William Bradford And The Will Of God: The Words Reveal The Truth

Throughout history, religion has played a key role in many significant events. In the case of William Bradford, a 17th century Pilgrim, this couldn’t be more true. He included many of his Calvinist beliefs in his piece of writing Of Plymouth Plantation. Bradford was a Pilgrim who landed in Plymouth in 1620, after fleeing England for fear of religious persecution. Throughout the adventure on the Mayflower and in the New World, Bradford kept a meticulous journal that showed the ups and downs of the trip.

One’s vision of society, religious order, and freedom ultimately plays a significant role in their faith. Puritans from Massachusetts attained numerous visions regarding society, religious order, and freedom. Although these visions are somewhat similar to William Penn’s holy experiment, they contrast in an array of ways. The Puritans were a group of english reformed protestants in the 16th and 17th century. They wanted to purify the church of england from its catholic practices. William Penn was a devout Quaker who inspired many. Penn called for a holy experiment, in efforts to seek religious freedom in his colony. Furthermore, I will describe the similarities and differences between the two unique perspectives, as well as explain why William Penn’s holy experiment is a much more appealing vision to myself.

During the 1630’s, there was a group known as, the Puritans. The Puritans immigrated from England to America, for the sole purpose of religious freedom and their belief that the church of England needed reform. Puritan author’s, Anne Bradstreet and Jonathan Edwards, conveyed their messages and beliefs in their writing . For these two authors, they were working around the same foundation, Puritanism, for the intended messages. Admittedly, there is a disconnection in belief between the two. Edward’s writings take Puritanism to the extreme whilst Bradstreet’s works show a more traditional view in the religion while staying true to it.

In Of Plymouth Plantation, William Bradford writes of multiple acts of God’s divine providence acting on the Pilgrims during their journey to Virginia and the subsequent founding of Plymouth Plantation. Bradford’s portrayal of events he labels providence, such as the death of the lusty seaman, the finding of the corn seeds by the exploring party, and the repulse of the Native American attack, shows his belief that God acted through natural events and reveals aspects of Puritan theology and thinking.

William Bradford said he believed, “Plymouth people were the chosen people to live out their last days in the earthly church” (Daly pg 560). Puritan settlers came to the new world seeking a better life and to get away from the rule of the Catholic Church they wanted to become a primitive Baptist church like in the Old Testament. The Puritans wanted to live their lives in Old Testament biblical way of life; when the settlers came to the, “New England they thought they had landed in God’s country” (Callicott). They thought they were the chosen ones the new

Ships the Puritans sailed on contained sails, which means if there was no wind, then the ship could not move. After a few days of no wind, “they put to sea again with a prosperous wind, which continued divers days together, which was some encouragement unto them;” (Bradford 74). Bradford transcribes how the wind gave the Puritans encouragement that their journey will continue on. Only through respecting God’s Covenant and believing in God will the wind continue. Bradford continues on about a storm the Puritans were caught in, but “they resolved to bear up again for the Cape, and thought themselves happy to get out of those dangers before night overtook them, as by God’s providence they did” (75). Bradford writes of God’s providence, or special care, meaning God took special care of those who believed in Him and follow the Covenant. In this passage, the colonists believed they were in grave danger, or death was near, but just as the colonists were starting to lose hope they saw the Cape. The Puritans believed God rewarded them for believing in Him. Throughout his writings, Bradford shows his belief that God is just but also of mercy, and is omnipresent. Betrayal to either God or the Covenant will receive just

-What does William Bradford’s analysis suggest about the larger anxieties and fears preoccupying the Puritans?

William Bradford’s writing displays his Puritan faith by including many of their ideals throughout Of Plymouth Plantation. Bradford’s beliefs give his writing a simple and unembellished style, like that of Puritan dress. Furthermore, He demonstrates his faith by including the Puritan concept of election. Foremost, Bradford displays his faith by incorporating providence into his writing. For example, he infers that their trip across the Atlantic ended safely only through God’s intervention. Throughout Of Plymouth Plantation, William Bradford exhibits these aspects of his Puritan faith and lifestyle through his simplistic writing style.

Throughout William Bradford’s “Of Plymouth Plantation”, his attachment to his religion was very strong and very verbally shown throughout his work. Bradford was between the age of twelve and thirteen when he had first heard his first sermon by a minister named Richard Clyfton and he later joined with Clyfton in the year 1606. Bradford begins with “…some godly and zealous preachers, and God’s blessings on their labors…” God is already being praised in the first few sentences of this work to bless the labor of their works and throughout the land. The goal of this paper is to bring into light three different sections throughout the work, where Bradford uses his religion to prove a point and to show how his religious faith is freely expressed by leaving England.

In of Plymouth Plantation William Bradford talks about how the Puritans left England to relish in their own religion beliefs and how things should be handled. While doing so they went through tough

The 17th century Puritans were known to represent a religious group migrating from England to America in order to practice religious freedom. These groups were determined to “purify” churches of England from Catholic practices. Puritans are known for their religious, social, and political influences on early America. Edmund S. Morgan’s novel The Puritan Family highlights a part of history that many would tend to look over upon- that is, the complex structural life of Puritan Families in the 17th century.

“The New Colossus” describes the Pilgrim’s arduous journey to and in America by inviting the homeless, the tired, and the poor to seek shelter in America. In “The New Colossus”, it says, “Send these, the homeless…” The Pilgrims are defined as homeless because they had fled Holland, which was there temporary home and sanctuary before they were pulled towards the promise of a religious haven. America provided them with shelter, a religious sanctuary, and new relationships that came with knowledge of farming and hunting. Although, before reaching the promise land, they endured months of treacherous conditions and death. William Bradford describes in his memoir Of Plymouth Plantation that, “ther dyed some times 2 or 3 of a day.” The amount death

William Bradford's purpose in Book I was to express his concern for the pilgrims and explain their journey and comlications to reach America. He explained the pilgrims beliefs in religion and their values, but in Book II the pilgrims religions and beliefs, life changed for them.

Throughout history, there have been great leaders, some for the good of humanity, and some for the not-so good of humanity. The one element all leaders have in common is in some way, have changed the course of history. The one great leader I have found to be interesting and envision of a great leader is William Bradford, an original passenger on the Mayflower, and the first ever governor elected on what is to become, American Soil.

By the 17th century, William Bradford sailed across the Atlantic Ocean without the accompaniment of his beloved son and wife. Bradford, a separatist, experienced God’s challenges of receiving His mercy and grace throughout his understanding of God. The miserable voyage was a dangerous and life-cutting experience because the ship had poor living conditions and a lack of living supplies. During Bradford’s voyage, the puritan voyagers showed their terror and tiresome because they were unsure of God’s omnipotence of His grace and mercy. As the Puritans came ashore, Bradford explained the puritan’s happiness in his journal that said, “Being thus arrived in a good harbor and brought safe to land, they fell upon their knees and blessed the God of