Brian
Puritan Board Freshman
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I was wondering if anyone else has spent any time thinking about the variants between Continental Reformed and English Puritanism. While the unity exhibited is indeed cause to rejoice, I wondered if anyone had anything good on the various distinctives between them.
In a "for instance" to get the ball rolling:
Confessions
The logistical and methodological differences between the Westminster Standards (or perhaps, though not as pertinent, the Thirty-Nine Articles or BOCP) and the Three Forms of Unity. It seems to me that WCF attempts to get a little bit more at the esse and ousia of God, whereas the Belgic seeks to see God a bit more as He has revealed Himself is redemptive history and the Word (cf. WCF 2.I-II and Belgic Article 2). Perhaps this counteracts what I just said, but what about the WCF bringing in Holy Scripture before the Belgic?
Lutheranism
Is Continental Reformed polity, covenant theology, or other sections more influenced, or simply more, Lutheran in methodology or form? What about Law/Gospel, or the place of natural theology and common grace? Did the Continent go farther in espousing the goodness of creation and hence "enjoy" it more, whereas the Puritans, for various good reasons, eschewed "high living" and came closer to valuing an "ascetic" approach? Perhaps with this, a difference in liturgy of Puritan bare walls and a sermon (hyperbole), and a more liturgical, decor, Eucharist- based service on the Continent.
Philosophy
At least due to formulating their documents later, were the Puritans more susceptible to modernity and that Zeitgeist? This is not to imply, however, that the Westminster Standards are in any way inferior. If this is in any way correct, the continent had its own foul air wafting through empty intellectual heads.
These are just some thoughts to get the ball rolling. Other differences? One thought is that perhaps MY methodology is flawed (I mean significantly more than usual) and I'm comparing classics with presuppositionals.
I look forward to your thoughts.
For the sake of the Lamb throughout the ages of redemptive history,
BRIAN
I was wondering if anyone else has spent any time thinking about the variants between Continental Reformed and English Puritanism. While the unity exhibited is indeed cause to rejoice, I wondered if anyone had anything good on the various distinctives between them.
In a "for instance" to get the ball rolling:
Confessions
The logistical and methodological differences between the Westminster Standards (or perhaps, though not as pertinent, the Thirty-Nine Articles or BOCP) and the Three Forms of Unity. It seems to me that WCF attempts to get a little bit more at the esse and ousia of God, whereas the Belgic seeks to see God a bit more as He has revealed Himself is redemptive history and the Word (cf. WCF 2.I-II and Belgic Article 2). Perhaps this counteracts what I just said, but what about the WCF bringing in Holy Scripture before the Belgic?
Lutheranism
Is Continental Reformed polity, covenant theology, or other sections more influenced, or simply more, Lutheran in methodology or form? What about Law/Gospel, or the place of natural theology and common grace? Did the Continent go farther in espousing the goodness of creation and hence "enjoy" it more, whereas the Puritans, for various good reasons, eschewed "high living" and came closer to valuing an "ascetic" approach? Perhaps with this, a difference in liturgy of Puritan bare walls and a sermon (hyperbole), and a more liturgical, decor, Eucharist- based service on the Continent.
Philosophy
At least due to formulating their documents later, were the Puritans more susceptible to modernity and that Zeitgeist? This is not to imply, however, that the Westminster Standards are in any way inferior. If this is in any way correct, the continent had its own foul air wafting through empty intellectual heads.
These are just some thoughts to get the ball rolling. Other differences? One thought is that perhaps MY methodology is flawed (I mean significantly more than usual) and I'm comparing classics with presuppositionals.
I look forward to your thoughts.
For the sake of the Lamb throughout the ages of redemptive history,
BRIAN