Anne Hutchinson
Anne Hutchinson
Anne Hutchinson, born Anne Marbury, was a Puritan spiritual adviser, mother of 15, and an important participant in the Antinomian Controversy that shook the infant Massachusetts Bay Colony from 1636 to 1638. Her strong religious convictions were at odds with the established Puritan clergy in the Boston area, and her popularity and charisma helped create a theological schism that threatened to destroy the Puritans' religious community in New England. She was eventually tried and convicted, then banished from the colony...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionClergyman
Date of Birth17 July 1591
CountryUnited States of America
In considering found that the papists did not deny him to be come in the flesh, nor we did not deny him-who then was antichrist? Was the Turk antichrist only?
I do here speak it before the court. I look that the Lord should deliver me by his providence.
They thought that I did conceive there was a difference between them and Mr. Cotton... I might say they might preach a covenant of works as did the apostles, but to preach a covenant of works and to be under a covenant of works is another business.
I am called here to answer before you, but I hear no things laid to my charge.
If any come to my house to be instructed in the ways of God what rule have I to put them away?... Do you think it not lawful for me to teach women and why do you call me to teach the court?
Will it please you to answer me this and to give me a rule for then I will willingly submit to any truth.
How did Abraham know that it was God that bid him offer his son, being a breach of the sixth commandment?
But put the case, Sir, that I do fear the Lord and my parents. May not I entertain them that fear the Lord because my parents will not give me leave?
Being much troubled to see the falseness of the constitution of the Church of England, I had like to have turned Separatist. Whereupon I kept a day of solemn humiliation and pondering of the thing; this scripture was brought unto me-he that denies Jesus Christ to be come in the flesh is antichrist.
I pray, Sir, prove it that I said they preached nothing but a covenant of works.
I confess I have been more choice and he hath left me to distinguish between the voice of my beloved and the voice of Moses, the voice of John the Baptist and the voice of antichrist, for all those voices are spoken of in scripture. Now if you do condemn me for speaking what in my conscience I know to be truth I must commit myself unto the Lord.
Must not I then entertain the saints because I must keep my conscience.
If you look upon the rule in Titus it is a rule to me. If you convince me that it is no rule I shall yield.
For you see this scripture fulfilled this day and therefore I desire you as you tender the Lord and the church and commonwealth to consider and look what you do.