Christian attitude to death in seventeenth century Puritanism

Abstract

The intent of this study is to examine the subject of death in seventeenth century Puritanism from a theological point of view. Other studies on this subject, made in the same or earlier periods, while not devoid of theological examination have been primarily interested in its literary treatment. This study was undertaken because it was believed that the subject of death is basically theological and that a more specifically theological approach would be an aid to further literary and theological researches into the subject.

The larger field with which this thesis is concerned is Puritanism., Of perennial interest to scholars, Puritanism has been made the subject of an increasing amount of study in recent years; for it has been discovered that the Puritan spirit still continues. The subject of death is a vantage point from which to examine Puritan thought because death pervaded every sphere of that thought, This thesis demonstrates how closely the Puritan's view of life was tied to his view of death. It shows the relation between his attitude to death and his attitude to heaven. It reveals something of the Puritan's intimate personality by showing. his primary concern for his own death, his reaction to the death of loved ones, and his lifelong struggle for a victorious death. Because death is a theological subjects an examination of it exposes the effect of covenant theology on Puritanism and reveals much of Puritan theological thought in general.