Edwards believes that God selects those he will save. He views God as a supreme authority and adores him “as a sovereign God,” (A:405) and asks “sovereign mercy of him” (A:405). He sees Christians as having an “exceeding dependence on God’s grace and strength” (A:408). He feels that the gospel of Christ is his “chosen light” (A:408) and that Christ is his “chosen prophet” (A:408). He compares holiness to “a sweet, pleasant, charming, serene calm nature”(A:402) where Christians, like a “little white flower” (A:403), soak up the light of God just as the flower soaks up the sunlight. …show more content…
In contrast, Paine believes that all “compulsive systems of religion, and compulsive articles of faith” (A:653) are false and distract mankind from morality and humanity and what he believes to be “true theology”(A:653).
He believes in “one God” (A:653), life after death, “the equality of man, loving mercy, and endeavoring to make to make our fellow citizens happy” (A:653). He does not believe that God would only offer his grace to certain people. He feels that organized religion is the “study of human opinions and of human fancies concerning God” (A:656). He thinks that religion should be the “study pf God Himself in the works that He has made” (A:656). In essence, it is the study of science, which is available to all men. God, in Paine’s view, is the “Almighty lecturer” (A:659), giving us the science to create our own comfort, and through this His act of graciousness, the capability for humans to be kind to one
another.
Phillis Wheatley believes in a sovereign God, as does Edwards, but Wheatley believes he is an “Impartial Savior” (A767). She believes He has “matchless mercy” (A:766), is “gracious” (A:766) and that he will provide “Life without death and glory without end”. (A:766). She also sees her “Maker’s plans” (A:769) in nature in “In trees, and plants, and all the flowery race”(A:769). She, like Paine, believes in the equality of man, but in a religious sense. This is evident in “Remember, Christians, Negroes, black as Cain, / May be refined, and join the angelic train.” (A:764).
All of these authors believe in a singular God. However, their methodologies are quite different. Edward’s religion is strict with a selective God where God’s written word instructs Christians. Paine views God as a teacher that gives us the science of Christianity so that we will become better Christians through studying his creations. Wheatley sees God as a lenient Savior but also believes that the Bible hold the instructions Christians need to receive his favor.