"A loosely organized reform movement originating during the English Reformation of the sixteenth century. The name came from efforts to 'purify' the Church of England by those who felt that the Reformation had not yet been completed. Eventually the Puritans went on to attempt purification of the self and of society as well."
(Mark Noll, "Puritanism", Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, 1984)
I've been meaning to point this out, but R. Scott Clark's new blog has some excellent discussions that may interest our readers. Dr Clark is a leading voice in post-reformation studies and is a fine churchman. Check it out!
"All those nick-names of Puritan, Precisian, Hypocrite, &c. with which lewd tongues are wont to load the saints of God, are so many honourable badges of their worthy deportment in the holy path, and resolute standing on the Lord's side."
Robert Bolton (1572-1631)
Get to know several puritan classics by reading one book
