In Sarah Goodhue’s farewell letter to her family and friends, there is a lot of evidence that proves she was an authentic Puritan. She does not seem to have a positive look on herself, however, so I presumed she focused more on the belief that she was inevitably a sinner rather than the belief that […]
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All Eyes Upon Us
John Winthrop wrote his essay “Christian Charity, A Model Hereof” before leaving for New England and used it as a guide for the intentions of the voyage. Winthrop uses Christian Charity as a way to explain the necessity of community. Winthrop begins his essay by rationalizing the discrepancy between the rich and poor. He suggests […]
Chapter 10 John Winthrop
This chapter focuses on Winthrop’s struggle between finding faith in the Lord and reaching his own salvation. It begins with his childhood, stating that he did have an early education in Christ but that it was mostly of “frighting or danger.” This ties into the idea of the puritan children receiving education and ties into […]
Reflections on Chapter 12: Anne Bradstreet on Meditation
In his introduction to the chapter 12 of Puritans in the New World, David Hall explains that Anne Bradstreet used her writing as a form of religious meditation. The religiously toned content reflects this purpose for her writing. In the legacy notes for her son she combines Puritan values with household and maternal values. Bradstreet describes […]
Argument of Conscience
The argument of conscience arises when Massachusetts’s government inflicts punishment on three Baptists who defy the law. The argumentative exchange is in the form of letters, one from Roger Williams to Governor John Endicott, the other from Sir Richard Saltonstall to ministers John Cotton and John Wilson. Through these letters they express their concern of […]
Chapter 16: Don’t Look at Me, I’m a Public Figure
In this chapter John Winthrop defends himself against accusations of fixing the election for governor. He was exonerated and some of the accusers were fined. Winthrop argues that the magistrates the people “take [magistrates] from among [themselves]” meaning that they are humans too. He furthers this by saying that the magistrates cannot be accused of […]
Roger Williams: Separatist, Baptist, “Seeker.”
In my assigned chapter, Roger Williams: Separatist, Baptist, “Seeker,” we’re presented with an example very similar to the case of Anne Hutchinson. Williams spoke out for how he felt the church should be run and was persecuted for it, with threats of exile. He left and started his own group in another area to avoid […]
Anne Bradstreet’s Puritan Values
Chapter 18 – Anne Bradstreet: Verses Addressed to Her Husband and Family Chapter 18 focuses on the work of poet, Anne Bradstreet, featuring four of her pieces that particularly reflect her beliefs in seventeenth-century New England Puritan theology. Bradstreet was the only woman of her time to publish a book on poetry, and primarily wrote […]
Chapter 15: On Church and State
Chapter 15 is all about the Puritan’s view on the relationship between church and state. Our author John Cotton offers up several reasons why he doesn’t think the church should have power in civil service. He does this by offering his letter to an aristocrat who wanted to come to the colony from England, but […]
Anne Hutchinson’s Attack on Puritanism
In Chapter 21 of David Hall’s Puritans in the New World: A Critical Anthology, the examination of Anne Hutchinson before the court and followed by her own written response gives an interesting (although somewhat confusing) view of her beliefs and the church’s disapproval. Anne Hutchinson was brought to court for defying the magistrates and ministers […]
