A Look at the Puritans

More likely than not, at some point during high school history classes, every student has learned about the Puritans from a historical standpoint, and perhaps even the basics of what the Puritans believed. The term “Puritan,” however, is generally associated with extreme, over-the-top lawfulness, possibly crossing the boundary into legalism. Upon delving further into Puritan writings, however, I have found a very different picture of the Puritan lifestyle. While personally I do not agree with some of their beliefs on some smaller issues, I think for the most part they had the right idea of what Christianity should look like. They knew what was most important in life and they went after it with such a diligence that has yet to be matched by any significant religious group or movement.

”The central tenet of Puritanism was God’s supreme authority over human affairs, particularly in the church, and especially as expressed in the Bible. This view led them to seek both individual and corporate conformance to the teaching of the Bible, and it led them to pursue both moral purity down to the smallest detail as well as ecclesiastical purity of the highest level. On the individual level, the Puritans emphasized that each person should be continually reformed by the grace of God to fight against indwelling sin and do what is right before God” (“Puritans” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puritan).

There is a lot that modern-day Christians can learn from the lives of these people who were so radically sold out to Jesus Christ. They kept the cross of Christ the main thing and were serious about living their lives to the glory of His name. John Flavel, a Puritan pastor from the 17th century, writes,

“If Christ be the Lord of glory, how careful should all be who profess Him, that they do not dishonor Jesus Christ, whose name is called upon by them? Christ is a glory to you, be not you a shame and dishonor to Him. How careful had Christians need to be, to draw every line and action of their lives exactly: the more glorious Christ is, the more circumspect and watchful ye had need to be. How lovely would Jesus Christ appear to the world, if the lives of Christians did adorn the doctrine of God their Savior, in all things! Remember, you represent the Lord of glory to the world; it is not your honor only, but the honor of Christ which is engaged and concerned in your actions.”

Even the smallest detail of your life, the most insignificant actions, can contribute to the manner by which you represent your Savior. Take care not to dishonor Christ in any arena of your life so that He may receive most glory and so that the world may see that glory in full. I love how he says that the more glorious Christ is, the more careful you need to be. How glorious is Christ to you?

I would strongly encourage everyone to own a copy of “The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions” (edited by Arthur Bennett). Aside from the Psalms, I find nothing more comforting, encouraging, and yet still convicting to read on a daily basis. The following passage is from a prayer entitled “The Gospel Way.”

Blessed Lord Jesus,
No human mind could conceive or invent the gospel.
Acting in eternal grace, thou art both its messenger and its message,
Lived out on earth through infinite compassion,
Applying thy life to insult, injury, death,
That I might be redeemed, ransomed, freed.

Blessed be thou, O Father, for contriving this way,
Eternal thanks to thee, O Lamb of God, for opening this way,
Praise everlasting to thee, O Holy Spirit,
For applying this way to my heart.

Glorious Trinity, impress the gospel on my soul,
Until its virtue diffuses every faculty;
Let it be heard, acknowledged, professed, felt.

Teach me to secure this mighty blessing;
Help me to give up every darling lust,
To submit heart and life to its command,
To have it in my will, controlling my affections, moulding my understanding;
To adhere strictly to the rules of true religion,
Not departing from them in any instance,
Nor for any advantage in order to escape evil, inconvenience or danger.

Take me to the cross to seek glory from its infamy;
Strip me of every pleasing pretence of righteousness by my own doings.
O gracious redeemer, I have neglected thee too long,
Often crucified thee, crucified thee afresh by my impenitence,
Put thee to open shame.

I thank thee for the patience that has borne with me so long,
And for the grace that now makes me willing to be thine.
O unite me to thyself with inseparable bonds,
That nothing may ever draw me back from thee, my Lord, my Savior.

These people were on fire for God. Despite a lack of any significant "charismatic element" in the Puritan church, they loved God wholeheartedly based on Scripture alone. What if Christians today were as serious about dealing with sin as the Puritans were hundreds of years ago? What if we acted as though our relationship with Christ really was the most important thing in our lives? I think it's safe to say that something big would happen. What if we didn't look so much like the world? Then they would have to notice us, and they would start to wonder, and God could move in their hearts in the way that only He can. Something big would happen if we surrendered ourselves wholly to God.