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The Puritan Perception of Edward Taylor

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The Puritan Perception of Edward Taylor INFORMATION TO USERS This was produced from a copy of a document sent to us for microfilming. While the most advanced technological means to photograph and reproduce this document have been used, the quality is heavily dependent upon the quality of the material submitted. The following explanation of techniques is provided to help you understand markings or notations which may appear on this reproduction. 1. The sign or "target" for pages apparently lacking from the document photographed is "Missing Page(s)". If it was possible to obtain the missing page(s) or section, they are spliced into the film along with adjacent pages. This may have necessitated cutting through an image and duplicating adjacent pages to assure you of complete continuity. 2. When an image on the film is obliterated with a round black mark it is an indication that the film inspector noticed either blurred copy because of movement during exposure, or duplicate copy. 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ANN ARBOR, Ml 48106 18 BEDFORD ROW. LONDON WC1R 4EJ, ENGLAND 8011216 WILLIS, MARY SUE "UNITED ESSENTIAL HARMONY": THE PURITAN PERCEPTION OF EDWARD TAYLOR The University of North Carolina at Greensboro PH.D. 1979 University Microfilms International 300 N. Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48106 18 Bedford Row, London WCIR 4EJ, England Copyright 1980 by Willis, Mary Sue All Rights Reserved PLEASE NOTE: In all cases this material has been filmed in the best possible way from the available copy. Problems encountered with this document have been identified here with a check mark . 1. Glossy photographs 2. Colored illustrations 3. Photographs with dark background '4. Illustrations are poor copy 5. Drint shows through as there is text on both sides of page 6. Indistinct, broken or small print on several pages throughout 7. Tightly bound copy with print lost in spine 8. Computer printout pages with indistinct print 9. Page(s) lacking when material received, and not available from school or author 10. Page(s) seem to be missing in numbering only as text follows 11. Poor carbon copy 12. Not original copy, several pages with blurred type 13. Appendix pages are poor copy 14. Original copy with light type 15. Curling and wrinkled pages 16. Other University MicrOTirns International 300 N Zr = = RD.. ANN AH30R Ml 48106 '3131 761-4700 "UNITED ESSENTIAL HARMONY": THE PURITAN PERCEPTION OF EDWARD TAYLOR by Mary Sue Willis A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy Greensboro 1979 Approved by sertation Adviser APPROVAL PAGE This dissertation has been approved by the following com­ mittee of the Faculty of the Graduate School at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Dissertation Adviser Committee Members T \ •T 7, /f 7? Date of Acceptance by Committee ii WILLIS, MARY SUE. "United Essential Harmony": The Puritan Perception of Edward Taylor. (1979) Directed by; Dr. Robert 0. Stephens. Pp. 255 Contrary to much modern opinion, the American Puritans, in the words of Edward Taylor, expected their doctrine to yield "United Essential harmony." This study is an attempt to find the harmony of which Taylor spoke in terms of some of his more prominent metaphors. An exploration into Taylor's figures appears appropriate, since he himself claimed the "Metaphoricall" mode of Scripture as his own "truth Speaking form." The five chief figures to be examined here are called in this study the hygienic, the erotic, the organic, the domestic and the forensic. The first four can be found more definitely in Taylor's Preparatory Meditations and Taylor's occasional poetry, and the last in Taylor's long poem, Gods Determinations. Taylor's "hygienic" figures are an exposition of New England preparationism, which required man to admit his sinful condition in terms of disease and degradation. The purposes of such description, however, were not ultimately to denigrate man but to set forth God's grace as correspondingly great and to show how, by his confession, man could assist the Lord in the preparation of the grounds of his own salvation. As man showed great deficiency in the hygienic mode, in the terms of the divine romance of redemption, the Soul appeared similarly unequal to the seeking heavenly Lover. By Taylor's Puritan interpreta­ tion of conversion, however, the Soul possessed "inherent" qualities that made her attractive to her Lord and worthy of his rescue. Furthermore, as the Lord displayed his love for her, he also "raised" every faculty and capacity of her nature so that she became a suitable Bride for him. The divine-human union signified by the Marriage of the Lamb in conversion was expected to yield fruit "answerable" to the grace of God. This could be accomplished when the Christian joined the Almighty in an invisible and eternal Covenant which Taylor and other Puritans often described in terms of a great living plant. The parts of this organism were so inextricably bound together that, once fused, they could never be separated. The members, whether Head, branches or fruit, "fed" each other in endlessly reciprocal relations. Not only was the Covenant an external and invisible relation, but it was also for Edward Taylor and other New England believers an open and visible way of life. The Supper of the Lord as celebrated by Taylor manifested the dignity and significance of the temporal and human existence of the Christian by the very common and ordinary symbols of the table, the garment and the counterpane. In the cosmos of Taylor's Gods Determinations, the poet showed in dramatic detail how order first was established on the heavenly plane before it moved to earth. Such apparently opposite qualities of the Divine Nature as God's Justice and his mercy actually became "friends" in order to bring about the salvation of fallen man. Elect man, however, was not to be removed immediately from the earth but must achieve harmony within his own life while still remaining in an imper­ fect world. The best way of doing so, the Christian learned, was to enter a coach provided for him by the Lord. This divine vehicle was the visible church, the local manifestation of God's kingdom on earth. The wise Christian who entered it could be "coacht" along, gradually improving his praise to the Lord while traveling an equable "middle way" between the earth and glory. Taylor held forth these ideals of glory until the very end of his life. His last valedictory verses affirmed once more the per­ fect equipoise of God's nature and prophesied a final harmony for those of his persuasion, those who clung to the New England Way of seventeenth-century Puritanism. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The author of this dissertation wishes to acknowledge the kind help of the members of her advisory committee: Robert M. Calhoon, Donald G. Darnell, William G. Lane, Robert 0. Stephens and Charles p. Tisdale. She wishes especially to thank Dr. Stephens, her adviser, and Dr. Darnell, who provided the special encouragement and scholarly direction which made it possible for- her to complete this study. ill TABLE OF CONTENTS Page APPROVAL PAGE .ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS iii CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION 1 Far Journeys: The Search for a Taylor Poetic .... 7 In Total Calvinist Context; The Poet Paralyzed ... 12 Taylor as a Whole, in His Wholeness; Doctrine and Metaphor 16 Notes 30 II. THE HYGIENIC IMAGE: AQUA VITAE AND ZION'S BUCKING TUB 39 "Physicians of the Soul": The Puritan Impetus .... 42 Cases of Conscience; The Sinner as "Meere Patient" 46 The Hygienic Hope; New England Preparationism .... 63 The Body: God's Alembick 68 Notes 74 III. THE EROTIC IMAGE: THE BRIDEGROOM AND THE BRIDE .... 82 Images of Ardor from Puritan Preachers 86 The Warrior Lover and the Desirable Maiden; Irresistible and Inherent Grace 92 His Glory Smites Her Eyes: The Light of Reason ... 96 Her Heart Fetched: The Will Released 101 "Sparks of Heavenly Fire": Affections Warmed .... 107 Bridegroom and Bride Arrayed: A Principle of Exchange 109 Notes 117 IV. THE ORGANIC IMAGE: THE TREE OF LIFE 124 "My Sandy Soile: Thy Vital Seed" 126 "Thy Grafft and Fruits Shall Beare" 132 iv "The Tree of Life Whose Bulk's Theanthropie" 145 Notes 152 V. THE DOMESTIC IMAGE: THE TABLE, THE GARMENT, AND THE COUNTERPANE 157 The Table: "Spirits Chymistrie" 161 The Garment; "Adjuncts Shining Round About" 170 The Counterpane: "I Encentered Bee" 181 Notes 192 VI. THE FORENSIC IMAGE: THE COURT, THE COACH, AND THE CITY 199 "Gods Determinations touching his Elect": The Castle and the Court 205 "The Elects Combat in Their Conversion": The Conflict and the Cure 206 "Coming up to God in Christ Together with the Comfortable Effects thereof": The Coach and the City 227 Notes 234 VII.
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