Edward Taylor

1
Edward Taylor

• (c. 1645 1729)

2
Edward Taylor

• Born in Leicestershire, England circa 1645.
• Not much is know about him before his arrival in
  Boston in 1668.
• Admitted to Harvard graduated in 1671.
• Went to settlement of Westfield as minister
  remained there for the rest of his life.
• Married twice
• 14 children
• Acted as physician for town as well as being
  their spiritual leader.

3
Edward Taylor

• Although his poems were composed in the late 17th
  early 18th centuries, they were not made
  available to the reading public until over 200
  years later.
• Fundamental religious ideas were identical to
  those of John Calvin (Calvinist).
• His library contained only one book of poetry a
  copy of Anne Bradstreets collection.

4
Edward Taylor

• Manuscript of his works inherited by his
  grandson, Ezra Stiles.
• Respected injunction that his heirs should never
  publish it.
• Given to library at Yale during Stiles
  presidency there.
• Remained there until their discovery in 1937.

5
Edward Taylor

• His activities as a preacher in the wilderness
  takes on significance of his poetry.
• Had they been different, his poetry would not be
  what it is.
• His preaching so influenced his poetry that the
  poems lose their full importance if separated
  from his sermons.

6
Edward Taylor

• 2 groups of poems
• Preparatory Meditations
• Gods Determinations
• Both groups (in different ways) promulgate his
  Puritan Calvinism.
• Employed a poetical style that was derived
  chiefly from 2 sources
• The Bible (esp. Song of Solomon Revelation)
• Poetry he read as young schoolboy (John Donne
  other metaphysicals)

7
Edward Taylor

• Collection of sermons Christographia
• Composed sermons at 6-week intervals
• After each one before delivering it he
  composed the poetic meditation.
• Regarded his meditations as sacramental acts of
  private devotion worship.
• Used them for the cleansing of his soul to put
  him in the correct spiritual frame of mind
• In preparation for administering Lords Supper
• In preparation for his eternal heavenly union
  with Christ

8
Edward Taylor

• Primarily were addressed to God or to Christ (and
  not to any other reader, public or private).
• More than 200 preparatory meditations preserved
• All are entirely religious in subject matter.
• Motivated by poets sincere and intense religious
  beliefs.

9
Edward Taylor

• Meditations
• Are what their title suggests an act of
  contemplation expressing profound pious
  emotions.

10
Edward Taylor

• Meditations
• Followed clearly defined organizational method
• Involved 3 faculties of the soul
• Memory
• Understanding
• Will

11
Edward Taylor

• Meditations
• Subject matter is heavenly doctrine supplied by
  the memory
• This doctrine is analyzed comprehended by the
  understanding or reason
• Once understood, the affections of the will
  (emotions) are aroused in this order
• Love
• Desire
• Hope
• Courage
• Joy

12
Edward Taylor

• Meditations
• Subject
• Original Sin
• Christs saving grace
• Possibility of personal salvation

• Emotion
• Despair
• Joy
• Hope

13
Edward Taylor

• Content structure of Gods Determinations
• Begins with the damned
• depiction of mans fallen estate, original sin,
  his own sins
• Depicts Christ and redemptive power vision of
  the elect.
• Concludes with a plea to Christ (hope).
• Final lines state that he will sing the praises
  of Christ if he is among the elect.

14
Edward Taylor

• Imagery used by Taylor (from Norman Grabo)
• Images of writing
• Images of warfare
• Images of metallurgy
• Images of gardens vegetation
• Images of feasting communion
• Images of spinning weaving

15
Edward Taylor

• Recurrent theme
• Fear that his heart has grown cold toward God and
  the hope that, through Gods grace, his
  affections will be warmed.

16
(No Transcript)