Cotton Seaborn Analysis

Proposed source book in American religious history documents from Charles Evans Early American Imprint Series:

The following articles are intended to give a student a broad overview of materials that colonials both encountered and produced in early America.

1. Cotton, Seaborn. A Brief Summe. Cambridge, 1663.

Justification: As with many books published during its time, A Brief Summe, is a question-and-answer formatted reader published for the tow, in this case Hampton. It gives a student a basic religious background for the period and a starting point for interpreting the lives ruled by such strict doctrine. Cotton was an early Puritan minister in the colonies and therefore influenced many lives.

Introduction: A Brief Summe is…show more content…
It is important to understand the basic fundamentals of beliefs before one can begin to interpret those beliefs or judge other interpretations.

Introduction: John Norton outlined the basic beliefs of his church in this Q and A style book. It was used as a guidebook for followers. It defines Godliness, when creation began and how man was created. It is similar to John Cotton’s Spiritual Milk.

Essay question: What other common religious doctrine can you find that many church’s use daily, that is similar to John Norton’s? How?

Answer: The Nicene Creed is similar to Norton’s work. For example, Norton’s answers walk you through Christ’s birth, redemption, sacrifice and ascension. It also defines on God, one Holy Ghost and one Jesus all being of God.
The creed states that, “ [We] believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds.”
While Norton covers in more detail holy doctrine, the creed is a very concise and accurate portrayal of a lengthy period of events in short form.

5. Higginson, John. The Cause of God. Cambridge,…show more content…
Through pastors he maintains his flocks and the “people if Israel.”

6. Church of England. Liturgy and Ritual. New York, Parker & Weyman, 1756.

Justification: By reading the exact doctrines handed to early colonial, students can read and interpret for themselves the interweaving of both political and religious ideas. For example, “Thou shalt grant the King a long life: he shall dwell before God forever (4). The Church of England was a part of the government, which many colonists were fleeing. There are prayers also laid out for the sole purpose of exalting the King of England. It is also important to note that this prayer book was published a mere 20 years before independence.

Introduction: In this prayer book, the Church of England provides a basic script for church services. The opening sermon, songs to sing and lessons taught. It is similar to the Anglican Church’s Book of Common Prayer, still used today by both the Anglican Church and the Episcopal Church.

Essay question: What undertones do you find different in this older prayer book that is not common in the more modern Anglican prayer books. Choose five examples that show changes in religious thinking over