The Puritan Context

In the American history, the puritans were greatly held accountable for their contributions

up to the seventeen centuries. Their values reflected their common search for religious tolerance

they insisted on values that were against people being trusted with governance. However, they

emphasized on education. This led to America’s form of government being rooted in the British

institutions and the puritans missing out on contributing to the democracy held by Americans but

rather just contributing their ethics

The Puritan values that affected American society in both positive and negative ways

continue to influence our nation today. The American concept of limited government stems from

the Puritan community. Puritans believed that no single person or group of people should be

trusted to run the government. The Puritan emphasis on education led to an American school

system whereby everyone is taught reading, writing, and arithmetic. Finally, many Americans

have adopted the Puritan ethics of honesty, responsibility, hard work, and self-control.

John Winthrop described the kind of Puritan Christian community he envisioned, one

which was knit together as one man with brotherly affection. Luxuries would be surrendered for

to provide for the needs of others, in a way that was familial. Puritans would practice generosity,

gentleness, and patience, which would reflect how they regarded one another’s condition the

same as their own. This Golden Rule would cause them to rejoice together, mourn the same

things, labor, and suffer together, creating a community that would shine before the eyes of the

world, who was watching. If they failed or were false to this vision, they believed God would

withdraw His favor and the world would mock them.

 According to Puritan John Cotton in his 1655 discourse of the “Limitation of

Government,” men of the world should not be given any greater power than absolutely necessary

because, if not taught by God Himself, they will always use it wrongly, revealing the innate

deceit and wickedness in all our hearts. Those in offices of leadership or in the Church, who

oversee others should be given too much authority, or they will overrun those who bestowed it

on them. We should be studios to observe boundaries of government, which the Lord sets before

us as an example. God Himself deputizes mankind with authority, and that authority belongs to

the people. The boundaries of this authority are limited and exemplified within the family unit.

The husband, in authority within the family, also bears the weight of responsibility, showing an

example that will not overstretch others or frustrate those who live under that authority.

In conclusion, the puritans were greatly responsible for the American history and they

were known for their search for religious tolerance. Their values had limitations to governance

but emphasized more on education, ethics, and brotherhood affection. The American democracy

thus and form of government was hence built on the British institutions unlike the puritans who

believed that man was not to be trusted with authority for fear of abuse of power endorsed

through forms of governments.

 Citations

Alan Simpson, “Puritanism in Old and New England” (1955)

John Winthrop, “a Modell of Christianity charity,” (1630)

John cotton, limitations of government,” (1655)