Examples Of Puritan Beliefs

Puritan Beliefs Throughout time there have been many works of puritan literature that expand on the different beliefs of the Puritans. Understanding the originality of Puritanism first is vitally important before understanding their literature. The Puritans were English protestants who immigrated to America but did not support the English church reformation. They subsequently started their own rigid church, one that adhered closely to the Bible's commandments. Since they believed that the Bible was God's word and that everyone should aspire to live as closely as possible to the example set by Jesus Christ and his twelve disciples, the Puritans would not hesitate in their devotion to their faith. This led to many difficulties in their religion

She and her family came to America when Puritans were fleeing England in hopes of establishing their own church and religion. In a time of equality between men and women, Thomas Dudley, her father went against the social norms and had his daughter, Anne, educated. She became a Puritan poet that wrote about her faith and struggles as a woman, wife, mother, and grandmother. Bradstreet’s poems elaborate on her emotional conflict with the loss of one of her daughters, but she is still able to continue to trust in God’s plan. For Puritans, God is the only way of life, and “she reminds herself that she should live only to praise him” (Blackstock 242) showing the total depravity of Puritanism. Total depravity was the belief that it is in our human nature to be sinners and to avoid spending all of eternity in hell after death, one must be saved by God's grace. As a result, Bradstreet always felt she needed to do more. Bradstreet’s poem “To Her Father with Some Verses” shows her emotional appreciation for her father but feels “Her humility and self-perceived failure demand that she labors until death to repay her “bond” or “debt” (Oser 190) exposing one of the many conflicts in

When it came to their commitment to their religion, the Puritans never wavered. No other faith or person could deter Puritans from their religion. The laws of Christ were to be followed strictly by everyone with no exceptions. Total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace, and the perseverance of the saints were the core tenets of the Puritans' theological framework. Anne Bradstreet emphasized the total depravity of humanity and how God is the only way for us to be saved from the consequences of our sins in her writing. Meanwhile, Edward Tayler was focused on the never-ending grace of God, which is the idea that God's blessings are only bestowed onto those people whom he had already decided would be a member of the Chosen before the earth was ever made. Finally, Jonathan Edwards focused on unconditional election in his teachings. The unconditional election was the belief that God had chosen those whom he believed should be saved. This decision was made at the begging of time and cannot be altered or changed by any man. The other two beliefs of Puritans were limited atonement and perseverance of the saints. Limited atonement was the belief that no human could convince God to change his mind about whom he has chosen to be a part of the Elect since God is infallible. It is impossible to determine