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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 preaches about the spiritual significance of Christ as the Rock and the River of Aqua Vitae, symbolizing grace, righteousness, and the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. He emphasizes the cleansing, refreshing, and life-giving properties of this divine Rock and Water, inviting believers to draw from it with faith and gratitude. Taylor beautifully portrays the imagery of Christ as the source of celestial wine that cheers our souls and the fountain that washes away sin and nourishes us with grace.
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And All Drunk the Same Spirituall Drinke
Ye Angells bright, pluck from your Wings a Quill. Make me a pen thereof that best will write. Lend me your fancy, and Angellick skill To treate this Theme, more rich than Rubies bright. My muddy Inke, and Cloudy fancy dark, Will dull its glory, lacking highest Art. An Eye at Centre righter may describe The Worlds Circumferentiall glory vast As in its nutshell bed it snugs fast tide, Than any angells pen can glory Cast Upon this Drink Drawn from the Rock, tapt by The Rod of God, in Horeb, typickly. Sea water straind through Mineralls, Rocks, and Sands Well Clarifi'de by Sunbeams, Dulcifi'de, Insipid, Sordid, Swill, Dishwater stands. But here's a Rock of Aqua-Vitae tride. When once God broacht it, out a River came To bath and bibble in, for Israels train. Some Rocks have sweat. Some Pillars bled out tears. But here's a River in a Rock up tun'd Not of Sea Water nor of Swill. Its beere. No Nectar like it. Yet it once Unbund A River down out runs through ages all. A Fountain opte, to wash off Sin and Fall. Christ is this Horebs Rock, the streames that slide A River is of Aqua Vitae Deare Yet costs us nothing, gushing from his side. Celestiall Wine our Sinsunk souls to cheare. This Rock and Water, Sacramentall Cup Are made, Lords Supper Wine for us to sup. This Rock's the Grape that Zions Vineyard bore Which Moses Rod did smiting pound, and press Untill its blood, the brooke of Life, run ore. All Glorious Grace, and Gracious Righteousness. We in this brook must bath: and with faiths quill Suck Grace, and Life out of this Rock our fill. Lord, oynt me with this Petro oyle. I'm sick. Make mee drinke Water of the Rock. I'm dry. Me in this fountain wash. My filth is thick. I'm faint, give Aqua Vitae or I dy. If in this stream thou cleanse and Chearish mee My Heart thy Hallelujahs Pipe shall bee.
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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.