The price of redemption : the spiritual economy of Puritan New England
"Beginning with the first colonists and continuing down to the present, the dominant narrative of New England Puritanism has maintained that piety and prosperity were enemies, that the rise of commerce delivered a mortal blow to the fervor of the founders, and that later generations of Puritans fell away from their religious heritage as they moved out across the New England landscape. This book offers a new alternative to the prevailing narrative, which has been frequently criticized but heretofore never adequately replaced." "The author's argument follows two main strands. First, he shows that commercial development, rather than being detrimental to religion, was necessary to sustain Puritan religious culture. It was costly to establish and maintain a vital Puritan church, for the needs were many, including educated ministers who commanded substantial salaries; public education so that the laity could be immersed in the Bible and devotional literature (substantial expenses in themselves); the building of meetinghouses; and the furnishing of communion tables - all and more were required for the maintenance of Puritan piety." "Second, the author analyzes how the Puritans gradually developed the evangelical impulse to broadcast the seeds of grace as widely as possible. The spread of Puritan churches throughout most of New England was fostered by the steady devotion of material resources to the maintenance of an intense and demanding religion, a devotion made possible by the belief that money sown to the spirit would reap divine rewards." "In conclusion, the author argues that the Great Awakening was a product of the continuous cultivation of traditional religion, a cultural achievement built on New England's economic development, rather than an indictment and rejection of its Puritan heritage."--Jacket
Print Book, English, 1997
Stanford University Press, Stanford, Calif., 1997
Church history
ix, 325 pages ; 23 cm
9780804729123, 0804729123
37370171
A "right middle way"
A temple in the wilderness
A garden in the metropolis
"The want of all means ordained to help me"
Keepers of the vineyard, gentlemen of means
"Christ's curious garden fenced in ..."
Defending the garden, cultivating the wilderness
" ... with solid walls of discipline"
Conclusion: From the covenant to the revival and beyond
Originally presented as the author's thesis (doctoral)--Harvard University