Mather's Poemn Advice To Young Men
Hailee Olson 2nd Paper
Solemn Advice to Young Men Mather’s beliefs were instilled upon students in order to control their behavior. The advice was intended to maintain order and was applicable to the common belief of Puritanism. Mather’s advice provided guidance for students to alter their overall behavior for the better. They were told that the longer men live in sin, the harsher their judgement will be. Their fate was said to be determined based on their lifetime of actions. Every man was to honor their faith and remember what values and morals they were to carry. The majority of people aspire to lead honest and faithful lives. No one would want to confess to leading a life of sin as it would lead to eternal punishment. “Immoralities
in the fight of men, yet he does indulge him fome way of his own heart” (Mather 9). However, society surrounds us in situations where temptation and vanity are present. How the situation is handled matters most at the time of judgment. There are men that lead immoral lives, “Younglings imagine that God is not watching” (Mather 13). While there are also men that live honest lives, “... do that he might have Eternal Lite: when the Lord faid to him, keep the Commandments, thou shalt do no Murther, thou shalt not Commit Adultery, thou shalt not Steal” (Mather 17). A man cannot have too much pride to follow his faith entirely. All men should live their lives following their faith and what “God Commandeth them to do” (Mather 19). The students found substantial importance in refraining from evil, temptation, and vanity; owing to the fact that Mather’s advice steered students in the correct direction. They knew order should be maintained and proper behavior was a necessity in daily life, leading up to judgment day. Above all, “Young men (as well as others) shall be brought into Judgment, this is a Truth for men to be conscious of and believe” (Mather 13). How a man chooses to live is entirely their own choice. With proper guidance, students can become equipped to devise the best possible choices. Student’s became aware that there are repercussions for those who live their lives immersed in sin. The longer men live in sin, the harsher their judgement will be. Those who are faithful and live moral lives are rewarded in their judgment.
Solemn Advice to Young Men Mather’s beliefs were instilled upon students in order to control their behavior. The advice was intended to maintain order and was applicable to the common belief of Puritanism. Mather’s advice provided guidance for students to alter their overall behavior for the better. They were told that the longer men live in sin, the harsher their judgement will be. Their fate was said to be determined based on their lifetime of actions. Every man was to honor their faith and remember what values and morals they were to carry. The majority of people aspire to lead honest and faithful lives. No one would want to confess to leading a life of sin as it would lead to eternal punishment. “Immoralities
in the fight of men, yet he does indulge him fome way of his own heart” (Mather 9). However, society surrounds us in situations where temptation and vanity are present. How the situation is handled matters most at the time of judgment. There are men that lead immoral lives, “Younglings imagine that God is not watching” (Mather 13). While there are also men that live honest lives, “... do that he might have Eternal Lite: when the Lord faid to him, keep the Commandments, thou shalt do no Murther, thou shalt not Commit Adultery, thou shalt not Steal” (Mather 17). A man cannot have too much pride to follow his faith entirely. All men should live their lives following their faith and what “God Commandeth them to do” (Mather 19). The students found substantial importance in refraining from evil, temptation, and vanity; owing to the fact that Mather’s advice steered students in the correct direction. They knew order should be maintained and proper behavior was a necessity in daily life, leading up to judgment day. Above all, “Young men (as well as others) shall be brought into Judgment, this is a Truth for men to be conscious of and believe” (Mather 13). How a man chooses to live is entirely their own choice. With proper guidance, students can become equipped to devise the best possible choices. Student’s became aware that there are repercussions for those who live their lives immersed in sin. The longer men live in sin, the harsher their judgement will be. Those who are faithful and live moral lives are rewarded in their judgment.