Puritan Persuasion Essay

Improved Essays
Many are overwhelmed with irritation and even regret, to a degree, when they perform a good deed that goes unnoticed. Was the act done solely for others ' benefit, or for the self-righteousness and rewards that come as a consequence? Psychologists are hotly debated over this topic. Puritans during the early 16th century believed that humans ' hard work, morals, and faith in heaven would grant them an afterlife in heaven. Contrastingly, Humanists during the 17th century believed that all efforts were on man, not God; they wanted to achieve happiness in their current life through logic and hard work. A desire to reap the benefits and escape the consequences of doing otherwise fuel human motivation for doing good; in many other instances, …show more content…
William Bradford, in Of Plymouth Plantation, records when he and his fellow Puritans were confronted by an American Indian, they provided him with "friendly entertainment and some gifts" then "made a peace with him" (Bradford 72). Europeans and Indians didn 't get along, so logically Puritans showed benevolence towards Indians to reduce violence between the two groups. Puritans had little interest in genuine relationships with foreign peoples; they kept peace between them and therefore remained dominant. Johnathan Edwards, in his 1741 sermon Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, argues God is holding unsaved people "over the pit of hell" and he is not "in the least bound by any promise to hold them up one moment" (Edwards 46). An overwhelming majority of those who heard this sermon took the necessary actions to be saved and dedicate their lives to God. These people performed these actions because they were religiously prompted to, not out of the goodness of their hearts. People use good deeds as a medium to escape dreadful situations, such as Indian conflict and …show more content…
In 2007, Wesley Autrey jumped on a man having an epileptic seizure to save him from an oncoming subway train. When later interviewed about the event, Autrey revealed that he felt it was the humane thing to do. This act surely resulted in popularity, however it is highly unlikely someone would risk their life just for a small portion of fame. In The Autobiography, Benjamin Franklin describes his plan to better his life through thirteen virtues. Franklin was a founding father and therefore an expert on the dynamics of government and how to reach its full potential. These virtues, which included doing civil duty and being respectful, started with Franklin and would branch from person to person until everyone had an ideal character. In turn, educated and well rounded people could make better decisions regarding their political choices. Examples set in modern as well as colonial times show purity in the good deeds people

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Puritanism, superficially thought to be a belief in which the Church of England should be removed from Catholicism and its hierarchy, demands more of the individual than the church. It demanded the faith, strength, and determination to please God. The Puritan Dilemma, by Edmund S. Morgan, is the biography of John Winthrop, a Puritan who departs from England so as to create a haven and an example of a community where the laws of God were followed diligently. Within the Puritan Dilemma, Morgan outlines the dilemma that plagues all Puritans. Morgan speaks of the paradox that troubled Winthrop that was “... the paradox that required a man to live in the world without being of it.…

    • 943 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Puritans argued that they could not have meaningful interactions with the Native Americans because the Puritans could not know if the Natives shared the same moral values as the Natives did not believe the same religion (The Simple Cobler of Aggawam, 206). Bradford describes the Natives as “savages” (Norton Anthology, 62) before he even meets them, alluding to their unconventional dress and language. Furthermore, while Bradford makes himself and his followers out to be the utmost followers of God and his teachings, Bradford has no qualms about the men in his party’s stealing beans and corn from the Natives’ stores, illuminating his lack of respect for the Natives as they are of such a different moral standing that he does not need to treat them with a normal amount of respect. Many years later into the establishment of the colonies, in 1637, when Bradford was Governor of Massachusetts, the Colonists surrounded and burned hundreds of Pequot Native men, women, and children to death in a scene that Bradford described as “a fearful sight to see them thus frying in the fire, and the streams of blood quenching the same… but the victory seemed a sweet sacrifice, and [us Puritans] gave the praise thereof to God,” (American Colonies, 195). Bradford’s illustrating that the Puritans “gave the praise thereof to God” exposes his and many…

    • 1135 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Benjamin Franklin was an inventions superstar. He invented many things. Joel Young shows us by saying, “Benjamin Franklin was a big time inventor…. He invented bifocals, the glass armonica, swim fins, the Franklin stove, the lightning rod, electricity, and much more.” Benjamin Franklin was also a write.…

    • 554 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    John Edwards’s sermon, Sinner’s in the Hands of an Angry God was written during the era of increasing religious philosophies. It exposes biblical practices such as the equality of all men and the principle of supreme rights bestowed by their Creator. Edwards’ sermon is a literary example of preaching style during the Great Awakening, where numerous pastors read their sermons. In his sermon, Edward invites his congregation to repent of their sins that will warrant the wrath of an angry God into notice.…

    • 148 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Search for perfection Benjamin Franklin and Jonathan Edwards were both Enlightenment thinkers of the eighteenth century. However, they differ in their tone and ideas concerning moral perfection. Edwards presents his views through puritan values and revelation ,while Franklin uses ideological and scientific reason. Jonathan Edwards “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” and Benjamin Franklin's “The Autobiography " demonstrates their views on achieving moral perfection. Edwards’ sermon displayed a profound emotional impact through fear.…

    • 998 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    American citizens do not realize how everyday actions contribute and continually influence both the American and puritan societies. In Jonathan Edward’s sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”, Edwards asserts that with continuous sin, puritans will be released to hell by God and by also not following the puritan way of life. Throughout the sermon, Jonathan Edwards uses similes, repetition and scare tactics to emphasize the fact that with sin, any Puritan will be sent to hell. Faith and fear have extensive contributions to the overall influence of the American society which Edwards addresses in his sermon. Faith plays a role in the society due to the fact the puritans know they are not supposed to sin, however they do so anyways which…

    • 1088 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Jonathan Edwards Robert Watson History 1100: America to 1865 Mr. Lawrence Celani October 9, 2015 Jonathan Edwards, a puritan born colonist who experienced an intense conversion at an early age, was one of the most influential religious leaders of his era. Edwards was born in 1703 in Connecticut. Edwards was a well-educated individual, whom had attended Yale specializing in theology and philosophy. Soon after, Edwards became a very important and well-known preacher in the historical event called the Great Awakening, in which people believe to be one of the most extreme spurts of God’s graces.…

    • 1782 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Conservatives and liberals are more a less disparate from one another, not including employment speculations. The vast majority of all Republicans live in more rural, bucolic areas, including Randolph County, North Carolina. The Republican Party is also classified as the Grand Old Party (GOP), or the Gallant Old Party (GOP). The winner of the 2016 Presidential election was a Republican (Donald Trump), and the majority of the current House of Representatives is also Republican. The Republicans hope to solve the current problems that America is facing today in what they believe in and how they should be solved.…

    • 981 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    To Kill A Mockingbird The people who are quiet and observant are the people who change the world. This statement is true because when people take the time to actually listen to others, they find a way to do something that will contribute to mankind. Quiet people have really loud minds and they wait to express themselves when the time is right. In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, the author shows examples of how the quietest people are often the most powerful. Atticus Finch is an example of a person who made a big difference by being quiet and observant.…

    • 607 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Essay On Puritan Children

    • 980 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Zinia Jones Van de motter Research paper 20 October 2017 Daily Life of Puritan Children Puritans were members of a social and religious movement in the 1600s. Other cultures may have different ways of living or the way the treat their children. The life of a Puritan child was a key factor to the Puritans, and they played an important role. The Puritan children lifestyle was extremely different from modern day children’s life. They were expected to do more and follow all rules given to them.…

    • 980 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. He was the first general Postmaster of the United States as well as the first diplomat to France and England and greatly increased America’s relationship with these countries. Both Machiavelli, the Italian politician who wrote The Prince, and Sun Tzu, the Chinese war philosopher who wrote The Art of War, write about what it means to be a good leader. Although, Benjamin Franklin was a great leader he could have still received some advice from Sun Tzu and Machiavelli.…

    • 1091 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Ethos, Logos, and Pathos in “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” Jonathan Edwards was a Puritan theologian who was a primary figure during the Great Awakening. Edwards delivered his fiery sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” to his puritan congregation in 1741 using powerful images of heaven and hell and a sense of urgency to convince sinners to come to Christ. To achieve his desired purpose of urging sinners to receive God’s grace before it is too late, Edwards employs ethos, logos, and pathos. Edwards uses ethos to appeal to his congregation to convince them to turn from their wicked ways.…

    • 603 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Benjamin Franklin believed that every person can become more wealthy, healthy, and wise through hard work and self discipline. I believe in his belief because it doesn’t matter how difficult or easy it is to accomplish a goal; at the end of the day, what counts is the satisfaction of the work and experience a person puts into it. Franklin didn’t favor luck or opportunities, but instead became successful through hard work. Franklin was many things such as an author, inventor, scientist, and a printer.…

    • 1180 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Defining Statesmanship When assigned the task of defining statesmanship, one may attempt to use Occam's razor. All things being equal, the simplest solution is usually the best one. According to the Blackwell Dictionary of Political Science, the definition of statesmen simply states "see politician". This leads to two conclusions: First, Occam's razor is not always correct. Secondly, Blackwell's accuracy is questionable, at best.…

    • 1400 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The opinions we have of ourselves and others are powerful. Pride and Prejudice, written by Jane Austen, tells the story of Elizabeth Bennet and the arrogant Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, who have a mutual dislike for one another after an initial meeting at a local ball. The novel portrays the growth of Elizabeth and Darcy, and their journey in realizing their love for each other despite the hindrances they create for themselves. This book reveals how displaced pride and prejudices can blind people from seeing what they really want.…

    • 785 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays