Edward Taylor Meditation 1.6 Analysis

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One question that tends to strike new Christians is, "what does God want me to do with my life?" Edward Taylor talks about the answer to this question in his poem, titled "Meditation 1.6". Edward Taylor lived from 1642-1729. He was a Puritan poet who made an unusual request. Before he died, he requested that none of his poems be published. It was not until the 1930's that his poems were discovered. In "Meditation 1.6", Taylor compares being a servant of God, to being a golden coin. However, the main, underlying theme of "Meditation 1.6" is God showing the author his faults and using the author to do His bidding. "Am I thy Gold? Or Purse, Lord, for they Wealth; / Whether in mine, or mint refined for thee? (Stanza 1, Line 1-2) The first two …show more content…

Stanza three, lines one through four state "Lord, make my Soule thy Plate: thine Image bright/ Within the Circle of the same enfoile./ And on its brims in golden Letters write/ Thy Superscription in an Holy style." It seems that, more than anything, Taylor wants to be as godly as possible, and reflect His image. He goes back to being 100% faithful to God when he says he wants his soul to be God's plate, or coin. Then in Stanza three, lines five and six it says "Then I shall be thy Money, thou my Hord:/ Let me thy Angell bee, bee thou my Lord." It reciprocates the idea that Taylor wants to be God's money, or chosen worker, but then it takes a turn not mentioned in the rest of the poem. It states that he wants God to be his "Hord". Although the meaning is not totally clear, Taylor seems to imply that, not only is he God's laborer, but God is storing up treasures in heaven for him through his work. This is what we as Christians should strive to do in this life. The theme of "Meditation 1.6" is Edward Taylor, and the reader, being God's servant, and God showing them their faults. In multiple points throughout the poem, Taylor compares being God's gold or money, to being His laborer. The poet also hits heavily on how bad it is to only have a superficial faith and attitude toward doing God's will. Taylor, through "Meditation 1.6", epitomizes what Christians should desire to be in

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