The Puritans have produced more quality writings on this subject than any other group. Consequently, it will be helpful for us to start with two quotes from historian Edmund Morgan summarizing their position:

 

Since God was the God of order, he had not created the world upon a principle of equality; for such a procedure would have produced only “an heap of confusion,” a world without variety, resembling the monotony of sands on the beach or drops of water in the ocean. Instead he had arranged for every creature but one to serve him indirectly, by serving another creature. With one exception everything in the world had a double purpose: its ultimate end was to serve God, its immediate end to serve another being. And that other being, of course, was man, the chief beneficiary next to God in the scheme of creation. “Though all things were made ultimately for Glory of God; yet in the Order of their Being, there was a Subordination.”

 

Having established the basic principle of order between creation and man, Morgan goes on to show how it was extended into the society of mankind:

 

The world was created for man, but man was created for God. Such was the order of creation. What, then, was the order of society? From what has been said it appears that men in relation to God and to the other creatures were equal. It did not follow, however, that men were equal among themselves. since God had created the world with some beings subordinate to others, he naturally proceeded upon the same principle in constructing human society. Subordination was indeed the very soul of order, and the Almighty as a God of order formed his earthly kingdom in pattern of subordination. “Order,” said John Norton, “is a divine disposal, of superior and inferior relations, in humane or Christian societies.” “Nothing therefore can be imagined,” added William Hubbard, “more remote either from right reason, or true religion, then to think that because we were all once equal at our birth, and shall be again at our death, therefore we should be so in whole course of lives.” (The Puritan Family)

 

Below are some questions to get things going in the comments section. We realize the questions read like something your high school English teacher might have assigned you, but please take them in the spirit in which we offer them - as conversation-starters. So . .

 

Does this view reflect or contradict the commonly held position by most Evangelicals today? How so?

 

Where do we presently see the rebellion of the created order  leading to a “heap of confusion?”