The Puritan belief in God was a very strong bond. Puritans gave their whole heart to God and to no other. William Bradford, John Winthrop, Anne Bradstreet, and Mary Rowlandson were strong Christians that believed God was the mightiest over all things, and they wanted to spread the word of the Lord in their eyes. Although Bradford, Winthrop, Bradstreet, and Rowlandson have different opinions of God’s direction and purpose, they all agree that the love and power of God was stronger than all others.
All of these Puritans loved God with full commitment, but William Bradford had an opinion on God that favored his righteousness. Bradford was a strong Christian living in the 1600’s in the American colony of Plymouth. Bradford was a leader in the Plymouth community, and helped his fellow Christians base their community on God. Bradford believed that God was a great, strong power, but also believed that He was forgiving, merciful, and righteous. “But the Lord is never wanting unto his in their greatest needs; let his Holy name have all the praise.
” (Bradford 78), is what Bradford tells, explaining that God is loving and merciful to his followers under all circumstances. Bradford also states, “Thus it pleased God to vanquish their enemies, and give them deliverance; and by His special providence so to dispose that not any one of them were either hurt, or hit. ” (Bradford 79), meaning that God blessed his people with protection, with God’s ultimate providence. Bradford uses the word “providence” quite often when referring to God’s deeds, ultimately explaining His great awe and righteousness.
The Essay on Living Through God: the Meaning of a Christian
Living Through God: The Meaning of a Christian "Without God, the thinkers of the world will never grasp the meanings of life, origin and destiny”, so the strong spirited young woman remarks about life. Teenagers today appraise their lives through school, work, and friends. Often times, there is one type of teenager that displays a greater attitude, in which whom goes beyond the obvious by simply ...
John Winthrop had a different belief in the direction of God, but ultimately a similar belief in the love and strength of Him. Winthrop was a very strong and strict Puritan. Winthrop believed that God had incredible power, and was the creator and King of all people. “So this great King will have many stewards,” (Winthrop 91), he states, explaining his belief of God as a King, having “stewards”, or Christian followers to listen to his Word. He also believed that the Creator, God made all equal in status, “It appears plainly that no man is made more honorable than another or more wealthy, etc.
… but for the glory of his Creator and the common good of the creature, man. ” (Winthrop 91).
Winthrop’s strong idea that God was our Maker, King, and Creator was a common belief of the Puritans, and Winthrop wanted to spread the word of the Lord. Anne Bradstreet was another believer in the love and power of God, but Bradstreet had one quality greater than many other Christians: faith. Bradstreet claims that she has never seen God’s glory or miracles, but still holds a very strong belief in Him.
She also was a very strong believer that if God punished one, it was to ultimately help them grow as a Christian and a person. “If at any time you are chastened by God, take it as thankfully and joyfully as in greatest mercies, for if ye be His, ye shall reap the greatest benefit by it. ” (Bradstreet 124), is what she writes telling Christians not to feel sorry for themselves, but to take it as a gift to help them understand the benefit that comes out of it. Bradstreet dedicates much of her life to God and Christianity, but her faith to God is completely blind in her own opinion.
“I never saw any miracles to confirm me, and those which I read of, how did I know but they were feigned? ” (Bradstreet 125), she asks herself, contemplating if there was actually a God or not. She answers herself, “That there is a God my reason would soon tell me by the wondrous works that I see, the vast frame of the heaven and the Earth,” (Bradstreet 125), reminding herself that a Great being in God had to exist in the beginning and create such a landscape that the universe is.
The Essay on Early American Writers God Bradstreet Things
Early American Writers In the literature of early American writers there is one common trait among all the writings: religion. Among Anne Bradstreet and Jonathan Edwards all speak of their opinion of religion, god, heaven, and material things. Anne Bradstreet was a puritan wife, originally from England but then moved to America. Upon moving and settling into her home, her poems became full of ...
Bradstreet at points has a tough time putting her whole heart to God and his faith, but Bradstreet’s incredible drive and faith helps her end up happily devoting herself to God. Mary Rowlandson was a settler that had her entire family and town attacked amidst King Philip’s War. Although things looked bleak for Rowlandson while she was held captive for eleven weeks by the Natives during this war, she retained her strong bond with God. Rowlandson believed that God was the strongest and mightiest in the world, and that He would bless those who have
stayed faithful in the end. She knew that God was with her and would carry her to safety during her long captivity. “But God was with me in a wonderful manner, carrying me along, and bearing up my spirit, that it did not quite fail,” (Rowlandson 131), she says, explaining her faith to God and belief that with his power and might, lead her to safety eventually. Rowlandson also states, “That we must rely on God Himself, and our whole dependence must be upon him.
” (Rowlandson 143), explaining that we must depend on God to help us out of situations that we cannot get ourselves out of. “If trouble from smaller matters begins to arise in me, I have something at hand to check myself with, and say, why am I troubled? ” (Rowlandson 143), she states meaning that the small matters should not bring us down, as we have God on our side, and with his might and strength, he can guide us through all tough matters.
Mary Rowlandson had always believed in the power of the Lord, so when she was under heavy pressure in captivity, she kept her steadfast love and belief in the Lord, showing her faith in the might of God. William Bradford, John Winthrop, Anne Bradstreet, and Mary Rowlandson all believed in God and his powerful abilities, but each has a different, but respectable belief in the direction and purpose of God. William Bradford believed that God was merciful and loving to all that worshipped him.
John Winthrop thought that God was a King to Christians, making important decisions, creating people, places, and things, and using his followers to spread the love of his own word. Anne Bradstreet was convinced to god’s love, even though she had never seen his great works and miracles. And Mary Rowlandson stayed faithful to God’s great power during her captivity, believing that he had the might to free her from the Natives. But, Bradford, Winthrop, Bradstreet, and Rowlandson all agreed that God has created a world where he is all-powerful and loving to all that worshipped his word.
The Essay on Faith Mary James Bradford
Dearest James, It has been a long time since we have talked. I hope you and your family are well in Jamestown, give your parents my best wishes, and tell your sister hello for me. I am writing to you in hopes that this will not be my last letter; for everything has gone to pieces in Salem. It all started when Faith and I decided one night to meet out in the field and play games in the moonlight. ...
