The Nature of Covenant in Puritan World - Essay Example

The concept of covenant can be regarded as a core of Puritan perception of the world and relationships with the surrounding people. It seems that everything in Puritan understanding is built upon the concept of covenant: the connection between God and men, the relationships of ministers and congregations, and even the relationships in marriage between a man and a woman in marriage. The convent, which in broad sense is an agreement between two or more parties, acquired new additional meaning in religious studies. The covenant in Puritan understanding is an agreement of mutual consent between parties which presupposes certain privileges and responsibilities. It all began in early seventeenth century in New England when churches were created with the help of covenant of its members who eventually chose their own ministers as well. The governments in several America colonies created after missioners` arrival were based on the convent between. Even the first texts dedicated to Puritanism proclaimed covenant as the most essential element of the relationships with God. John Winthrop was one of the first writers who stated that Puritans agreed to create a real Christian community in which rich would show generosity and care about less fortunate and poorer members who had to work diligently. This covenant if abided would result in creation of exemplary city by God himself. However, if the agreement is broken God would punish those who made it. Winthrop was the first writer as well who aimed to criticize the state of things when social and economic inequality resulted in the nature of relationships in society and in relationships between people and God. The transformation of the nation led to outrageous changes that raised the question of faith and religion (The Puritan Idea of the Covenant). It is possible to regard the concept of covenant closely by dividing it into several basic directions. In Puritan vision of the world the covenant could probably be divided between three realms: The Covenant of Works united God and Adam in mutual agreement of obedience. However, the covenant was not abided which provoked God`s wrath and resulted in covenant with Abraham in future (Genesis 18-19). The Covenant of Grace is the covenant between God and believers. It presupposes an active faith from the part of the elect and eternal obedience. Again breaking this covenant leads to the punishment. However, the covenant had to be made by people voluntarily though it was considered that it is God who was the primary initiator of the covenant. The Covenant of Redemption was made between God and Jesus who made the choice to sacrifice his life to redeem the sins of humanity. With this deed Jesus Christ made himself the representative of humanity (Puritanism in New England). When analyzing the concept of covenant in Puritanism it nevertheless is extremely important to understand how famous authors interpreted it and how they reflected their thoughts and observations regarding covenant in writing. John Woolman was a Quacker whose prominent writing and life became inspiration and the example for generations of Americas. Till this days his name is associated with life-long struggle against slavery. And he himself being a Puritan dedicated much time thinking over this term, thus, it is thus important to learn how Woolman viewed covenant and what effect it made on his life. Despite the fact that the concept of covenant in the consciousness of Puritans was not bound to the relationships between God and believers or between Jesus and believers and between God and Jesus this was the primary understanding. However, the concept of the covenant was first of all applicable to the relationships between people themselves and what is even more unexpected between people and all living creatures of the world. Woolman understood this early enough to become one of the most serious opponents of slavery because it undermined the idea of the covenant between people themselves as between equal God`s creatures respecting freedom of each other. Thus, slavery which made the master supreme over his slaves destroyed the concept of humanity and grace that is why the author dedicated all his efforts to help to overcome this ugly phenomenon of American society. Another disturbing thing that attracted Woolman`s attention was enormous wealth that became the result of slavery because one people made fortune at the expense of the other. Woolman was one of the fathers of democracy as we see it now, democracy based on equal rights and opportunities: “ I saw that a humble man with the blessing of the Lord might live on a little, and that where the heart was set on greatness, success in business did not satisfy the craving, but that in common with an increase of wealth the desire of wealth increased” Woolman was a Puritan however he did not believed that sins are essential part of human nature and fought for their eradication. For Woolman each single person was inseparable from the whole humanity that is why helping one meat helping all the rest. The author viewed human kinship as the only reasonable ground for developing respect, love, ad understanding between all people. However, Woolman went further thinking about humanity and attempted to make people more aware of the needs of all God`s creatures: “exercise true justice and goodness not only toward all men but also toward the brute creatures” (Woolman 28). In difficult and oppressing circumstances Woolman found his own way to interpret the concept of covenant in American society. He protested against slavery in a demonstrative way: he refused writing ay documents that could be used for slavery perpetuation. He refused to buy product made by slaves and he did not stop explaining why he refused from consumption of rum, cotton or sugar. He accepted the truth that in most cases actions were more eloquent (Who Was John Woolman?) Therefore, the concept of covenant was and remains multifaceted but in general it means mutual voluntarily agreement. It is important to know that abiding the covenant between God and people it is necessary to abide it between people themselves. Works Cited The Puritan Idea of the Covenant. Digital History. Retrieved from: http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtid=2&psid=3579 Puritanism in New England. Retrieved from: http://public.wsu.edu/~campbelld/amlit/purdef.htm#Covenant Who Was John Woolman? Woolman Center. Retrieved from: http://woolmancentral.com/wwjw.html Read More