Standard Bearer Academy

Introduction: The Puritans and the Power of the Written Word

The story of American literature begins not with novelists or poets seeking fame, but with men and women of deep faith who wrote to glorify God, record His providence, and instruct future generations. The Puritans who settled New England in the early 1600s were among the most literate people in the world, and their commitment to Scripture shaped everything they wrote.

Puritan literature is not mere historical record — it is theological testimony. Every journal entry, every sermon, every poem was composed with the awareness that God was sovereign over all events and that human beings were accountable to Him. Understanding Puritan literature is essential because it establishes the spiritual and intellectual foundations upon which American culture was built.

William Bradford: Of Plymouth Plantation

William Bradford served as governor of Plymouth Colony for over thirty years, and his history Of Plymouth Plantation (written 1630-1651) is one of the most important works of early American literature. Bradford wrote not as a detached historian but as a man who saw God's hand in every detail of the Pilgrims' journey.

Bradford's account of the Mayflower crossing, the harsh first winter, and the providential appearance of Squanto reads like a continuation of Biblical history. He deliberately echoed the language of the Hebrew Exodus, presenting the Pilgrims as a covenant people led by God through the wilderness to a promised land. When half the colony perished in the first winter, Bradford recorded it as a trial of faith; when Squanto appeared and taught them to plant corn, Bradford called it 'a special instrument sent of God for their good beyond their expectation.'

Bradford's literary style is plain and direct — the Puritan 'plain style' that valued clarity and truth over ornament. The Puritans believed that flowery language could obscure God's truth, so they wrote with deliberate simplicity. This commitment to plainness in writing reflected their commitment to plainness in worship and life.

John Winthrop: A Model of Christian Charity

In 1630, aboard the ship Arbella, John Winthrop delivered a sermon that would echo through American history for centuries. A Model of Christian Charity laid out his vision for the Massachusetts Bay Colony as a covenant community bound together by Christian love and mutual obligation.

Winthrop's most famous passage declared: 'We shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us.' Drawing from Matthew 5:14, Winthrop understood that the Puritan experiment would be watched by the entire world. If they honored their covenant with God, they would be blessed and serve as an example to all nations. If they broke their covenant, they would face judgment and become 'a story and a by-word through the world.'

This sermon established a pattern of American self-understanding that persists to this day: the idea that America has a special calling and responsibility before God. Winthrop was not promoting national pride — he was issuing a solemn warning that privilege brings accountability. The covenant theology that undergirds this sermon is rooted directly in Scripture's teaching about God's relationship with His people.

Puritan Poetry: Anne Bradstreet and Edward Taylor

Puritan literature was not limited to prose. Anne Bradstreet, often called America's first published poet, wrote verse that combined personal emotion with theological depth. Her poem 'Upon the Burning of Our House' (1666) movingly describes her struggle to accept the loss of her home, concluding with a declaration of faith: 'Thou hast an house on high erect, / Framed by that mighty Architect.' Bradstreet's ability to move from grief to trust in God's sovereignty demonstrates the Puritan commitment to living out theology in everyday life.

Edward Taylor, a pastor-poet, wrote richly metaphorical 'Preparatory Meditations' as part of his preparation for administering the Lord's Supper. Taylor's poetry is more ornate than the typical plain style, yet it remains deeply theological, exploring themes of grace, redemption, and the soul's relationship with Christ. Together, Bradstreet and Taylor demonstrate that Puritan faith could produce literature of genuine beauty and lasting power.

The Legacy of Puritan Literature

Puritan literature established several enduring themes in American writing: the sense of divine mission, the importance of individual conscience, the belief that words carry moral weight, and the conviction that history is guided by God's providential hand. These themes would be developed, challenged, and sometimes distorted by later generations of American writers, but they never fully disappeared.

As we study subsequent periods of American literature, we will measure each movement against this Puritan foundation. The Puritans remind us that great literature is not merely entertaining — it is purposeful, truthful, and accountable to the God who gave human beings the gift of language.