given to Erroll than to link his life with those he most ad- mired. Introduction to the Puritans will challenge and edify its readers. In addition, eighteen Puritan works are ex- cerpted in Appendix Two. Tributes to Erroll’s exemplary service and life principles are in Appendix Three. Appen- dix Five highlights eight of his written works. Thus, this volume is given to today’s Christians to learn from the Pu- ritan legacy—and from the modern example of one who followed in their steps. Chapel Library continues to share Erroll’s vision by send- ing Christ-centered literature from prior centuries world- wide without charge. Each year proven Christian teachings are sent to homes, prisons, churches, schools, missions, and especially to pastors in more than 100 countries. By God’s grace, 900 titles include sermon booklets, gospel tracts, and paperbacks—containing 500 years of biblical truth. INTRODUCTION TO THE PURITANS Contents INTRODUCTION: THE RELEVANCE OF THE PURITANS ................................................... 19 1. Puritanism and the World Today .................................... 19 2. Puritanism and the Church Today ................................... 21 PART ONE: THE STORY OF THE PURITANS ................. 31 1. Overview ............................................................................... 31 2. Who Were the Puritans? ................................................... 33 3. The Puritan Movement in Time ...................................... 34 A. Antecedents to the Puritan Movement ...................... 35 B. The Development of the Puritan Movement until the Spiritual Brotherhood (1558-1603) ........... 39 C. The Full Flowering of Puritanism (1603-1662) ....... 44 4. An Explanation of the Puritan Story ............................... 54 5. The Legacy of the Puritans ................................................ 55 PART TWO: THE LIVES OF THE PURITANS ................. 60 1. Martyrs ............................................................................... 60 2. Three Generations of Puritans.......................................... 63 A. The First Generation .................................................... 64 B. The Second Generation ............................................... 73 C. The Third Generation ................................................. 80 3. The Demise of the Puritan Movement .......................... 100 PART THREE: HELP FROM THE PURITANS ................ 104 1. The Westminster Confession and Justification ............ 104 A. Justification by Faith Alone ....................................... 104 B. A Modern Challenge to Justification ........................ 111 C. How Much Should We Care about Justification? .. 112 2. The Puritans and a Stable Doctrine of Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility ................... 114 A. Wrong Thinking about Free Will ............................ 115 B. Wrong Thinking about God’s Sovereignty ............. 117 C. Conclusion .................................................................... 120 3. The Recovery of the Lord’s Day ...................................... 121 4. Marriage and the Family .................................................. 126 5. A Biblical Basis for Spiritual Experience ........................ 130 6. A Robust Doctrine of Assurance ...................................