Does your belief posses an inert tone? Does it have a solemn wicked tone? The puritans had a belief like the Christian belief. They believed in the glorification of obedient service and damnation of sinners Anne Bradstreet and Jonathan Edwards writings both show the importance of humbleness in a Puritan life However they both have their own way of expressing the grief and eternal misery one shall endure if they fall away from the righteous way of life. In Anne Bradstreet’s “Upon the Burning of Our House” and Jonathan Edwards’s “ Sinners in the Hand of an Angry God” the good and evil’s of man along with how these coincide with the laws of Puritans are mentioned. Both of these texts exhibit the religious belief of the Puritans. In Anne Bradstreet’s poem a raging fire destroys the narrator’s belongings and kills her lover. Later in the text the narrator, still in grief from her loss, comes to terms with the tragic event implying that the objects that she own would all turn into dust. She believe that it was God’s will to give here these treasures and it is his right to take them away. Edwards does show that he believes in God. He does believe that said God is all powerful and he holds everyone lives in his hand. He believes that man has sin so much that they are already doomed to an eternal life of …show more content…
The tone of her words are respectful and humble. She speaks to him like follower does it’s master. She upholds God and is an obedient follower of his word. Edwards’s relationship with God fits his title. He is a messenger and a leader. Edwards speaks to his congregation of Puritans and tells them they drowning in a sea of sin. He tells them that their only hope is God’s forgiveness. He talks to his people as if he is more worthy than them. Weather it is self appointed or it was his manifest destiny Edwards’s relationship with God is one of a beast of
Puritans are intense religious people, they do things in order from God to their own personal challenges, while still keeping God in their minds at all times. Anne Bradstreet is a Puritan who had just lost her house due to a fire. Her approach to this story is a calm and loveable approach. Jonathan Edwards is another Puritan but he is much more intense with informing people about God. He puts God before anyone and everything just like any other puritan would do. Edwards approach to this story is violent and brutal, he tells everyone in his story’s who are sinners that they will be held over fires by God.“ Here Follow Some Verses Upon The Burning of Our House”and “Sinner In The Hands Of An Angry God” are both very similar in some ways and different
Religion had a powerful impact on Puritans lives. Many Puritan people had faith in a supreme being, God, and the teachings of his Divine Son, Jesus Christ. They’d assume that if you weren’t a good Christian they would suffer in hell, but if you were one would be saved by god. An example would be in the sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” the speaker strongly describes about how being a bad Christian has its consequences and the good things that come of being a good Christian. “Many that were very lately in the same miserable condition that you are in are now in a happy state, with their hearts filled with love to him who has loved them, and washed them from their sins in his own blood, and rejoicing in hope of the glory of God.”(152)This explains how they had a strong feeling towards god’s ways. By being concerned about their religious life and being good Christians.
Jonathan Edwards creates a more effective argument for the intended audience in “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” than “The Speech in the Virginia Convention” written by Patrick Henry, by utilizing various techniques. Patrick Henry makes a strong argument however in the end, Edwards’ sermon grows to be more effective. Edwards creates the argument by strengthening the writing through tone, structure, fallacies and knowledge of the congregation that became his audience. Henry’s piece uses methods of oratory persuasion but the actual topic of “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” has an advantage from the start by appealing to fear, a fallacy of logic. Even with the strong basis “The Speech in the Virginia Convention” by Patrick
Puritans believe God has an influence on humans in our daily life. Edwards asserts, “His mere pleasure that keeps you from being this moment swallowed up in everlasting destruction” (81). This quote explains to us that God’s forgiveness holds us from, at any second, dropping down into the deep depths of hell. God observes our life and helps us every step of the way by pushing us as much as he can in the right direction. Edwards believes, “And yet it is nothing but His hand that holds you from falling into the fire every moment” (81). Edwards for the second time says something relatively about God’s hand and how He is the one who holds us and keeps us out of the fiery pits. This quote shows us how God’s pleasure keeps us from falling into a
One of the most central beliefs in Puritan faith is that human nature is evil. They constantly need to access themselves and make up for their sins. That is a point that is strongly emphasized throughout the sermon. In fact, even the first sentence brings this belief into light, claiming, “natural men…deserved the fiery pit.” He says that their wickedness is making them heavy like lead, weighing them down into hell. In his opinion they have done nothing to appease God’s anger and gain his grace, which is, in Puritan faith, the only way to be saved from the pits of hell. He describes God’s anger as “great waters
Puritans traditionally held strong views on their religious beliefs and the concept of weaned affections was an especially vital tenet of Puritanism. The doctrine of weaned affections essentially states that Puritans must relinquish their ties to earthly possessions in favor of maintaining spirituality as a priority. Although Puritans learned from infancy about “the importance of renouncing earthly nourishment and affection in favor of ‘spiritual milk’”, (“Weaned Affections”) many Puritans may still have had a difficult time with mastering this spiritual ideal. In “Verses upon the Burning of our House, July 10th, 1666,” Bradstreet depicts how the loss of her home is initially challenging for her to endure through her reminiscing of how she will miss her physical possessions and how her home enabled her to fulfill her duties as a wife and mother. Although this can be viewed as an immensely human response to such a devastating loss, Bradstreet is quick to remind herself, and readers, that the home and its contents truly only belonged to God and that she would do better to consider God’s kingdom over the rubble of her old home on Earth. In Anne Bradstreet’s poem “Verses on the Burning of our House,” the speaker discusses her attempt to reconcile the loss of her earthly possessions with religious tenets and, in doing so, highlights the struggle of Puritans to maintain the religious ideal of valuing only spiritual worth, as depicted through the concept of weaned affections.
During the 1630’s, there was a group known as, the Puritans. The Puritans immigrated from England to America, for the sole purpose of religious freedom and their belief that the church of England needed reform. Puritan author’s, Anne Bradstreet and Jonathan Edwards, conveyed their messages and beliefs in their writing . For these two authors, they were working around the same foundation, Puritanism, for the intended messages. Admittedly, there is a disconnection in belief between the two. Edward’s writings take Puritanism to the extreme whilst Bradstreet’s works show a more traditional view in the religion while staying true to it.
One Puritan belief is visible signs of grace. According to Puritans, if one is successful in life the they are approved by God. In the book “Of Plymouth Plantation” by William Bradford there are tons of examples of visible signs of grace. There was a sickness arising the men but seven men were on God's side and did not get sick. “Two of the seven were Mr. William Brewster, their reverend elder, and Myles Standish, their captain and military commander…And yet the lord so upheld these persons, as in this general calamity they were not at all infected with either sickness or lameness.” (Bradford 77) These men were two out of the few people who did not get sick. In the story they are called worthy to be remembered because it was rare for them to make it out alive. Being the few lucky ones to live are visible signs of grace that show they are approved by God. “..... and his life saved; and though he was somthing ill with it yet he
The puritans had many values and characteristics that helped define who they were and what they stood for. One characteristic of the puritans was that they were very, very religious people. Puritans where very loyal and devoted to their God and their religion doing most things for their God and holding him and their religion above all else. A person can tell that they were a very religious people by the works that they left behind and the content held within them.
The persuasive techniques that Edwards used were very effective in the way he presented them to the Puritans. When the Puritans listened to Edwards’ sermon they were either screaming or crying because of the effect the techniques that he used. Furthermore, Edwards’ speaking tone was monotone, but he used impactful words to successfully get his point across without raising or lowering his tone of voice. This represented how effective his speaking techniques were. For instance, “there is Hell’s wide gaping mouth open; and you have nothing to stand upon,” (Edwards 87) which was all
Puritan literature captures not only their beliefs as a religion, but their beliefs as individuals. All Puritan literature is utilitarian, meaning it is useful, purposeful, and reflecting a non-ornate style of writing. One of the most prominent of early English poets was Anne Bradstreet. Her poems reflect the utilitarian style, but do so in a way that is entirely unique to herself and her emotions. Anne Bradstreet opens the bridge between her faith and her personal experiences in her poetry. In her poems “Upon the Burning of Our House” and “In Reference to Her Children” she reflects utilitarianism by recounting the conflicts between her love of her worldly things and her devotion to God’s eternity.
The Puritan life, although simple, demanded diligence both mentally and spiritually which put stress on even the most faithful of followers. Although the common practice entailed brushing religious struggles under the rug, few writers bravely wrote of their religious doubts and endeavors to become better Puritans. Author Anne Bradstreet shows in her work “Here Follows Some Verse upon the Burning of Our House, July 10th, 1666” that religious struggles are often met by Puritans and it takes brave souls to admit their difficult time with their religion. This poem shows a woman dealing with a religious crisis and how even though she struggles her faith still holds strong in the end. Bradstreet’s poem displays a crisis of faith in her content
Puritan values, ideas, and beliefs are evident in the works of Anne Bradstreet, William Bradford, and Jonathan Edwards. Through her poetry, Bradstreet reveals her Puritan values and ideals. Bradstreet was aware of a woman’s role in Puritan society and tried to portray herself as a humble, pious, obedient, and modest wife. William Bradford’s work also encompasses beliefs, values, and ideas of Puritan life. One can see that in Bradford’s writing such as Of Plymouth Plantation, Bradford emphasizes Puritan suffering specifically through the Mayflower journey and how, with the grace of God, they prevailed. Jonathan Edwards’ work also displays Puritan beliefs, values, and ideals through the installation of fear. In an excerpt from Sinners in the
Two authors, their Puritan beliefs are shone through poems and sermons although contains vast similarities but are also set apart by major distinctions, their works not only affected their generation but transcends hundreds of years to influence the generation of today. In their most famed works, authors like Anne Bradstreet wrote The Burning of Our House, and To My Dear and Loving Husband or Jonathan Edwards a revivalist preacher who compiled the famous sermon Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God conveyed their ideals of the Puritan religion upon the people of their generation by always placing God as the focal point, even though the personality in their works may contrast they both got their puritan beliefs across. In each one of their writings there is no argument
Faith has played an incredibly large role throughout all of American history. This is shown especially in early America when the Puritans settled in North America. Writing in this time period shows just how prominent faith is in this time period, as much of it directly alludes to the Bible. Throughout the time period writing and beliefs evolved. This is highly noticeable when comparing American poet Anne Bradstreet, and clergyman Jonathan Edwards. Bradstreet’s works include poems such as “To My Dear and Loving Husband”, and “Upon the Burning of Our House, July 10th, 1666” and while Edwards wrote many sermons, the most famous is “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”. These works differ in many ways, but many comparisons and contrasts can be made in regards to writing style and beliefs presented in these works.