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Divine Providence In William Bradford's Of Plymouth Plantation

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In Of Plymouth Plantation, William Bradford writes of multiple acts of God’s divine providence acting on the Pilgrims during their journey to Virginia and the subsequent founding of Plymouth Plantation. Bradford’s portrayal of events he labels providence, such as the death of the lusty seaman, the finding of the corn seeds by the exploring party, and the repulse of the Native American attack, shows his belief that God acted through natural events and reveals aspects of Puritan theology and thinking.
The first example of providence in all Bradford’s journaling is the death of a lusty seaman. In short, a sailor who was very obnoxious to the seasick pilgrims “died in a desperate manner” of a “grievous disease” (Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation). For interpreting Bradford’s theology, the important part of this event and how he describes it is that this act was “a special work of God’s …show more content…

According to Bradford, the lusty seaman dying of a horrible disease is not merely a random but just occurrence. It had divine origins and intentions. Prescribing divine purpose to a disease is reflective of the general pre-scientific thought on which the puritan religion was based. The scriptures were not only a moral code and a theological explanation of man’s purpose and origin, but also an explanation for phenomena like weather, disasters, and disease. This allows Bradford to fill in the gaps in his understanding with God’s unknowable will. Bradford again shows his views on how God exacts His will when the pilgrims send out the first exploring party under Captain Standish. “And here is to be noted a special providence of God, and a great mercy to this poor people, that here they got seed to plant them corn the next year” (Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation). The pilgrims took the seed from the homes of Native Americans, who happened to be absent at the time.

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