While Puritans are regarded as some of the most zealous, judgmental people of early American history, thanks in large part to misunderstood literature, there is one fact that is indisputable: they were devoted and passionate in their faith. Both John Winthrop and Anne Bradstreet provide testament to this through their writings. Both deal with issues integral to the Puritanical belief system and structure of society, mainly the importance of obedience to God, and the belief that God's grace can offer salvation. However similar, the two offer two completely different viewpoints: the more personal, contemplative poems of a private citizen, Anne Bradstreet, and the sermon of a prominent, public figure, John Winthrop.
Winthrop's Sermon "A Model of Christianity" is a guide for the Puritans arriving in the New World, providing for them an outline of the best way to live their lives for God. His emphasis is on their community as Christians and their relationships with each other. He writes, "All the parts of this body being thus united are made so contiguous in a special relation as they must needs partake of each other's strength and infirmity; joy and sorrow, wealth and woe. If one member suffers, all suffer with it, if one be in honor, all rejoice with it." The main point of Winthrop's sermon is simple, and he repeats it often, "..man...is commanded to love his neighbors as himself." In his effort to highlight the absolute importance of obedience to God, Winthrop appeals to their more human instincts, i.e. the best way to ensure personal happiness and joy is to ensure that of the community. When the community suffers, the individual suffers. He creates this cycle of obedience and doing good, and when good is done, God's will is done. "When he is please to call for His right in anything we have, our own interest we have must stand aside till His turn be served." God's turn is the helping of one's neighbor, the doing good in the community. Winthrop expands his cycle by explaining that the end to this hard work and obedience is salvation by God's grace. Though Puritans believed in Predestination, it was important to never stop working towards salvation, because one did not know if he was saved until Judgment Day. "The end is to improve our lives to do more service to the Lord; the comfort and increase of the body of Christ, whereof we are members, that ourselves and posterity may be the better preserved from the common corruptions of this evil world, to serve the Lord and work out our salvation under the power and purity of his holy ordinances." This is Winthrop's conclusion, his explanation of his cycle. The Puritans must be obedient to God's laws and wishes so that they could remain pure and have the possibility of being saved by God's grace, and the best way to achieve this, according to Winthrop, is through taking care of another in the community to make sure no one falls behind or strays.
As previously stated, Bradstreet's poems are more personal, giving a glimpse as to how Puritan citizens may have responded to sermons such as Winthrop's. In her poem "Verses upon the Burning of our House," Bradstreet recalls the utter devastation she felt at losing her home, her worldly possessions, and the memories that lay within, "My pleasant things in ashes lie / And them behold no more shall I. / Under the roof no guest shall sit, / Nor at thy Table eat a bit." However, she soon begins to scold herself for crying over such material possessions. The last lines of her poem reveal her belief that the Lord shall grant her happiness and eternal pleasure, if only she let him. "Thou has a house on high erect / Fram'd by that mighty Architect... / Stands permanent, though this be fled. / Its purchased and paid for too... / yet by his gift is made thine own. / There's wealth enough; I need no more... / The world no longer let me love; / My hope and Treasure lies above." Bradstreet has put her faith in God, that through his grace, he will provide her salvation in Heaven. Even though her home on Earth has "fled," she still has a heavenly home with God. She realizes that all she must do is obey God, follow his commandments, and she will be fine. Because her obedience to God has been unwavering, she has complete faith that she will be rewarded in the next life.
