Which concept best describes Puritans' emphasis on simple worship and plainness?

• A. Grace
• B. Divine Mission
• C. Tolerance
• D. Plainness

Answer: (C)

Plainness captures Puritans’ emphasis on simple worship and unadorned church life. They believed worship should be straightforward, Scripture-centered, and free from ceremonial display, which is why meetinghouses were plain, preaching was direct, and daily life was marked by restraint rather than ornament. This focus on plainness also appears in Puritan writing, where language aimed for clarity and piety rather than flourish. In contrast, grace centers on salvation, a broader theological idea; a divine mission refers to their perceived purpose for settlement rather than worship form; tolerance describes openness to differing beliefs, which did not characterize Puritan social and religious practice.