Discourse

The discourse in public places was centered on three topics: religion, defense, and the practical problems of the community. When the community gathered for meetings, at times of need for action from the community, speakers focused their motivation on God’s plan and idea of community. The way speaker’s structured their speeches was through the plain style. The plain style is exactly how it sounds; a style that avoids rhetorical flourishes. The traditional Puritan speeches contain three parts: doctrine, reasons, and uses. Overall, the Puritans prefer plainness.

Jonathan Edwards- Edwards was born on October 5, 1703 into a Puritan household. He completed his undergraduate and graduate degrees at Yale University in 1716-1722. In 1726-1750, Edwards served as the pastor of Northampton, Massachusetts; the largest and most influential church outside Boston. "Edward is recognized as a consummate and sophisticated rhetorician and as a master preacher." In 1751 he served at the Mission Post of Stockbridge, a small English congregation. In 1757, he accepted The Presidency of the College of New Jersey. Soon after in March of 1758, Edwards passed away from complications with small pox.

1590		William Bradford is born and then baptized on March 19 in Austerfield, Yorkshire, England.
1602		William Bradford becomes a regular attender at Puritan and Separatist meetings, coming under the influence of William Brewster and John Robinson of the Scrooby Separatist Congregation.
1608		The Scrooby Separatists begin to leave England and settle in Holland.
1609		William Bradford joins the Scrooby Separatists in Amsterdam.
1613		William Bradford marries Dorothy May.
1620		The Mayflower Pilgrims voyage to Plymouth. Dorothy May dies.
1621		The first governor of Plymouth, John Carver, dies. William Bradford is elected governor, holding the position (except for 5 years) for the remainder of his life.
1622		Mourt's Relation, based on writings by William Bradford and Edward Winslow among others, is published in London.
1623		William Bradford marries the widow Alice Carpenter Southworth.
1630		William Bradford begins the writings that eventually become Of Plymouth Plantation.
1650		William Bradford stops writing Of Plymouth Plantation, ending with the year 1646 and adding a current list of the Mayflower passengers and their status in the year 1650.
1657		William Bradford dies.

Here is an attempt to generate Puritan rhetoric based on a situation, which could have possibly arisen in the Puritan community

The village has grown and you want to start a new village along the Connecticut River. Give a speech to your town's meeting to get a blessing to sponsor a new village.

"Fellow children of God. Let us pause a moment and as a community praise God for blessing us with our plentiful land, which has enabled us to feed and nourish so many of his people. Can I get an Amen" (Crowd responds, "AMEN!!") Due to God's generosity for our land, our village has grown and expanded to included so many people eager to fulfill God's plan. I propose to you my fellow worshipers, that it is time to take God's word and spread his plan across our great land to those who are ignorant to our great God and his marvelous plan. There is so much land around the Connecticut River, which God has given to us that is unused. I am certain that with the blessing of our great prospering town, I can begin another village that will make God pleased. Our marvelous minister has told us that our God wants us to educate those Un-Chosen and I feel my calling needs to be answered. Come and help me fulfill God's word."