500 Word Essay: Cotton. Winthrop's, and Rowlandson's View of Puritans "Errand In The Wilderness"

The Puritans were extremely devoted to their faith, and wouldn't compromise in any area of it. But there was a large amount of debate between all of them, over religious controversies and differing opinions. The Puritans disagreed with their English peers, which is why they had relocated to the New World. However, they met with more problems in regards to Cotton and Winthrop's strange views. 

These elders argued against the Puritans belief that they were saved by grace and not by works. They stated that human beings were not worthy of God's love and had to earn it, by keeping in perfect step with the laws.  This was totally contrary to the idea that you didn't have to do anything to prove yourself honorable to God. I personally don't find very much inspiration in their viewpoints. They were extremely religious and seemingly pious, but didn't seem to have an intimate, loving relationship with their maker. 

All the Puritans agreed that their, "errand in the wilderness" was a holy and divine journey. They would liken it as the Hebrews's 40 year path taken with Moses into the land of "milk and honey". New England was a spiritual haven for them, an escape from Britain's tyranny and lack of religious freedom. In this place, they could follow their faith and not be forced to accept contrary beliefs.

Winthrop was a lawyer who led many of his fellow puritans on a journey to the New World, in 1630. He founded numerous colonies in Massachusetts, being very instrumental in the Puritans escapades. He delivered his famous message, "Model For Christian Charity" aboard the Arabella. The main points of this sermon are as follows,  (1)"a political body has to maintain difference in the community to ensure community, (2) worldly activities such as the acquisition of money can serve spiritual ends, and (3) stable public life depends upon some exterior threat to it's existence. Winthrop believed the Puritans struggles to agree could be contributory in achieving overall unity. Basically, he thought that they could definitely compromise and din't have to be of the same mind to live together.

Winthrop said that variety within the community shouldn't be frowned upon, but rather celebrated and endorsed. In this way, every individual had a unique way of honoring and serving God. They didn't have to all follow the same rules and agree on every detail of their lives.

Cotton wholeheartedly believed in separating from the Anglican church, the prime religious sect at the time.He thought the Church of England's practices and beliefs weren't in line with the Scriptures, God's true thoughts on things.Cotton specifically had the notion that the church should stop the observation of Saint Days, kneeling for communion, and making the sign of the cross. From his outlook,the Anglican church was only separate by name from the Catholic church. He didn't want to associate himself with this lifestyle and beliefs and therefore choose to leave for the New World. Because of his theory that the church needed reformed and purified, he was definitely an authentic,"Puritan' who developed thought-provoking, intelligent ideas. Cotton is regarded by many scholars as the most accomplished,influential minister/theologian of the Massachusetts colony.

Rowlandson was committed to God and her faith, to an admirable and inspiring level. In spite of the horrors she encountered, she persevered and maintained hope and love for people. Mary Rowlandson endured 11 weeks of torture and starvation at the hands of her enemies, the Indians. She was mistreated and separated from her family and friends, watching several of them perish in the raids. Her six-year daughter died from her injuries and malnourishment, which was a heart-breaking event to her mother.

Her faith faltered at times, as the conditions worsened and she experienced more pain and distress. But she never gave up or resorted to hatred for her captors. It is exceptionally inspirational how courageous and brave she was throughout the trial. She attests her strength entirely to God and claims without him she wouldn't have survived. Mary admits that at times she contemplated suicide and was grateful that God prevented her from committing this grave sin. She's also very down-to-earth in acknowledging how often she wondered why it seemed he had abandoned her. 

The death of her young daughter must have surely been a severe and devastating blow. It must have led her to question providence and wonder whether she should still believe in the Lord. Yet she often quotes Bible verses or compares her situation with famous role-models, such as Job. She seemed to be particularly fond of the Psalms and Isaiah. Mary turns to the scriptures often for consolation and comfort in her anguish. She has an impressive memory of verses memorized, to remind herself constantly of. Her story is likened unto Jobs, in that she loses everything and remains resolute and strong. Rowlandson even goes so far as to reprove herself for carelessly forgetting to honor the Sabbath! 

Even amidst all her suffering, this fact is proof enough of her devotion to her Puritan faith. 

Mary treats her own personal "errand in the wilderness" as a good and pure thing. She says it strengthened her once weak faith in God, by seeing how he worked even through all her suffering. Whilst she was on this physical journey, she was also undergoing spiritual transformation and on a divine path. She claimed that she never really found herself and God, until she went through the fire of her trials. Like the Israelites wandering amidst their sin and disbelief, so did Mary until she finally came home, with a newly developed faith.