"Huswifery"

"Huswifery"
by: Edward Taylor

j

Make me, O Lord, thy Spinning Wheele compleat;
Thy Holy Worde my Distaff make for mee.
Make mine Affections thy Swift Flyers neate,
And make my Soule thy holy Spoole to bee.
My Conversation make to be thy Reele,
And reele the yarn thereon spun of thy Wheele.

j

Make me thy Loome then, knit therein this Twine:
And make thy Holy Spirit, Lord, winde quills:
Then weave the Web thyselfe. The yarn is fine.
Thine Ordinances make my Fulling Mills.
Then dy the same in Heavenly Colours Choice,
All pinkt with Varnish't Flowers of Paradise.
j

Then cloath therewith mine Understanding, Will,
Affections, Judgment, Conscience, Memory;
My Words and Actions, that their shine may fill
My wayes with glory and thee glorify.
Then mine apparell shall display before yee
That I am Cloathd in Holy robes for glory.

Reflection: This poem is a prayer by Edward Taylor to his God to make his life like a spinning wheel, in which he is molded into a being worthy of the grace of God, and be allowed to enter into paradise. His message can be compared to the cause of the suicide bombers in the Middle East. They go to camps to be educated in order to complete the task that they believe has been assigned to them by their God. They do this in order to perform the work of their God and be admitted into paradise, just like Edward Taylor.

j

Journal: I wish to be of use to my God, I wish for Him to mold me into a more perfect person so that I may help Him in His work. This is my dream, to be able to gaze upon Him in the kingdom that is heaven, His most sacred place from whence He rules. I strive in my meager life to be more than what I am, to be gracious and caring to those in need and to be magnanimous in all that I do. I wish to glorify His name for He is great.