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Edward Taylor
Edward Taylor (circa 1642 – June 29, 1729) was an English-born American preacher, poet, and physician whose ministry and writings made him a significant figure in colonial Puritanism. Born in Sketchley, Leicestershire, England, to William, a yeoman farmer, and Margaret Taylor, he grew up in a Nonconformist family during the Commonwealth period. After losing both parents—his mother in 1657 and father in 1658—he worked as a schoolmaster until the 1662 Act of Uniformity barred him from teaching due to his refusal to conform to the Church of England. In 1668, he emigrated to Massachusetts Bay Colony, enrolling at Harvard College in 1671, where he graduated with a divinity degree. Taylor’s preaching career began when he accepted a call in 1671 to serve as minister in Westfield, Massachusetts, a frontier town he led for over 50 years. His sermons, over 60 of which survive, emphasized God’s grace and the believer’s relationship with Christ, reflecting his role in administering communion and defending orthodox Congregationalism against liberalizing trends like those of Solomon Stoddard. Alongside preaching, he wrote over 200 Preparatory Meditations, poetic reflections on Scripture, though he forbade their publication, and they remained unknown until 1937. Married twice—first to Elizabeth Fitch in 1674, who bore eight children before her death in 1689, then to Ruth Willys in 1692, with whom he had six—he died at age 87 in Westfield, leaving a legacy as a devoted pastor and one of America’s earliest literary voices.
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Edward Taylor delves into the deep mystery of God's love, questioning why there are times when we feel a cloud of despair and darkness despite being in the midst of His love. He reflects on the paradox of experiencing ardent love for Christ yet feeling spiritually blind and unloved. Taylor ponders on the concept of God's love being withheld or felt inadequately by those who may not fully comprehend or appreciate it, emphasizing the importance of faith and trust in God's perfect timing and provision.
Let Him Kiss Me With the Kisse of His Mouth
What placed in the Sun: and yet my ware, A Cloud upon my head? an Hoodwinke blinde? In middst of Love thou layst on mee, despare? And not a blinke of Sunshine in my minde? Shall Christ bestow his lovely Love on his, And mask his face? allowing not a kiss? Shall ardent love to Christ enfire the Heart? Shall hearty love in Christ embrace the Soule? And shall the Spirituall Eye be wholy dark, In th'heart of Love, as not belov'd, Condole? In th'midst of Love's bright Sun, and yet not see A Beame of Love allow'd to lighten thee? Lord! read the Riddle: Shall a gracious heart The object of thy love be sick of Love? And beg a kiss under the piercing Smart, Of want thereof? Lord pitty from above. What wear the Sun, without a ray of light? In midst of Sunshine, meet a pitchy night? Thy foes, whose Souls Sins bowling alley's grown With Cankering Envy rusty made, stand out Without all Sense of thy Sweet Love ere shown Is no great wonder. Thou lov'st not this rout. But wonder't is that such that grudge their hearts Hold love too little for thee, should thus smart. Nay, nay, stand Sir: here's wisdom very cleare. None sensibly can have thy love decline: That never had a drop thereof: nor ere Did test thereof. This is the right of thine. Such as enjoy thy Love, may lack the Sense May have thy love and not loves evidence. Maybe thy measures are above thy might. Desires Crave more than thou canst hold by far: If thou shouldst have but what thou would, if right, Thy pipkin soon would run ore, breake, or jar. Wisdom allows enough: none t'wast is known. Because thou hast not all, say not, thoust none. Christ loves to lay thy Love under Constraint. He therefore lets not's Love her Candle light, To see her Lovely arms that never faint Circle thyself about, with greate Delight. The prayers of Love ascend in gracious tune To him as Musick, and as heart perfume. But listen, Soule, here seest thou not a Cheate. Earth is not heaven: Faith not Vision. No. To see the Love of Christ on thee Compleate Would make heavens Rivers of joy, earth overflow. This is the Vale of tears, not mount of joyes. Some Crystal drops while here may well suffice. But, oh my Lord! let mee lodge in thy Love. Although thy Love play bow-peep with me here. Though I be dark: want Spectacles to prove Thou lovest mee: I shall at last see Clear. And though not now, I then shall sing thy praise. In that thy love did tende me all my dayes.
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Edward Taylor (circa 1642 – June 29, 1729) was an English-born American preacher, poet, and physician whose ministry and writings made him a significant figure in colonial Puritanism. Born in Sketchley, Leicestershire, England, to William, a yeoman farmer, and Margaret Taylor, he grew up in a Nonconformist family during the Commonwealth period. After losing both parents—his mother in 1657 and father in 1658—he worked as a schoolmaster until the 1662 Act of Uniformity barred him from teaching due to his refusal to conform to the Church of England. In 1668, he emigrated to Massachusetts Bay Colony, enrolling at Harvard College in 1671, where he graduated with a divinity degree. Taylor’s preaching career began when he accepted a call in 1671 to serve as minister in Westfield, Massachusetts, a frontier town he led for over 50 years. His sermons, over 60 of which survive, emphasized God’s grace and the believer’s relationship with Christ, reflecting his role in administering communion and defending orthodox Congregationalism against liberalizing trends like those of Solomon Stoddard. Alongside preaching, he wrote over 200 Preparatory Meditations, poetic reflections on Scripture, though he forbade their publication, and they remained unknown until 1937. Married twice—first to Elizabeth Fitch in 1674, who bore eight children before her death in 1689, then to Ruth Willys in 1692, with whom he had six—he died at age 87 in Westfield, leaving a legacy as a devoted pastor and one of America’s earliest literary voices.