Jeremiah Burroughs facts for kids
Jeremiah Burroughs (sometimes spelled Burroughes) was an important English preacher who lived from 1599 to 1646. He was a well-known Puritan and a Congregationalist. Puritans were a group of people in England who wanted to make the Church of England simpler and more "pure." Congregationalists believed that each local church should be independent and run itself. Burroughs was known for his calm and thoughtful approach, even when people disagreed.
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Early Life and Education
Jeremiah Burroughs was born in 1599. He went to Emmanuel College, Cambridge university to study. In 1624, he earned his Master of Arts degree. However, he had to leave the university because he was a Nonconformist. This meant he didn't agree with all the rules and practices of the official Church of England at the time.
A Preacher's Journey
After leaving Cambridge, Burroughs became an assistant to another preacher named Edmund Calamy the Elder in a town called Bury St. Edmunds. In 1631, he became the main preacher, or rector, in Tivetshall, Norfolk.
Because he was a Nonconformist, Burroughs faced difficulties. In 1636, he was stopped from preaching and soon lost his job. So, in 1637, he moved to Rotterdam in the Netherlands. There, he became a "teacher" at the English church in that city.
Return to England and the Westminster Assembly
In 1641, Jeremiah Burroughs returned to England. He became a preacher in London, serving at churches in Stepney and Cripplegate.
He was also chosen to be a member of the Westminster Assembly. This was a very important meeting of religious leaders and thinkers that took place in Westminster Abbey in London during the English Civil War. They met to discuss how the Church of England should be organized and what its beliefs should be.
Most people in the Westminster Assembly were Presbyterian. Presbyterians believed in a church system where local churches were governed by groups of elders, and there was a larger structure of regional and national assemblies. Burroughs, however, was one of the few who disagreed with the Presbyterian majority. He was one of the "Five Dissenting Brethren." These five men were Independents, meaning they believed in the independence of local churches. They wrote a special statement called An Apologeticall Narration in 1644 to explain their views.
A Motto for Unity
Even though he was an Independent, Burroughs was known for being very moderate and wanting people to get along. He had a special motto written on his study door in both Latin and Greek. It said: "Opinionum varietas et opinantium unitas non sunt ασυστατα."
This means: "Difference of belief and unity of believers are not inconsistent." It showed his strong belief that people could have different ideas about religion but still be united and respectful towards each other.
Later Life and Legacy
Jeremiah Burroughs continued his work as a preacher and a member of the Westminster Assembly. Sadly, in 1646, he died from problems after falling off his horse. He was on his way back from a meeting of the Westminster Assembly when the accident happened. He left behind many writings that are still studied today.
