Comparing Bradstreet, Edward Taylor, And Jonathan Edwards

William Bradford’s Of Plymouth Plantation gives insight to typical seventeenth century Puritanical thought. The Puritans believed that God’s will directs and guides all aspects of the universe. Puritans further believed the Bible could help them understand God’s will in their personal lives. Bradford’s writing was meant to express an understanding of God in everyday life and to teach future Puritans how to see God in their lives.

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.

Anne Bradstreet and Edward Taylor are two poets who are puritans. They are able to use writing and language to portray their ideas on G-d and religion. Upon the Burning of Our House, July 10th, 1666 by Bradstreet and Huswifery by Taylor are similar in the sense that G-d is always a part of their poems, whether it’s direct or through the use of complex writing. Through the use of language and metaphors, Bradstreet conveys that a connection with G-d could be strengthened through destruction while Taylor reveals that a connection can be reinforced through creation.

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

It reflects on the Puritans’’ ideals and beliefs. Such as, they believed in salvation and that the fate of individual soul was predetermined by God. Also, that salvation was a private choice among God and the 'Elect'. Elects or Saints were the ones who were saved and the ones who weren't were 'wicked’.

Anne Bradstreet and Edward Taylor are two of the most distinguished and fervent Puritan poets. Yet this similarity has proven to be one of the few, if not only between these two. One cannot help but find it intriguing that poets who belong to the same religious group and style would write so differently. Many of these differences are not even subtle or hidden beneath the text itself. The differences themselves hold implications and ideas that differ between each poet.

Jonathan Edwards was one of the sparks of the first Great Awakening. A Calvinist, he believed that mortal men and woman completely depended on the salvation of God (The Great Awakening). As a believer in the evangelical method, he would not simply preach in one place. He would travel from church to church, any that would welcome him, to spread his message. His sermons were not theatrical. He would not excessively gesture or feel a need to act along with his sermons. His sermons were filled with emotion that was evident through his voice.

Edward’s sermons would have been seen by many people as more vivid when he talks about god and his religious beliefs and views. For example “The God that holds you over the pit of hell, much as one holds a spider, or some loathsome insect over the fire, abhors you, and is dreadfully provoked” (126) this depiction that Jonathan gives to the audience may seem very frightening. Compared to the somewhat more loving depiction that Anne Bradstreet gives “And to God my heart did cry To strengthen me in my distress” (line 8-9) Anne tells the audience that God strengthens her in her distress which is a very different depiction from Jonathan’s sermon. One of the few similarities about their religious would be near the ending of Jonathan’s sermon it states “And now an extraordinary opportunity, a day wherein Christ has thrown the door of mercy wide open, and stands in the door calling and crying with a loud voice to poor sinners” (129)this context differs from the beginning of Jonathan’s sermon and can be compared to the tone of some of Bradstreet’s writing. For example a piece of Anne’s writing “That when we live no more, we may live ever.” (12) this piece of context tells that she if she loves her husband and he loves her than then they shall live in heaven when they die. Both of these examples tell

This article was created to inform its readers about the ideological conflict between the Puritans and Quakers. Pestana defends her assertion that, “The reaction of the Puritan

Edmund S. Morgan’s writing depicts the Puritans in a respectful perspective. The Puritans’ beliefs are controversial purely due to the fact that they are strongly contrasting to shared beliefs today. Within the first concept Morgan introduces, the embodiment of Puritan ideology is expressed. Puritans claimed, “religion

The Puritans must treat each other likes brothers in faith, where they must also give all that they have to the less fortunate and give charity in any way possible. By following such morals that touch upon subjects of fraternity, function, faith and forgiveness, they will follow a righteous path leading them to their salvation. These provided “guidelines” for how the puritans must live their lives.

There are many differences between Bradstreet and Edwards. However one of the greatest differences is the way they persuaded their audiences. This change could mean the difference between success and failure. Of course, there were other differences as well as their tactics, some of which include their religious view, personality, and the language that they use.

Pastor Leigh is more easily side tracked by tangents then it appears Edwards was when reading his sermon. Also, my pastor no longer writes out his sermons word for word because he has been preaching for so long that he is able to work off of a simple outline. When he did, his sermons would be around fifteen to eighteen pages long while Edwards is about five pages single-spaced. Pastor Leigh uses modern technology to record his sermons so that they are available to any who would like to hear his preach. Shockingly, those who were interested in listening to Jonathan Edwards would have to travel to his church, as there was no such technology in that time. As a possible difference, my pastor preaches in the morning through a specific book of the Bible and in the evening, through either the Heidelberg Catechism, the Belgic Confession, or the Canons of Dort. As another possible difference, my pastor touches on the doctrines of the death and resurrection of Christ in practically every sermon, so that if there is someone who has never heard the gospel before, they will hear it at least once. Unfortunately, the sermon given from Edwards is insufficient to prove a definite difference regarding these two points, as I have heard hundreds of sermons from Pastor Leigh and read only one of Jonathan Edwards.

In the 1600’s, Puritans living in both England and New England held their views on God rather tightly and lived their lives as good Christians. Puritans were selfless individuals who had escaped and came to America in search of religious freedom and peace. In literature during that time period, it is made very clear that everything the Puritans had accomplished or acquired was a result of God, and that they were forever in his debt. One of the great poets from this time era was Anne Bradstreet who wrote about her children, husband, and parents. Anne Bradstreet blended her domestic life with theological imagery in every poem she did, explaining that her grandchildren were merely lent to her but