Try to specify here the precise nature of that belief. How does Johnson define God? What does he see as humankind's relationship to that divine being? What can and can't God do to ease the inevitable woe of human existence? Your classmates have already offered a few provisional definitions in their responses to other questions on the blog--these might help you get started (no, they're not all saying the same thing):
He seems as though having faith in God is all that people need to have faith in if they seek goodness and want their faith rewarded. All else is a wasted of time and effort.
The acceptance of an almighty God will occasion the decline of excessive ambition and self-worship, leading to "a healthful mind," "obedient passions," and "a will resigned" (359-60). This is the only way to find happiness in life independent of the follies and flaws of others.
I think that Johnson says man really has no other hope but to turn to some sort of Creator to figure things out for him.
Cite some text to support your response.
Deadline: start of class Friday (9/25).
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Johnson defines God as a reliever. In other words, he says that if you trust in God, then you won't have to worry about an awful fate. "Safe in his power, whose eyes discern afar the secret ambush of a specious prayer" (lines 353-354). You must believe in God, and trust him in order for Him to help you.
To build off what Katie has posted, in some ways Johnson limits god's capacity to relieve. By saying "But leave to Heav'n the measure and the choice" (352) and "Secure whate'er he gives, he gives the best" (356) Johnson is essentially invoking the old phrase 'God moves in mysterious ways'. In this way, Johnson is not painting him as some sort of relief ATM machine, that spews out comfort whenever it is needed. Rather, Johnson is offering relief by giving you a space in God's celestial plan, that you should be glad to fill.
I think both posts by Katie and Craig agree with my reading of this section.
I just want to point out that I find it interesting that this last section of the poem is somewhat marked by the indentation of the passage with the question: "When then shall Hope and Fear their objects find?" (343). It's almost like Johnson is saying after all of this poem, here is the end and a hope for all of you who think you are doomed.
Anyway, Johnson is telling us to put our faith in God and I was going to cite the same quote Craig did: "Secure whate'er he gives, he gives the best" (356) to point out that he does believe God can offer you something that should be better than what you had before.
Lastly, I found the end of the passage, lines 365-366, to be particularly poetic. "These goods for man the laws of Heav'n ordain,/These goods he grants, who grants the power to gain;" due to the repetition, rhyme. It continues with "With these celestial Wisdom calms the mind, And makes the happiness she does not find." I think the heroic couplets stood out to me here in particular and gave the poem a peaceful ending.
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