The American Puritans
The last few years have seen a recovery of important Puritan works and a much-needed increase in Puritan study. The contemporary study of theology, pastoral ministry, and Christian living have all been helped by this recent recovery. With The American Puritans, Dustin Benge and Nate Pickowicz have added an invaluable contribution to Puritan studies. The American Puritans features nine short biographies of key Puritan leaders of the first century of settled America, covering William Bradford, John Winthrop, John Cotton, Thomas Hooker, Thomas Shepard, Anne Bradstreet, John Eliot, Samuel Willard, and Cotton Mather. Benge and Pickowicz are gifted historians and story-tellers and are also faithful brothers in Christ. The American Puritans provides faithful historical accounts while also giving credit to the sovereign will of God in the lives of these extraordinary people.
The American Puritans offers short, accessible, concise biographies on the nine people listed above. The biographies cover their various pilgrimages to the New World, their church involvement, and in some cases, their roles in the governments of the New World. Readers will enjoy learning about the profound impact that the Puritans had—and continue to have—on America’s governmental structure and culture. The undercurrent of the American Puritan way of life is referred to as the “New England Way,” which is described as “an expression of Congregationalism that sought to impact all of life” (7). The American Puritans, then, wanted their brand of Christianity to play a profound role in “embedding Christianity into the fabric of American society” (8).
I would commend The American Puritans to those interested in learning more about the earliest days of the American settlements, in particular the intransigent, convictional nature of the faith of the earliest pilgrims. Benge and Pickowicz have offered a glimpse into the difficult earliest days of what eventually became the United States. They avoid the popular “hermeneutic of suspicion” when studying the Puritans and instead give a faithful, God-glorifying account. We have much to learn from the American Puritans, such as a greater devotion to the Scriptures, a concern for holiness, and a passion for God’s glory in all of life. Thankfully, with this book, we have an accessible look into the lives of imperfect people from which we can learn much.
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