Exploring Gods Justice and Pleasure in Bradfords Of Plymouth Plantation

Abstract

Discussion: William Bradford “Of Plymouth Plantation” How does assigning Gods justice or pleasure operate for Bradford? In the “Of Plymouth plantation,” William Bradford belief about God’s justice or pleasure remains coined around the outcomes/consequences of doing good or evil. Based on Bradford, God remained just as he punished sin and rewarded righteousness which was a common belief among European Christians during the 17th century. Bradford belief about Gods justice and pleasures came an era when scientific and ordinary explanation of natural phenomenon like earthquakes, storms among others remained closely associated with God’s response towards human acts. To this effect, Bradford confirmed that when human actions please God, he rewarded them with good things like “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 or else they might have starved for they had none” Pg, 135 and vice versa. Bradford worldview of Gods actions reflects a grounding force in biblical literature in that the world remains divided into two. One side as argued from “Of Plymouth Plantation “consisted of saints that strived to conform to Gods will while the other side consisted of the wicked and profane that either mocked God’s saint or ignored Gods will despite their profession of Christianity. In such a scenario, God had no choice other than to respond to either side’s action with wrath or pleasure to enhance justice for the noted actions. Bradford argues God’s blessings from the Plymouth Saints successful journey and establishment in the new world that enjoyed peace without any interference from political authorities of England among other corrupt influencer. However the profane expected God’s judgments for failures to conform to his will which one may...