The Puritans

The Puritans have a list of believes they follow. Total depravity, unconditional election, limited attonement, irresistable grace, and perserverance of the "saints". They feel that certain people are chosen to interpret the will of God. If you are chosen they feel that it is impossible to go against the will of God. They also believe that every one is born sinful, and God saves only those he wishes to.

Typology is another belief in Puritanism. This belief says that God's intensions are present in human action and natural phenomenon. Meaning that things happen because of something else. Also they feel God's reward is present in natural phenomenon. Examples of this would be flooding, bountiful harvest, or a dried up river.I agree with this somewhat. I believe in fait and blessings. I also believe that everything happens for a reason, that God has a plan for all of us and the good things and the bad things all lead to what is meant for us.

Their way of life and belief's are very different from those of most people today. I do not believe in thier ways at all. In the "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" they make a comment saying, " Because of Adam and Eve puritains believed everyone was a born sinner." To me that is not true. I believe everyone is born innocent and has a chance to do right and, when sin they are able to repent. Another remark they make is “Thus it is that natural men are held in the hand of god over the pit of hell, they have deserved the fiery pit and are already sentenced to it.” God does not hold us over the pit of hell, no one is already sentenced to it and I believe God wants everyone back in heaven. They act as if God hates some by saying, “He is to pure eyes then to bear to have you in his sight, you are ten thousand times more abominable in his eyes then the most hateful venomous serpent is in ours.”

I don't agree with the way they believe that at any moment God as the power to drop us in hell. I do believe God has the power to take our life at any given moment, and that we should thank God for every day we are here. But their remark “Ye there is nothing else to be given as a reason why you do not this very moment drop down into hell.” really bothers me.

They mayflower compact is a contract they all agreed to while sailing on the mayflower. They decided they would go ahead and establish the government they would follow before the ship even landed. They were not going to go by the rules of the people they left, and they really weren't considering anyone else. To me that is selfish. I understand it's every man on thier own, but I still don't think it's right to barge into some one elses lifestyle and try and change it.

Puritans believed in limited atonement; Jesus died for the chosen only, not for everyone. Irresistible Grace - God's grace is freely given, it cannot be earned or denied. Grace is defined as the saving and transfiguring power of God. They give examples of this in the "Sinner in the hand of an Angry God". They say, “It was up to saints to interpret the word of god the way THEY chose.” this is an example of transfiguring power of God. “Thus it is that natural men are held in the hand of god over the pit of hell, they have deserved the fiery pit and are already sentenced to it.” Is referring to them not being able to earn grace.

Another one of their beliefs is Unconditional Election - God "saves" those he wishes - only a few are selected for salvation. They give an example of this by saying, “You have offended him infinitely more then ever a stubborn rebel did his prince, and yet it is nothing but his hand that holds you from falling into the fire every moment. It is to be ascribed to nothing else that you did not go into hell last night. That you had suffered to wake again in this world after you closed your eyes to sleep, and there is no other reason to be given of why you have not dropped into hell.”