Inquisitorial Faith in "To My Dear Children" and "The Flesh and the Spirit" Anonymous College

It is through harshness that you start questioning yourself, your beliefs, and purpose in life, but is during these times that we do not perceive the light, that--from a Christian perspective--we must persist and trust that God will guide us. America’s first issued rhymester and initial female to engender a lifelong volume poesy in the English linguistic, Anne Bradstreet, epitomizes in her poetry how she, being a puritan believer numerous times interrogated her faith, purpose in life, and even questioned if God really exists. Conspicuously, Anne Bradstreet reflects a sense of abdicating and inquisitorial faith in her writing of “To My Dear Children” and “The Flesh and the Spirit” as an ensuing of her innermost battles with her spirituality.

Bradstreet affirms in her writing of “To My Dear Children” how she in fresher years instigated to make principles in her faith but as she grew older, she started doubting her beliefs. According to Bradstreet, “I have often been perplexed that I have not found that constant joy in my pilgrimage and refreshing which I supposed most of the servant of God have…” (125). In here, Bradstreet inquiry why even though she is ensuring the pilgrimage as any other puritan she cannot distinguish the...