John Ball (Puritan) facts for kids
John Ball (born in October 1585, died October 20, 1640) was an English puritan religious leader. He was known for his strong beliefs during a time when England was going through big changes in religion.
John Ball's Early Life and Beliefs
John Ball was born in a place called Cassington in Oxfordshire, England. After finishing his studies at St Mary Hall, Oxford in 1608, he moved to Cheshire. There, he worked as a teacher for the children of a noblewoman, Lady Cholmondeley.
During this time, John Ball became a Puritan. Puritans were a group of people who wanted to make the Church of England simpler and more "pure." They believed some church practices were too much like the old Catholic ways.
John Ball became a minister in a small church in Whitmore, in Staffordshire. However, he faced problems because of his Puritan beliefs. The local bishop, John Bridgeman, who had different views, removed him from his position. This caused John Ball a lot of difficulty.
Becoming a Schoolmaster and His Legacy
After being removed from his church role, John Ball became a schoolmaster. He was highly respected for his great knowledge and his strong religious faith. He taught many students and continued to share his ideas.
John Ball passed away on October 20, 1640. Even after his death, his writings continued to be important.
John Ball's Important Writings
John Ball wrote many books and pamphlets that were very popular. One of his most famous works was A Short Catechisme, containing all the Principal Grounds of Religion. A catechism is a book of questions and answers used to teach religious beliefs. This book was printed 14 times before 1632, showing how widely it was read.
He also wrote Treatise of Faith in 1632. Another important work was Friendly Trial of the Grounds tending to Separation (1640). In this book, he explained his views on the Church of England and why he believed people should not completely separate from it, even if they had Puritan beliefs.
In 1637, he wrote A Tryall of the New-Church Way in New-England and Old. This book was a response to Puritans who had moved to America. He had asked them questions about how their churches were set up and what they believed. His book was published in 1644, after he had died. His book Treatise of the Covenant of Grace (1645) was also published after his death.
