The Puritan idea of the Holy Commonwealth : with special reference to John Eliot and Richard Baxter

Abstract

The pretext for this thesis was the notoriety which both Eliot and Baxter received over the publication of political treatises. Subsequent history has overlooked these facts and remembered them for other achievements. Our task was to determine the idea of the Holy Commonwealth visualised by these eminent Puritan divines. Accordingly, the method of treatment followed was: 1. To investigate the history of the two books which most concerned us ana to state the relevant facts about the authors' lives and contemporary history; 2. To make a detailed summary of the main characteristics of the ideal commonwealths described in these books; 3. To evaluate and compare these theories with the history of political thought up to John Locke.Eliot's pamphlet 'The Christian Commonwealth was republican in character and brought him into conflict with the authorities in Massachusetts immediately after the Restoration. Baxter's A Holy Commonwealth appeared in 1659 and at once it involved him in bitter controversy. Both authors revoked their books.The main conclusions of the investigation are as follows:1. Eliot's contribution to Puritan political theory was most Utopian, and like many theocracies assumed that the form of organisation of the commonwealth was all-important. His Scripture government deduced from the Old Testament revealed little knowledge of political philosophy. However, it did reflect the optimism and republican sentiments of the Puritans in New England.2. Baxter was an able exponent of Natural Law and had great [page missing]