Puritanism and the Foundations of the Massachusetts Bay Colony
Founding of the Colonial Settlements
James is a city located within the colony of Virginia.
Plymouth was established as a city but functioned as an independent colony in early colonial history between 1620 and 1625.
The Plymouth Colony remained a distinct entity for a season before being absorbed by the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the late 17th century (approximately 1680 or 1690). Today, Plymouth is part of the state of Massachusetts.
Although some might consider it a candidate for a fourteenth colony, there were ultimately only 13 original colonies. Plymouth disappeared as a separate colony and remained only as a city.
The Massachusetts Bay Colony and the Puritans
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was founded by the Puritans. This group is distinct from the Pilgrims associated with Squanto and the first Thanksgiving.
A current event illustration involves a candidate for governor in Wisconsin who proposed canceling Thanksgiving, alleging that the holiday represents the theft of Indian land. However, this perspective is historically inaccurate. The original Thanksgiving was a celebration held by children and settlers with friendly Native Americans to thank God for survival in the wilderness. It was not based on the theft of land.
The Puritans originally attempted to reform the Anglican Church from within. They were unsuccessful in these efforts.
Under the reign of the Kings of England, such as King George, the Puritans faced intense persecution. This included physical mutilation, such as having ears cut off. Unlike the Pilgrims—who formed a small subset, moved to the Netherlands, and then to America—the Puritans engaged in a mass migration directly to America.
Historical Distinctions and the Great Migration
The arrival of the Puritans is known as one of the Great Migrations, with thousands of individuals arriving by ship almost every year to provide reinforcements to the colony.
It is critical to distinguish this from the Great Migration of the approximately 1900 to World War I era, which involved many Black Americans moving from the South to the North.
Geographically, if the Massachusetts Bay Colony were viewed as a large rectangle, Plymouth occupied a small portion of it. After Plymouth was absorbed in the late 1600s, the entire region became Massachusetts Bay.
Puritans and Pilgrims should be viewed as different denominations within Protestant Christianity, similar to the modern distinctions between Presbyterians and Baptists.
Presbyterians practice infant baptism (often by sprinkling or pouring water from a cup).
Baptists practice adult baptism (immersion) following a profession of faith.
Both groups are Christians and Protestants but differ in denominational practices.
John Winthrop and the "City on a Hill"
John Winthrop was the key leader of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and was frequently voted in and out of the position of governor.
The Puritans traveled to America specifically for religious freedom, seeking to establish an environment where they could raise families without the secular corruption they perceived elsewhere (such as the Pilgrims saw in the Netherlands).
Winthrop famously referred to the colony as a "City on a Hill," a biblical reference intended as a warning and an example.
The "City on a Hill" metaphor meant that the colony would be visible to everyone from a distance. Therefore, the Puritans needed to model a godly life and community. Winthrop wanted to be an example to Christians remaining in England who were struggling with the Anglican Church, showing how a godly community could function.
Religious Freedom vs. Religious Tolerance
While the Puritans sought religious freedom for themselves, they did not practice religious tolerance toward others.
Groups that were not tolerated included Catholics, Jews, Atheists, and other non-Puritan sects.
In the Massachusetts Bay Colony, individual behavior was strictly regulated to Puritans standards. If a Catholic wished to live there, they often required a sponsor to ensure they did not return to Catholic practices.
Political participation was tied to church membership. Only members of the Puritan church were permitted to vote. Non-Christians or those not belonging to the church could live in the community under supervision but could not participate in the government.
Ethical and Theological Discussion: Tolerance and Morality
The Puritan approach raises questions about whether Christians should be tolerant of other beliefs and behaviors. Tolerance can be defined as respecting or accepting behaviors and views that one does not personally believe in, or allowing them to exist in a specific place.
In a friend group, certain behaviors—such as perpetual lying or stealing—are typically not tolerated. This illustrates that boundaries are often necessary for the health of a community.
Romans Chapter 1 states that everyone has an innate understanding of right and wrong because they are image-bearers of God. No one is without excuse, as a moral code is wired into humanity.
C.S. Lewis, in Mere Christianity, explores the idea that even those without religious belief follow a moral code. For example, even an atheist generally recognizes that murder is wrong, despite not attributing that law to a deity.
Societal norms are not always a reliable indicator of morality.
In 1850 Georgia, the majority of society supported slavery, which was morally wrong.
In 1930s Germany, many supported Hitler and the Nazis, which was also morally wrong.
The Puritan stance was that they would not accept behaviors they deemed wrong within their community. However, there is a distinction between accepting a behavior as a viable alternative and showing love to an individual.
Jesus provides a model for this: He spent time with sinners because they needed Him, but He never condoned their sin. In the case of the woman caught in adultery, He protected her from being stoned but told her, "Go and sin no more."
Historical Failures and the Salem Witch Trials
The Puritans are often judged for their lack of tolerance and their treatment of outsiders, such as Native Americans.
While some Native Americans converted to Christianity—becoming known as "Praying Indians" living in "Praying Towns"—the Puritans often remained discriminatory, forcing these converts to live in separate villages rather than integrating them into the main community.
The Salem Witch Trials represent a significant failure of the Puritan community. During the trials, 20 people accused of witchcraft were put to death.
Nineteen of the accused were hung. One individual was "pressed" to death—a process where the person was laid on the ground with a board on top of them, and rocks were piled on the board to force a recantation.
The persecution only ended when local preachers united to declare the proceedings wrong.
Other notable instances of intolerance involved the banishment of Anne Hutchinson and Roger Williams from the colony due to religious and procedural disagreements.
Questions & Discussion
Question: What is the difference between denominations?
Response: Denominations are different branches of the same religion. For example, within Protestantism, Presbyterians practice infant baptism by pouring or sprinkling, while Baptists practice adult baptism by immersion. These are differences in practice, not necessarily in the core message of salvation.
Question: Did the Puritans migrate to Massachusetts Bay because they were being persecuted by the Anglicans?
Response: Yes, they were being persecuted in England and migrated en masse to seek religious freedom.
Question: Should Christians hold non-believers to the same standard as believers?
Response: Romans Chapter 1 suggests that God has a single standard for sin, as all people are created in His image and have an innate moral sense. However, expecting someone who does not know Jesus to act in accordance with His specific commands is complex. The goal is to show Christ's love first while not condoning behavior that is biblically wrong.
Question: Were the people killed in Salem actually witches?
Response: They were accused of witchcraft. While witchcraft is a real concept, the execution of these individuals was an overreach and was eventually stopped by the clergy. Christians should be intolerant of witchcraft but should seek to win people back to Christ rather than resorting to execution.
Question: Did the Pilgrims live in Plymouth first?
Response: Yes, the Pilgrims were there before the Puritans. They were simply smaller in number and were eventually absorbed into the larger Massachusetts Bay Colony.