Rowlandson, Bradstreet, Taylor

Edward Taylor’s “Huswifery” original Make me, O Lord, Thy spinning-wheel complete. Thy holy word my distaff make for me. Make mine affections Thy swift flyers neat And make my soul Thy holy spool to be. My conversation make to be Thy reel And reel thy yarn thereon spun of Thy wheel. Make me Thy loom then, knit therein this twine: And make Thy Holy Spirit, Lord, wind quills: Then weave the web Thyself. Thy yarn is fine. Thine ordinances make my fulling-mills. Then dye the same in heavenly colors choice, All pinked with varnished flowers of paradise. Then clothe therewith mine understanding, will, Affections, judgment, conscience, memory, My words and actions, that their shine may fill My ways with glory and Thee glorify. Then mine apparel shall display before Ye That I am clothed in holy robes for glory.

Literal translation of poem Lord, please make me Your spinning wheel Make the Bible the distaff of the spinning wheel Make my emotions the part of the spinning wheel that twists the fibers to make the yarn strong. Make my soul and my conversation the spool/reel that You wrap the yarn around. Now, make me Your loom and weave a cloth of the yarn You’ve spun. Make Your Holy Spirit wind the yarn around the spool and then weave the cloth Yourself. The yarn You make from me can only be weak because of my sinful human nature, so make the cloth stronger by using Your laws as fulling-mills (a machine that thickens cloth into felt—a difficult cloth to rip). Then color the cloth with any color that pleases You and make the cloth shiny and lacy with heavenly flowers (not your typical Puritan day-wear). Now, take the cloth and make clothes to cover my soul so that on earth I can act in a way that will bring glory to You. Then, through Your work in me, I can stand before You ready to enter heaven.

Interpretative translation of poem Lord, please use me for Your work (of sanctification) Let the Bible support my efforts to be a good Christian Let my emotions be a help, not a hindrance, to your work in me Please cover the imperfection (sin) of my soul with Your Will for me

Now, let me use the spiritual gifts you give me to do good works. I am only a weak human; so, please help me to obey Your laws in order to make me stronger. Give me any purpose; ask me to do anything with my life, for doing Your Will always produces a beautiful work.

God, the only way that I can be made worthy of heaven, is to have you recreate me (sanctify me) in Your Will, covering the sin of my human nature. I know through Your Word and Your Holy Mercy that You want to do this for me, Your Child. May it bring you all glory.