The good, the bad, and the ugly

Throughout the passage, Byrd is constantly analyzing and making generalizations about all the different people groups he encounters. Overall, he tends to bring much disdain upon men who lavish in passivity--both the Indians and the Englishmen. He also sheds a light of approval upon the work ethics of the women. But there is one generalization that he tends to be inconsistent with--namely his view of the Native American People.
In the beginning of the passage, he remarks on how the Indians have, "Constitutions untainted by lewdness." He also states that with, "Morals and all considered, I can't think the Indians were much greater Heathens than the first Adventurers..." At this point it seems that he has much respect for the Indians and their way of life. There is a stark contrast between his view of the Natives in this quote and with a quote found towards the end of the passage which reads as follows: "They are very cunning in finding out new ways to torment their unhappy captives, though, like those of hell, their usual method is by fire." He also goes further about their torture methods and how they are, "so far from being touched with tenderness and compassion..."
It is interesting to try to break down Byrd's motivation in being so ambivalent in his representation of the Natives. Although there are times where he praises the Indians for their efficiency and their respect for nature, there are also times where he represents them as malicious, barbaric, and inhuman. Perhaps Byrd is attempting to show that, like Englishmen, all Natives cannot be put into one stereotypical group. There are tribes who are welcoming and cordial while there are also tribes who are unrelentingly warlike and hostile.
Thankfully, whenever there is dark side to a certain people group, there is also a bright side. Where he labels most of the English settlements that he comes across as indolent and unproductive, he does come across one settlement called Edenton. He states that, "not a soul has the least taint of hypocrisy or superstition, acting very frankly and aboveboard in all their exercises." Throughout the passage, this is one of the times that he actually approves of a certain settlement or village. In the same way, although the Indians were often described as inhuman, he does give the natives his stamp of approval on a few occasions. Overall, Byrd's biases and standards are very evident in this passage. He has high expectations set for at what level settlements and tribes should be.

Uncovering Divine Light

It is interesting to see how Edwards goes through great lengths to specify what is and what is not considered divine light. The main point that he emphasized throughout the passage is the fact that we as humans are naturally void of divine light. Divine light comes solely from God. Although we are actively involved in the implementation of this gift, there is nothing we can do to produce divine light on our own.
Edwards states that this light does not entail being inspired to develop new truths, but rather developing wisdom to understand the Bible on a new level. This new level gives us a true conviction of who God is rather than just simply knowing and regurgitating what we have been told about God. To have divine light means to have a genuine sense of love and zeal for God rather than just knowing who He is. Edwards also makes a metaphor of divine light to natural light. It is understood that the brighter the sun shines upon the earth, the more clearly and easily we are able to see things. In the same way, the more divine light we are exposed to, the more elementary it becomes for us to have a true visualization of God’s nature and His excellency.
Perhaps what Edwards is ultimately targeting is to let the common folk know that it is not exclusively trained philosophers and religious leaders who are able to see and understand God’s excellency. When he noted that the twelve disciples, ordinary and many of them unlearned, were called the most blessed, it became evident that anybody could receive God’s divine light. It is a condition of the heart rather than an achieved level of mental sophistication. It is not by reason that one attains divine light, but rather by a humbling of the heart and a genuine pursuit of God.

About Me

Greetings,

My name is Matthew and am a Freshman here at Chapel Hill. I was born in Raleigh, North Carolina and lived there up until I moved in to college. Here at school I am involved in Intervarsity, Photography club, and club swimming. I am unsure of what my major is going to be, but am planning on heading in some sort of business-marketing-design direction and will also be minoring in music. I am excited about this class and the potentials there are to become a better writer, reader, and analyst.