An Investigation of the Seventeenth- to Nineteenth-Century Puritan Vernacular Tradition

To Please God or to Not Please God

Douglas T. Root

An Investigation of the 16th-18th Century Puritan Vernacular Tradition argues that Puritan writers, specifically from the 17th to the 19th century, developed a collective vernacular which was intended to—in the words of John Milton—"justify the ways of God to man." However, their phrases (much like the Puritans themselves) never achieved a sufficient level of uniformity. As a result, their verbiage, though quite often similar, the manner in which it is used frequently differs. Puritan authors' routine suggestion that certain circumstances "pleased God" began as an attempt with which to interpret God's involvement in their day-to-day lives. However, as time passed, these interpretations became further removed from the Scripture and ultimately functioned as a way for writers to indict God when things badly or to praise him only when he showed them favor.

Lexington Books

Pages: 200 • Trim: 6 x 9

978-1-4985-6166-2 • Hardback • June 2020 • $95.00 • (£73.00)

978-1-4985-6167-9 • eBook • July 2020 • $45.00 • (£35.00)

Subjects: Literary Criticism / American / General, Literary Criticism / Modern / General, Literary Criticism / Subjects & Themes / General

An Investigation of the Seventeenth- to Nineteenth-Century Puritan Vernacular Tradition

To Please God or to Not Please God

Hardback

eBook

Summary

An Investigation of the 16th-18th Century Puritan Vernacular Tradition argues that Puritan writers, specifically from the 17th to the 19th century, developed a collective vernacular which was intended to—in the words of John Milton—"justify the ways of God to man." However, their phrases (much like the Puritans themselves) never achieved a sufficient level of uniformity. As a result, their verbiage, though quite often similar, the manner in which it is used frequently differs. Puritan authors' routine suggestion that certain circumstances "pleased God" began as an attempt with which to interpret God's involvement in their day-to-day lives. However, as time passed, these interpretations became further removed from the Scripture and ultimately functioned as a way for writers to indict God when things badly or to praise him only when he showed them favor.

Details

Lexington Books

Pages: 200 • Trim: 6 x 9

978-1-4985-6166-2 • Hardback • June 2020 • $95.00 • (£73.00)

978-1-4985-6167-9 • eBook • July 2020 • $45.00 • (£35.00)

Subjects: Literary Criticism / American / General, Literary Criticism / Modern / General, Literary Criticism / Subjects & Themes / General

Author

Douglas Root is assistant professor of English at Claflin University.

Table of Contents

Introduction: “To Please God” or to “Not Please God”: The Puritan Question

Chapter 1: The Puritan Vernacular as a Means of Establishing Permanency in the New World

Chapter 2: “It Pleased God”: The Old English Puritan Vernacular Tradition As A Response To New England

Chapter 3: Benjamin Franklin: Philadelphian, Philanthropist, Philanderer . . . Philistine?

Chapter 4: The Puritan Frame of Mind