Edwards And Anne Bradstreet Beliefs

“The devil is waiting for them, hell is gaping for them, the flames gather and flash about them, and would fain lay hold on them, and swallow them up.” (Edwards) The differences in the Bradstreet’s poem, God was taking the house to help her move on with her life. “It was His own, it was not mine, far be it that I should repine; he might of all justly bereft.” (Bradstreet)

Anne Bradstreet and William Bradford’s constant references to God’s greatness reveal

It was this perception of God that would strike fear in those listening to his sermons during the First Great Awakening. His most famous sermon, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, is the perfect example of this intense and strict view that Edwards had of what could happen to people when they wronged God. In Personal Narrative, he hints many times of this strict view. For example, Edwards said after one of his revelations he “…returned like a dog to his vomit, and went on in the ways of sin” (Edwards, p. 312). By comparing himself to a dog finding his way back to his own vomit, he demonstrates the disgust he has for sin and of himself for sinning.

Edwards used repetition in his writing, as he quite often said the same concepts about God holding Puritans over the fire and being angry, as humans are a burden to the earth. He repeated how God’s wrath is upon humanity and how those without Him are lost without peace and safety. Edwards continuously said these beliefs to instill fear in the Puritans’ hearts and make them turn back to God. He even spoke to the unconverted

In early America, the Puritan religion was a driving point in building our culture. The Puritans were extremely neat and strict; so much that they were not very focused on the importance of their religion. Johnathan Edwards, the author of the sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” believed that New Englanders were too concerned with other worldly matters. When he noticed the separation of his religion, he wrote and delivered his most famous speech. It was a dark and powerful sermon, delivered to multiple churches in New England.

Edwards says, “So that, thus it is that natural men are held in the hand of God, over the pit of hell; they have deserved the fiery pit, and are already sentenced to it” (Page 126). This statement delivers a complete understanding on Edwards’ religious belief and how he believes that God has a plan for everyone. Bradstreet as well in her poems delivers the exact same message that she believes God has a great plan for everyone. It is how these comparing beliefs are implemented in their works though that is used to set a tone in their writings. Bradstreet explains that, “Then while we live, in love let’s so persevere,/ That when we live no more, we may live ever.”

She says, “That fearful sound of fire and fire / Let no man know is my Desire,” and later, “I blest his Name that gave and took, / That layd my goods now in the dust,” (lines 5-6, 14-15). By capitalizing the word ‘desire’ and ‘name,’ Bradstreet reveals that God was in

Bradstreet knows the goodness in God and rather than fearing him she thanks Him or asks for help. While her house was burning she asked God “to strengthen [her] in [her] time of distress”(9) because she knows everything that happens is through the will of God and only He can help her through this difficult situation. Bradstreet sees God as a just one even though he took all of her physical possessions. She takes His justness a step further by saying in lines 18 and 19 that even if He took all of her belongings, it would still be reasonable. Bradstreet also believes in a positive afterlife for herself and most people around her.

In Bradstreet’s poem, “Upon the Burning of Our House,” after she is done worrying about her house, she states, “Yet by His gift is made thine own;/ There’s wealth enough, I need no more,/ Farewell, my pelf, farewell my store” (50 - 51). Bradstreet has a calm, soothing tone, as she accepts that what has happened to her doesn’t matter anymore because she has what she needs in Heaven. On the contrary, Jonathan Edwards, when describing God, says, “The wrath of God burns against them, their damnation does not slumber, the pit is prepared, the fire is made ready” (126). Unlike Bradstreet, Edwards sees God as a mighty, angry figure, and he uses an intense, angry tone in his sermon; almost like he is trying to instill fear into his readers.

In this section of the poem, Edwards presents this image of hell to sinners and nonbelievers. However, Bradstreet is more of a believer of how God rewards the people that deserve heaven and encourages this by presenting the image of heaven to the reader. In Upon the Burning of Our House, she illustrates how perfect and beautiful heaven is “Framed by that mighty architect / with glory and richly furnished” (44-45). This shows God rewards people with heaven and encourages people to do right so they can end up in heaven. Bradstreet, compared to Edwards, promotes her faith and trust in God in kind, pure and encouraging ways “Yet by His gift is made thine own; / there’s wealth enough, I need no more /

In “sinners in the hands of an angry God”, Jonathan Edwards uses different types of literary techniques, such as, imagery, metaphor, similes, repetition, and rhetorical questions to emphasize his point. His point is to scare the people and make them want to repent, which is the theme of the sermon. In the sermon “Sinners in the hands of an angry god,” Edwards uses different types of

Figurative language can be a compelling factor in literary works ranging from romantic poetry to political speeches. It forces the reader, or listener, to visualize and understand what the author is trying to say. Jonathan Edwards utilized this writing technique in his powerful sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” Edwards used imagery, metaphors, and personification to express his differentiating attitudes towards both sinners and God which consisted of complete disgust in regards to the former and unwavering respect for the latter. Jonathan Edwards relied more on the composition of his writing rather than the execution of it which is why figurative language is found so often in this sermon.

Edwards reminds people that mankind is nothing compared to God and that that all of humankind is guilty and deserves to be punished. This appears similar to Bradstreet’s poem, but there are some

Jonathan Edwards, a preacher, wrote the sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God". In the sermon, Edwards argues that everyone was out of God's favor and they needed to return to a righteous path. The tone of the sermon is indignant and authoritative. Jonathan Edwards uses imagery, logos, and pathos to encourage the unconverted audience to turn to God in order to escape his wrath. Elemental imagery is used in the sermon to inspire fear in the audience.

Furthermore, by using end rhyme, Bradstreet symbolically shows restraint. In the same way that a poet controls oneself by specifically using end rhyme, the poet is controlling her emotions when dealing with a sad experience and accepts her mortality. Similarly, in “Verses Upon the Burning of our House,” proof of Bradstreet’s faith is indisputable. After being initially distraught at her house burning down and losing all of her belongings, Bradstreet recounts how she reorients herself and blesses “His name that gave and took,