Was there only "all good" with the Puritans?

A difficulty here is sorting out the theological legacy from the political one. Puritanism was on the go long before the political problems of a king who thought he had a divine right to rule and that his will was equivalent to God's will resulted in political upheaval in Britain and a civil war in England.

From even before the time of Constantine, the name of Cathars, or Puritans, was applied to groups of Christians who had objections to bending their knees to popes or to departing from biblical Christianity. There have always been such groups throughout the centuries, known by various names, but linked by their determination to uphold the purity of scripture and to take that as their rule of faith. They were hounded from pillar to post, many dying horrible deaths.

During Queen Mary Tudor's rule (1553-58) she killed so many Protestants, there was an exodus to America, to flee her bloody reign. That's when the Pilgrim Fathers established Puritanism in America.

By the time of Queen Elizabeth the 1st, a group remaining within the new Church of England had consistently striven against what was Romish in it, endeavouring to make it more definitely Protestant. Those Presbyterians were more in sympathy with the Continental Reformers than the Church of England was. Presbyterianism was established in Scotland, but the authorities in England would not tolerate it. Those Independents were crowded into prisons, fined, mutilated and executed with unrelenting cruelty. The Baptists were looked upon as even worse because they claimed the state had no authority to interfere in matters of religion. Although the Puritan group in England maintained political activity to be vital and so were at odds with the Baptists on that point, they had many similar theological beliefs in common.

The Puritans pushed for a better translation of the Bible in 1604 and King James 1st sponsored the production of the Authorized Version of the Bible of 1611. Around that time, Oliver Cromwell was being educated by a Puritan schoolmaster and at a Puritan college. But it was not till 1628 that he was converted to faith in Christ. He was an Independent by church affiliation but gave room to others. He was elected an MP in 1629 and his first speech was a protest against lack of religious freedom. King James 1st responded by dissolving Parliament and ruling absolutely for 11years. In 1638 James 1st tried to impose a Book of Common Prayer on the Scots but war followed and he had to concede, reconvening Parliament. To his dismay Parliament rallied to the Scottish side so he dismissed Parliament again. But when the Scots invaded England, he had to recall Parliament in summer 1640.

This 'Long Parliament' remonstrated with James 1st (for reigning 11 years without Parliament). The English Civil War stared on 22 August 1642, Oliver Cromwell becoming leader. He signed the death warrant of the king, January 1649. That was when monarchy was abolished and the Commonwealth appointed Cromwell as Lord Protector in December 1653. He was offered the crown on several occasions but always refused. He died in 1658 but two years later General Monck marched down from Scotland and the monarchy, with Charles 2nd as king, was restored.

History homes in on the awful things that happened during the Civil War, blaming "the Puritans" in general, and Cromwell in particular (especially for banning Christmas in 1651!) Yet the Puritans and Cromwell established democracy! Parliament's authority was secured. And Cromwell established religious freedom so that when Charles 2nd tried to force religious uniformity in Britain, 2,000 ministers rebelled, many at great personal cost. They had learned freedom under Cromwell and chose not to give it up. Although Cromwell had been intolerant towards some forms of religion, compared with most, he was a champion of freedom.

Now, I give that brief summary to show how complex the situation was in Britain and why the Puritans, and Cromwell, have been inextricably linked with all the political horrors of that era. Yet if there had not been the cruel persecution of Puritans by Queen B....y Mary and the dictatorship of King Charles 1st, there might not have been any Civil War in England. In every era, Christians have to respond, in faith, to prevailing conditions. But they more they get mired into politics, the harder it is to remain true to Christ. the Puritans did what they felt best for the nation, and to not lose the religious freedom gained. Had they stayed out of politics, King James 1st would have lived on and there would have been no Parliament in Britain, as we know it. The divine right of kings idea he promoted would have been perpetuated, instead of democracy. There would have been no King James Version of the Bible. Of course, many bad things happened too - yet how can we judge them, so far removed from the times of that era? People were forced by circumstances to take a stand, both religiously and politically, not least because of the evils of dictatorial kings and queens. Yet because of the Puritans and Cromwell, we no longer have to endure that. The evils that still go on in politics can yet be curtailed by the voting of us who benefit from democracy. We have the Puritans to thank for that, both in Britain and in America.

The fact that they endorsed the unbiblical concept of "sola scriptura" shows that they had serious flaws in their beliefs and teachings, as every church following this manmade tradition has. This false doctrine has caused nothing but fragmentation and conflict in Protestantism. It has caused more damage to Christianity than the combined efforts of all its enemies.

No one is absolute. Rom 3 tells us who we are. Anyone, or thing that prides themselves above God's Word is delusional!

All work and no play makes a very dull person, or a group of people. Jesus even demonstrated enjoyment at the Wedding Feast where He performed His first miracle, by turning water into wine. Don't get me wrong, there is such a thing as too much of anything that can cause failure or captivity. God tells us to do all thing in moderation. All things are made for us, but all things are not beneficial/lawful. (1 Corinthians 6:12 & 10:23)

The Puritans struggled just as much as the whole world because they are human, they just had an uppity stance or sense of delivering punishment, and covering their own faults. No one can meet up to the standards of God, save the Holy Spirit indwells you, and you are disciplined to do His will. We are sinners by birth, but we don't have to choose to sin.

Puritans were basically like modern days Al'quada members:

They hated partying

They hated drinking

They hated dancing

They detested it when you could see a woman's hills

Basically hated everything that was fun.

You can not mix state and Church. You can not impose God`s law on unbelievers. In this they failed to understand. The world is in the Prince of this World`s hand.

Puritans in England faced persecution either by the legal code and/or through extra-legal means. Legally, Puritans were forced to use Anglican prayer books, could not organize religiously or politically, were banned from holding public office, and paid special taxes or tithes. The extra-legal methods came at the hands of those meaning to do Puritans harm through assault, rape, and murder.

Eventually many Puritans became separatists (some called themselves Pilgrims–get it?), meaning they were in favor of separating from the Church of England. Many went to Holland and some ventured forth to the New World and ended up landing at what we call Plymouth today. Many aboard their ship, the Mayflower, envisioned a utopian like existence in America in which they could practice their religion freely and govern themselves.

Like “old soldiers” they just “faded away” (reference to MacArthur’s famous retirement speech). It was tough being a Puritan–all those rules and proper behavior and stuff. The bad rap from the Salem witch episode ended the era of the strict Puritan. The Great Awakening, a mega-religious revival in the 1730s and 1740s, began to change views of God. Thankfully some of the good characteristics of being Puritan remained. The Puritan inspired work ethic served the country well and contributed to its political, economic, and social development. The family focus of Puritanism established the social building blocks for a new democratic society. Even Thomas Jefferson extolled the virtues of the small yeoman farm.

Puritanism had its good side, its bad side, and an ugly side as well. But like homemade ice cream you have to take the bad with the good, meaning you have to consume those evil, sugary, creamy calories in order to enjoy the tantalizingly sweet and satisfying flavor. The tens of thousands of Puritans that braved passage across the Atlantic from 1620 to 1720 may have had their faults but they also contributed significantly to what would become a new nation based on some pretty good ideals.

The Puritans believed that the Bible was God's true law, and that it provided a plan for living. The established church of the day described access to God as monastic and possible only within the confines of "church authority". Puritans stripped away the traditional trappings and formalities of Christianity which had been slowly building throughout the previous 1500 years. Theirs was an attempt to "purify" the church and their own lives.

What many of us remember about the Puritans is reflective of the modern definition of the term and not of the historical account. Point one, they were not a small group of people. In England many of their persuasion sat in Parliament. So great was the struggle that England's Civil War pitted the Puritans against the Crown Forces. Though the Puritans won the fight with Oliver Cromwell's leadership, their victory was short-lived; hence their displacement to America. Point two, the witchcraft trials did not appropriately define their methods of living for the 100+ years that they formed successful communities. What it did show was the danger that their self-imposed isolation had put them in.

Most of the Puritans settled in the New England area. As they immigrated and formed individual colonies, their numbers rose from 17,800 in 1640 to 106,000 in 1700. Religious exclusiveness was the foremost principle of their society. The spiritual beliefs that they held were strong. This strength held over to include community laws and customs. Since God was at the forefront of their minds, He was to motivate all of their actions. This premise worked both for them and against them.

Well, if you think k praying 24/7 as "all good". If things went wrong God was displeased and we must pray. If things go good we must pray and give thanks so not to displease him. Amazing they had time for work.