A Vindication of the Government of New England Churches

A Vindication of the Government of New England Churches is a significant work by John Wise, an American colonial Congregational minister, theologian, and pamphleteer. Published in 1717, this work articulated Wise's liberal concepts of both civil and ecclesiastical governance.1

Influenced by Whig political theory, Wise's writings advocated for democratic principles in church polity, opposing proposals that would centralize authority in associations of clergymen. He argued for the autonomy of individual congregations, a stance that resonated with democratic ideals and later influenced patriot leaders during the American Revolution. Wise's work is a key text in understanding the development of democratic thought in colonial America, particularly within the context of Puritan religious and political structures.123