1. Thomas Adams

    (1612-1653)

Anglican. Writer of very popular devotional theology, including a massive commentary on 2 Peter. Praised for mastery of English language.

2. Joseph Alleine (1634-1668)

Presbyterian. Wrote the enormously best-selling An Alarm to the Unconverted, a good example of Puritan evangelism.

3. Isaac Ambrose (1604-1662)

Anglican, then Presbyterian. Renown for an exceptionally holy life such as spending one month a year in solitary meditation and prayer. Wrote numerous devotional books, such as the popular Looking Unto Jesus.

4. William Ames

   (1576-1633)

Anglican, then Presbyterian. Ministered in England as Cambridge Calvinist and in Holland as pastor and professor and advisor at the Synod of Dort. Closest disciple of William Perkins. Greatly influenced American Puritans. Wrote The Marrow of Theology, the standard Puritan systematic theology; and Cases of Conscience, important work on Biblical ethics; many others. Supralapsarian*.

5. John Ball (1585-1640)

Presbyterian. Wrote A Treatise of the Covenant of Grace, an early and important work on Covenant Theology.

6. Richard Baxter  

    (1615-1691)

Presbyterian. By far and away the most prolific Puritan writer, wrote on a host of subjects (systematic theology, ethics, politics, pastoral theology, ecclesiology, devotionals, evangelism, history, etc.), such as The Saints Everlasting Rest;  A Call to the Unconverted; The Reformed Pastor; Aphorisms of Justification; The Christian Directory; and over 100 other books, plus sermons, an autobiography, etc.  One of Cromwell's Chaplains. Considered a model pastor. Irenic and conciliatory for true ecumenism, though he was a leading opponent of Antinomianism. Founder of Neonomianism error. A '4 Point Calvinist'. Helped in the recall of King Charles II.

7. Paul Baynes (c.1560-1617)

Anglican. An early Cambridge Calvinist and seminal Experimentalist. Succeeded Perkins at Cambridge. Wrote Commentary on Ephesians. Converted and taught Richard Sibbes, who became the next torchbearer.

8. Samuel Bolton (1606-1654)

Became Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge. His brother Robert also a major Puritan.  Wrote The True Bounds of Christian Liberty against Antinomians.

9. William Bridge

    (N/A)

10. Thomas Brooks (1608-1680)

Independent. Studied at Cambridge, developed a devotional Experimentalism in a sweet and pithy style. Wrote Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices; The Mute Christian Under the Smarting Rod; Apples of Gold, etc. One of the most quoted Puritans because of his masterful, proverbial English style.

11. John Bunyan

       (1628-1688)

Baptist. Soldier in the Civil War, became a tinker (metal-worker) by trade. Four-point Calvinist. While imprisoned for 12 years for refusing to conform to the re-established Church of England, Bunyan wrote Pilgrim's Progress - not only hailed as one of the greatest masterpieces of English literature, but was destined to become the second best-selling Christian book of all time. He also wrote another allegory, The Holy War, plus many other books, some of which are systematic theology or devotional, including his autobiography entitled Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners.

12. Jeremiah Burroughs  

       (1599-1646)

Independent. His contemporaries held him in very high esteem. Studied at Cambridge. He was a non-conformist and one of the Westminster divines. Richard Baxter said of him: "If all the Episcopalians had been like Archbishop Ussher, all the Presbyterians like Mr. Stephen Marshall, and all the Independents like Jeremiah Burroughs, the breaches of the church would soon have been healed." Wrote a massive Exposition of Hosea and the Experimentalist classic, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, The Evil of Evils, Earthly Mindedness, and the famous Gospel... Series.

13. Edmund Calamy

     (1600-1666)

Presbyterian. A Cambridge Calvinist and Westminster divine. Helped recall Charles II to the throne. His grandson of the same name wrote an important history of the Great Ejection.

14. Thomas Cartwright (1535-1603)

Presbyterian. Expelled from teaching at Cambridge for advocating Presbyterianism. Imprisoned several times for his beliefs. The first major English Presbyterian. Studied under Beza at Geneva.

15. Joseph Caryl (1602-1673).

Independent. One of the Westminster divines. Succeeded John Owen as pastor in London. Wrote a famous 12 volume exposition of Job.

16. Stephen Charnock 

     (1628-1680)

Presbyterian. Studied at Cambridge. One of Cromwell's chaplains. Wrote The Existence and Attributes of God, the fullest Calvinist theology of God ever written, considered the definitive work in the field. Also wrote Discourses on Regeneration and other theological and Experimental works.

17. Isaac Chauncy (1632-1712)

Independent. The leading opponent of Neonomianism. Supralapsarian. Opened the door from semi-Antinomianism to Hyper-Calvinism.

18. David Clarkson

     (1622-1686)

Independent. Studied at Cambridge. Assistant and immediate successor to John Owen as pastor. Wrote on Experimental theology.

19. Tobias Crisp (1600-1643)

Independent. Originally an Arminian, later became a Supralapsarian Calvinist and the leading Calvinistic 'Antinomian'. Exaggerated  subjects like Christ  was made sin, believers not under the Law, eternal justification before faith, immediate witness of the Spirit, etc.  Much influenced the rise of Hyper-Calvinism. Wrote Christ Alone Exalted. Other Antinomians: John Eaton, John Saltmarsh., William Dell.

20. Oliver Cromwell

     (1599-1658)

Independent. Represented Cambridge in Parliament. Organized the New Model Army, which won the English Civil War. Powerful leader but tolerant of other churches. Close friend of John Owen. Commissioned many leading Puritans to be his chaplains. Reluctantly approved the execution of Charles II, but refused the crown offered him by Parliament; instead became Lord Protector (1653). Buried in Westminster Abbey, but at the Restoration his corpse was exhumed and publicly hanged. Strong Puritan religious principles.

21. John Davenant (1576-1641)

Anglican. Bishop of Salisbury. Delegate to Synod of Dort.   Taught Christ died for all, especially the elect. Very low doctrine of reprobation. Wrote The Death of Christ and a much hailed commentary on Colossians.

22. Edward Fisher (1627-1656)

Little known about him; some reports say he was a barber or surgeon. Famous for writing The Marrow of Modern Divinity, a dialogue on the leading theological issues of the day with extensive quotes from leading Puritans. The Marrow would cause a major controversy in the early 18th-century Scotland.

23. John Flavel

       (1628-1691)

Presbyterian. Pastored in Dartmouth. Wrote Experimental and systematic theology, such as The Method of Grace, A Treaty on Fear, Keeping the Heart, and The Fountain of Life. Flavel attained to preeminence in his ability to combine both instruction and appeal to the heart. Some Puritans might be more learned than he, and some more quaint, but for all-round usefulness none was his superior. He is one of that small number of evangelical writers who can by their lucidity and simplicity help those at the beginning of the Christian life and at the same time be a strong companion to those who near its end.

24. Thomas Gataker (1574-1654)

Anglican. Cambridge Calvinist and Westminster divine. A leading anti-Antinomian and major contributor to the Westminster Annotations . 

25. Thomas Goodwin

       (1600-1680)

Independent. London pastor and President of Magdalen College, Cambridge University. A leading Westminster divine and organizer of the Savoy Declaration. One of the most important and precise Puritan theologians. Wrote The Holy Spirit; Justifying Faith; Christ the Mediator; other works mainly in systematic theology. Supralapsarian. Taught the sealing of the Spirit was a second work of grace bringing assurance of salvation.

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