The Puritans' Views on Adulterous Conception After Death

The Puritans were a significant religious group in the 16th and 17th centuries, known for their strict interpretation of the Bible and their emphasis on religious practice and discipline. Their beliefs were shaped by their interpretation of the Westminster Confession of Faith, a widely accepted statement of beliefs among the Puritans. This article explores the Puritans' views on what happened to a baby born due to adultery, both before and after death.

Beliefs Before Death

Before the birth of the child, the Puritans were descendants of Reformed Protestant beliefs. They held that the journey in life, from birth to death, was a series of choices and actions, and that during this period, fate was in the hands of the individual's decisions and the guidance of divine providence. For the Puritans, the concept of predestination was central. They believed that individuals were either elected for salvation or condemned to damnation before they were born.

Hence, if a child was conceived due to adultery, the Puritans would likely view the conception as a sad but accepted reality. Adultery was considered a sinful act, and the child born from it was not in immediate peril. The child was a human being and so deserved to be cared for and shielded from the harshness of this sinful world. However, the outcome of the child's life was seen as a result of the parent's actions and the hand of divine providence.

The Afterlife and Reformed Teachings

The prevailing Reformed teachings concerning life after death provided the Puritans with a framework for understanding the fate of the child after death. The Westminster Confession of Faith, a document composed predominantly by Puritans, outlined their beliefs on this matter. According to this confession, all human beings are sinners who, through Adam's fall, inherited the curse of death and condemnation. The Puritans believed in the doctrine of total depravity, meaning that without redemption, all humans would remain in a state of sin and condemnation.

The confession states that repentance and faith in Christ, coupled with baptism, are necessary for salvation. It also mentions that those who died unsaved would, just as those who rejected Christ in this life, go to hell. From a theological standpoint, the child born to a parent or parents who had transgressed in this sinful act would be seen as being in the same condemning state as all others who rejected Christ. However, the child, being too young to bear moral accountability, was seen as being in a state of natural innocence before God.

The Westminster Confession of Faith teaches that infants who die after natural birth enter a state of innocence that lasts until they come of age and are capable of moral judgment. This state of innocence is not an eternal state, as they are still seen as part of the inherited condition of humanity through Adam. Upon death, the infant is considered under the penalty of the just wrath of God, as it was born in the same condition of original sin as all humankind. In this respect, a child born through adultery, regardless of how it came into being, is not classified as more sinful than any other child. Instead, the focus is on the redemption available through Christ.

Conclusion and Summary

In summary, the Puritans believed that the fate of a child born due to adultery was connected to the choice of the parents and the grace of God. Before death, the child was a human being and deserving of care. After death, the child, if not yet baptized, entered a state of innocence but was still governed by the inherited sin of Adam, subject to the judgment that comes with it. The child was seen as needing the grace of God, and the child's possible salvation was dependent on the parents' faith and the redemption available through Christ.

Key Takeaways

Before death, the child was seen as a human being deserving of care. The child's fate after death was seen as governed by the inherited sin of Adam. The focus was on the redemption available through Christ.

For further insights into the beliefs and practices of the Puritans, it is essential to study the Westminster Confession of Faith and other primary sources from this period.

Related Keywords

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