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The Antinomian Controversy, 1636-1638: A Documentary History
The Antinomian controversy—a seventeenth-century theological crisis concerning salvation—was the first great intellectual crisis in the settlement of New England. Transcending the theological questions from which it arose, this symbolic controversy became a conflict between power and freedom of conscience. David D. Hall’s thorough documentary history of this episode sheds important light on religion, society, and gender in early American history.
This new edition of the 1968 volume, published now for the first time in paperback, includes an expanding bibliography and a new preface, treating in more detail the prime figures of Anne Hutchinson and her chief clerical supporter, John Cotton. Among the documents gathered here are transcripts of Anne Hutchinson’s trial, several of Cotton’s writings defending the Antinomian position, and John Winthrop’s account of the controversy. Hall’s increased focus on Hutchinson reveals the harshness and excesses with which the New England ministry tried to discredit her and reaffirms her place of prime importance in the history of American women.
This new edition of the 1968 volume, published now for the first time in paperback, includes an expanding bibliography and a new preface, treating in more detail the prime figures of Anne Hutchinson and her chief clerical supporter, John Cotton. Among the documents gathered here are transcripts of Anne Hutchinson’s trial, several of Cotton’s writings defending the Antinomian position, and John Winthrop’s account of the controversy. Hall’s increased focus on Hutchinson reveals the harshness and excesses with which the New England ministry tried to discredit her and reaffirms her place of prime importance in the history of American women.
478 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1968
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About the author
David D. Hall
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For the Fenland Survey historian, see David D. Hall.
Professor David D. Hall is an American historian, and was Bartlett Professor of New England Church History, at Harvard Divinity School.
He graduated from Harvard University, and from Yale University with a Ph.D. He is well known for introducing Lived religion to religious studies scholarship in the United States, most notably at Harvard Divinity School.
Hall was Bartlett Professor of New England Church History until 2008, when he became Bartlett Research Professor. He writes extensively on religion and society in seventeenth-century New England and England.
His books include The Faithful Shepherd: A History of the New England Ministry in the Seventeenth Century; Worlds of Wonder, Days of Judgment: Popular Religious Belief in Early New England; Puritans in the New World: A Critical Anthology and, most recently, A Reforming People: Puritanism and the Transformation of Public Life in New England (2011). He has edited two key collections of documents: The Antinomian Controversy of 1636–1638: A Documentary History and Witch-Hunting in Seventeenth-Century New England: A Documentary History, 1638–1693.
Another interest is the "history of the book," especially the history of literacy and reading in early America. He edited, with Hugh Amory, The Colonial Book in the Atlantic World, the first of a five-volume series of which he was the general editor.
He continues to study and write about religion and culture in early America, with particular attention to "lived religion," and is presently writing a general history of Puritanism in England, Scotland, and New England c. 1550 to 1700, to be published by Princeton University Press.
Professor David D. Hall is an American historian, and was Bartlett Professor of New England Church History, at Harvard Divinity School.
He graduated from Harvard University, and from Yale University with a Ph.D. He is well known for introducing Lived religion to religious studies scholarship in the United States, most notably at Harvard Divinity School.
Hall was Bartlett Professor of New England Church History until 2008, when he became Bartlett Research Professor. He writes extensively on religion and society in seventeenth-century New England and England.
His books include The Faithful Shepherd: A History of the New England Ministry in the Seventeenth Century; Worlds of Wonder, Days of Judgment: Popular Religious Belief in Early New England; Puritans in the New World: A Critical Anthology and, most recently, A Reforming People: Puritanism and the Transformation of Public Life in New England (2011). He has edited two key collections of documents: The Antinomian Controversy of 1636–1638: A Documentary History and Witch-Hunting in Seventeenth-Century New England: A Documentary History, 1638–1693.
Another interest is the "history of the book," especially the history of literacy and reading in early America. He edited, with Hugh Amory, The Colonial Book in the Atlantic World, the first of a five-volume series of which he was the general editor.
He continues to study and write about religion and culture in early America, with particular attention to "lived religion," and is presently writing a general history of Puritanism in England, Scotland, and New England c. 1550 to 1700, to be published by Princeton University Press.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 24, 2011
This book gets 5 stars because of the subject content.
“The Examination of Mrs. Anne Hutchinson at the Court at Newton” by the Great and General Court of Massachusetts and “A Report of the Trial of Mrs. Anne Hutchinson before the Church in Boston” record the banishment and excommunication proceedings of an accused female heretic. These two documents, as well as Governor John Winthrop’s “A Short Story of the Rise, reign, and ruine of the Antinomians, Familists & Libertines” confirm that Hutchinson was at the heart of Antinomian Controversy during the years of 1636-1638 in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. During the official examination, it was determined that Hutchinson had undermined the principles of Puritanism and posed a threat to the communal harmony of the colony. The anxiety that Hutchinson instilled in the magistrates did not stem solely from her religious dissention or her own sense of independence; instead, the magistrates feared gender rebellion among the members of the collective wife.
Winthrop begins the proceedings by addressing Hutchinson. He tells her, “You are called here as one of those that have troubled the peace of the commonwealth and the churches…” (Exam. 312). Note that Winthrop expresses no concern for Hutchinson’s immortal soul, but he is rather distressed that she has disrupted their idyllic society, spurring Winthrop to label her as the “Canker of our Peace” (Story 208). More to the point, Winthrop and the other thirty-nine male magistrates will prove throughout the trial that they view Hutchinson as nothing other than a cancerous growth that spoils the beauty of their perfect collective wife, which contained all good (indoctrinated) Puritan women. By acknowledging this underlying, primary motive, it becomes evident that their attack was that of a husband attempting to correct the errant behavior of a wife. Scrutiny of the three aforementioned documents supports this analysis and is central to this discussion. Consequently, the primary sources pertaining to Hutchinson are not treated simply as a record of Hutchinson’s trial, excommunication, and banishment. Rather, these documents can be utilized to expose the internal panic the Puritan elders experienced when they confronted the defilement brought forth by Hutchinson’s subversion.
“The Examination of Mrs. Anne Hutchinson at the Court at Newton” by the Great and General Court of Massachusetts and “A Report of the Trial of Mrs. Anne Hutchinson before the Church in Boston” record the banishment and excommunication proceedings of an accused female heretic. These two documents, as well as Governor John Winthrop’s “A Short Story of the Rise, reign, and ruine of the Antinomians, Familists & Libertines” confirm that Hutchinson was at the heart of Antinomian Controversy during the years of 1636-1638 in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. During the official examination, it was determined that Hutchinson had undermined the principles of Puritanism and posed a threat to the communal harmony of the colony. The anxiety that Hutchinson instilled in the magistrates did not stem solely from her religious dissention or her own sense of independence; instead, the magistrates feared gender rebellion among the members of the collective wife.
Winthrop begins the proceedings by addressing Hutchinson. He tells her, “You are called here as one of those that have troubled the peace of the commonwealth and the churches…” (Exam. 312). Note that Winthrop expresses no concern for Hutchinson’s immortal soul, but he is rather distressed that she has disrupted their idyllic society, spurring Winthrop to label her as the “Canker of our Peace” (Story 208). More to the point, Winthrop and the other thirty-nine male magistrates will prove throughout the trial that they view Hutchinson as nothing other than a cancerous growth that spoils the beauty of their perfect collective wife, which contained all good (indoctrinated) Puritan women. By acknowledging this underlying, primary motive, it becomes evident that their attack was that of a husband attempting to correct the errant behavior of a wife. Scrutiny of the three aforementioned documents supports this analysis and is central to this discussion. Consequently, the primary sources pertaining to Hutchinson are not treated simply as a record of Hutchinson’s trial, excommunication, and banishment. Rather, these documents can be utilized to expose the internal panic the Puritan elders experienced when they confronted the defilement brought forth by Hutchinson’s subversion.
July 6, 2010
Sound scholarship detailing a fascinating period of colonial America.
April 10, 2018
This book is a collection of primary sources related to the controversy surrounding Anne Hutchinson in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1637-38. The collection focuses on (but is not limited to) John Cotton's role and writings and is a wonderful source for understanding the Puritan origins of America.
May 24, 2023
I had fun with this!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews