Abbot(t)s In The Ministry
During my research on this project, I discovered the fact that many of our ancestors were involved with churches throughout New England as deacons, ministers, and pastors. I guess this makes sense, considering the Puritan faith of our earliest ancestors. "Puritanism in New England was important culturally for a group of colonial pioneers in America." Many received their training at Harvard, "in early New England, all colleges were training institutions for ministers. All early colleges were based in religious practice. Over time, as the country evolved, they expanded their curriculum." "In order to maintain the theological teachings - to train ministers and missionaries to preach Orthodox Calvinism and preserve Puritan Theology - in 1808 Harvard moved their theology center to Andover's Phillips Academy site." "The Andover Theological Seminary was the nation's first." "In 1910, an internationally major theological library containing over 450,000 books was founded by a merger between the libraries of Harvard Divinity School and the Andover Theological Seminary."
"Some of them have been men of learning, and have promoted the literature and morals of their country, as teachers and ministers of the Gospel." They "have contributed their share to the common interests of society, in promoting good learning and good morals." "They never forgot their main object; to worship God according to his word, without the dictation of man, and to train up their families in the way they should go." "They had faith in the Savior's instructions, and were resolved to obey them; to deny themselves; to seek first the kingdom of God." "The Sabbath was a day of rest from worldly cares & labors, and from amusement & sports, which they left their native country to avoid." "The Sabbath was most strictly observed by our ancestors. On Saturday evening all work was laid aside, and preparation for the Sabbath was attended to. The master of the family shaved himself. The evening, after supper, was spent in reading the Bible and religious books, and in family prayer. Sunday morning, after necessary work for breakfast was performed, was employed in reading the Scriptures and other books in prayer, till meeting time, when all, that could, attended meeting. The intermission between the morning and afternoon service was spent in religious conversation or reading. After public service and dinner, the children were instructed in reading in the primer, Psalter or Testament, and in the Assembly's Catechism; the older children committed Scripture and hymns to memory; the younger were taught the Lord's prayer, the commandments, and some short hymns and prayers. Religious conversation, particularly relating to the public services, reading the Scriptures and prayer, closed the exercises of the day." "It was their great concern to imbue the minds of their offspring with sound religious truth, and to transmit to succeeding generations those Christian principles and virtues, which sustained them in all their trials and persecutions, and rendered them cheerful and happy amidst all their hardships and sufferings." "They died as they had lived in the faith and hope of the Gospel."
"The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries." "Initially, Puritans were mainly concerned with religious matters, rather than politics or social matters." "The Puritans became a major political force in England and came to power as a result of the First English Civil War (1642-1646)." "Almost all Puritan clergy left the Church of England and the nature of the movement changed radically." "Puritans by definition felt that the English Reformation had not gone far enough, and that the Church of England was tolerant of practices which they associated with the Catholic Church. They formed into and identified with various religious groups advocating greater purity of worship and doctrine, as well as personal and group piety" (godliness, devoutness). "Puritans believed that secular governors are accountable to God to protect and reward virtue....and punish wrongdoers." "They believed that man existed for the glory of God; that his first concern in life was to do God's will and so to receive future happiness." (12) "The tree of liberty in this country was of their planting and culture."
During my research on this project, I discovered the fact that many of our ancestors were involved with churches throughout New England as deacons, ministers, and pastors. I guess this makes sense, considering the Puritan faith of our earliest ancestors. "Puritanism in New England was important culturally for a group of colonial pioneers in America." Many received their training at Harvard, "in early New England, all colleges were training institutions for ministers. All early colleges were based in religious practice. Over time, as the country evolved, they expanded their curriculum." "In order to maintain the theological teachings - to train ministers and missionaries to preach Orthodox Calvinism and preserve Puritan Theology - in 1808 Harvard moved their theology center to Andover's Phillips Academy site." "The Andover Theological Seminary was the nation's first." "In 1910, an internationally major theological library containing over 450,000 books was founded by a merger between the libraries of Harvard Divinity School and the Andover Theological Seminary."
"Some of them have been men of learning, and have promoted the literature and morals of their country, as teachers and ministers of the Gospel." They "have contributed their share to the common interests of society, in promoting good learning and good morals." "They never forgot their main object; to worship God according to his word, without the dictation of man, and to train up their families in the way they should go." "They had faith in the Savior's instructions, and were resolved to obey them; to deny themselves; to seek first the kingdom of God." "The Sabbath was a day of rest from worldly cares & labors, and from amusement & sports, which they left their native country to avoid." "The Sabbath was most strictly observed by our ancestors. On Saturday evening all work was laid aside, and preparation for the Sabbath was attended to. The master of the family shaved himself. The evening, after supper, was spent in reading the Bible and religious books, and in family prayer. Sunday morning, after necessary work for breakfast was performed, was employed in reading the Scriptures and other books in prayer, till meeting time, when all, that could, attended meeting. The intermission between the morning and afternoon service was spent in religious conversation or reading. After public service and dinner, the children were instructed in reading in the primer, Psalter or Testament, and in the Assembly's Catechism; the older children committed Scripture and hymns to memory; the younger were taught the Lord's prayer, the commandments, and some short hymns and prayers. Religious conversation, particularly relating to the public services, reading the Scriptures and prayer, closed the exercises of the day." "It was their great concern to imbue the minds of their offspring with sound religious truth, and to transmit to succeeding generations those Christian principles and virtues, which sustained them in all their trials and persecutions, and rendered them cheerful and happy amidst all their hardships and sufferings." "They died as they had lived in the faith and hope of the Gospel."
"The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries." "Initially, Puritans were mainly concerned with religious matters, rather than politics or social matters." "The Puritans became a major political force in England and came to power as a result of the First English Civil War (1642-1646)." "Almost all Puritan clergy left the Church of England and the nature of the movement changed radically." "Puritans by definition felt that the English Reformation had not gone far enough, and that the Church of England was tolerant of practices which they associated with the Catholic Church. They formed into and identified with various religious groups advocating greater purity of worship and doctrine, as well as personal and group piety" (godliness, devoutness). "Puritans believed that secular governors are accountable to God to protect and reward virtue....and punish wrongdoers." "They believed that man existed for the glory of God; that his first concern in life was to do God's will and so to receive future happiness." (12) "The tree of liberty in this country was of their planting and culture."