Consider the ideals, values, and themes that early American writers considered to be important and worthy of inclusion in their journals, sermons, and poems. What are these ideals and values? Why were they important? How do different writers incorporate them into their works? Did certain values or ideals seem to become more or less important over time? If so, why? Cite specific examples from the writings of Bradford, Winthrop, Bradstreet, and Edwards.I attached the excerpts that we are using from their writings. This is just part of a discussion and need a 2-3 paragraphs on the questions above.
excerts_from_early_american_writers.docx
Unformatted Attachment Preview
Of Plymouth Plantation Written from 1630-1650 by William Bradford Chapter IX OF THEIR VOYAGE,
AND HOW THEY PASSED THE SEA; AND OF THEIR SAFE ARRIVAL AT CAPE COD
September 6. These troubles being blown over, and now all being compact together in one ship, they
put to sea again with a prosperous wind, which continued divers days together, which was some
encouragement unto them; yet, according to the usual manner, many were afflicted with seasickness.
And I may not omit here a special work of God’s providence. There was a proud and very profane young
man, one of the seamen, of a lusty, able body, which made him the more haughty; he would alway be
contemning the poor people in their sickness and cursing them daily with grievous execrations; and did
not let to tell them that he hoped to help to cast half of them overboard before they came to their
journey’s end, and to make merry with what they had; and if he were by any gently reproved, he would
curse and swear most bitterly. But it pleased God before they came half seas over, to smite this young
man with a grievous disease, of which he died in a desperate manner, and so was himself the first that
was thrown overboard. Thus his curses light on his own head, and it was an astonishment to all his
fellows for they noted it to be the just hand of God upon him. After they had enjoyed fair winds and
weather for a season, they were encountered many times with cross winds and met with many fierce
storms with which the ship was shroudly 1 shaken, and her upper works made very leaky; and one of the
main beams in the midships was bowed and cracked, which put them in some fear that the ship could
not be able to perform the voyage. So some of the chief of the company, perceiving the mariners to fear
the sufficiency of the ship as appeared by their mutterings, they entered into serious consultation with
the master and other officers of the ship, to consider in time of the danger, and rather to return than to
cast themselves into a desperate and inevitable peril. And truly there was great distraction and
difference of opinion amongst the mariners themselves; fain would they do what could be done for their
wages’ sake (being now near half the seas over) and on the other hand they were loath to hazard their
lives too desperately. But in examining of all opinions, the master and others affirmed they knew the
ship to be strong and firm under water; and for the buckling of the main beam, there was a great iron
screw the passengers brought out of Holland, which would raise the beam into his place; the which
being done, the carpenter and master affirmed that with a post put under it, set firm in the lower deck
and otherways bound, he would make it sufficient. And as for the decks and upper works, they would
caulk them as well as they could, and though with the working of the ship they would not long keep
staunch, yet there would otherwise be no great danger, if they did not overpress her with sails. So they
committed themselves to the will of God and resolved to proceed. In sundry of these storms the winds
were so fierce and the seas so high, as they could not bear a knot of sail, but were forced to hu11 2 for
divers days together. And in one of them, as they thus lay at hull in a mighty storm, a lusty 3 young man
called John Howland, coming upon some occasion above the gratings was, with a seele 4 of the ship,
thrown into sea; but it pleased God that he caught hold of the topsail halyards which hung overboard
and ran out at length. Yet he held his hold (though he was sundry fathoms under water) till he was
hauled up by the same rope to the brim of the water, and then with a boat hook and other means got
into the ship again and his life saved. And though he was something ill with it, yet he lived many years
after and became a profitable member both in church and commonwealth. In all this voyage there died
but one of the passengers, which was William Butten, a youth, servant to Samuel Fuller, when they drew
near the coast. But to omit other things (that I may be brief) after long beating at sea they fell with that
land which is called Cape Cod; 5 the which being made and certainly known to be it, they were not a
little joyful. After some deliberation had amongst themselves and with the master of the ship, they
tacked about and resolved to stand for the southward (the wind and weather being fair) to find some
place about Hudson’s River for their habitation.6 But after they had sailed that course about half the
day, they fell among dangerous shoals and roaring breakers, and they were so far entangled therewith
as they conceived themselves in great danger; and the wind shrinking upon them withal, they resolved
to bear up again for the Cape and thought themselves happy to get out of those dangers before night
overtook them, as by God’s good providence they did. And the next day 7 they got into the Cape
Harbors where they rid in safety. A word or two by the way of this cape. It was thus first 8 named by
Captain Gosnold and his company, 9 Anno 1602, and after by Captain Smith was called Cape James; but
it retains the former name amongst seamen. Also, that point which first showed those dangerous shoals
unto them they called Point Care, and Tucker’s Terrour; but the French and Dutch to this day call it
Malabar by reason of those perilous shoals and the losses they have suffered there. Being thus arrived in
a good harbor, and brought safe to land, they fell upon their knees and blessed the God of Heaven 10
who had brought them over the vast and furious ocean, and delivered them from all the perils and
miseries thereof, again to set their feet on the firm and stable earth, their proper element. And no
marvel if they were thus joyful, seeing wise Seneca was so affected with sailing a few miles on the coast
of his own Italy, as he affirmed, that he had rather remain twenty years on his way by land than pass by
sea to any place in a short time, so tedious and dreadful was the same unto him. 11 But here I cannot
but stay and make a pause, and stand half amazed at this poor people’s present condition; and so I think
will the reader, too, when he well considers the same. Being thus passed the vast ocean, and a sea of
troubles before in their preparation (as may be remembered by that which went before), they had now
no friends to welcome them nor inns to entertain or refresh their weatherbeaten bodies; no houses or
much less town to repair to, to seek for succour. It is recorded in Scripture 12 as a mercy to the Apostle
and his shipwrecked company, that the barbarians showed them no small kindness in refreshing them,
but these savage barbarians, when they met with them (as after will appear) were readier to fill their
sides full of arrows than otherwise. And for the season it was winter, and they that know the winters of
that country know them to be sharp and violent, and subject-to cruel and fierce storms, dangerous to
travel to known places, much more to search an unknown coast. Besides, what could they see but a
hideous and desolate wilderness, fall of wild beasts and wild men—and what multitudes there might be
of them they knew not. Neither could they, as it were, go up to the top of Pisgah to view from this
wilderness a more goodly country to feed their hopes; for which way soever they turned their eyes (save
upward to the heavens) they could have little solace or content in respect of any outward objects. For
summer being done, all things stand upon them with a weatherbeaten face, and the whole country, full
of woods and thickets, represented a wild and savage hue. If they looked behind them, there was the
mighty ocean which they had passed and was now as a main bar and gulf to separate them from all the
civil parts of the world. If it be said they had a ship to succour them, it is true; but what heard they daily
from the master and company? But that with speed they should look out a place (with their shallop)
where they would be, at some near distance; for the season was such as he would not stir from thence
till a safe harbor was discovered by them, where they would be, and he might go without danger; and
that victuals consumed apace but he must and would keep sufficient for themselves and their return.
Yea, it was muttered by some that if they got not a place in time, they would turn them and their goods
ashore and leave them. Let it also be considered what weak hopes of supply and succour they left
behind them, that might bear up their minds in this sad condition and trials they were under; and they
could not but be very small. It is true, indeed, the affections and love of their brethren at Leyden was
cordial and entire towards them, but they had little power to help them or themselves; and how the
case stood between them and the merchants at their coming away hath already been declared. What
could now sustain them but the Spirit of God and His grace? May not and ought not the children of
these fathers rightly say: “Our fathers were Englishmen which came over this great ocean, and were
ready to perish in this wilderness; but they cried unto the Lord, and He heard their voice and looked on
their adversity,” 13 etc. “Let them therefore praise the Lord, because He is good: and His mercies endure
forever.” “Yea, let them which have been redeemed of the Lord, shew how He hath delivered them from
the hand of the oppressor. When they wandered in the desert wilderness out of the way, and found no
city to dwell in, both hungry and thirsty, their soul was overwhelmed in them. Let them confess before
the Lord His loving kindness and His wonderful works before the sons of men.”
A Model of Christianity charity by William Bradford
Thirdly, when God gives a special commission He looks to have it strictly observed in every article; When
He gave Saul a commission to destroy Amaleck, He indented with him upon certain articles, and because
he failed in one of the least, and that upon a fair pretense, it lost him the kingdom, which should have
been his reward, if he had observed his commission. (…) 15 Now the only way to avoid this shipwreck,
and to provide for our posterity, is to follow the counsel of Micah, to do justly, to love mercy, to walk
humbly with our God. For this end, we must be knit together, in this work, as one man. We must
entertain each other in brotherly affection. We must be willing to abridge ourselves of our superfluities,
for the supply of others’ necessities. We must uphold a familiar commerce together in all meekness, 20
gentleness, patience and liberality. We must delight in each other; make others’ conditions our own;
rejoice together, mourn together, labor and suffer together, always having before our eyes our
commission and community in the work, as members of the same body. So shall we keep the unity of
the spirit in the bond of peace. The Lord will be our God, and delight to dwell among us, as His own
people, and will command a blessing upon us in all our ways, so 25 that we shall see much more of His
wisdom, power, goodness and truth, than formerly we have been acquainted with. We shall find that
the God of Israel is among us, when ten of us shall be able to resist a thousand of our enemies; when He
shall make us a praise and glory that men shall say of succeeding plantations, “may the Lord make it like
that of New England.” For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people
30 are upon us. So that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, and so
cause Him to withdraw His present help from us, we shall be made a story and a byword through the
world. We shall open the mouths of enemies to speak evil of the ways of God, and all professors for
God’s sake. We shall shame the faces of many of God’s worthy servants, and cause their prayers to be
turned into curses upon us till we be consumed out of 35 the good land whither we are going. And to
shut this discourse with that exhortation of Moses, that faithful servant of the Lord, in his last farewell
to Israel, Deut. 30. “Beloved, there is now set before us life and death, good and evil,” in that we are
commanded this day to love the Lord our God, and to love one another, to walk in his ways and to keep
his Commandments and his ordinance and his laws, 40 and the articles of our Covenant with Him, that
we may live and be multiplied, and that the Lord our God may bless us in the land whither we go to
possess it. But if our hearts shall turn away, so that we will not obey, but shall be seduced, and worship
other Gods, our pleasure and profits, and serve them; it is propounded unto us this day, we shall surely
perish out of the good land whither we pass over this vast sea to possess it. Therefore let us choose life,
that we and our seed may live, by obeying His voice and cleaving to Him, for He is our life and our
prosperity
To My Dear and Loving Husband
Anne Bradstreet, 1612 – 1672
If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were loved by wife, then thee;
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me ye women if you can.
I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold,
Or all the riches that the East doth hold.
My love is such that rivers cannot quench,
Nor ought but love from thee give recompense.
Thy love is such I can no way repay;
The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.
Then while we live, in love let’s so persever,
That when we live no more we may live ever.
Verses upon the Burning of our House
Anne Bradstreet, 1612 – 1672
In silent night when rest I took,
For sorrow near I did not look,
I waken’d was with thund’ring noise
And piteous shrieks of dreadful voice.
That fearful 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 straighten me in my Distress
And not to leave me succourless.
Then coming out, behold a space
The flame consume my dwelling place.
And when I could no longer look,
I blest his grace 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 sate 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 the roof no guest shall sit,
Nor at thy Table eat a bit.
No pleasant talk 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 lie.
Adieu, Adieu, All’s Vanity.
Then straight I ‘gin my heart to chide:
And did thy wealth on earth abide,
Didst fix thy hope on mouldring dust,
The arm of flesh didst make thy trust?
Raise up thy thoughts above the sky
That dunghill mists away may fly.
Thou hast a house on high erect
Fram’d by that mighty Architect,
With glory richly furnished
Stands permanent, though this be fled.
It’s purchased and paid for too
By him who hath enough to do.
A price 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.
From Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God
1. God has laid himself under no obligation, by any promise to keep any natural man
out of hell one moment. God certainly has made no promises either of eternal life, or of any
deliverance or preservation from eternal death, but what are contained in the covenant of
grace, the promises that are given in Christ, in whom all the promises are yea and amen. But
surely they have no interest in the promises of the covenant of grace who are not the
children of the covenant, who do not believe in any of the promises, and have no interest in
the Mediator of the covenant.
So that, whatever some have imagined and pretended about promises made to natural men’s
earnest seeking and knocking, it is plain and manifest, that whatever pains a natural man takes in
religion, whatever prayers he makes, till he believes in Christ, God is under no manner of obligation
to keep him a moment from eternal destruction.
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; and God is dreadfully provoked, his anger is
as great towards them as to those that are actually suffering the executions of the fierceness of his
wrath in hell, and they have done nothing in the least to appease or abate that anger, neither is God
in the least bound by any promise to hold them up one moment; 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; the fire pent up in their own hearts is struggling to break out: and they have no
interest in any Mediator, there are no means within reach that can be any security to them. In short,
they have no refuge, nothing to take hold of; all that preserves them every moment is the mere
arbitrary will, and uncovenanted, unobliged forbearance of an incensed God.
The use of this awful subject may be for awakening unconverted persons in this congregation.
This that you have heard is the case of every one of you that are out of Christ. — That world of
misery, that lake of burning brimstone, is extended abroad under you. There is the dreadful pit of the
glowing flames of the wrath of God; there is hell’s wide gaping mouth open; and you have nothing to
stand upon, nor any thing to take hold of; there is nothing between you and hell but the air; it is only
the power and mere pleasure of God that holds you up.
You probably are not sensible of this; you find you are kept out of hell, but do not see the hand
of God in it; but look at other things, as the good state of your bodily constitution, your care of your
own life, and the means you use for your own preservation. But indeed these things are nothing; if
God should withdraw his hand, they would avail no more to keep you from falling, than the thin air to
hold up a person that is suspended in it.
Your wickedness makes you as it were heavy as lead, and to tend downwards with great
weight and pressure towards hell; and if God should let you go, you would immediately sink and
swiftly descend and plunge into the bottomless gulf, and your healthy constitution, and your own
care and prudence, and best contrivance, and all your righteousness, would have no more influence
to uphold you and keep you out of hell, than a spider’s web would have to stop a falling rock. Were it
not for the sovereign pleasure of God, the earth would not bear you one moment; for you are a
burden to it; the creation groans with you; the creature is made subject to the bondage of your
corruption, not willingly; the sun does not willingly shine upon you to give you light to serve sin and
Satan; the earth does not willingly yield her increase to satisfy your lusts; nor is it willingly a stage for
your wickedness to be acted upon; the air does not willingly serve you for breath to maintain the
flame of life in your vitals, while you spend your life in the service of God’s enemies. God’s creatures
are good, and were made for men to serve God with, and do not willingly subserve to any other
purpose, and groan when they are abused to purposes so directly contrary to their nature and end.
And the world would spew you out, were it not for the sovereign hand of him who hath subjected it in
hope. There are the black clouds of God’s wrath now hanging directly over your heads, full of the
dreadful storm, and big with thunder; and were it not for the restraining hand of God, it would
immediately burst forth upon you. The sovereign plea …
Purchase answer to see full
attachment
Recent Comments