The Conversion Narrative: An Account of Eternal Grace

Two individuals who had a profound effect on Puritan society are John Winthrop and Jonathan Edwards. Edwards, valedictorian of his class at what would come to be known as Yale University in 1720, eventually became a minister notorious for the “evangelical” nature of his ministry. Edwards subscribed to a Calvanist doctrine, believing that man exercised will, motivated by “apparent good.” He asserted that man, while entering the world in complete depravity, was not predisposed to right or wrong behavior, a stance detailed in his book known as The Freedom of the Will. Winthrop, in contrast, was well-grounded in traditional Puritan values, as he was born prior to the departure of the Mayflower for the New World. Winthrop, who like Edwards became a minister, had visions of “a city of God,” an ideal society for Puritans. His sermon, “A Modell of Christian Charity,” expounds upon this notion, explaining how Puritans would impact one another’s personal lives in a true ...