Puritan sensibility and style

Reading the works of Bradstreet, Taylor, and the Psalms gives a glimpse into the Puritan thoughts on art and piety. The Psalms, works meant to be widely read, were rather plain. The bland style is acknowledged, but is seen as preferred due to the literal translations the Puritans preferred. Next was the work of Bradstreet. Her work was never really meant for publication, but it was spread throughout the colonies. Part of the reason for the spreading of her works is the devotion to God she exhibits, and partly due to her skill. While she may not have intended to have her work published, she did eventually publish further, going so far as to answer her critics. Much like the Psalms, she kept the form fairly simple and straightforward, and tried to keep her message relating to God and the proper relationship as much as possible. It is true she did speak for women, but first and foremost she spoke of the relationship with God people should have. Taylor, finally, wrote great amounts, but was never published, and, apparently, did not try to become published. His style, of the three, was the most ornate and possibly interesting. He, like Mather, had a strong understanding of classical and biblical references, and worked them into his poetry. Unlike Bradstreet, his poems required a stronger background in the classics, and he paid more attention to form and diction. His works do speak to the proper relationship to God and man, and give praise to God in all of His power, but they are also an art form in themselves. This, I believe, is what separates Taylor from his contemporaries, and may also be a reason he never attempted to publish his works. In a world which cherished simplicity and praise that is straight to the point, Taylor was a wordsmith, and ultimately, an unheard voice among his peers.