Jonathan Edwards Beliefs

In colonial America, written documents were one of the few primary sources of this time. All the way back to John Winthrop’s “A Model of Christian Charity’’ in the 1630’s. Winthrop’s sermon shows how the only way their colony will succeed is through God. Jonathan Edwards sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” shows people how powerful God is and what he capable of doing. George Washington shows that honesty, respect, and self-discipline are all values that colonial people live off of to survive in their new environment. The tombstone of Benjamin Franklin’s parents is a good example of how a life was in Colonial America. When reading these four primary sources, the values of each time period seem to differ but have a common similarity.

Edwards was a preacher and when he gave the sermon, he gave it in complete monotone. People were even more frightened and scared because of his emotionless sermon and more people paid attention. Jonathan Edward’s sermon speaks of how sinners should be cast off and be destroyed by God because it is God who is everything and if someone were to turn against God why should he or she get another chance. Some values that Edward’s puts in his sermon are yet similar to John Winthrop’s sermon but Edward’s sermon is very negative and was made to scare people into changing their ways. God is almost everything to people of the colonial period because of their fight for survival and if someone is a sinner or goes against God then they will be punished. Values shown in this document very religious and show that the people respectful to their

John Winthrop’s “A Model of Christian Charity” showed that the people valued their God most importantly for their God was their only hope in surviving in a new environment. Jonathan Edwards’ “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” was said very seriously and was taken seriously by the people who listened to the sermon. Edwards focused on a lot towards how sinners will be punished by God and will suffer an eternal punishment if they did not change their ways. Qualities shown were very serious and religious to achieve a well functioning society. George Washington’s Rules of Civility were also serious and showed that people must show the qualities of honesty, respectfulness, and self discipline. All of these qualities should already be shown if one is of a religion. The tombstone of Benjamin Franklin’s parents was fairly short but got to the point. Franklin’s parents were very religious and looked into their children’s future rather than their own. Religion is shown throughout all of these primary sources in some way and it is by far one of the most important things to Colonial