McGowan on Puritanism

Puritan Literature reflects a strong sense of preordainment within the community. Every single member of the community serves the purpose which was always meant to be served by that particular individual. This idea is promoted by The Covenant of Works, which states that one must always be subservient to God's law and to the will of God. In his sermon on board the Arabella, John Winthrop states, "that every man might have need of others, and from hence they might be all knit more nearly together in the bonds of brotherly affection." This reflects the Puritan sense that this community is essentially a quilt that has been knitted by God; and while it is preordained, the threads must strive to work in tandem with one another through mutual love and respect. Winthrop says of love, "The definition which the Scripture gives us of love is this: Love is the bond of perfection. First it is a bond or ligament. Secondly, it makes the work perfect." In other words, the community must strive for strong, loving bonds in order to achieve what Puritans would call  "A City on a Hill", or an example to follow among other Christian communities. 
The poetry of Anne Bradstreet exists as somewhat of an example as well. She displays Puritan values in her poetry, specifically in terms of meditation as a means to reconcile one's beliefs. In "Verses upon the Burning of our House", Bradstreet seems to reconcile her beliefs using the Covenant of Grace as it exists in one's lifetime. For instance, 
And when I could no longer look,
I blest his grace that gave and took,
That laid my goods now in the dust.
Yea, so it was, and so 'twas just.   

This is only one example of the logic Bradstreet follows as to why God has chosen to allow her house to burn. She takes it as a lesson against not only her own vanity, but also against the vanity of the world as a whole: "Adieu, Adieu, All's Vanity." Thus, Bradstreet is able to interpret the burning of her house as a collective statement from God rather than a personal attack on her family. She goes on to rationalize this happening by suggesting that, "He might of all justly bereft/ But yet sufficient for us left". In other words, Bradstreet is suggesting that the fire serves as a reminder that God could have easily and justly demolished the earth; and his grace is made apparent in his sustaining of it. Finally, Bradstreet makes it clear in the end of her poem that the fire has actually brought her thoughts closer to the most important goal: "The world no longer let me love;/ My hope and Treasure lies above." This serves as somewhat of a revelation in the sense that the fire has brought a better sense of clarity to Bradstreet's mind. She has become more aware of what is important to her as a result of something bad that happened.