Differing Views Of Puritanism : Bradstreet Vs. Taylor

Poems from the time of the Puritans usually were based on their religion. Anne Bradstreet and Edward Taylor both portrayed a Puritanical message in their poems. Edward did so more so than Anne. They both conveyed different types of love. Anne wrote about her husband and how much she loved him. While Edward wrote about his love for God and how he wanted God to use him for His glory.

The Puritans were a group of people with strong beliefs, ideas and values in the 1630’s to the 1660’s. Their ideas influenced society in multiple ways during this time including politically, economically, and socially. Politically, they believed in having a theocratic government , economically, they used the value of hard work to run the economy and stimulate prosperity and also, socially the influence of the religion and the need for a tight knit communtiy influenced New England in many more ways than one. All of these influences were part of the ideological belief of the Puritans to attain a “City Upon a Hill” society where they would have the perfect community and established ethos for other communities to later follow in their footsteps.

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.

Two Puritan authors, Anne Bradstreet and Jonathon Edwards each wrote a poem and a sermon in the 16th and 17th century unraveling their puritan life and beliefs. A Puritan lives by God and if he or she does something against Gods will, they feel as if they need to be punished. They had a firm relationship with God. Although Bradstreet and Edwards were both Puritan, they had a slightly different tone in their poem and sermon on their beliefs.

Anne Bradstreet’s poem, Upon the Burning of Our House depicts certain aspects of Puritan values and beliefs. The seventeenth century revolved solely around religion and was the age of religious literature, a theme that stands out in Bradstreet’s poetry. Bradstreet was aware of Puritan standards due to her surrounding family; her father being the Massachusetts Bay Company’s deputy governor and husband, chief administer.

Puritans Anne Bradstreet and Jonathan Edwards expressed their beliefs through many of their works. Although in some ways they are the same, they also contrasted with each other. One thing they can agree on is that God is the way of life for the

Views of a Puritan Lifestyle Before the Birth of One of Her Children, by Anne Bradstreet was a poem reflecting about her life and the possibility of death before giving birth. Even though Bradstreet was a devout puritan, her poem had many conflicting ideas on religion, some ideas were for it, and others were against it. During this time period, it was only deemed acceptable if you were a devout puritan who actively participated in your faith, religion, and with God. The puritan lifestyle was different for everyone during this time period; many were devout puritans, some people did not believe in this way of life, or there were other people that were religious during a time of crisis. During part of this poem, Bradstreet reflected on her lifestyle in the puritans’ beliefs and values they had.

The Puritans were formed by a group of people who did not like the fact that the church of England was the only religion for the people. The reason why is because they believed that the Catholic Church focussed too much on the wrong things. The Puritans believed that the bible is a message were above mans law and therefore it is the only key to salvation. There are believed are way more different to what people are used to back in England, so they brought it to America to escape their way and create their own. For example, they believe that if you commit anything they believe is not good you will not go to heaven.

Puritanism refers to the beliefs and practices of Puritans. The word ‘Puritan’ itself refers to a group of extreme Protestants within the Church of England who thought the English Reformation had not done enough in reforming the doctrine and practices of the church. These Protestants wanted a greater strictness in religious discipline, simplicity in their worship and doctrine, and the removal of all Catholic traces within the church. A part of the simplicity, the Puritans did not believe in having popes or bishops; they thought that religion should be a direct, personal experience between the worshipper and God. Though most of England disagreed with their theology, the Puritans held tight to their beliefs, and often left their society so they

The Puritan lifestyle rotate around Churches and Christian lifestyle. Region is the most important thing to the Puritans, they followed and believe in everything that was said in the bible. In document 7, Samuel Parris version Christ knowing of things, ¨Our Lord Jesus Christ knows how many Devils there are in his Church¨ became a fact that the people considered to be careful who they were next to, because christ was the only one who knew when evil was around. Cotton Mather was one of New England´s ministers and intellectuals. His word were taken very seriously. Mathew told the people of Salem ¨Wherefore the Devil is now making one Attempt more upon us¨, it was a consideration to the people (Document 11).

Like the Pilgrims, the Puritans were from England, and were dissatisfied with the church reform of England. So in 1630, after much persecution, the Puritans set out for America. When they arrived in America they established the Massachusetts Bay Colony as a harbor for Puritans to live and be safe while practicing the Puritan faith. They lived a strict, stern life but were free to worship unlike they were in England. They were strict Calvinists, which means they believed that God was all powerful and had chosen a few people called “the elect” for salvation (Puritans). The Puritans believed that humankind was “utterly dependent upon God for salvation... They were [Christians] who regarded humans as sinners, unwilling and unable to meet the demands, or to enjoy the fellowship, of a righteous God apart from God's gracious initiative” (Puritanism).

Back in the seventeenth century, religion was a major theme. The Puritans were a group of very religious people. They believed that god was their absolute ruler. They also believed that God controlled their afterlife. The religious group called the Puritans were very fixed on God. Their spirituality is expressed in their literature. Their writing explicated their religious values. These include: their importance of Church and the influence God has on the Puritans life. The Puritans wrote literature to show how their life revolved around God and to express their heavy belief in him.

A Puritan defined is “a member of a group of English Protestants of the late 16th and 17th centuries who regarded the Reformation of the Church of England under Elizabeth as incomplete and sought to simplify and regulate forms of worship.” Puritan society in America depended on the belief that all members were working for the glory of God. The Puritans did not allow deviations from the strict code of behavior which would not allow any member to have individuality. They restricted any type of entertainment, except that which was endorsed by the church. They worked and worshipped.

Puritanism arose in the late 16th century, when a religious reformation was going on with the Church of England. The Puritans believed that society should be pure and they strove to live for God. The Puritan culture and way of life was heavily based upon what the Bible said and the word of God. Puritans were a very strict group of people in every aspect of their lives, from the way they held church, to what they did on certain days of the week. As a whole, the Puritan society emphasized the righteousness and the sovereignty of God, moral values and the belief of predestination, and lived their lives according to the scripture in the Bible as Godly examples in society.

A group of people called the Puritans desired a new way of life, Puritans desired something that would follow the ways of the ancient Israelites, so they started their own Christian denomination which was looked down upon. The Puritans needed a religion that focuses on the time of God and beliefs people had in his time. The study of the Old Testament and the understanding that their destination after death is confirmed by their actions in their lifetime is their main focus. Everyday was a new day to live and worship God in hopes of salvation. Puritans thrived for purity and simplicity in their daily lives in hope of sinless lives. The Puritan church believed in the reformation of the Church of England,the doctrine of predestination displaying in their daily lives, and the guidance of their ministers.