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Andres Castellanos

Mrs. Storer

English 3 Honors: American Literature

October 8th, 2019

God’s Presence in One’s Life

Throughout the course of the human race, man has been attempting to uncover the truth

about the afterlife and, although many agree on the existence of a superior spirit, their

perceptions of the afterlife vary. This is clearly represented in Anne Bradstreet’s “Upon the

Burning of Our House,” where she illustrates a tragic situation and the role God played in it; as

well as Jonathan Edward’s “From Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” where he preaches to

the congregation about how mankind’s negative actions are enough cause for God to send them

to hell rather than have compassion and take them to Heaven. Both authors portray God through

their own perspectives: Bradstreet illustrates God as a caring and generous Lord, while Edwards

depicts him as an angry and wrathful God. However, both speakers agree on the fact that God is

essential and necessary in one’s life.

Throughout her poem, Bradstreet portrays God in a caring and generous perspective. For

instance, as she describes what has been taken by God after the fire, she remarks how “He might

of all justly bereft / But yet sufficient for us left” (Bradstreet 19-20). She explains how, although

He took most of her belongings, He still leaves her with enough. Therefore, the reader can infer

how she thinks of Him as generous because He left her with some when He could have given her

none. Moreover, after she embraces the fire and destruction of her home, she utters, “Thou hast

an house on high erect, / Framed by that mighty Architect” (Bradstreet 43-44). Bradstreet

attempts to compare her house on Heaven as a perfect haven built by the ultimate architect who
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will grant her all she will need. She mentions how her true home is not on Earth, but rather in

Heaven. He gives her a home for eternity in paradise, thus demonstrating His care and affection

for her.

On the other hand, Edwards gives a different perspective of God’s personality by

describing him as wrathful and fearful. For example, as Edwards explains the consequences of

one’s wrongdoings, he remarks, “you are thus in the hands of an angry God; it is nothing but his

mere pleasure that keeps you from being this moment swallowed up in everlasting destruction”

(Edwards 98). The speaker conveys how one’s life is held in God’s hands, which can either carry

or crush one depending upon the will of the creature behind them. Consequently, Edward’s

portrayal of God as a ruthless spirit is due to His potential actions upon humanity. Furthermore,

Edwards continues to warn the audience of one’s fate, exclaiming how he is, “the God that holds

you over the pit of hell, much as one holds a spider, or some loathsome insect” (Edwards 98).

Through the use of simile, the author expresses how one’s fate is similar to that of a small

horrendous creature. Through the analogy, it can be inferred how Edwards thinks of humanity as

small or insignificant, while God is a greater and more powerful soul. Therefore, the speaker’s

analogy demonstrates how he perceives God as a wrathful and angry spirit since He holds the

fate of humanity with a lack of compassion.

Although their viewpoint of a superior spirit may vary, both authors agree that God is

essential in one’s life in order to achieve happiness and success. For instance, Bradstreet finalizes

her poem by stating, “the world no longer let me love / my hope and treasure lies above”

(Bradstreet 53-54). Bradstreet conveys how the world is constantly changing and everything will

turn to dust at any second; because of this, it is only in Heaven where the true treasures remain

for eternity. Therefore, the reader can infer how she remains optimistic because of her hope in a
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permanent home with a caring and loving God. The speaker metaphorically explains how her

true happiness lies above in Heaven with God since He is the only one capable of it. In addition,

Similarly, Edwards also finalizes his poem by notifying how “wherein many are flocking to him,

and pressing into the kingdom of God… many that were very lately in the same miserable

condition that you are in, are now in a happy state” (Edwards 99). Edwards articulates how God

is compassionate only towards those who put their faith in Him; in addition, those who reach

God have been constantly forcing themselves upon Him due to their eagerness and aspiration to

arrive at the gates of Heaven. However, for all others they will remain in that “miserable

condition” known as hell. Hence, it is only through Him where one may reach eternal

satisfaction.

Through both texts, the reader can acknowledge how, although there may be different

views on God, they all lead to the same result: happiness. Even though Bradstreet and Edwards

agree on the essence of God in one’s life, the former views him as generous while the latter

thinks of him as wrathful. The reader can recognize how each authors’ unique perceptions of

God are necessary in order to dedicate their lives to serving and helping others.
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Works Cited

Bradstreet, Anne. “Upon the Burning of Our House.” Glencoe American Literature, by Jeffrey

D. Wilhelm et al., Glencoe McGraw-Hill, 2009, pp. 91.

Edwards, Jonathan. “from Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” Glencoe American Literature,

by Jeffrey D. Wilhelm et al., Glencoe McGraw-Hill, 2009, pp. 97-99.