Verses Composed Upon the Burning of Our House, July 0, Anne Bradstreet 0 0 In silent night when rest I took, For sorrow near I did not look, I waken'd was with thundering noise And Piteous shrieks of dreadful voice. That fearfull sound of fire and fire, Let no man know is my Desire. I, starting up, the light did spy, And to my God my heart did cry To strengthen me in my Distress And not to leave me succourless. Then coming out beheld a space, The flame consume my dwelling place. And, when I could no longer look, I blest his Name that gave and took, That laid my goods now in the dust: Yea so it was, and so 'twas just. It was his own: it was not mine; Far be it that I should repine. He might of All justly bereft, But yet sufficient for us left. When by the Ruins oft I past, My sorrowing eyes aside did cast, And here and there the places spy Where oft I sat, and long did lie. Here stood that Trunk, and there that chest; There lay that store I counted best: My pleasant things in ashes lie, And them behold no more shall I. Under thy roof no guest shall sit, Nor at thy Table eat a bit. 0 0 No pleasant tale shall 'ere be told, Nor things recounted done of old. No Candle 'ere shall shine in Thee, Nor bridegroom's voice ere heard shall bee. In silence ever shalt thou lye; Adieu, Adieu; All's vanity. Then straight I 'gin my heart to chide, And didst thy wealth on earth abide? Didst fix thy hope on moldering dust, The arm of flesh didst make thy trust? Raise up thy thoughts above the sky That dunghill mists away may fly. Thou hast an house on high erect Fram'd by that mighty Architect, With glory richly furnished, Stands permanent tho' this be fled. It's purchased, and paid for to By him who hath enough to do. A Prize so vast as is unknown, Yet, by his Gift, is made thine own. There s wealth enough, I need no more; Farewell my Pelf, farewell my Store. The world no longer let me Love, My hope and Treasure lies Above. Line : Job : Line 0: Chron. :; Isa. :-; Jer. :- Line : Ezra :-. Line : Cor. :; Heb. :0 Line : Luke :
Huswifery Edward Taylor Make me, O Lord, Thy spinning-wheel complete. Thy holy word my distaff make for me. Make mine affections Thy swift flyers neat And make my soul Thy holy spool to be. My conversation make to be Thy reel And reel thy yarn thereon spun of Thy wheel. Make me Thy loom then, knit therein this twine: And make Thy Holy Spirit, Lord, wind quills : Then weave the web Thyself. Thy yarn is fine. Thine ordinances make my fulling-mills. Then dye the same in heavenly colors choice, All pinked with varnished flowers of paradise. Then clothe therewith mine understanding, will, Affections, judgment, conscience, memory, My words and actions, that their shine may fill My ways with glory and Thee glorify. Then mine apparel shall display before Ye That I am clothed in holy robes for glory.. Housekeeping -. All parts of a spinning wheel. a spool. a place where cloth is cleaned. decorated
On the Birthday of a Friend Charles Wesley () 0 Come away to the skies, my belovèd, arise And rejoice in the day thou wast born; On this festival day, come exulting away, And with singing to Zion return. We have laid up our love and our treasure above, Though our bodies continue below. The redeemed of the Lord will remember His Word, And with singing to paradise go. Now with singing and praise let us spend all the days By our heavenly Father bestowed, While His grace we receive from His bounty, and live To the honor and glory of God! For the glory we were first created to share, Both the nature and kingdom divine, Now created again that our lives may remain Throughout time and eternity Thine. We with thanks do approve the design Of that love that hath joined us to Jesus name; Now united in heart, let us never more part, Till we meet at the feast of the Lamb. Oh there at His feet, we shall all likewise meet, And be parted in body no more; We shall sing to our lyres, with the heavenly choirs, And our Savior in glory adore. Hallelujah! we sing to our Father and King, And His rapturous praises repeat: To the Lamb that was slain, Hallelujah again! Sing all Heaven and fall at His feet!
God's Controversy with New England (Written in the Time of the Great Drought, Anno.) Michael Wigglesworth 0 0 Are these the men that prized liberty To walk with God according to their light, To be as good as he would have them bee, To serve and worship him with all their might, Before the pleasures which a fruitful field, And country flowing-full of all good things, could yield,... Are these the men whose gates with peace I crown'd, To whom for bulwarks I salvation gave, Whilst all things else with rattling tumults sound, And mortal frays send thousands to the grave? Whilst their own brethren bloody hands embrewed In brothers blood, and fields with carcasses bestrewed?... If these be they, how is it that I find In stead of holiness Carnality, In stead of heavenly frames an Earthly mind, For burning zeal luke-warm Indifferency, For flaming love, key-cold Dead-heartedness, For temperance (in meat, and drink, and clothes) excess? Whence cometh it, that Pride, and Luxury Debate, Deceit, Contention, and Strife, False-dealing, Covetousness, Hypocrisy (With such like Crimes) amongst them arc so rife, That one of them doth over-reach another? And that an honest man can hardly trust his Brother? How is it, that Security, and Sloth, Amongst the best are Common to be found? That grosser sins, in stead of Graces growth, Amongst the many more and more abound? I hate dissembling shows of Holiness. Or practice as you talk, or never more profess.... This O New-England hast thou got By riot, & excess: This hast thou brought upon thy self By pride & wantonness. Thus must thy worldliness be whipt. They, that too much do crave, 0 0 0 0 Provoke the Lord to take away Such blessings as they have. We have been also threatened With worser things than these: And God can bring them on us still, To morrow if he please. For if his mercy be abus'd, Which help us at our need And mov'd his heart to pity us, We shall be plagu'd indeed. Beware, O sinful Land, beware; And do not think it strange That sorer judgments are at hand, Unless thou quickly change. Or God, or thou, must quickly change; Or else thou art undone: Wrath cannot cease, if sin remain, Where judgment is begun. Ah dear New England! dearest land to me; Which unto God hast hitherto been dear, And mayst be still more clear than formerly, If to his voice thou wilt incline thine ear. Consider well & wisely what the rod, Wherewith thou art from year to year chastised, Instructeth thee. Repent, & turn to God, Who will not have his nurture be despised. Thou still hast in thee many praying saints, Of great account, and precious with the Lord, Who daily pour out unto him their plaints, And strive to please him both in deed & word. Cheer on, sweet souls, my heart is with you all, And shall be with you, maugre Satan s might: And whereso'ere this body be a Thrall, Still in New-England shall be my delight.
Study Questions Puritan Poets. Define these terms: inverted syntax, rhetorical question, allusion, apostrophe, conceit. Annotate the poems, defining any unfamiliar words you come across.. Summarize each of the poems. Anne Bradstreet. What are the conflicts revealed in the poem? You need to discuss both internal and external conflicts. Offer specific examples from text for each of your answers.. Identify three examples of inverted syntax (line numbers are fine).. Why might Bradstreet have chosen to write using inverted syntax?. Look at each of the rhetorical questions in the poem. What function do they serve within the poem?. Explain the allusion in line. Edward Taylor. Discuss the use of conceit and apostrophe in this poem. 0. Why would he choose a spinning wheel as the focus of his poem? Charles Wesley. Is the title of the poem an appropriate one? Why or why not? Michael Wigglesworth. Generally, what problems does the poet identify as existing with the Puritans? Does he offer a solution? If so, what is the solution?. What is the value of these poems as literature? (That is, why do we read these poems?). Based on a reading of this poem, what words would you use to describe the Puritan view of God and their Puritans role in the world? Explain why chose those words. Offer specific examples from the poems to support your answer.. Write a theme statement for these poems: The poems by the Puritan poets are about and reveal that.