Journal 6
The Preface-
In this poem it seems like Taylor is simply explaining what miraculous things God does and showing that he truly is the center, and created everything. His stanza, ""Who spake all things from nothing; and with ease Can speake all things to nothing" iluustrates this idea effectively. He then goes on to describe how mighty and powerful God is, and in the last part of the poem how men are evil. He writes, "Whose Might Almighty can by half a looks Root up the rocks and rock the hills by the'roots" which illustrates just how powerful he believes God is. The poem almost seems like he's just writing down his prayer or writing a hymn.
Preparatory Meditations-
Taylor speaks of himself as "a crumb of dust" throughout this poem. By this he is meaning to illustrate what a small thing he is in the world compared to God, and that he can do nothing without God's help. He is also demonstrating that it is his life duty to bring God glory which he demonstrates by saying, "I am this crumb design'd to make my pen unto thy Praise alone." Taylor believes that God the creator brought him into being to love God and do nothing but bring Him glory.
Another Meditation at the Same Time-
In this poem Taylor is asking God if he's good to him, "Am I thy gold?" He's calling God to take his own life and make it His. When he writes about the bread of life and God's "deare-dear Son" grinding and kneading, he's talking about the crucifixion of Jesus, which paved the way for men to gain the kingdom of God, or bread of life.
It almost seems like all of taylor's poems were more private prayers that hadn't been intended for other people to read. They're very personal and confront his own questions and requests rather than speaking about people in gerneral.
Bay Psalm Book-
The Bay Psalm book was simply the book of Psalms in the old testament put into their own book instead of being incorporated into the Bible itself. The whole book of psalms are prayers and praises to God by king David that most every other Christian can relate to and they've always been a very important part of the Bible.
It's kind of like having a
It's kind of like having a crack head for a kid.
You're pissed at them and all that good stuff, but still love them.
that was my point
I know the bible, thanks.
I know the bible, thanks.
I don't know if the Preface
I don't know if the Preface is as simple as you say. First, Taylor is just questioning what created all the wondrous qualities of the world, then he answers his own questions and proceeds to talk about the glory and awesome power of God. But then towards the very end he starts talking about Man, "But Nothing man did throw down all by Sin: / and darkened that lightsom Gem in Him." I think this quote means Man (meaning Adam and Eve) lost God's favor--the darkened gem--by committing the original Sin. The following lines are indented to indicate their importance: "That now his Brightest Diamond is grown / Darker by far than any Coalpit Stone." --I don't know much about the Bible to tell the truth, but doesn't it detail how Jesus lived and redeemed Man or something along those lines? So the ending of this preface leaves us right in the place everybody was back then, out of God's favor. Am I mistaken?
Yes Kofi, the bible does
Yes Kofi, the bible does describe Jesus' sacrifice to save the souls of men. However, they're only saved if they confess Christ as lord in addition to trating others as you would treat Christ himself. And you are right about man being out of God's favor as well. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". Jesus just provided a way to be forgiven. So you're not too far off.
Good point.
more bout Bible
Well depends on what you mean that men are out of Gods favor. If you mean that God would rather have them not sin, and be holy than yes definately. But if you mean that God doesn't like man than no! "For God loved us when we were still sinners" I dont think this is exactly how its stated in the Bible but I did my best to translate it :)
The concept is the same. Also checkout John 3:16 It clearly shows that God loves people.
Lacking on the Psalms
I feel that in the rewriting of the Psalms for the colonists we can derive a commentary about the social status. There obviously would have been a need for a book of this variety, else it would not have been created. Yes, it was essentially a cut and paste job, but consideration must be given to why somebody would dedicate the time to do such, when there were houses to be built, etc. Both of the readings told something of giving thanks to god, and establishing your place in salvation through good works. In the prologue to the Preparatory Meditations in line15 "And my dull Phancy I would gladly grinde" Taylor says he would be delighted to go out and produce works praising god. And in the Psalms it talks about not being with the wicked, and doing as the pious.