Notably, Bradford illustrates …show more content…
When a group slowly disbands and becomes more secular they become weaker. Bradford states, “… all striving to increase their stocks” (183). Most of the pilgrim’s ways were lost creating a disillusion for the men that possessions were greater than God. Stocks in land and animals were what they sought instead of the pursuit of heaven. It appeared that the group’s identity was slowly fading away. In the next paragraph it is stated that, “this fear will be the ruin of New England” (Bradford 183). As William Bradford views his community in third person he views the impending turmoil of his separatist brothers. Once united under God and the oppressions that they once faced have now been afflicted by the materialism of this New World. Bradford seems saddened and disgraced of the way that the men had changed their hearts and began to leave or wrestle with their faith. Bradford finally states a foreboding analysis that “[this] will provoke the Lord’s displeasure against them” (183). This foreshadowing of his beliefs shows the severity he saw in the leaving of the Puritan church. Walls, pastures, flocks, and wealth divided the men finding materialism as the demise of their faith. God had brought the pilgrims to this New World, and many men had forsaken their providence to get