John Allen (puritan)
Encyclopedia
John Allen, or John Allin (1596–1671) was one of the patriarch
s of New England
associated with the foundation of Dedham, Massachusetts
.
According to the Dictionary of National Biography, he is described "by one not given to laudation" as having been ‘a hard student, a good scholar,’ and it is added he was ‘an excellent preacher, a grave and pious divine, and a man of a most humble, heavenly, and courteous behaviour, full of sweet christian love to all.’ Nonetheless was he exposed to the politico-religious persecutions of the times. Being ‘settled’ at Ipswich
, he came under the ban of Bishop Wren
. He voluntarily left his ‘cure’ and removed to London
, rather than be contentious.
in his ‘labours’ among the Indians.
on behalf of the English divines, and to this finally a very able and pungent answer was given by Allen along with Thomas Shepard, entitled ‘A Defence of the Nine Positions.’
. Allen was foremost in the fray, and published a vigorous ‘Defence of the Synod held at Boston in the year 1662.’ He was likewise associated with Shepard in a treatise on ‘Church Reformation.’
. He left three sons, and all over the United States to-day families are found to trace their descent from him. He died on 26 August 1671. His bereaved congregation published his last two sermons: the one from Song of Solomon
viii. 5, and the other from St. John
xiv. 22. In their preface the editors denominate him ‘a constant, faithful, diligent steward in the house of God, a man of peace and truth, and a burning and shining light.’ These two sermons were some years since reprinted in a memorial volume, entitled The Dedham Pulpit.
Patriarch
Originally a patriarch was a man who exercised autocratic authority as a pater familias over an extended family. The system of such rule of families by senior males is called patriarchy. This is a Greek word, a compound of πατριά , "lineage, descent", esp...
s of New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
associated with the foundation of Dedham, Massachusetts
Dedham, Massachusetts
Dedham is a town in and the county seat of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 24,729 at the 2010 census. It is located on Boston's southwest border. On the northwest it is bordered by Needham, on the southwest by Westwood and on the southeast by...
.
Biography
Allen was born in 1596. It is believed he was of Cambridge University, where he proceeded M.A.Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
According to the Dictionary of National Biography, he is described "by one not given to laudation" as having been ‘a hard student, a good scholar,’ and it is added he was ‘an excellent preacher, a grave and pious divine, and a man of a most humble, heavenly, and courteous behaviour, full of sweet christian love to all.’ Nonetheless was he exposed to the politico-religious persecutions of the times. Being ‘settled’ at Ipswich
Ipswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
, he came under the ban of Bishop Wren
Matthew Wren
"Matthew Wren" is also a British actor who appeared in BBC children's show Trapped!.Matthew Wren was an influential English clergyman and scholar.-Life:...
. He voluntarily left his ‘cure’ and removed to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, rather than be contentious.
To America
About the year 1637–8 he accompanied a band of English Puritanism to New England, ‘being obliged to go on board the ship which was to convey him thither in disguise, in order to elude pursuit.’ In 1639 he was ‘chosen pastor of the congregational church of Dedham, Massachusetts,’ where he continued ‘much beloved and useful all the rest of his days,’ only now and again accompanying EliotJohn Eliot (missionary)
John Eliot was a Puritan missionary to the American Indians. His efforts earned him the designation “the Indian apostle.”-English education and Massachusetts ministry:...
in his ‘labours’ among the Indians.
Nine Positions
In 1637 a number of English divines, having had it bruited that their brethren in New England were departing from the old landmarks in regard to ecclesiastical discipline and order, addressed to them a letter of inquiry in respect to what they called the ‘Nine Positions.’ The New-England divines answered the communication at great length, frankly acknowledging that on certain points their views had been modified. This in turn was replied to by John BallJohn Ball (Puritan)
John Ball was an English puritan divine.-Life:He was born in Cassington, Oxfordshire.After taking his BA degree from St Mary Hall, Oxford, in 1608, he went into Cheshire to act as tutor to the children of Lady Cholmondeley...
on behalf of the English divines, and to this finally a very able and pungent answer was given by Allen along with Thomas Shepard, entitled ‘A Defence of the Nine Positions.’
Baptism controversy
Later, a protracted controversy agitated New England on the proper ‘subjects’ (or objects) of baptismBaptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
. Allen was foremost in the fray, and published a vigorous ‘Defence of the Synod held at Boston in the year 1662.’ He was likewise associated with Shepard in a treatise on ‘Church Reformation.’
Limitation of colonial allegiance
But Allen was more than a pastor and preacher. Though of rare patience and peacefulness, he could take a stand when called to it. Necessity was laid on him to do so very strongly and peremptorily. In 1646 an attempt which was made to bring the colonists into subjection to the British parliament produced passionate resistance. Allen was chosen to be the ‘voice’ of the colony, and he submitted a statesmanlike paper in ‘a manly and decided tone,’ marking the just limitations of colonial allegiance and imperial rights, and fully sustaining the colonists.Personal life
He was twice married. His first wife, Margaret, went over with him to New England. Shortly after her death he married his second wife Katharine, widow of Governor Thomas DudleyThomas Dudley
Thomas Dudley was a colonial magistrate who served several terms as governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Dudley was the chief founder of Newtowne, later Cambridge, Massachusetts, and built the town's first home...
. He left three sons, and all over the United States to-day families are found to trace their descent from him. He died on 26 August 1671. His bereaved congregation published his last two sermons: the one from Song of Solomon
Song of Solomon
The Song of Songs of Solomon, commonly referred to as Song of Songs or Song of Solomon, is a book of the Hebrew Bible—one of the megillot —found in the last section of the Tanakh, known as the Ketuvim...
viii. 5, and the other from St. John
Gospel of John
The Gospel According to John , commonly referred to as the Gospel of John or simply John, and often referred to in New Testament scholarship as the Fourth Gospel, is an account of the public ministry of Jesus...
xiv. 22. In their preface the editors denominate him ‘a constant, faithful, diligent steward in the house of God, a man of peace and truth, and a burning and shining light.’ These two sermons were some years since reprinted in a memorial volume, entitled The Dedham Pulpit.