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Upon The Burning Of Our House Analysis

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Puritans were people who came from England to express their religion. When they made it to America the future generations started to stray from their belief. In 1666 and 1741 two writers tried to use two different scare tactics to get them back in good graces with God. They both mainly focused on eternal life, human moral weakness, relationship between God and person, and religious beliefs. Eternal Life is something we as humans all all Puritans strive to have. Who would not want to see God? In Bradstreet's poem “ Upon the Burning of Our House”, she compares her home to the Heaven above. “ My hope and treasure lies above”(54). She gave all of her faith into her home and trusted that because her home was “ in order” that God would accept her completely. However the Lord said “ Set thine house in order, for thou shalt die and not live” (Isaiah 38:1). When the Lord said this to his people, he didn’t actually want them to go home and clean, but to get their personal selves together before God returns. Bradstreet took that line to literal; however, Edwards knew the true meaning. In Edwards “Sinners In the Hands of An Angry God”, “God will have no other use to put you to, but to suffer misery” (p.11). When you put other things before Jesus he becomes jealous. He wants to be the only spiritual guidance …show more content…

Puritans believed that God takes everything that youthey put before him away, so that youthey can reconnect with him. Edward and Bradstreet tried to save their people from that tragedy. In contrast, Edward used a more “scare straight” tactic, while Bradstreet used more subtle “learn from my mistakes” tactic. Both are effective ways to get the Puritans to hear them. However, being threaten to going straight to Hell or losing everything are great ways to catch people’s eye; on the other hand, would that change the way you have gotten accustomed to things? No, because as humans, they find a way to justify their unruly

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