Increase Mather “A Sermon on Preached at the Lecture in Boston in New-England [¦] (1675), excerpt. [Mather was president of Harvard – preacher] 1. What is the main influence of Mather’s belief system about law? (Think, is this human driven?) What does the sin of man represent to the community and their morals?
2. What does Mather mean when he says, “Again, Rebellion is a Crime which they that are guilty of, are wicked overmuch.” What is the significance of this statement?
Both Readings:
1. What do Rebekah Chamblit’s and Levi Ames’ sermons wish to portray? Think about who their audience was? Did they take responsibility for their behavior? Did their sermons have a certain message to their community?
2. How do the Salem Witch Trials fit into Levi Ames’ or Rebekah Chamblit’s crimes? Meaning, what do Levi and Rebekah have in common with the accused in the Trials? What does these “crimes” say about Puritan society? Use the article you read about the Salem Witch Trials to answer this question. You must make a direct reference to your reading.
If you read “The Declaration, Dying Warning and Advice of Rebekah Chamblit” (1733) answer these two questions.
1. Who does Rebekah blame for her crime? Does she offer excuses or ask for forgiveness?
2. What role does her speech play in the community? How do you think she wants people to feel about her crimes (Does she imagine that they scornful, supportive, afraid?)
If you read “The Last Words and Dying Speech of Levi Ames” and Supplement (1773) answer these two questions
1. What does Levi point to as his beginning of his troubled life? What does this say about Puritan assumptions that it was man’s duty to learn a trade, provide for a family and contribute to the community? How does Levi’s sermon reiterate that fact?
2. Why do you think Levi lists all of his crimes and people he stole from? Was this for his own conscience?