Hi there - I don't have time to comment on every detail of the quote. Nevertheless, I can say this much: what a bunch of bunk! That is so wrong it is off-the-chart wrong. Most of the people we think of as "Puritans" were Calvinists. Both "Calvinists" and "Puritans" believed there is a set number of people who will be saved, and that their salvation was decreed before the foundation of the world. Additionally, both believed that they must have a high regard for God's law and live - as far as they are able - according to it. Living according to God's law, however, only demonstrated they possessed genuine faith and were, therefore, of the elect. Etc.

That said, it is a popular lie to suggest that Puritans believed that financial success demonstrated that a person was elect, whereas financial troubles proved the opposite. Despite what your textbook suggests in the last sentence or two of the quote, that is nonsense, too.

I'm sure somebody else will probably give you some substantive evidence to justify some of the claims I've made. Nevertheless, the quote is all wrong.

I can't remember where it was, but I once read a text that said the same kind of things as the one you quoted. It is unfortunate these "scholars" are so off the mark. They probably can't tolerate reading the truths taught by the Puritan and Calvinist theologians long enough to do anything but misrepresent them.

Hope that helps.
John P.

Last edited by jmp; Sun Mar 13, 2005 1:16 AM.
"He that hath light thoughts of sin, never had great thoughts of God." ...John Owen