Godly Violence in the Puritan Atlantic World, 1636–1676

A rich analysis of the mindset of Puritans and of their theology which justified military action and acts of killing. This book recounts Puritan struggles for military dominance and for an authoritative interpretation of God's agency in war. It asks: What did Puritans say was God's will in warfare; and how did they claim to know? It applies the term 'military providentialism' to this attempt to understand God's will and agency in war; and the term 'godly violence' to an act of killing that was d