Puritan Beliefs Essay Research Paper The Puritans

Puritan Beliefs Essay, Research Paper

The Puritans. Conflict Between Divine Approval and Prosperity

You probably are not sensible of this; you find you are kept out of hell, but do not see the hand of God in it; but look at other things, as the good state of your bodily constitution, your care of your own life, the means you use for your own preservation. But indeed these things nothing; if god should withdraw His hand, they would avail no more to keep you from falling, than the thin air to hold up a person that is suspended in it.

-Edwards, .Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.

Winthrop and Bradford among many other devoted Puritans endure a challenging voyage to New England for the sake of having religious freedom from English law. Their goal is to maintain the new Puritan community members with ties of charity, love and the commitment of living according to God.s word. Due to a conflict in Puritan beliefs and the desire for wealth among Puritans, religious and moral virtues in puritans decayed. The conflict that I am referring to deals with the Puritan belief that God provides prosperity to those who accept his grace and earns his approval. Puritans also believe that sinners would be damned by God.s wrath. These sanctions are thought to be signs from God. If God approves of the actions of the individual, he/she would be blessed with desirable things. On the other hand, sinners are thought to be associated with poverty and damnation. God is believed to cause all occurrences to serve as a sign. The signs purposes are to guide Puritans as well as to reward and punish. The conflicting issue is the fact that many Puritans prosper disgracefully. Furthermore these sinful Puritans are not damned by God.s wrath. The prospering sinners become free from strict puritan laws and remain wealthy.

Puritans begin their risky pursuit for religious freedom (purity) in 1620. Their decision to leave England is an act of treason. Leaving is a violation that is punishable by death. The puritans. second threat is the voyage to New England. The conditions during the voyage kill many of the passengers. Upon arrival, the Puritans find themselves in a hostile environment with no shelter or developed land to survive with. They put themselves through these great discomforts in order to better serve their God.

The Puritans are certain that their voyage pleases God by the fact that many arrive to New England alive. The successful arrival of some of the travelers is considered a divine favor. The casualties are written off as sinners who are chosen not to arrive to the community. For example, in response to the cussing man who falls over-board and drowns; Bradford states .Just the hand of God upon him.. Basically, God caused the man to fall over-board because of his rejection of grace. Puritans perceive the event as a sign from God. Another example of the perception of an event representing a sign from God is when Puritans first encountered Native Americans. Both sides used their weapons against each other in an attempt to kill. The fact that no Puritan was harmed in the encounter is believed to be a sign of divine favor. It is believed to be a sign of God.s pleasure in their lifestyle and his will to preserve them for that reason. .Thus it pleased God to vanquish their enemies and give them deliverance; and His special providence so to dispose that not any one of them were either hurt or hit, though their arrows came close by them and on every side [of] them;. (Page 95).

As Bradford does, Winthrop also declares that God reveals signs of His intolerance of sinners. The Puritans were having trouble surviving during their first winter. Cows and goats were dying, hunting is difficult and the winter weather is brutal. By January 1, 200 of them die. Many more are ill. Winthrop declares that this is due to God.s displeasure with them. Winthrop comments on the situation- .Satan bends his forces against us, and stirs his instruments to all kinds of mischief, so that I think here are some persons who never showed so much wickedness in England as they have done here..

It is likely that the Native Americans who shot arrows at the Puritans simply missed their targets. To Puritans, it is surely a sign of divine favor. As for half of the Puritan population dying during their first unprepared winter in New England; lets review their circumstances. Most of the deaths occur during the coldest time of the winter. Many Puritans arrived already infected with scurvy and other diseases due to the strenuous health conditions of their voyage. There is a lack of houses because of the lack of carpenters. Food was nearly impossible to obtain at that time due to the severe weather. Simple explanations to the Puritans. survival crisis are apparent. Winthrop.s statement regarding the crisis demonstrates how the devoted Puritans view misfortunes as well as prosperity. Just like every other occurrence, it is strictly believed to be God.s will and a sign of either approval or disapproval of their behavior.

During the time when many puritans are ill, six or seven people devote themselves to maintaining the sick from dying. These helping Puritans set a classic example of the way good Puritans should live. These examples include but are not limited to .spared no pains night nor day, but with abundance of toil and hazard of their own health, fetched them wood, made them