the Puritans were necessarily so concerned about propriety and purity—not because
they were innately prudish, but because their very piety lent itself to an excess of
ardor.”^108 Therefore, it is no surprise that the Puritans struggled with the temptations
of pre-marital sex. Godbeer states, “roughly one-fifth of English brides in the late
sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries were already pregnant by the time they were
formally married.”^109
Not withstanding these claims it would be inaccurate to assume that the
Puritans had completely severed themselves from the medieval perception that sin
was transmitted through sex.^110 Nonetheless, there was considerable freedom and
advancement from previous generations. In fact, denying sex to your partner was a
cause for public discipline in New England and at times could even constitute
grounds for divorce.^111 That certainly does not reflect the squeamish or typical
impression of “Puritanical love” as advanced by many contemporary voices. The
Puritans mostly embraced a robust understanding of healthy sex within marriage. The
joys and intimacy that they were able to share in their godly marriages mirrored and
encouraged a similar intimacy with Jesus Christ in spiritual marriage. However, as
will soon be clear, the Puritans were always careful not to elevate their love for their
partner above their love for Jesus.
(^108) Belden Lane, “Covenant and Desire in Puritan Spirituality,” 77. (^)
(^109) Godbeer, Sexual Revolution in Early America, 3, cf. 29, 345n25. cf. Masson,
“Typology of the Female,” 309. 110
Godbeer, Sexual Revolution in Early America, 61-62 and Doriani, “Puritans, Sex,
and (^111) Godbeer, Pleasure,” 138.Sexual Revolution in Early America (^) , 59-60.