Puritan Writing Style of William Bradford

The writings of William Bradford greatly reflected the Puritan philosophy. Once again, the style regards everything leading back to God in some way, and how religion is all that matters in life. During this time, the Puritan belief system was a common one. Nearly every man and woman in Plymouth was a Puritan, from what I've observed. This spirituality was not uncommon, people were being raised this way, and it was long before anyone would rebel against such ideas. Although the beliefs were completely unrelatable to most people of our time, it is still quite interesting to read into what it was like to be present during such a raw and primitive stage in our country's growth. 
In all honesty, I had to search a little for the direct religious references. Sometimes he does not just come right out and say it, and the references are not completely solid. A good reference from Bradford was found on pages 58 and 59, "So being ready to departe,  they had a day of solleme humiliation, their pastor taking his texte from Ezra 8. 21. And ther at y river, by Ahava, I proclaimed a fast, that we might humble ourselves before God, and seeke for him a right way for us, and for our children, and for all our substance." He then continues on about the rest of the time spent praising and fasting that day. This is a perfect example of how these people viewed things in that time. Everything was all thanks to God, and every single person lived by that logic, even if something bad would happen. Somehow, unfortunate things that happened to these men and women were looked on as blessings and gifts from the almighty Lord. I have to remember in these blogs that as crazy as it may seem to me, some people still have similar beliefs to this. I respect that.
The way Bradford recollects it, it seems as though religious references not only appeared frequently in text, but also in people's thoughts, words, and actions. In one particular passage that I stumbled upon, it did not seem as ridiculous for people to be praying to their Lord. "After y removall of his familie from hence, he fell into some straits, (as some others did,) and about a year or more afterwards, towards Winter, he intended a vioage to Virginia; but it so pleased God that y barke that carried him, and many other passengers, was in that danger, that they dispaired of life; so as many of them, as they fell into prayer, so also did they begine to examine their consciences and confess such sins as most did burthen them (Bradford 190)." I would say that a life being in real danger would be a valid reason to pray. I do not blame them for their prayers, as this would be a good time to have someone to pray to. The religion that these men had was what kept them sane in times of madness among settlers. 


Bradford, William. "History of Plymouth Plantation." History of Plymouth Plantation. Boston, n.d. Web. 03 Sept. 2012. <http://archive.org/stream/historyplymouth00bradgoog>.