Puritans and Separatists were both groups that emerged in England during the late 16th and early 17th centuries, but they had different approaches and beliefs regarding the Anglican Church.
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Puritans: The Puritans sought to reform the Anglican Church from within. They believed that the church retained too many elements of Catholicism in its practices and governance and aimed to purify it of these influences. They wanted to implement stricter religious discipline and promote a more Calvinist theology. Essentially, the Puritans were committed to working within the structure of the Anglican Church to bring about change and reform.
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Separatists: In contrast, Separatists (sometimes called Independents) believed that the Anglican Church was beyond reform. They felt that the church was too corrupt and that it could not provide the true biblical worship they sought. As a result, Separatists opted to break away from the Anglican Church entirely and establish their own independent congregations. They believed in the necessity of separating from what they considered a corrupt institution in order to practice their faith authentically.
In summary, the main difference lies in their approach: Puritans sought to purify and reform the Anglican Church from within, while Separatists felt it was necessary to separate entirely from it.