Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God Jonathon Edwards was a theologian and philosopher who delivered the most famous imprecatory sermon in 1741, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God." The sermon mentioned problems of free will and original sin, contributing to American Revivalism. During the time of 1730-1760 the Great Awakening spread throughout the colonies forming a revivalist movement. Edwards was a leader in the movement. A impreratory sermon is a prayer or invocation for harm or injury to come upon one who does not obey the laws of God. The Puritans believed God knows how all things are going to happen. Meaning man cannot have free will. Edwards wanted to send a message that if you don't follow religious values from the bible, you would receive punishment in hell. As …show more content…
The sermon is to try to convince the followers to be more worthy in God's eyes doing what is right. The purpose he wanted to achieve was to better people by reminding them their always in the mercy of God. To the Puritan sinners are only kept on earth because God is not ready to take them yet. One point Edwards states, “The only reason why they are not fallen already, and do not fall now, is only that God’s appointed time has not yet come. For it is said when that due time, or appointed time comes…then they shall be left to fall, as they are inclined by their own weight” (Edwards). The weight is not only their present sin, of the sin all humans are burdened with. Lastly directing toward individual Puritans Edwards states, “God is a great deal angry with great numbers that are now on earth; yea, doubtless, with many that are now in this congregation” (Edwards). At the time he delivered this sermon the Puritans must have thought it was radical for wanting them to rebirth there actions and