Errand into the Wilderness

Errand into the Wilderness examines the intellectual and religious foundations of colonial America through a series of interconnected essays. The book takes its title from a 1660 sermon by Puritan minister Samuel Danforth and explores the mission of New England's early settlers. Miller traces the development of Puritan thought and culture in 17th century New England, analyzing key sermons, texts and theological debates of the era. The work focuses on how the Puritans understood their divine mission to establish a purified Christian society in the New World. The essays examine major figures like Jonathan Edwards and John Winthrop while exploring concepts central to Puritan ideology - including covenant theology, divine providence, and the relationship between God and human society. Miller draws from extensive primary sources to reconstruct the intellectual world of colonial New England. This influential work presents the American Puritan experiment as a complex theological and social undertaking, moving beyond simple stereotypes to reveal how religious ideas shaped early American identity and purpose. The book's analysis of Puritan thought continues to influence how scholars understand America's cultural origins.

Readers highlight Miller's deep analysis of Puritan thought and colonial American religious history, particularly his examination of how the "errand" concept evolved. Academic readers note the book's influence on American Studies scholarship. Readers appreciated: - Clear explanations of complex theological concepts - Connection between Puritan ideology and American identity - Primary source integration - Chapter on nature and destiny in American thought Common criticisms: - Dense, academic writing style - Assumes significant background knowledge - Limited accessibility for general readers - Some dated interpretations from 1956 Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (43 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (12 ratings) One reader noted: "Miller unpacks Puritan intellectual history with precision, but the prose can be impenetrable." Another commented: "Required reading for understanding American religious thought, though the language takes work to parse." Several academic reviewers on JSTOR cite the book as foundational for studying colonial American intellectual history.

The New England Mind: The Seventeenth Century by Perry Miller The definitive intellectual history of colonial New England presents a systematic examination of Puritan theology, philosophy, and social thought.

Worlds of Wonder, Days of Judgment by David Hall This examination of popular religion in colonial New England reveals how ordinary people interpreted and practiced their faith in early America.

The Faithful Shepherd by David D. Hall This study of the New England ministry from 1630 to 1730 examines the institutional structure and social role of the Puritan clergy.

The Puritan Origins of the American Self by Sacvan Bercovitch This analysis tracks how Puritan rhetoric and self-conception shaped American cultural identity through detailed readings of colonial texts.

Visible Saints: The History of a Puritan Idea by Edmund Morgan This work traces the development of church membership requirements in Puritan New England and their impact on colonial society.

🔖 Miller's "Errand into the Wilderness" was published in 1956, marking a pivotal moment in American intellectual history scholarship. 🎓 The author, Perry Miller, taught at Harvard University and is credited with establishing American Puritan studies as a serious academic field. 📜 The book's title derives from a 1670 sermon by Samuel Danforth, which used the biblical concept of wilderness as a metaphor for the Puritans' spiritual journey. 🌟 Miller challenged the then-common view that Puritans were simply religious fanatics, presenting them instead as sophisticated intellectual thinkers grappling with complex theological and social issues. 🗽 The concept of "wilderness" in Puritan thought, as explored in the book, wasn't just physical but metaphorical - representing both spiritual challenges and opportunities for divine providence.