Puritan Joy

At the top of my list of favorite Christian authors are the great Puritan teachers of the 17th century.  When most people today hear the word “Puritan” they think of Nathanial Hawthorne’s novel The Scarlet Letter and the infamous Salem witch trials.  No other group of people have been so castigated by history as the Puritans.  They are presented as the most sour and stern group of conscience-ridden, fun-haters you could possibly find.  Why?  Probably because they were profoundly God-centered Christians. Jesus Himself said “If they hated Me, they will hate you.”  The Puritans were Christ-exalting.  The irony is that they were also the most joyful, happy people you could ever hope to meet.  I have found in their magnificent writings a consistent emphasis on the happiness of the Christian life.  More than any others, I think the Puritans accurately reflect the biblical teaching concerning joy.  They present happiness not only as the privilege but also as the duty of all Christians.  I will explore this a little more tomorrow.