Puritans believed grace was given to whom?

• A. To everyone who accepts baptism.
• B. To a broad group within the church.
• C. To a select few whom God had chosen from the beginning.
• D. Only to church elders.

Answer: (C)

The idea at work here is predestination. Puritans, shaped by Calvinist thinking, believed grace isn’t offered to everyone; it’s given to a select few whom God has chosen from the beginning—the elect. This means salvation and divine favor aren’t earned by baptism, church status, or outward belonging to a group, but flow to those God has predetermined to save. Baptism marks a covenant participation, but it doesn’t guarantee grace to all who receive it. Similarly, grace isn’t limited to church elders or to a broad, inclusive portion of the church; it rests with the individuals God chose. So the best answer reflects the Puritan view that grace is reserved for a limited, divinely chosen group from the start.