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<p>This article discusses the role of nature in the theological system of New England minister Samuel Willard (1640-1707). I focus specifically on his account of theological anthropology, the relationship of nature and grace, and the moral (or natural) law, and show how each relates to his views on civil government and civil law. Willard affirmed the natural law, natural religion, and natural worship, and he acknowledged and respected pagan civic virtue and grounded civil order and social relations in nature. Willard’s theological articulations are substantively the same as those found among the ‘Reformed orthodox’ theologians of 17th century Europe, which provides evidence for the thesis that Reformed orthodoxy was a transatlantic movement. His reliance on nature also corrects scholarship on the New England Puritans, which often assumes that they rejected the Christian natural law tradition.</p>
</abstract>

This article discusses the role of nature in the theological system of New England minister Samuel Willard (1640-1707). I focus specifically on his account of theological anthropology, the relationship of nature and grace, and the moral (or natural) law, and show how each relates to his views on civil government and civil law. Willard affirmed the natural law, natural religion, and natural worship, and he acknowledged and respected pagan civic virtue and grounded civil order and social relations in nature. Willard’s theological articulations are substantively the same as those found among the ‘Reformed orthodox’ theologians of 17th century Europe, which provides evidence for the thesis that Reformed orthodoxy was a transatlantic movement. His reliance on nature also corrects scholarship on the New England Puritans, which often assumes that they rejected the Christian natural law tradition.

The Role of Nature in New England Puritan Theology: The Case of Samuel Willard

Perichoresis

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"The Role of Nature in New England Puritan Theology: The Case of Samuel Willard"}

This article discusses the role of nature in the theological system of New England minister Samuel Willard (1640-1707). I focus specifically on his account of...

The Role of Nature in New England Puritan Theology: The Case of Samuel Willard

Published Online: May 09, 2022

Page range: 127 - 142

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/perc-2022-0013

Keywords
Samuel Willard, natural law, natural religion, Reformed Orthodoxy, New England Puritans

© 2022 Stephen M. Wolfe, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The Role of Nature in New England Puritan Theology: The Case of Samuel Willard

Published Online: May 09, 2022

Page range: 127 - 142

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/perc-2022-0013

KeywordsSamuel Willard, natural law, natural religion, Reformed Orthodoxy, New England Puritans

© 2022 Stephen M. Wolfe, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Samuel Willard, natural law, natural religion, Reformed Orthodoxy, New England Puritans