This article is about Willem Teellinck's visit to England in 1603-04 and his description of the life of the Puritans he met in Banbury.

Source: The Banner of Truth, 1998. 2 pages.

A Dutch Pastor in Puritan England

In 1603-4, the Dutch theologian Willem Teellinck came across to Banbury in England and was delighted to observe the serious way of life among the Puritans there. His stay lasted several months and his observations give us a significant insight into the practical piety of our Puritan forefathers. This excerpt is taken from the Preface to Teellinck's Huys-Boek published in Middleburg in 1639. It was translated from the Dutch by Annemie Godbehere.

In the morning each person prepared himself for work in good time, but before they went to work they first prayed and then read and thoroughly studied a chapter in God's Word. Whatever work they had to do was now sanctified by prayer and the Word. This was faithfully performed, even by the servants of the house. The latter were not excused, but were allowed sufficient time each morning for this practice.

Having begun the day in this fashion each person went to their work until noon. Then the whole family, young and old, would gather together. They would read a chapter from the Bible and then kneel in prayer together and there was a short prayer to ask God's blessing on the midday meal. During and after the meal they discussed something specific from the chapter they had previously read. Sometimes they prepared a question, which each person in turn was invited to prepare the previous day. These questions were answered, according to the gift of each person. After the meal they sang a Psalm, and then went back to work. They followed the same procedure before and during the evening meal.

Toward bedtime they examined the course of the day privately, between themselves and God (although some did this before supper) and so committed themselves to God in prayer. They went to sermons which were preached during the week, listening attentively. On Saturday afternoons the unlearned, the servants and children were taught by the method of catechising.

On the Lord's Day they gathered together before the time of sermon to read a chapter (of the Bible) and to pray together. After that they went quickly to the place of worship where all listened intently, knowing that they might be questioned or be asked to give a summary of what they had heard. Some of them took notes of the preacher's sermon. Back at home they reflected on the sermon and with great sincerity considered how the Word might best be applied in their lives. They then asked a blessing from God on what they had heard. After singing a Psalm they dispersed to prepare them­selves, by private contemplation and prayer, for the afternoon service. They gathered together again, ensuring that all were in the place of worship in good time. After the sermon they either again discussed together things which they had heard, or they spent the time in private contemplation.

Towards evening the entire household again met together and discussed the sermon. The servants and children were thoroughly questioned to see how attentive they had been, and how much they had remembered. Any point which might have particular application to the family or any member of it was now taken up, and resolutions made to make amends where needed. In this way the preaching of God's Word was to them a light unto their feet and a lamp to their paths. They then closed in prayer.

And so the days passed, as I have described. What is more, should it be noticed that any member of the household was not walking according to the Word, whether it be at work or in some other matter, such as unkindness or immodesty, the others would reprove him of it in all sincerity, and not rest until there was evidence of repentance.

If one of them became ill or was sorrowful this was noted, and they were treated with all possible kindness. At the same time the occasion was used to discover if there was some matter that needed to be repented of. If so they would bring it to mind with all due humility, and so they stirred each other up to love and good works.

This is how they spent their days, so far as spiritual exercises are concerned. These were practised regularly and without interruption, winter and summer, the whole year round. I saw this during my eight or nine months' stay.

I nearly forgot to say that when they went for a walk they usually asked someone who was capable of commenting on a chapter or a Psalm to accompany them. In Banbury there were many who were gifted in that way. If they were not sure of something which they had read during the week they would make a note of it, and when they met with a knowledgeable person, usually a servant of the Word, they would desire an explanation.

On special occasions they humbled themselves before the Lord by fasting and prayer in a most practical and wise way. So they served the Lord steadily, demonstrating that there was no need to hide away in a monastery to be able to live a truly holy life. They showed that such things are not only unnecessary, but mere human inventions to escape obligations. A Christian may very easily follow his profession and at the same time serve God in an acceptable way. They understood that Christ the Lord did not pray in vain for the saints, when he asked his heavenly Father not to take his people out of the world, but rather to keep them from the evil one.

I am sure that you would now like to hear what kind of fruit resulted from this manner of holy living. Well, I can truly record that the fruit of their holy lives and Christian walk was such that it convinced even their most bitter foes of the sincerity and whole-heartedness of their faith and practice. They saw the faith working out powerfully through love, demonstrated in straight­forward dealing in business, in all their work and calling. Beyond this they witnessed their giving alms to the poor, visiting and comforting the sick and oppressed, educating the untaught, correcting the erring, punishing the wicked, reproving the idle and encouraging the devout. And all this was done with such diligence, such sensitivity, and also with such joy, peace and happiness! In this we see the children of the world receiving blessings, rather than being fed with the swine's husks they deserve (Luke 15:16). Certainly, 'He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us' (Ephesians 3:20).

If only we would stir up the gifts within us, and really taste the loving kindness of the Lord!

We are very pleased to tell you that the Lord's Day was observed by many each week in holiness and without superstition. On that day one could not hear or see any brawls or contentions in the whole town. The suspension of all worldly affairs resulted in such quietness over the entire town that a stranger, not used to this, would certainly have remarked the difference. You could hear the Psalms and spiritual singing of the people as you passed by the houses, within which the people were praising God and encouraging each other. It was a rare thing to find folks chatting like pigeons or crows about vain, worldly things on the Lord's Day, rather than being engaged in godly exercises.

If, on occasion, it happened that any rowdy or disorderly people behaved improperly, they would be severely reproved and if necessary compelled by the authorities to cease their noise and be quiet.

Add new comment

(If you're a human, don't change the following field)
Your first name.
(If you're a human, don't change the following field)
Your first name.

Plain text

  • No HTML tags allowed.
  • Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically.
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.