View of God: Anne Bradstreet vs. Johnathan Edwards

All authors convey their messages and beliefs in their writing. Anne Bradstreet and Jonathan Edwards were no different. They used their writing as a way to impart their ideas to the readers. For these two authors, they were working on the same base, Puritanism, for the intended messages. In the end, it is obvious that there is a huge gap in belief between the two authors. Edward's writings takes Puritanism to its extremities whereas Bradstreet's works show a conventional view in the religion while still staying true to it.

"Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" conveys a very extreme viewpoint of God, that of Jonathan Edwards. According to Edwards, humanity is naturally plagued with sin despite our ongoing efforts to overcome it. Throughout his sermon, Edwards goes on endlessly about how God shows such mercy in not throwing all of humanity to the deepest depths of hell by the very earth itself. As Edwards said in the sermon, "You hang by a slender thread, with the flames of divine wrath flashing about it, and ready every moment to singe it, and burn it asunde

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In addition, he states that whereas they thought they were going to Heaven, they were actually destined for Hell, and there was nothing they could do to prevent it. In contrast, Bradstreet's view of God is more conservative and conventional, but still true to the foundation of Puritanism.

By reading the works of Bradstreet and Edwards, we see the differences formed in their beliefs. r; and you have no interest in any Mediator, nothing to keep off the flames of wrath, nothing to lay hold of to save yourself, nothing that you have done, nothing you can do, to induce God to spare you one moment. Edwards decided to present a highly devout system of worshipping God whereas Bradstreet went with a conventional approach and simply restated the tradtional beliefs of the Puritan society and how it held up in her life. She does not reiterate during her poems that God will condemn humanity unless they show piousness. He can also take these things away, as a test of the faith in God. " Throughout her poems, she constantly reiterates her belief that God knows best and to love God with all of the heart. During our lifetime, God helps us attain the things needed. " Essentially, these people were in Edwards' opinion condemned, for they were sinning against God with no way to change in hope of salvation. Her message was commendable in that she showed that God would be able to take care of everyone throughout their lives, just as long as their faith can stay strong. It is up to the individual to choose who they would be more inclined to believe, but nevertheless, both authors sufficiently expressed their messages.

Approximate Word count = 718
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

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