Puritan Writing Can Be Exciting

For the modern reader, the writings of the Puritans can be an extremely dull encounter that leaves one face down, asleep on their book. With the numerous Biblical quotations, subsequent explanations, and chastising, it is not hard to become so disinterested that one eventually finds their thoughts somewhere other than the reading. What is responsible for having created this seemingly impassable rift between America’s earliest authors and today’s reader? One explanation could be that the Puritan was writing from a society and a viewpoint so far removed from modern attitudes, that people are apt to disregard their advice considering it too antiquated. What’s more, despite it being English, the language of the Puritans is different in that it is tedious and demands more attention of the reader, and therefore can become tiresome to read. Still, it does nothing to dwell on the evident challenge there is to understanding Puritan writing, especially since the real question of significance is: How does one overcome this challenge and consequently, what benefits result from reading and heeding Puritan works?

As already mentioned, the problem people face with Puritan works is finding their guidance to be outdated and non-consequential. Many are apt to assume that because it was written so long ago and in a completely different society, words like those of John Winthrop have no relevance when applied to modern life. However, this is an erroneous sentiment to hold, since the problem can readily be remedied by applying the argument’s reverse (finding modern relevance in Puritan words). To say it another way, by relating the advice in these readings to something occurring right now, one can find interest, meaning, and purpose in what was once a boring text. A prime example would be Winthrop’s counsel in “A Model of Christian Charity:”

Quest. What rule must we observe in lending? Ans. Thou must observe whether thy brother hath present or probable, or possible means of repaying thee, if there be none of these, thou must give him according to his necessity, rather than lend him as he requires (151).

Winthrop’s advice rings truer now than it ever has before. Certainly, America’s current housing crisis and foreclosure epidemic is due to lenders’ failure to follow what would seemingly be commonsense advice regarding loan practices. Knowingly lending someone more than what they could ever possibly mean to pay back is an unscrupulous act, made only worse by the reality that the lender unfairly stands to gain at the expense of the borrower. Moreover, Winthrop preaches that when one must lend to someone without means of repayment, then he must be considered “an object of thy mercy" (151). However, one would be hard pressed to find a bank or mortgage company who would be willing to take a financial loss and simply forgive all outstanding debts. When it comes to money, there seems to be no room for a culture of mercy. (This is made only more evident by the inevitable outcome that awaits one who cannot pay what they owe, namely the loss of their home or repossession of assets).

So as not to stray too far, it is worth reiterating once more that by relating these writings of the past to problems of the present, they become less trivial and more influential (and therefore more interesting to read). One would think modern society and economics have evolved past the ideals of America’s first settlers, but obviously not, especially when one considers the backwards practices of today’s companies, (who like some of those first explorers) exploit others in their quest for personal wealth. Ultimately, it does one well to remember that much of the advice Puritan’s offer comes from a virtuous source (namely the Bible), and as such provides sound moral reasoning that many big businesses would truly benefit from implementing.

Winthrop, John. “A Model of Christian Charity.” The Norton Anthology of American Literature Vol. A. Ed. Nina Baym. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2007. 147-158.