Samual Sewall

             During the 1700's, it was not uncommon for people to die at an age that we now may consider young. Many things have changed since that time to how we know it to be. However, in "The Diary of Samuel Sewall," Sewall writes of the unfortunate deaths of his wives. After the death of his wife, Abigail Tilly, he courts Katherine Winthrop (Madam Winthrop). Sewall wants to marry Madam Winthrop and proposes to her several times. During this time period, people abided by the Bible more so than we currently do and were more likely to take the words of the Bible to heart.
             When Sewall consistently persisted in proposing to Madam Winthrop, she quoted Apostle Paul by saying that "a single Life was better than a Married" (161). According to 1 Corinthians 7:32-34:
             He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband (Web Bible).
             When men and virgin women are unmarried, their thoughts are concentrated only on the Lord. Conversely, when men and virgin women are married, their thoughts are concentrated on their respective spouses, not on the Lord.
             After Madam Winthrop quotes Apostle Paul, Sewall retorts, "That was for the present Distress" (161). That may very well refer to what Apostle Paul wrote in the Corinthians as well. In 1 Corinthians 7: 1-2, Apostle Paul wrote, "It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband" (Web Bible). Sewall thinks that when Madam Winthrop quoted that particular piece from Apo...

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Samual Sewall. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 08:29, March 29, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/82426.html