- Home
- Speakers
- Edward Taylor
- I Go To Prepare A Place For You.
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.
Download
Topic
Sermon Summary
Edward Taylor preaches about the incomprehensible love and grace of God towards humanity, highlighting how God, the King of Kings, humbly came to earth to save sinful mankind, paying the ultimate cost to redeem us from our transgressions. Taylor marvels at the sacrificial act of Jesus, who not only conquered death but also prepared a place of eternal joy for believers, adorning them with His grace and leading them to heavenly realms filled with praises and glory.
I Go to Prepare a Place for You.
What shall a Mote up to a Monarch rise? An Emmet match an Emperor in might? If Princes make their personall Exercise Betriming mouse holes, painting with delight! Or hanging Hornets nests with rich attire All that pretende to Wisdome would admire. The Highest Office and Highst Officer Expende on lowest intrest in the world The greatest Cost and wealthiest treasure far Twould shew mans wisdom's up in folly furld. That Humane Wisdom's hatcht within the nest Of addle brains which wisdom ne'er possesst. But blush, poor Soule, at th' thought of such a thought Touching my Lord, the King of Kings most bright As acting thus, for us all over nought, Worse than poor Ants, or Spider catchers mite Who goes away t'prepare's a place most cleare Whose Shine o're shines the shining Sunshine here. Ye Heavens wonder, shall your maker come To Crumbs of Clay, bing'd all and drencht in Sin To stop the gap with Graces bought, defray The Cost the Law transgresst, doth on us bring? Thy head layst down under the axe on th'block That for our Sins did off the same there lop: But that's not all: Thou now didst sweep Death's Cave Clean with thy hand: and leavest not a dust Of Flesh, or Bone that there th'Elect dropt have, But bringst out all, new buildst the Fabrick just, (Having the Scrowle of Gods Displeasure clear'd) Bringst back the Soule putst in its tent new rear'd. But thats not all: Now from Deaths realm, erect, Thou gloriously gost to thy Fathers Hall: And pleadst their Case preparst them place well dect All with thy Merits hung. Blesst Mansions all. Dost ope the Doore locks fast 'gainst Sins that so These Holy Rooms admit them may thereto. But thats not all. Leaving these dolefull roomes Thou com'st and takst them by the hands, Most High, Dost them translate out from their Death bed toombs, To th'rooms prepar'd filld with Eternall joy. Them Crownst and thronst there, there their lips be shall Pearld with Eternall Praises that's but all. Lord Let me bee one of these Crumbs of thine. And though Im dust adorn me with thy graces That though all flect with Sin, thy Grace may shine As thou Conductst me to these furnisht places. Make mee, thy Golden trumpet, sounded bee, By thy Good Spirits melody to thee.
- Bio
- Summary
- Transcript
- Download
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.