---
title: 'T.B. Balch on the Puritan Theology'
type: post
author: 'R. Andrew Myers'
date: 2025-07-03
url: https://confessional.org/blog/2025-t-b-balch-on-the-puritan-theology
---

# T.B. Balch on the Puritan Theology

“"The following summary will include some of the points of the Puritan theology. Man was created pure — he fell under a covenant of works — his posterity did not eat the forbidden fruit, but the guilt or penal consequences of their representative were imputed — that all men thus fell by the deed of one man — that the world, by the first transgression, became unequivocally ruined — that every descendant of Adam is by nature totally depraved — that sin consists in a destitution of original righteousness, and a want of conformity to the law, as well as in a violation of the law — that men are passive in the act of regeneration — that our Saviour atoned for all who repent and believe — that repentance and faith are wrought by the Holy Spirit — that the Spirit is a sovereign agent — that repentance in the creature is not the fountain of election, but election the fountain of repentance — that the obedience of saints is imperfect, but that the righteousness of the Saviour, imputed to them, is complete.

In this scheme of doctrine, the mass of reformers united. The Westminster Assembly of Divines, and the Synod of Dort, affixed to it their respective seals; and it is no where more ably defended, than by Witsius in his Œconomy of the Covenants. It took root by the lake of Leman, spread through the cantons of Switzerland and among the universities of Holland. It prevailed from the Highlands of Scotland to the Tweed, ascended into the palace of Lambeth, and sat down a welcome guest in the chair of Canterbury. The above sentiments are diamond points in the Puritan system. When we take up their works we look for their appearance as we look for the stars in the clear sky of evening.” — [**Thomas Bloomer Balch**](/authors/thomas-bloomer-balch), *The Puritan Divines; In a Letter to the Rev. Dr. Ashbel Green, From Rev. Thomas B. Balch* (1834)