Reflection Blog: Puritan beliefs

Puritans were people that were upset with the Church of England, and wanted to purify it (Kizer). They wanted a reform of Protestantism. They believed that God had the true laws in the bible, and that they should directly follow these laws in their everyday life. The Puritans also believed that everyone was predestined being elect or not. The elect were the people who were basically good people in the eyes of God. The people that were not elect were pretty much just damned, but they wanted to prove they were good by performing righteous acts throughout their lives. The elect wanted to keep performing righteous acts for fear of becoming damned. The fact is that no person knew whether they were predestined as elect or not, but regardless everyone was supposed to follow the laws of the bible and live a morally correct life (Kizer).

Mary Rowaldson writes a story about how important and impactful everything is (Rowlandson 82-85). She says that even crumbs of a pastry that taste “like little flints” are a great blessing. She explains that everything God has put on this world is a blessing, and that it should be well regarded and enjoyed. At one point Mary goes into a wigwam to sit around the fire, and some nice strangers told Mary that they would try to buy her if they were able. From this Mary sees that the people God has created are very sacred too. She also deduces this throughout her story when she is fed by others, and she always repays them by doing something in return. Mary experiences the main belief of Puritans that they should directly follow the laws of God. The people are goodhearted; respect the laws of God; and project His laws in their actions. Mary also tries to take the best care of her “babe” as possible, and she continually suffers to do so. She says “I sat upon my knees, with my babe in my lap, till my flesh was raw again.” Not to long after this does the baby die. Mary is distressed, but she thanks God that He gave her the will to abstain from taking her own life. Clearly Mary Rowlandson has a strong faith in her Puritanism (Rowlandson 82-85).

Anne Bradstreet writes about her house burning down, but she does not let it affect her too much because it is an earthly possession and God’s will (Bradstreet 91). She says “The flame consuming my dwelling place. And when I could no longer look, I blest His name that gave and took” (Bradstreet, 91.) The Puritan belief is that worldly possessions are not important, so she does not let this consume her the way the flames consumed her house (Bradstreet 91). She simply abides to her ecclesiastical beliefs that the Puritans are supposed to follow (Bradstreet 91). She says “The world no longer let me love, my hope and treasure lies above” (Bradstreet, 91.) She tells that the world has taken what she loves, but her life has been lived entirely for a good afterlife.


Bradstreet, Anne. "Upon the Burning of Our House." Comp. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Ph.D. and Douglas Fisher, Ph.D. Glencoe Literature. American Literature ed. Columbus: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009. 91. Print.

Kizer, Kay. "Puritans." University of Notre Dame. Web. 31 Aug. 2011. .

Rowlandson, Mary. "A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson." Comp. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Ph.D. and Douglas Fisher, Ph.D. Glencoe Literature. American Literature ed. Columbus: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009. 82-85. Print.