Samuel Ward, a moderate Puritan, lived from 1577 to 1643. His life spanned from the reign of BritainÕs Queen Elizabeth, through that of King James. and into the days of Charles I.
Surviving pages of his diary run from May 11, 1595 to July 1, 1632.
He served the Second Cambridge Company Translation Committee, comprised of the finest biblical and linguistic scholars of his day, to produce the 1611 King James Bible, the worldÕs most popular book.
Ward walked a thin line between Puritan and Established Church factions. While perusing his academic career at Cambridge, he preached solid Puritan sermons yet rose to become the royal chaplain for King James, head of the Established Church.
WardÕs diary reveals that while he cared deeply about larger academic, political and church polity matters, his main concern was his own walk with Christ.
He wrote to remind himself of his daily sins and faults, and also to remind himself of GodÕs many blessings to him.